Wingspan is done, and I like it a lot – I might not like it for me, but I really, really like it.
It’s got everything going for it. It’s a quick knit, simple, but with an interesting construction. Perfect autopilot knitting, and paired with a charming colour changing yarn? Buckets of fun.
Pattern: Wingspan. Yarn: Kauni EF. Needles: 3.5mm.
Mods: 2 extra wedges, and wrapped my turns to avoid holes. I don’t like them.
It suits Natalie to a tee.
Because someone will ask, the shawl pin is Stepping Stones, from Tam Jai, who doesn’t seem to be selling them right now – which is a shame, because it’s a favourite of mine.
This knit (and I guess the one before it) have reminded me how much I like garter stitch. It seems wholesome, doesn’t it? Plain and good and like you’re doing something simple and nice. It makes me feel the same way that eating oatmeal does, or baking whole wheat bread and serving it warm to my family. Like it’s good for you.
Maybe it is.
(I’m still sort of thinking about lace now.)
Interesting confluence of knitting – I have a project going in exactly that Kauni and I just finished Wingspan. Spooky.
Wow!!! I am first!!! Fantastic!!!
Pretty Shawlette!!!
Steph, I’m totally with you on the lace right now. I’m on a crazy lace kick. I should be digging back into the simple easy Christmas knits after the giant 2 month lace shawl I just finished but now I’m hooked.
Don’t worry, I’m working on a nice stockinette sweater that looked wholesome too to try and ease the urge. Glad you’re feeling better!
If this is oatmeal, what is a hot fudge sundae?
So lovely!
Every time someone (including myself) loves the beauty of all garter stitch – I think of Elizabeth Zimmermann. The Queen of garter stitch love.
Wingspan will definitely be on the short list. And I really like the shawl pin (and was going to ask!).
Would Icarus be a hot fudge sundae? At least there is another topic for The Blog.
Polite of you to say that as I look at The Chuppah That Never Ends. I’ve got to say that the aspect of garter stitch that never fails to boggle me is how, when viewed on the diagonal, it flips a switch in your eye and looks woven. Whoops, garter. Whoops, woven. It’s like the goblets/profile thing.
Sometimes something soothing, like homemade soup or oatmeal, or fresh bread and butter, is what you need. If you have been sick (me, too) then this is perfect. Product, but no brain pain. I am producing linen stitch scarves out of old sock yarn leftovers like Christmas was tomorrow, just because I had the cold from hell. Lovely stuff, that shawlette. And I LOVE Kauni.
I like the shawl! I’ve been thinking about lace too lately but I am a little scared of it…my last encounter with it ended up in ripping the shawl back! I still have the yarn burning a hole through my stash!
Be careful when eating the blog post or software: the 1 is kind of pointy, the 0 should go down easily.
very nice…off to “fave” the pattern!
Okay, if garter stitch = oatmeal, garter stitch in Kauni = oatmeal with a creme brulee topping…
I’m on triangle 6 of my first Wingspan–garter in worsted on US9s–ahhh. Did you I-cord the bind-off or follow the pattern of 4 garter rows? BTW, I like the holes. It’s lace-ish for those of us not lace-able.
I feel like such a slacker – I started a Wingspan back in March and I’m not even halfway done.
Wingspan is beautiful. Yes, it fits Natalie perfectly.
Unlike some of my knitting friends, I like garter stitch. I loved making EZ’s Puzzle-Pillow Blanket. I want to make vests from EZ’s book, Knit One Knit All.
very pretty, very subtle. my rainbow kauni is reserved for a sweater, but i’m kinda wishing now that i’d bought softer shades, too.
glad you’re feeling better!
Beautiful! I’m still on a monster lace kick, but interspersed with some stockinette baby sweaters for relief. Nice balance. (Also got on a shawl kick starting last year, not sure where it came from but that bug has bitten hard.)
I have come to love the wholesomeness of garter as well. I think EZ helped me find that love.
