Notes on the Swirl Shawl
Lijuan Jing’s Swirl Shawl is a geometrical masterpiece and a wonder to knit.
For those of you have decided to make this shawl, I just wanted to add a few notes to Lijuan’s pattern to make the process of getting started just a little simpler.
Each hexagon is knit in the round from the outer edge to the center. Therefore in the first line of the hexagon instructions, add the word Join after the the sentence beginning “Each needle…”
To close the hexagon, the pattern instructs you to knit 6 together. Knitting 6 stitches together takes a bit of effort. Nancy McFarlane gave me a great workaround. Rather than knitting the final six stitches together, cut the working yarn leaving a 3-4 inch tail. Thread a tapestry needle with the working yarn tail, draw through the last 6 sts, tighten. Weave the tail into the back of the hexagon.
At the left is my swatch hexagon. I made the mistake of using a long-tailed cast-on. I hadn’t thought out how the hexagons would be joined.
To make all hexagons the same, use a knit-on cast-on. Then, when you join one hexagon to the next, and need to cast-on the remaining stitches all your edges will match.
I hope these little tips make knitting the Swirl Shawl more enjoyable for you.
Thank you for posting these tips! I’m definitely going to put them to use. I always use long tail cast on, and I would have made the same mistake.
KZ
I’m not sure if my query is because I’m inexperienced, or just because I’m British and maybe we call it something else, but what and how is a knit-on cast-on?
Would a provisional cast on work-then you would have live stitches to connect the hexagons?
Allison,
I am sure it is just a matter of nomenclature.
To do a knit-on cast-on…
Make a slip knot and place it on the left needle.
Knit the stitch, but rather than dropping the stitch when it is complete, insert the left needle tip into the formed stitch. Now there are two stitches on the left needle.
Continue in this fashion until the correct number of stitches are cast on.
Carole
Yvonne,
I don’t think a provisional cast-on is the answer here. When you are adding hexagons, you are not picking up stitches all around. You will only be picking up stitches from two sides at the most.
Carole
Thanks for the tips, Carol. I just ran across this pattern in someone’s projects and fell in love with it. I guess ravelry is dangerous that way!
I picked up my stitches between each swirl. For the k6tog, I slipped all the stitches to a crochet hook and pulled the thread through, then fastened off.
The LYS at which I bought this kit commented that “it was knit in all one piece,” and it was not entrelac. How does this technique differ from entrelac?
Thanks for the tips. I am eagerly awaiting my kit - I put a deposit in one one to arrive tomorrow.
Hi Carole -
Thank you for the tips! You sold me the yarn for this at Stitches Midwest this weekend. Everyone in your booth was so helpful and nice. This may be a good project to take on a trip next month. If my needles get confiscated, the most that can get messed up is one hexagon!
Hope to see you at Stitches Midwest next year!
Carole if you use interchangeable needles they will not confiscate needles at the airport. Janis
When drawing the yarn through the final 6 stitches with my Chibi needle, I go twice around through all 6 stitches before I pull it and tighten. This helps to keep the center hole nice and tight and prevent it from loosening later. I learned this years ago for knit caps.
I have a couple of questions - if I screw up a hexagon - will there be enough yarn to at least mess up one? And when you finished your hexagon, did it lay nice and flat or did it curl up like a flower? Mine keeps wanting to curl.
Flying with knitting. Out of the UK they ban pointed objects and tools as well as sharp blades. Got us there I think. Have your knitting on a safety line separate from the needles, then you can put them somewhere discreet when you pack, not when you are challenged. Choose circulars without curves at the join. ( I think straight ones rather anti-social in a cabin anyway) An idea I read but didn’t dare try was securing them amongst the wires of a collapsible umbrella. For protection not to hide them of course! Think about how the x ray looks. Clever but hard to fake innocent intent if caught! I once arrived with a needle forgotten, resting next to the wired piping seam of my bag, which must have been missed because it wasn’t at odd angles in the knitting, but aligned with the edge of the bag. I have got wooden and plastic crochet hooks through no bother, and a short metal hook mounted in a plastic handle ( half invisible?), but i would be scared to risk expensive sets of needles on the off chance you are unlucky and get someone who is a stickler for the rules. I get the impression from reading other people’s exploits that we are much tougher on this in Europe than internal US flights, so international flyers beware! And it’s not worth being naughty over. The bad vibes from the back of the queue are dreadful!
Great information for when I start my swirl shawl. Many thanks to all of you.
Many thanks to all of you that gave all this great information. Will help me alot when I get started on my swirl shawl
I am a left handed knitter and I am having trouble figuring out how to pick up the stiches on the second hexagon. I have tried a nimber of times and the second haxagon alway seem to come out with the right side conected to the wrong side of the first one. Anyone have any suggestions? Do you hold the first swirl with the right side facing to pick up the stiches?
