Through the Loops Designs

Roma Shawl

 
It's no secret that I love color & designing with color. So when I had to take a last minute trip to Rome at the beginning of July I quickly grabbed a couple of beautiful skeins of  Schaefer Audrey in colors that calmed me. It was only a few days after my stint in the hospital with the Lad & his broken leg, and now I was off to Rome to retrieve IJK who was experiencing health problems while on a student trip. (She's fine, nothing too serious - just issues that prevented her from completing the trip.) 

Audrey is a delightful blend of silk and merino in fingering weight that is the sort of yarn that once you start knitting with it you'll find it almost impossible to put down. The silk in the yarn gives amazing drape - ideal for a shawl, and adds sheen and richness to Schaefer's already amazing colors. The soft, glowing Audrey was the perfect yarn to soothe me during a week when I didn't know which end was up. On the plane I began to knit a shawl in a simple lace pattern that was easy to memorize. Then, with a brain that refused to settle on just one thought, I moved to a two color garter stitch stripe - the blue yarn could not be ignored any longer. Shawls in simple stitch patterns like this one are often the best medicine when the mind is racing. For that long flight from JFK to Rome it was perfect.

On a hot day after my return Sofie obliged me with photos - but only if she was allowed to pick and eat raspberries while we worked. I admit to indulging in quite a few myself. Despite of my fears that the shawl would be forever ruined if she snagged it on those thorny raspberry canes the photo shoot went smoothly.

You can see more of our photos on the pattern page on Ravelry.

Roma Shawl

Sizes: One size (but easily adjusted by adding or subtracting repeats of either the lace or garter stitch stripe)
Finished Measurements: 60" across top edge, 25" from top to point, blocked
Gauge:  16 sts & 38 rows = 4”(10cm) in garter st, blocked
Yarn: Schaefer Yarns Audrey, 50% merino/50% cultivated silk, 700 yards per 4oz skein
MC (Ivory) - “Elisabeth Kubler-Ross” - 1/2 skein,
CC -This was a one of a kind color, “Peter” or “Indigo” are similar - 1/4 skein
Needles: US 7/4.5mm or size to obtain gauge
Other Materials: 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, crochet hook

Price: $6.00 US

Thank you to my test knitters, Karen, Lulu, Christine & Stacie!!

Curatio Shawl

"Curatio" means healing or curing in Latin. Since I knit most of  this design while I sat in the hospital with my son after he broke his leg, Margene suggested I give the pattern a healing name. There has been a lot of healing in my house in the past month for which I am very thankful. I love the idea of honoring the excellent work Anders's surgeon did on his leg with this shawl.

Curatio is written for two sizes, using two different yarn weights. The large version, pictured in blue, is worked in The Plucky Knitter Handpainted Lace weight, in "Old Blue Eyes". The finished large shawl measures 74" across the top and 30" from top edge to tip. The medium version, shown in orange, is worked in Sweet Georgia Yarns Silk Crush, a fingering weight yarn, in the "Cayenne" colorway. It measures 60" across the top and 28" from top edge to tip.

This shawl has just enough patterning to keep the knitting interesting, but not overwhelming. The stitch patterns are written out and also charted to appeal to a wide range of knitters. I love having a shawl to toss on in the overly air conditioned restaurants that are too common at this time of year. Both of my Curatio Shawls have done duty in this way already. There's no need to wait until fall to wear one.

CURATIO SHAWL (Ravelry Link)

Sizes: M [L]
Finished Measurements: 60[74]" across top edge, 28[30]" from top to point, blocked
Gauge:  12[18] sts & 24[42] rows = 4”(10cm) in garter st, blocked
Yarn: Medium (fingering wt) - Sweet Georgia Yarns Silk Crush Sock, 50% Superwash Merino/ 50% Silk, 375 yards per 115 g skein, 1 skein “Cayenne
Large (lace wt) - The Plucky Knitter Handpainted Lace, 100% Merino, 900 yds per skein, 1 skein “Old Blue Eyes”
Needles: US 8/5mm[US 7/4.5mm] or size to obtain gauge
Other Materials: 4 stitch markers, tapestry needle, crochet hook

Price: $6.00 US

As always I am enormously thankful to my test knitters - Andrea, Karen, Lisa, Anne, Linda and Amy.