Very nice. Been thinking about that pattern every since I saw many versions at Stitches West. I started a shawl with two different balls of Kauni and liked it to start, but the love is gone. I think I shall rip and try this one.
I like garter stitch because it is lofty and squishy and bouncy and warmer than flatter stitches. This wingspan is great looking!
You’re making this far too easy.
You said: “It seems wholesome, doesn’t it? Plain and good and like you’re doing something simple and nice. It makes me feel the same way that eating oatmeal does, or baking whole wheat bread and serving it warm to my family. Like it’s good for you.”
You could be talking about spinning for the gansey.
Im currently knitting the garter square in the middle of Brooklyn Tweed’s Quill to be my nursing shawl/blanket/present to self to enjoy while sleep deprived with new babe and I actually told my husband last night it’s the nicest project I’ve knit in ages. It’s a garter square!!!! The cloud like warmth of the yarn might have something to do with it and being tired and pregnant but garter is definitely as warm and comforting as oatmeal.
I found a zueberball after reading yesterday’s post and am on triangle 2. Easy peasy pattern – love it. I just may have to make more than one. Thank you.
It’s lovely! I so love your blog.
Garter stitch is like warm bread or homemade soup. Whenever I come back to it from other complicated projects – it’s very comforting.
My love of garter was reenergized by the Mason-Dixon “moderne baby blanket” and of course my on-going love affair with Elizabeth Zimmermann.
Oh it’s lovely!
So simple, so gorgeous. There’s a reason EZ was such a genius–she recognized that beauty often lies in simplicity. Her first book came out the summer before I entered law school and I stayed up all night reading it. My family knew from that moment that I was weirdly hooked on knitting!
I’ve downloaded the pattern, but I think I would like the shawl better if it were longer. On me it will look like a collar. Anybody have any experience with enlarging it?
Who’s thinking of maybe garter stitch socks? And who packer her newly cast on socks this morning, packed them & left them at home only to have a flat tire, a tow, & a couple of hours when I could have been knitting today. Sigh…
I wasn’t crazy about this pattern, but it is wonderful in that colorway.
I think it really turned out lovely. I’ve been sort of adverse to short row knitting. I’m not sure why. I think I need a shrink.
I’ve been thinking of knitting myself a garter stitch umbrella actually. I do love me some garter stitch
Well, shoot. It’s on my list now. I still have to finish (by this weekend) the moose hat christmas present for my sister, and the double knit mittens for my cousin, and last year’s christmas sweater for my husband… and the shawl I started because all of those things are boring…
My list is a little long.
I love how subtle the shawl turned out.
Love how your Wingspan turned out! It’s one of the more muted I’ve seen – really nice (and that pin *is* great).
I don’t know how “wholesome” garter stitch is – but I think it does a knitter good. 🙂
I’m working on a garter stitch shawl right now as well, Art Deco II, and I know just what you mean about it feeling like it is good for you. A nice break from the cabled cape I finished last month, and I think the result will be a cozy gift for someone
Of course it suits Natalie to a T. Everything suits Natalie to a T. Dammit.
Lovely! I’ve done 5 Wingspans and have loved each and every one. Wondering if you blocked yours. I didn’t and am thinking about it. Do tell….. Oh, and love the colorway too. I’ve been leary about using Kauni because it’s not too soft next to my skin, although yours looks soft….. hmmm….
Have to say I think it’s kind of drab. But better than many of the color choices on the Ravelry project page.
Yesterday’s post made wingspan look interesting but today’s photo inspired my inner knitter to sit up and beg. I really want to ditch the Father’s day socks I’m working on.
Funny, i’m of two minds right now too. I’m re-invigorated by a recent lace shawl I did. But I was looking at some garter stitch pot holders my mom gave me and thought, ‘that would be a nice mindless project.’
Natalie is lovely and so is the subtle coloring of the yarn. I favorited it, too!
I love reading your blog. It’s like getting letters from a really great pen-pal, without the pressure of having to reply!
