The Sanity Shawl
The Sanity Shawl
Why, you ask, does a gigantic, never-ending garter stitch shawl pattern have anything to do with preserving sanity? Because, during my senior year of undergrad, there was a series of problems back home that I could do nothing about, and I was stuck at school. My brain shut down, which meant I was unable to work on my coursework.
Rather than sit around and feel guilty about being completely unproductive, I started this shawl. It did not require any thought, what with the bulk of the work (and "bulk" really is the right word here) being just one row. No counting stitches, no watching pattern repeats, just knitting. I could be productive and not have to think, but still get stuff done.
I did have to ask for an extension on a paper that semester, but the professor was very nice about it.
Materials:
- 7 skeins of Worsted Weight Wool-Ease, 3 oz/85g (197 yd/180m). If you want a border, make one of the seven a contrasting color. If you want to copy the stripe pattern that I used, make two of the seven a contrasting color. Or, you could make the stripes up as you go. Every skein could be a different color, if you so chose. Note: The directions are written following the stripe pattern I used.
- 1 U.S. size 9 circular, 60” long. You might want two, if you have a problem with the stitches being packed together on the needles.
- Tapestry Needle (for weaving in ends)
- 1 stitch marker
With MC, cast on 2 stitches.
Row 1: K into front and back (KFB) of all stitches (4 sts)
Row 2: KFB, K1, place marker, K into front and back, K1 (6 sts)
Row 3: SL1, KFB, K1, SL marker, KFB, K to end (8 sts)
Row 4: SL1, KFB, K to marker, SL marker, KFB, K to end (10 sts)
Continue working Row 4, adding new skeins as necessary until 4 skeins of MC have been used.
*Start CC, repeat Row 4 six times.
With MC, repeat Row 4 six times*
Repeat from * to * once more.
Break off MC. Work in CC, repeating Row 4 twelve more times. Bind off using the stretchy bind off of your choice.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Wool-Ease will not take a block, so if that is what you used, don’t bother.
Abbreviations
K – Knit
P – Purl
KFB – Knit into the front and back of the stitch
Sl 1– Slip one stitch