Can #6 circular needles be used successfully with the Swirl scarf?
I con’t know why there needs to be moderation to my question?
Has any one knitted the swirl scarf using the magic loop method?
From where do you pick up the stitches for the next hexagon? Do you just count 10 from the hanging tail of the knot where you started casting on? Mine look like blobby flowers after I’ve knit them, so it’s not at all clear where bits go!
I keep knitting the next hexigon with the wrong side up. Anyone have any tips? Thanks
I’d also like to know if magic loop will work for this.
Lisa,
Each of the swirls is a hexagon. You can do it with Magic Loop, but you need to be prepared to rearrange sts often.
By using the dpns, you the section breaks are always between needles.
Carole
Can you explain how you do the knit on case on for the 2nd hexagon where you are picking up stitches? I keep going in the wrong direction.
Hi Lisa,
I am not sure to which hexagon you are referring.
Is it A2 or B1….Please give me the letter and number placement and I will try to answer.
Carole
I think I figured it out. Instructions say to pick up then cast on (say you’re doing a2) but with the knit cast-on, since that cast on goes left to right, you need to cast on first THEN I did a pick up and knit as the start of the first row.
If I have that wrong, let me know!
You are right, double pointed is easier to manuever. The first one was fine magic loop, but it wasn’t long into the 2nd that I went to the double pointed.
Hi Lisa,
You will need to work in the order that is instructed in the pattern. Pick up the stitches first as instructed. Then cast on, as directed. Once you have all 60 sts, arrange your sts as directed on the dpns, join carefully and k the first round.
I hope this clarifies.
Carole
I, too, keep getting my A2 backwards. Some on Ravelry suggested casting on first, then picking up, but I think that’s why my second hexagon keeps facing the wrong way. I’m trying to avoid the backward loop cast on, but that’s what I will need to use if I pick up stitches first, then cast on. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Please try this. Pick up the 10 sts with RS facing, as directed, then use a knit-on cast on. (Knit in the last picked up stitch and when the loop is on the right needle, do not drop, put insert left needle into loop. One stitch is made. Now knit into this loop.) Continue until you have 50 sts all on the same dpn.
Using another dpn, slip the first 20 sts on the dpn. Then taking a second dpn, slip the next 20 sts. You are now ready to join. Be careful not to twist. The first stitch of the next hexagon will be the first stitch that you picked up from A1.
I think that I may know why you are on the wrong side. When you arrange your 3 dpns to join be sure that you are going clockwise with the needle with which you are going to join.
Carole
I think that I may know why you are on the wrong side. When you arrange your 3 dpns to join be sure that you are going clockwise with the needle with which you are going to join.
Please try this. Pick up the 10 sts with RS facing, as directed, then use a knit-on cast on. (Knit in the last picked up stitch and when the loop is on the right needle, do not drop, put insert left needle into loop. One stitch is made. Now knit into this loop.) Continue until you have 50 sts all on the same dpn.
Using another dpn, slip the first 20 sts on the dpn. Then taking a second dpn, slip the next 20 sts. You are now ready to join. Be careful not to twist. The first stitch of the next hexagon will be the first stitch that you picked up from A1.
Carole
Hi, thank you very much, this is a very intriguing pattern and frustrating that I cannot get it correct. So, when I am picking up the casted on needles, i pick up from the end or the beginning….. where should my yarn that I will be knitting with end up… on the left or right? I think it should be on the right, but I am confused… thanks for a great website for us people.
kathy
Just ordered my kit to make shawl for my sister inlaw. We saw it at Castle Farms Fiber Arts Festival last weekend and she had a fit about it. So guess what she is getting for Christmas.
I can see this blog is going to be a great help.
Thanks to all those who knit this before me
Hello,
I’m finally at the start of row B. I’ve completed B1, but then took it out as it does not seem to be placed correctly in order to do B2. I’m struggling trying to figure out how to get B2 in place with the picking up from B1 & A1. I cannot seem to see where it attaches…
Any further information would be greatly appreciated,
Bonnie
Hi Bonnie,
There are 5 free sides of A1. Lay the panel on a table with the bottom of A1 closest to you. The bottom is the side opposite the side attached to A2.
There are 2 free angled sides on each side of A1
Place a marker in the 10 st angled edge just to the left of the bottom of A1. There will be 1 angled edge (10 sts) remaining before the A1 to A2 join.
Now you can pick up the panel and pick up the sts for B1 as directed.
I hope this helps.
Carole
I keep going in the wrong direction. I pick up the ten stitches on one side of the hexagon with the right side of A2 facing. However, when I start knitting on the dpn’s clockwise as usual, A2’s wrong side is showing with A1’s right side. What’s happening?