Wingspan is lovely, and it’s always good to see one of your gorgeous daughters modelling – watching them grow in the photos over the years is really nice x
I saw your shawl on the Blog yesterday – looked it up on Ravelry – started knitting! I love it – and you have chosen such a pretty colourway, too. (Mine is in hand-painted berry shades – it was sitting in the stash, looking lonely). May have to make a second one in a different colour. Thanks for drawing it to our attention.
Baking bread is way more complicated than garter stitch. Baking bread is more like basketweave or something – not terribly difficult, but does require more than one step 😛 Though I grant you that oatmeal is pretty easy 🙂 Love the colors, though the pattern still doesn’t call to me 🙂
I didn’t have any huge desire to knit a wingspan…until now. Yours turned out so beautiful.
Lovely colors. Nice design.
I just can’t wrap my head around the size and the whole shawlette thing. In my head if it doesn’t have length, it’s a scarf.
Oh well.
It’s nice, simple design highlighted by muted colours. Doesn’t feel very spring like though. I’m also of the mindset that a shawl should be large enough to keep your arms warm, LOL, though I always do feel warmer if I have something around my neck.
However, I had to shake my head at your fresh baked whole wheat bread analogy. Read “Wheat Belly” by Dr William Davis. Shocker!!
It just so happens that I’m knitting a wingspan in Kauni as well-I started long before you, and am only half done. You sure are speedy! I’ve never knit with Kauni before. Promise me this stuff will soften up with a bath in conditioner or something! It’s like bailing twine as I’m knitting! Why doesn’t anyone ever talk about how rough it is while they’re waxing on how beautiful it is?
Thanks for the tip to avoid a holey shawl.
I always want to have a shawl to cover my arms, but then get surprised with scarves that seem to be able to warm me up too! It’s very pretty, though garter stitch and muted colours don’t speak spring to me.
I had to shake my head at your whole wheat bread comment. You might want to read “Wheat Belly” by Dr William Davis 🙂
I’m a huge garter stitch fan myself. Garter stitch lace seems like the perfect blend if you’re thinking of lace right now.
Lovely. I’d been planning one of these but had not thought of Kauni…..might toss the stash & see if one of the 2 colors of Kauni wnts to come out to play.
When you wrapped your stitches, did youpick up the wraps or leave them behind – I’ve seen it done both ways.
It’s a lovely shawl & Natalie is so photogenic! Now you’ve got me wanting to knit one up. A Wingspan, that is.
Rats! Once again the Yarn Harlot has used her influence to distract me to start yet another project. It is simple and beautiful. Off topic, a friend of mine is now stationed at the American embassy in your beautiful country and she is having a few problems with . . . squirrels!!!
I feel the same way about garter stitch. It feels wholesome and comforting, like a hug from a grandmother. I think it is the visual texture and the squishiness. It is just fun to squeeze.
Very nice! The colors suit Nat very well.
This is gorgeous! I just recently finished the Hitchhiker shawl, and I agree, there’s something soothing and wholesome about garter stitch 🙂 I think I may need to add this one to my queue!
As I have never progressed PAST garter stitch this seems great to me!
Who knew you could get such terrific results with such a basic stitch?
Looks lovely on the gorgeous Natalie!
Cheers
Lush
London, UK
Pretty 🙂 It does indeed look very nice on Natalie! I’m currently doing a baby blanket in granny square, one is a ten-stitch blanket (all garter stitch & short rows) and a lace curtain. The lace hasn’t been touched in at least a month *sigh*
Heh. I happen to be eating oatmeal as I’m reading this!
Very pretty. I wonder how it might look in a totally different gauge, like in a bulky art yarn, with fewer wedges. I’ve been thinking of making a small shawl with some of my corespun yarns. Will ponder and scheme after breakfast.
It almost looks very lightly felted. Cozy.
It’s perfect on her. Beautiful.
