A Shawl to Wear While You’re Reading and Knitting

I know there are a lot of knitters who have to really concentrate on what they are doing and can’t do anything else while they are knitting. In time you can probably graduate to watching TV while knitting, but I’m surprised by how many people are impressed that I can read while knitting and do it often.

(I mean, I can’t read and crochet at the same time yet, so I get it. It takes practice to know where you are without looking and to trust your hands without your eyes there to help. I’m working on it.)

Whether you knit the Book Club Shawl while you’re reading or just to wear while you’re reading and/or knitting in the future, it’s still a fun knit and a cozy shawl for whatever you’re up to.

Designed by Gavriella Treminio, it’s a triangular shawl worked from one corner of the wingspan to the other. It features an I-cord edging and uses simple cables and slipped stitches to make textured horizontal stripes across the body.

The shawl is worked in worsted weight yarn, and while it’s lovely in a neutral that helps the stitching to pop, I think it would be fun in jewel tone yarn as well.

There are options in the pattern to make a shawlette and a bigger shawl. The smaller version has a 53 inch or 132.6 cm wingspan, while the larger version is 78 inches/198 cm across.

The little one is shown here and it looks like a perfect size to throw in your (book) bag to keep it handy to toss around your shoulders when you need an extra bit of warmth. Which is always a good idea, even if you’re not a big reader.

Get more information about the pattern and buy your copy on Ravelry.

[Photo: Gavriella Treminio]

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If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.

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