January 29, 2010

First Pattern EVER

Well, first that I've written and shared with you that is I've finally gotten off my bum and have decided that since it is typed up, made twice, and I still like it, you should have it too!
So here it is, the Merci Beaucoup Shawl
I designed this pattern with my mom in mind, she wears shawls all the time, and it made sense that after helping me move from VA to NC, she needed one. And it might have been mother's day. Can't remember, the important part was helping me move. Not the easiest, not the worst, but I think the most exhausting move I've done so far. She's a brilliant woman, my momma. Hers is the shawl below in the grass, hopefully someday we will remember to take a proper photo shoot with her in it.

Hope you enjoy the pattern, and if you have questions, please leave a comment and I'll try my best to answer it. Please remember that I've made this shawl twice, but no one else has tried it, so be gentle if I've missed something! It's easy to knit through you own pattern and not notice glaring mistakes.
And a close up:
Edited to apologize for the weird html crapola that was appearing throughout the pattern. I will try to figure that out and will put it back up in its rightful place on this page soon. For now though, it is available on Ravelry.com as a free downloadable pdf. Right here, in fact. If you don't know what Ravelry is, it is SO worth signing up for. It's a vast pattern library, community, project journal... and an hour eater :)

***** Edited to add a correction to Row 3.  It should read as follows:

5 stitches in Seed st, P9, K2, * P1, purl into front of first YO, purl into back of 2nd YO, P1, K2* Repeat from * to last 14 stitches, K2, P9, 5 stitches in Seed st. 

************

xoxox

21 comments:

risiko said...

Thank you so much for sharing your pattern. if this is really your first ever pattern, not only can i not wait to see what you come up with next, i think i'll be seeing you give up your "day job
for a career in knit design. yup. that is how gorgeous i think this shawl is.

Sari said...

Gorgeous, and it doesn't look that difficult--a perfect project for me. A friend of mine has cancer AGAIN. This will be fabulous in purple.

femminismo said...

I am going to try this. Such a lovely pattern and the colors and great. I already have some yarn and have been looking for a shawl pattern. I'll let you know how it turns out. (this is my first visit here)

Cat said...

Thank you all for finding me and my pattern! It really means a lot! I forgot to mention, when you are working the second yo from row 2, work through the back loop. It will make it MUCH easier!

Unknown said...

how is the seed stitch done

Cat said...

Bernadette, I replied via email. Let me know if it doesn't get to you.

Anonymous said...

Hi Cat,

FYI, the instructions for your pattern located at http://tanglesandmud.blogspot.com/2010/01/first-pattern-ever.html
contain HTML comments that shouldn't appear on screen. The web programmer should be notified.

Carol

The Noisy Plume said...

Good grief. That's the most beautiful shawl I've ever seen! I'm so proud of your stitchery!!!

JeannieC said...

I'm on my way to go see the pattern - this is sooo beautiful! But..... knowing in my heart that it's on PDF and I won't be able to do it. Not without sitting down and hand-writing every single st. I don't have a printer - and PDF doesn't allow me to copy/paste to my email so that someone else can print it for me. It seems that all my knitting sites are doing this - it begins to look as tho I will be required to buy books to have a pattern I can use.

Betsy Markman said...

This shawl is gorgeous!
I don't plan to use exactly that yarn, but I'm not sure what to substitute. Can you tell us what weight of yarn that is?

Cat said...

Betsy, I think the Blue Heron is around a DK weight, but with shawls, you don't have to use the exact same weight. If you change the weight though, remember that the shawl will be wider or narrower than the original. :) Happy stitching!

smittynag said...

row 3 please explain what the KP9 means...

Row 3: 5 stitches in Seed st, P9, K2, * P1, purl into front of first YO, purl into back of 2nd YO, P1, K2* Repeat from * to last 14 stitches,( K P9,) 5 stitches in Seed st.

I am asking about the part in the ()

susanpariseau said...

it looks lovely. I just found this quite by accident and am thrilled I did. I also wanted to congratulate you on your first pattern. That is one heck of a great start, much and continued success.

susanpariseau said...

Your pattern is lovely. Congratulations, on this one and best wishes for many more to come.

Anonymous said...

What exactly is DK weigt yarn? Is it lighter than 4-ply worsted? Thanks, Marion

Cat said...

Marion, here's a link to explain DK, Worsted, etc. http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/weight.html

TiniGal said...

I am trying to get a copy of your pattern from the allfreekntting website for Merci Shawl (first pattern ever) but am unable to locate it. HELP!!
It's a beautiful pattern that I would like to make!!
Thank you. TiniGal

Cat said...

@tinigal - It is a downloadable pdf on Ravelry, Here's the link

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/merci-beaucoup

TiniGal said...

Cat, thank you so much! Lovely pattern. Tinigal

Unknown said...

What does first sentence in instructions mean? A YouTube tutorial video would rock

Cat said...

@kortnie Brewer - Do you mean "CO 84 stitches"? CO means "Cast on".