I think the garter stitch is easy but yours is an example of really experienced knitting. Garter stitch is an unforgiving stitch when the tension is off and yours is very even throughout! A wonderful example! Thanks for sharing. I love that colorway too rather muted and very slowly transitioning from one color to the next. Lovely.
Has anyone tried it in seed stitch? Thinking that it might make a nice fabric, though it would take some extra thought with the short rows. I may try that this weekend.
I love that you share your projects with us. It is often just what I was looking for and didn’t know it. I cast on the Wingspan in a nice summer color yesterday. Thanks!
I’m normally not a huge fan of garter stitch, but this wrap definitely has some appeal. It does look great on Natalie!
but what IS lace, really?
Well I hope you are happy. Once again I am being sucked into your latest project. I have a great stash yarn in mind but I must force myself to finish my current project. You could try beating the cold into submission with a cup of hot lemonade with honey and a good stiff shot of whiskey. Works every time.
p.s. if it doesn’t work at least you won’t care.
The Wingspan looks lovely on Natalie (is there anything that doesn’t?), and I love the moody, muted colours. Wingspan is on my list of someday-projects, but not until I figure how to get away from the garter stitch, or combine it with a lot of something else — to me, garter stitch says either ‘absolutely my first knitting ever’ or ‘I’m wearing this inside-out’.
Ooh—aahh—garter stitch—my version of comfort food for the soul. Love it.
Ohhhh…? Thinking of lace now, are you? Yeah. Garter stitch will do that to ya!
Thank you! I have a trip coming up next month and this has decided me — a Wingspan in Kauni for travel knitting, it is. (Well, for part of the travel knitting, anyway. One project won’t cover three weeks!)
There are times when garter stitch is Just The Thing. I’m working on a Log Cabin baby blanket at the moment and thoroughly enjoying it.
beautiful…such soft color turns, it seems as if there is a colored lights shining on the yarn. BTW, thank you for saying that about the turns. I was thinking I wasnted to wrap, but didn’t know how much that might change things…
thank you for all your efforts that you have put in this. Very interesting info. “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.” by Clive Staples Lewis.
The shawl is pretty, yes, but Natalie is absolutely adorable. Especially in that shawl.
MAybe that’s why Elizabeth Zimmerman designed the baby surprise jacket to be all garter stitch – wholesome and warm!
I, too, am working on Wingspan. The color changes are so much fun and it is an interesting, relatively easy knit. It’s my ‘mindless knitting’ project. I don’t have to think too much and still accomplish something.
It is beautiful in Kauni.
I like garter st too but it can get boring quickly. So I just like it in small doses. Like a hat or something. In a thick yarn….in a fingering weight yarn it can drive you crazy quickly. It’s like stop and go traffic on the highway. You’re not traveling far but it feels like forever before you get to your destination. That’s what garter st in fingering weight yarn feels like. Yeah.
Where will I find the pattern?
I think my Wingspan will have to wait. I want lace NOW! I am doing the Brigewater Shawl by Jarrod. I have had lace on the mind for months now and all I seem to buy is laceweight yarn…and that is okay!!
Boo-tee-full 🙂 I am really looking forward to trying this pattern, even though wraps seem scary,like set-in sleeves or something. And all of the color-change yarns male it look so schmancy!
Three words.
Garter stitch lace.
Has anyone else become obsessed with this pattern. It is all I have been thinking about
Garter stitch is both wholesome and healing. Garter stitch and basic 2X2 ribbed socks have been my lifeline through my husband’s illnesses, my mom’s broken hip, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, being laid off, and so many other times in my life when my brain was capable of nothing else. Garter stitch was the rock upon which Elizabeth Zimmermann anchored us all. It’s the bread and water and zen of knitting, without a doubt. I love it.
Hi! Ok so the wingspan ,Ive started this twice.The second time after compete 1st tringle,took 1 day! Decided I do NOT like holes and frog frog fogity frog ! I now have them wrapped. I read your take on how you feel of holes,did I listen? So now I ask you, HOW? HOW did you finish so fast? I am just finishing the 2nd triangle!Woman how!!