A Friday night home, a weekend on the beach, many projects in progress but shawl yarn just sitting there, you know I had to cast on for one, right? I had admired Ene’s Shawl ever since I got the Scarf Style book but when I saw Cassie’s in person, I knew I wanted to make this over all the Birches and Kiris and Flower Baskets.
So, I cast on the 375 stitches with the Alpaca Cloud. I used the knitted cast on as suggested, so it took about 2 hours. I cast on doubled and went single, also according to the instructions. Knit about 3 rows. Hated it. My normally tight tight knitting looked way too loose on the size 6 needles, with that fine yarn. I ripped, sadly.
I gauge tested with the Andean Treasure but that was WAY to heavy for this delicate shawl. So I decided the Alpaca Cloud would have to be doubled, and I’d order two more skeins. At that price, it wasn’t a hardship.
I cast on again, this time long tail. Screw it. It took way less time and this time I was able to cast on with all markers in place and dive right in. And dive, I did. It was 2 a.m. before I saw sleep.
I worked on it on the beach on Sat. and Sun. I got 10 rows in. 3,750 stitches, that is, for those keeping score. But it still looked wrong to me. Too loose. Even spread out, it was hard to distinguish the yarn overs from the stockinette part. Last night, after 3 days of work on it, I ripped again. Boo hoo, cursed scarf.
So now I have a dilemma. Do I go down a needle size or two, and try again? Or will that make too teensy a shawl? Do I give up on Ene’s with this yarn, and make Kiri or something (I think that will look lovely with this yarn actually), and order something else for Ene’s?
I just sent away for samples of the Blackberry Ridge yarn that Ene’s was written for. I guess I’ll see how much it differs from the Alpaca Cloud, though I’m not wild about the color choices for that one.
So for now, I must remain patient. I may go buy a smaller needle (I need a long one, 32″ or more) just to test it out. For now, I have plenty other things to work on, and must try to keep my impulsive tendancies at bay.