Cast on / Cast off, knitting, My Makes, Wool Work
comments 6

Cast off:

Louise stands in an alcove of pinkish stone. She stands with her right side toward the camera. She is wearing her gryer shawl around her shoulders.

Note: I’m going to attempt to put my finished projects on the blog instead of Ravelry. I won’t post any Ravelry links and links will either go to the designer/yarnie website or a central site like payhip or lovecrafts.

Gryer Shawl

Pattern:  (No Rav links)

Gryer by Isabell Kraemer

Wool:  

Coara Worsted by Shilasdair  (70% Blue face Leicester / 30% Shetland) in Meadowsweet; Alder and Indigo

Needle:  4.5mm

Shilasdair tags with yarn wrapped around

Notes:

This is my second Gryer Shawl. I made the first in 2018 in Daughter of a Shepherd Ram Jam and I knew it would be a project that I would make again. The pattern is a very soothing garter and eyelet design and I cast it when the UK was in lockdown. I don’t want to say this was a lockdown project, because I personally didn’t want to put any pressure on myself to make or complete anything in that period, but it was a project that I started in the covid times, nonetheless!

Mainly, I used the pattern as a guide – the design has three colours and to make the best use of the skeins I had I just knit til almost (very technical, I know) the end of the skein before I did the colour changes. The shawl came out nice and big, as you can see. I haven’t measured it, but the pattern is intended to be about 175 cm wingspan by 110 wide. I think this is probably bigger than that.  It’s definitely bigger than my first version of this shawl. 

In addition to the Meadowsweet, Indigo and Alder natural-dyed skeins I also have a stripe of pinky-orange madder in there – that was just one of those occasions where I thought the colour would work but it really didn’t! However I kept it in there because I am a great believer of where there is harmony there is also a bit of discord!

The handle of the Coara worsted  is plumpcious and bouncy. It is worsted in the weight sense (a weight that is sometimes called a light aran or a heavy DK or in the realms in betwixt) and the wool is woollen spun – thus where all that goodness of Shetland and BFL is ably assisted in becoming plumpy and warm. Garter looks so good in a woollen spun yarn, it really pops. 

The resulting shawl as a nice, comforting weight too it and it was a bit too warm for this sunny Thursday in August, down Rosslyn Glen, but come winter I think I will have this about my person at all times – it really traps the warmth. I suspect that the yarn will wear really well and I think I’d like to try a sweater in this yarn (its available in different weights too).

I heartily recommend this design for mindful making – I really believe garter is the stitch that grounds me most. Gryer is definitely a simple and soothing make.

I am also wearing a Stevie Top, by Tilly and the Buttons, which I made over a year ago. It is in a fabric from Fabworks Mill, which I can’t remember the name of, but it might have been diamond twill. It has a heavy linen look about it. 

Louise is standing on a footbridge in a wood. She is wearing a blue handmade top and she holds a triangular shape garter stitch shawl
Louise is standing on a footbridge in a wood. She is wearing a blue handmade top and she holds a triangular shape garter stitch shawl
Louise looks over the river at Rosslyn Glen. her Gryer shawl is wrapped around her and over her right shoulder
Louise stands in an alcove of pinkish stone. She stands with her right side toward the camera. She is wearing her gryer shawl around her shoulders.
My first Gryer in RamJam from 2018

6 Comments

  1. Susan Hobkirk says

    It’s beautiful-and I love the orangey stripe. Loved your description of the yarn. I just happen to be going to Skye in a couple of weeks………. what’s a girl to do?

  2. Louise Scollay says

    Well, Indeed! What is a girl to do? I really hope you enjoy visiting them – they’ve got a lovely business there – a cafe and B&B as well as yarn! I hope to visit one day.
    I definitely kept that orange stripe to remind me that hand-making is just that – by hand and that it involves decision making. I was trying to remember a fact about certain traditions of textile-making which included a mistake somewhere in the fabric. I can’t remember what it was, but yeah it’s that kind of concept!

  3. I am sure if I were you..the stripe would be a “contention?” But since you did the Madder Stripe I see it as very opportunistic, that you used something you liked and wanted to try…I LIKE IT!
    I will really appreciate more blogs posts..I am not Raveling for some time now!!

  4. I love this this, it might even make me start knitting again! I’ve been busy with crochet and weaving…
    I’m now following you on Instagram xxx

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