The Big Snuggly

 

This design came about after seeing a woven shawl class at The Mannings taught by Tom Knisely. It had wide, straight parts in the front but came to a V in the back. Most intriguing how it was done on a loom, but being a knitter, I said “I could knit that”.

I wanted a thick cozy shawl for curling up on the couch on cold winter nights. Afghans keep your lower parts warm but do nothing for cold shoulders. I also wanted fast and easy knitting ­ big needles and four strands of yarn. I knit the thing in five days and when it was finished, I
realized it could also be worn as a shawl/coat outdoors as the shaping covers all of you to well below the waist and it looks good not to mention it feels absolutely heavenly.

This Snuggly can be made with any yarn at any gauge but if using four strands, make sure that at least two of the yarns are “lofty” such as mohair so it won't be too weighty. This is important or you will be wearing a rug!

I will give you the numbers for my shawl done on size 17 needles and four strands which were: Mexican Wave DK, Lion Brand Imagine, a coned worsted weight mohair and a wool singles in worsted wt. I used blues with the Imagine in cream.

My gauge was 2 sts per inch in garter stitch.

You do need to do a gauge and do the simple math from that if you're using less yarns or a different gauge. It's hard to estimate the amount of yarn but I do know it took me 5 balls of Mexican Wave (170 yds per ball) and 4 balls of Lion Brand Imagine (222 yds per ball in the solids). To be safe I would guestimate that it would take a maximum of 900 yds for each of four yarns.

Pattern:
So, cast on 26” worth of stitches (mine was 52 sts at 2 sts per inch) and knit in garter stitch until piece measures 30”.

Put a safety pin or piece of contrasting yarn on the right side of the work. Now you will short-row to create the point and turn the corner as follows:

Knit to within one stitch at end or row, turn and knit back.
Knit to within two stitches at end of row, turn and knit back.
Knit to within three stitches at end of row, turn and knit back.

Continue knitting one stitch less each right side row until no stitches are left. Just leave the unworked stitches on the needle as you go. This method will leave a line of decorative holes on either side of the “triangle”.

End having just worked a wrong side row.

Now do the opposite and knit one stitch more each right side row, turn and knit back, until all the stitches are worked. Then knit straight for 30 inches or the same number of rows (ridges) as you did for the first end.

Bind off loosely, darn in ends and snuggle up in it.

The short row section will turn the corner, causing the second straight section to be at right angles to the first, and the finished piece will look like a big “V”.


Copyright patterns and photos..2001 Joan Hamer. E-mail: jlhknits@earthlink.net
Editor/Publisher Pine Meadow Knitting News
http://www.fibergypsy.com/pmkn/
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