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