Remarkables Shawlette

Remarkables 

by Jill Wolcott of Jill Wolcott Knits  

Jill takes an in-depth look at the Remarkables pattern and its contents

Claudia Edam of TheYarnsisters, U.S. Distributor of Zealana yarns, placed this yarn in my hands at a knitting retreat in Tuscany. The yarn was in development, I was exhausted because of other things going on in my life, and without my stitch dictionaries, so I just started with some 3×3 rib, then began to work a knit-purl cable. I had one ball, and it was pretty much all I knit for the duration of my stay in Tuscany. I had a suitcase full of yarn I had planned to knit, but none of it got touched. I just kept ripping and re-knitting this single ball. When I got home I worked up Snow Farm and RoundHill (and a fingerless glove we’ve never published). [Snow Farm and Roundhill are available as a set too.] I wanted to do a shawlette, but was conscious of how much the yarn would cost, so it needed to be clever, interesting, and incredibly easy to envision. The ever-generous Claudia sent me balls of the yarn in Red for the Remarkables Shawlette & Scarf when they got colors.

I wish I had a Remarkables Shawlette for myself. I had started one last February (2013), but I lost it–as well as my cool Lantern Moon carrying case, the Addi Lace needles I was using, and lots of markers. I had carefully saved yarn to make this one and was nearly through the second Tier. I no longer have yarn extra yarn, nor do I have much time for personal knitting. Email me! if you want us to do a knit along on this one. It would have to be in early in 2015, but I would LOVE to have this one in my wardrobe.

Remarkables Scarf

I created a scarf with the dual purpose of creating a useable product in addition to doing a gauge swatch. The scarf is a good entry-level project. In the pattern there is an elongated cable option as well as a cable-gauge option. If you are doing this project as a gauge swatch, you need to do the cable-gauge option, but really, the elongated cable is more elegant and well suited to a neckband for a scarf. The best of all worlds would be to work the skirt pattern, then work four inches of the cable-gauge option. For the remainder of the neckband, work the elongated cable option. Be sure to save yarn for the bottom trim. I worked this out on my swatch, and you will need about 20 to 25 yards for the bottom trim. Or, you can work the Skirt, and your gauge cable, then do the bottom trim, returning to the neckband and working the elongated cable until you have are ready to complete your scarf.

Remarkables Shawlette

This piece has a cast on stitch number that is slightly more than six times that of the scarf, but it results in a light-as-AIR (75g total weight) confection of a shawlette. The pattern sets out the stitch patterns clearly in a table and in charts, but this will take some time in your knitting schedule. If you love interesting knitting projects, this will fit the bill, while using only 575 yards–the equivalent of three socks.

I worked out the Skirt pattern from a trim stitch pattern, and inserted the lace as a way to keep the stitch pattern increasing (while also decreasing). I reverted to the cable pattern I had used in my other AIR designs for the top tier of this piece. I’m not a big fan of fussy edgings added on at the end, so my solution was a rib that looks like a ruffle and references the other pieces I designed.

Page 2 Info

Size: Remarkables Shawlette

• Finished bottom measurement  60″
• Finished depth 12.75”

Size: Remarkables Scarf

• Finished Length  38.75″

Gauge: Remarkables Shawlette Blocked on Size 6(4mm) needles

• 7 sts/in and 7 rows/in = 28 sts/4″ and 28 rows/4″ in Skirt pattern and Bottom Trim
• 6.25 sts/in and 7 rows/in = 25 sts/4″ and 28 rows/4″ in Lace pattern

Gauge: Remarkables Scarf  

• 7 sts/in and 7 rows/in = 28 sts/4″ and 28 rows/4″ in Skirt attern on size 6(4mm) ndls
• 8.5 sts/in and 9 rows/in = 34 sts/4″ and 36 rows/4″ in Cable & Rib Lace pattern on size (3.25mm) ndls

Sample(s)

• AIR from Zealana, 40% brush tail possum, 40% cashmere, 20% silk, 25g/191 yds (175m)
• Sheila Devitt is wearing the Remarkables Shawlette in Red which uses 3 skeins of AIR
• Dress Form is wearing the Remarkables Scarf in Red which uses 1 skein of AIR

Sheila’s laugh in this photo is infectious and feels as light as the Remarkables Shawlette is. There are other photos in the pattern and online of both the Shawlette and the Scarf.

