Wednesday 17 October 2007

Swallowtail finds its Wings

Here as promised are the photos of my larger Swallowtail.....






Details & Alterations:
Swallowtail by Evelyn A Clark -

Fall 2006 Interweave Knits

48g of Patons 100% wool 2 ply Baby Yarn (in process of being discontinued) kettle dyed by myself with Kemtex Easidye Acid dyes

3.75mm Addi Lace circular

An extra 5 repeats of the budding lace pattern

An extra 2 rows at the start of the Peaked Lace Edging (Rows 1 & 2 repeated)

Finished size: 61" by 29"

Christmas present for my Godmother (I couldn't get it finished for her birthday)

I have to say I'm very pleased with this shawl yet again, it never ceases to make me smile when I stand back from the blocking mats, just as well as this is the 3rd time I've knit it but the first I've deviated from the pattern.

I've read on various other blogs that people have made bigger Swallowtails by increasing the budding lace then 'fudged' the stitches when going into the Lily of the lace pattern.... I'm not one for fudging in advance if you follow....

I sat down with paper, pen & caluclator and worked out for that the Lily of the Valley border to fit onto the budding lace without fudging you need to do 5 extra repeats of the buddign lace. The pattern has 14, I did 19 and if you want it even bigger then you'd do 24, 29, 34 repeats etc.... I was chuft with myself!!!! what is it they say pride comes before a fall..... well it was more of a trip really!

I got all the way to the peaked lace edging, worked rows 1 & 2, got halfway along row 3 and I'm 2 stitces short, I checked my work over and over and over again, no I hadn't made a mistake... I put it to one side in disgust....

Monday morning I sat down checked again no I was right no knitting errors, so out came the pen, paper and caluclator and low and behold I calculated I was 2 stitches short for the first half so a total of 4 stitches would be needed to make the pattern 'fit' on row 3, Hmmmmmm....... after a bit of thought, do I rip back rows 1&2 and start the lace straight on top of the lily of the valley edging or do I add a further 4 stitches to row 1 (makes 8 increases on that first row) I finally decided that I would just repeat rows 1 & 2 to get the desired number of stitches... I think that worked well in the end, I've got a little broader transition band but I don't think it detracts at all....

Anyway would I do this pattern again... still definitely yes, perhaps not just immediately as this is my 3rd since May, however I may do a smaller one (9 budding lace repeats) as a neckscarf for mum for her Birthday....

Anyway here's a table of stitches if anyone wants to use my method of making a bigger or smaller Swallowtail.... Don't shout please if the maths are wrong...


Number of Budding Lace Repeats: 9 14 19 24 29 34
Number of stitches after Budding Lace: 135 195 255 315 375 435
Number of Stitches after Lily Border #1: 159 219 279 339 399 459
Number of Stitches after Lily Border #2: 179 239 299 359 419 479
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 twice in Peaked Lace Edging: Yes No Yes No Yes No
Number of Stitches before starting Row 3 of Peaked Lace pattern: 187 183 307 303 427 423
Number of stitches after Peaked Lace Edging: 203 259 323 379 443 499
Number of stitches to Cast Off: 253 323 403 473 553 623

17 comments:

fibreclaireUK said...

Beautiful shawl, beautiful colour, and very clever maths!!

fleegle said...

...and flies away to heaven--which is what it looks like. It's gorgeous, dear. And thanks so much for the calculations. That shawl is so lovely I just want to knit on until I can wrap it around me twice :)

Hellbelle said...

You have very right to be pleased with yourself! It's beautiful - and thanks so much for putting your calculations out there too!

Anonymous said...

It is a beautiful piece of work and thank you for your clever maths. I am going to write this done to put with the pattern, for I also might want to do it again in a larger size.

Anonymous said...

What was the final yardage that you used? It is really beautiful!

Soo said...

Looks lovely. I haven't knit a swallowtail.....but now it's on my very (very)(errr very) long list of must do's!!!

Viknits said...

Absolutely beautiful Littleberry, you must be very very proud!

Kathy said...

Just wanted to leave you a thank you for doing the Swallowtail math. I finished blocking my own shawl and am so glad that I decided to make it larger. I dreaded the figuring and was thrilled when I was tipped off to your efforts.

Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Your shawl is beautiful!!!
Thank you for the Swallowtail Math. I have just finished the Budding Lace repeats and increased the repeats to 19. With the math I will be able to confirm I am on the right track.

Anonymous said...

Your swallowtail is gorgeous.
Thank you so much for taking the time to put out all of your calculations. You are clearly both a maths and knitting genius.

B said...

Hi - Thank you for figuring out the math for us. I have a more basic question. I've finished the budding lace and I am ready to start the border. Do I just start from where I am (at the right where I would start a row of 20 repeats if I were to go ahead). I just keep seeing that as the long edge and thinking I need to get to the sides. HELP ME (I am at jeremiah1300@mac.com) and I am Betty or patrioticcrab on Ravelry.

shansays said...

Thanks so much for all of your hard work. I know everyone on Ravelry really appreciates the table:) I do have one question, though. I am confused about the peaked edging. I did 24 Budding lace repeats, and I have 359 stitches, but in you notes it says I won't have to repeat row 1&2, but then it also says I will have 303 stitches when I hit row 3. Is this a typo, maybe I will have 363 stitches? I just want to make sure I understand, because I am ever so close to finishing.

shansays said...

Thanks so much for all of your hard work. I know everyone on Ravelry really appreciates the table:) I do have one question, though. I am confused about the peaked edging. I did 24 Budding lace repeats, and I have 359 stitches, but in you notes it says I won't have to repeat row 1&2, but then it also says I will have 303 stitches when I hit row 3. Is this a typo, maybe I will have 363 stitches? I just want to make sure I understand, because I am ever so close to finishing.

tmgukcatfan said...

Thank you for your clearly written instructions on enlaging this shawl! It is such a beautiful pattern and I'm enjoying it so far (still on the budding lace part) and fear the nupps but they won't deter me from continuing. I am using sock yarn from my stash but want to do it again in a lace weight. Having your enlarging instructions to guide me will be a big help!

Purls ... and other lil gems said...

Oh thank goodness for knitters like you and your intense math skills. Your Swallowtail is beyond gorgeous!

Kaitlin said...

This is INVALUABLE! Thanks so much for taking the time!

Lynne said...

Thank you for this - it was great not to have to calculate how to make the shawl bigger myself! Much appreciated!