Carole, you stated that the first stitch on A2 is the first stitch picked up from A1. Does this mean that I am knitting A2 with the wrong side of A1 facing? Confused!
Thanks!
Jeff
Dear Jeff,
Pick up 10 sts from A1 with the right side facing you. Cast on 50 more stitches. Arrange the 60 sts on 3 dpns.
Needle 1 has 10 sts from A1 + 10 cast on sts.
Needle 2 has 20 cast on sts
Needle 3 has 20 cast on sts. Needle 3 also has the last cast-on st and the working yarn hanging from it.
Place Needle 1 in your left hand. Be sure that the first picked up stitch from A 1 is at the right point of the needle. This will make it the first stitch for A2.
Bring Needle 3 around so that the working yarn is near the first stitch next to Needle 1. The movement will be clockwise. With a free needle and using the yarn hanging from the last stitch on Needle 3, work the first stitch on Needle 1. You are now forming A2 and working on the right side.
I hope this helps.
Carole
I have completed my first hexagon. I understand I am to pick up 10 stitches first but am I picking up 10 stitches prior to where starting yarn tail is or do I start at yarn tail and pick up the 10 stitches? Also, am I correct in having right side facing and going under both threads to pick up? I’m sure I’m trying to over think this process but I don’t want to mess up such a beautiful project with a simple mistake.
Thanks,
Janice
Hi Janice,
You can pick up starting at any corner. If the corners are not visible to you, start at the yarn tail. Be sure that you have the right side facing.
I picked up under both loops.
If you have any confusion doing the second hexagon, please read the step by step in the reply to Jeff above.
Carole
A quick question……I understand that I can make the swirl scarf with 2 skeins instead of knitting a shawl using 5 skeins. Any hints on how many hexagons horizontally and vertically will make the scarf? Any other hints?
Thanks,
Gayle
Hello, Gayle,
The directions for the scarf are on the last page of the pattern.
3 Hexagons wide
12, 13, 12 vertically
When casting on for A2 etc, after picking up 10 stitches, I turn the work to the wrong side and then do a slight variant of the knitted cast on : “purl cast on”. When turned back to the right side the working yarn and picked up stitches are all in the correct order.
Hi Carole!
Thanks so much for the great tips! I’m honestly feeling like a complete idiot here because even after reading all your wonderful directions I’m still not getting this right. I get picking up the stitches and casting on the other 50 (I’m still stuck on starting the secong hex, A2, by the way) but could you please explain the movement that gets you to put needle one in your left hand with the first stitch on the right hand side? After I cast on the 50 stitches, my working yarn and last stitch cast on are on the right side of my needle. Do I turn my work around so the wrong side is facing and the last stitch and working yarn are now on the left or do I rotate my work in a clockwise motion? I think I’ve tried it both ways and nothing seems to be working.
Thanks a bunch in advance for any help you can offer!
Kerry
Hello Kerry,
Once you have completed the 50 stitch cast-on, arrange the stitches on the dpns as directed. With your left hand, pick up the needle from which the first hexagon is hanging. The first picked up stitch should be at the right needle tip. The other two dpns will be hanging at the back. Keeping the picked up stitch needle in your left hand, also pick up the needle with the last cast-on stitch (working yarn hanging from the stitch) in your left hand and hold it in back of the other needle. Using a new needle, insert the needle into the first stitch on the front needle and work the stitch using the yarn hanging from the back needle. You have now joined the circle. You can let go of the back needle.
You will not need to hold the needle in the back of the left hand each time you do this, but I am trying to find a way to show you how to make the join.
I hope this helps.
I’m only 31 hexagons into the project but I found that it helped me to draw out a “honeycomb” of 4 inch across hexagons that I put on my ironing board to pin and steam every 2 or three completed swirls. It makes picking up stitches easier to see and makes the KIP more interesting.
Thanks for that recommendation, Shelley - although I’ve only once picked up one side from the wrong hexagon, your trick will make the rest of the project “idiot-proof”…
I’m having fun playing with the colors and adding hexes somewhat willy-nillly. Have decided to see how this might work out as a triangular shawl. So far the concept looks interesting.
The thing that has been the most helpful of ALL is to use 5″ sock needles. At the moment I’m working 2 sides per needle and they go pretty quickly that way. The shorter needles don’t tend to slip out…
I suggest you NOT EVEN THINK about doing this project without “point protectors” for your double point needles! You will need at least two sets.
I kept dropping stitches off the “back end” of my needles and it nearly drove me over the edge before
I got “stoppers”.
I am half way finished with the scarf version of this pattern. It really is spectacular.
Happy knitting to all and to all a good knit!