Overall Layout of the Knitting Pattern

• Page 2 is where to find all the information you need to get started. Don’t forget to check gauge and be sure you use a needle size that will get the specified gauge using your yarn and style of knitting. I am a relaxed, Continental knitter and it is not uncommon for other knitters to need a different needle size. Getting the proper fabric is essential to any design ending up as presented.
• All of my designs are based on gauge, so it really will insure a more perfect piece if you do a gauge swatch. This piece really needs air in the fabric. See Remarkables Scarf above for how to make your perfect scarf a gauge swatch. Look at this blog for a discussion about Yarn Substitution using this pattern.
• Written instructions begin on page 3 for the Scarf and on page 6 for the Shawlette
• Techniques and abbreviations are on page 11
• Detail photos are shown throughout the written portion of the pattern
• Following the written pattern, on pages 12 through 19, are the stitch patterns in written and chart form, for each element of the project.
• The last page, page 20, has “as knit” schematics.

Written Instructions

Be sure to always read the general notes on page 2/the Info page. Always take a peek at the schematics before starting as we try to make them a visual information source. The schematics are on page 19.

Scarf

• Skirt Tier  This sets out the cast on to be used. I recommend tackling Judy’s Magic cast on because it will make for a seamless transition when you go to work the Bottom Trim. Don’t skip putting the stitches on the lower needle onto waste yarn (WY). After working the setup portion, a table sets out the stitch patterns so that it is easy to follow across each row and keep track of your stitch counts.
• Cable & Rib Neck  My preference for the neckband portion of my scarves is that they are narrow, so the needle size changes and the cables are set within rib panels. The cable & ribs are bordered by a continuation of the border lace worked in the skirt. Work the cable option that works for you–and note my suggestion in the Remarkables Scarf discussion above.
  • Gauge Cable option  This will help you test for gauge. It crosses cables every fourth row, so it is dense and will pull this all in nicely. 
    
  • Elongated Cable Option  This version crosses cables on the first eight rows as for the gauge cable option, but it is followed by an eight-row stretch with no cable crosses. Row-by-row instructions are given and it is easy to follow along.
  • There are four rows of reverse stockinette to finish off the end of this section.

• Finishing/ Bottom Trim   Here you return the loops put on WY in the cast on to a needle. Join the remainder of your yarn and work the Bottom Trim as set out, first working the increase rows.
• Work in ends and block. This yarn responds extremely well to washing, so I recommend washing it. I fluff it in the dryer when nearly dry using the delicate setting.

Shawlette

• Skirt Tier One  This sets out the cast on number. I use Judy’s Magic cast on because it will make for a seamless transition when you go to work the Bottom Trim. Don’t skip putting the stitches on the lower needle onto waste yarn (WY). A table sets out the stitch patterns so that it is easy to follow across each row and keep track of your stitch counts. Decreasing begins on RS rows with Row 3, but there are also stitches being increased in the Beginning and Ending Lace sections. The Border continues throughout the tier, even when the reverse stockinette portion is being worked at the top of the tier.
• Skirt Tier Two & Skirt Tier Three   These are the same concept as tier one, but worked over reduced numbers of stitches.
• Cable Tier  This uses the cable that crosses every fourth row. It has wonderful texture and is combined with ribs and lace. Again, stitches are decreased, then the pattern is worked even for length and finished with reverse stockinette.
• Finishing  
  • Bottom Trim  This is from the loops put onto waste yarn from the cast on. Stitches are increased to have sufficient stitches to create a ruffle/rib.
• Work in ends and steam or wet block. This yarn responds extremely well to washing, so I recommend washing it. I fluff it in the dryer when nearly dry using the delicate setting.

Techniques

Techniques, page 11  This pattern has set out the cables, the cast on, and wrap stitches techniques. These and other techniques can also be found on JillWolcottKnits.com.

Judy’s Magic Cast On is worth doing. It was introduced here.

Wrap 3 times (Skirt pattern) is much easier if the eight stitches to be wrapped are worked onto a dpn. The stitches can then be wrapped as instructed then moved to the right needle, saving a lot of slipping back and forth.

Stitch Patterns / Charts 

Stitch Patterns & Charts, pages 12 through 19  The stitch patterns that have a Beginning and Ending version. Set out in both written and chart form, this is a great reference and provides a nice visual for each of the stitch patterns.

Schematics, page 19: The schematics give you measurements for what your knitted pieces should be, along with direction of knitting. Your measurements may end up being slightly different.

You can see all the page 2 information on any of the pattern pages:  Jill Wolcott Knits, Craftsy, and Ravelry, and Patternfish, as well as photos.

Buy the Remarkables pattern from JillWolcottKnits.com during the Fall Shawl Together (through December 15) and use FALL-tog as the coupon code for $1 off.