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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Many times when I write these posts I will say something like “you can use any yarn you want” or “this would be a great stash-busting project.” That’s just how my mind works. And my stash, too, since I probably have sweater quantity of two or three yarns at most, but tons of singles and odd balls and leftovers.

Blankets are generally a really good way to use up those bits, but in this case, I think you’re going to want to plan it out a bit better.

Looking at photos of the Color Study Blanket from Purl Soho, it looks like it’s made with two yarns held together, and that block in the center is worked with one of each color from the adjoining sides to make a mixed up color.

But that’s not actually how it’s done. This is three separate colors (four, really, with the neutrals in the corners) chosen form a yarn with an expansive palette so they play off each other. The project calls for a worsted weight superwash wool, which is a great choice for a blanket that’s both warm and washable.

This pattern was originally designed by Laura Ferguson and was updated by Hiromi Glover. It is worked in one piece in garter stitch intarsia, which is a great way to learn the intarsia technique if you don’t already know it. It comes in crib or throw sizes.

Despite the introduction to this post, I am going to go ahead and say that, yes, of course you could do this blanket with scraps or odd balls or even just choose five colors that don’t blend together so easily. But I really do love the look of the color play, and I think it would be worth your time to find colors that play well together to get a similar effect.

This pattern is available for free from Purl Soho.

[Photo: Purl Soho]

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