Okay, so let me tell you about my latest little project: long shawls. I’ve been wanting to make one for ages, something I could just throw on when it’s a bit chilly, or to dress up a simple outfit.
It all started with me rummaging through my yarn stash. I had a bunch of different colors and textures left over from other projects, mostly wool and some acrylic blends. I figured, why not use them all up? No need to buy new yarn when I have a whole box already!
First thing I did was decide on a pattern, or rather, the lack of one. I didn’t want anything too complicated. I decided to just do a simple garter stitch for the main body, nice and easy. Then, I figured I’d add some tassels at the end for a bit of flair.
So, I grabbed my trusty size 8 needles, cast on about 60 stitches (I wanted it wide enough to wrap around my shoulders), and just started knitting. Row after row, just knit, knit, knit. Honestly, it was so relaxing. Perfect for watching TV in the evenings.
The fun part was changing colors. Every few inches, I’d switch to a different yarn. I didn’t really have a plan; I just went with whatever color caught my eye at the moment. Some were bright and bold, others were more muted and earthy. It ended up looking kinda patchwork-y, which I actually really liked.
Now, because I was using up scraps, I had to join a lot of yarn ends. I used the Russian join technique, which I find is pretty secure and leaves a minimal bump. It’s a bit fiddly, but definitely worth it in the long run.
Once the shawl was long enough – I think it ended up being around 7 feet – I cast off. And then came the tassels. I cut a bunch of yarn pieces, about 10 inches long, and folded them in half. Then, I used a crochet hook to pull the folded end through the edge of the shawl, and pulled the loose ends through the loop to secure it. I spaced the tassels about an inch apart all the way along both ends.
The very last thing I did was give it a good steam blocking. This really helped to even out the stitches and make the shawl drape nicely. I just laid it out on my ironing board, covered it with a damp cloth, and gently pressed it with the iron. Didn’t press too hard, just let the steam do its thing.
And that was it! My long shawl was done. It’s super cozy, and I love how unique it is. Definitely a one-of-a-kind piece, made with love and a whole lot of leftover yarn.
- Yarn: Various wool and acrylic scraps
- Needles: Size 8 circular needles
- Stitch: Garter stitch
- Techniques: Russian join, tassel making, steam blocking
My Takeaways
Honestly, this project was more about the process than the final product. It was so relaxing to just knit without worrying too much about perfection. And it felt good to use up my stash instead of buying more yarn. I learned that sometimes, the most beautiful things are made from the simplest ideas, and a little bit of scrap yarn can go a long way!
