Shawl Geometry: Rectangles
This is the twelfth post in a series about different shawl shapes and how to knit them. All the posts in the series can be found right here.
Rectangles
Like the Edge to Edge Square, the Basic Rectangle is knit flat and worked straight from cast on edge to bind off edge, with no increasing or decreasing necessary.
Basic Rectangle Calculations
Calculating your cast on and row count
Determine your final gauge, and desired dimensions.
[Stitch gauge] x [desired width] = [# of sts to CO]
[Row gauge] x [desired length] = [# of rows]
Note: you can work your knitting either by casting on at a long end or a short end. Use the measurement of your desired cast on edge as your “width” and your second measurement as your “length.”
Knitting Instructions
CO [# of sts to CO].
R1: knit across.
R2: purl across.
Rep R1&2 until [# of rows] have been worked.
Bind off loosely.
Both of these rectangles can also be worked using a provisional cast on, so that the stitch pattern flows out from the center of the shawl.
To do this, cast on using a provisional cast on, work until your shawl is half your desired length (or width), and bind off.
Then pick up your provisional cast on, and again work until your shawl is half your desired length (or width), and bind off.
This creates a shawl where the pattern emanates from the center of the rectangle out towards both bind off edges.
To create a shawl in which the pattern flows in towards the center of your rectangle.
Cast on and work until your shawl is half your desired length (or width) then place your live stitches on waste yarn. Cast on a second time and work until your shawl is half your desired length (or width). Then graft the two sets of live stitches together.
The previous post: Bias Squares
The next post: Square with a Diagonal Slit
Shawl Geometry: Bias Square
This is the tenth post in a series about different shawl shapes and how to knit them. All the posts in the series can be found right here.
Bias Square
The Bias Square is knit at on a diagonal, starting in one corner and working to its opposite corner. This is accomplished by working a single increase at either edge, every other row through the first half of your shawl, and then working a single decrease at either edge every other row through the second half.
Woven fabric cut on the bias is cut at a 45 degree angle to the warp and weft threads. Since we don’t generally cut our hand knitted fabric, to get fabric on the bias in hand knitting you start working at one corner and work your way to the opposite corner.
This shawl must be blocked once it’s done or it won’t be square. Before blocking, the fabric will pull inwards width-wise and will looked like a squashed rhombus rather than a living breathing square, but it will block into a square, even though you may doubt it while you’re knitting.
Knitting Instructions
CO 3sts.
R1: k1, kfbf, k1.
R2: purl across.
Increase Section
R3: k2, yo, k to last 2sts, yo, k2.
R4: purl across.
Rep R3&4 until the square is your desired width along one edge.
Decrease Section
R5: k2, ssk, k to last 4sts, k2tog, k2.
R6: purl across
Rep R5&6 to 7sts.
R7: k2, sk2p, k2
R8: purl across.
R9: k1, sk2p, k1.
Bind off loosely.
The previous post: Edge to Edge Square
The next post: Rectangles
process or product?
Process or product?
Do you knit for the process of knitting, or the product you’re producing?
I would suspect that for many of us it’s about both.
I love the process of knitting.
The basic act of pulling loops of string through loops of string.
I find it as natural as breathing.
It’s a meditation. Embodying ease, rhythm, fluidity, flow, peace, knowing.
Every time I pick up needles it’s an act of affirmation.
I know that I know how to knit.
But at the same time, I don’t knit just to knit.
I knit towards something.
Not necessarily towards a finished object, but maybe. Or maybe it’s a swatch, or an idea, or a thought.
But I don’t knit for the sake of knitting.
I may not always get where I was planning on going, but the intention is still there.
The intention shapes what, how and where I knit. But the intention isn’t the process, and it’s not the final produced, even though it shapes and guides both.
Do I knit for an intention?
I don’t think I knit for it, but I certainly knit with it.
I knit for the sake of creating.
I knit so I know that I know how to knit.
I knit to strengthen the connections, and reaffirm the process, to confirm that I can still pull loops of string through loops of string.
I engage in the process with the intention of creating a product.
But when it comes to pulling loops through loops, and piling stitches on top of each other, I knit so I know, that I know, how to knit.
I knit so I know, that I know, how to knit.
It’s the process that I’m engaged in. Maybe the product is more of a planned afterthought?
I've always just knit. I've never really asked why before. I just knit, because I knit. So this is me trying to tease out the why. And if I know me, tomorrow I'll disagree with half of this, and think the other half is trite. But that's tomorrow. For now, here we are.
