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
Big pile of swatches, take 2.
I’m always working on some project or another, which means I often have FOs and new designs to share. You can see all my FOs … here … and all my designs … here.
The swatches for Shawl Geometry II are done, blocked and photographed. Whoo!
I focused Shawl Geometry on common shawls shapes, the shapes we’ve all seen before, and are somewhat familiar with. Shawl Geometry II focuses on less common shapes, some bias rectangles and triangles, a whole series of wedge crescents (my favorite shape), plus a bunch of other squares, rectangles, triangles, and circle variations.
You can learn more about Shawl Geometry here, and here.
If you’d like more FO Friday posts, from other bloggers, visit Tami’s blog.
Three yays for fabulous, easy knitting.
I’m always working on some project or another, and most weeks I talk about what I’m working on Wednesdays as part of Tami’s WIP Wednesday project. You can see past WIP Wednesdays … right this way.
I started a new shawl, and it’s not even my pattern. Which means I don’t really need to think about what I’m doing, or right down any pattern instructions. Because the pattern’s easy, and already written, and written beautifully, so all I need to do is follow the stinking thing, and not mess it up. Which has been going marvelously (except for that bit where I forgot to keep track of what I was doing, and royally screwed it up, and then had to rip and reknit this morning, oops) apart from that it’s been fabulous. yay!
And on US 7 needles and worsted weight yarn, it’s a super speedy knit. yay!
The pattern isn’t out yet, because this is a sample knit for a friend, but I’ll be sure to let you know when it is out. Because it makes for fantastic knitting. yay!
If you’d like more WIP Wednesday posts, from other bloggers, visit Tami’s blog.
