Elemental Knitting Series (Water): Glacia Shawl Planning

For a while now I’ve been thinking of doing a series of shawl designs for beginners, which focuses on a particular design element. To take that element and use it in different ways within the same projects to show how it affects the outcome. When I was new at knitting I would choose a pattern I liked and jump in, Googling stitches along the way. This was a pretty good way to learn but quite often I was making stitches without really understanding the part they played in creating the finished design. In a simple project it would be more obvious, of course, but in complicated patterns I’d be making stitches and the outcome was sort of like magic. I didn’t understand how I got there, but I wasn’t going to question it!

If you’ve been following my blog since I started designing, you’ll know that one of my main focuses in designing is to make knit designs that are beginner friendly. I want people to be able to learn to knit and feel confident in their skills. This series is a part of that. Taking it a step beyond the true beginner phase of knit and purl and helping knitters to see firsthand how the stitches they make affect every aspect of their finished product. For them to be able to look at their piece of work and be able to read it stitch for stitch and know how it all came to be.

Like with any project, first things first. Choosing a yarn!

The timing actually worked out pretty great, because just while I was cooking up the idea for the first installment of the series, Scheepjes came out with their new Ombré Whirl collection. Have a look…

This new line of Whirl yarn is exactly the same as the regular Whirl, but done in one long, single colour gradient. While we all love the many colours of the originals, having a single colour gradient is fantastic. It just gives so many more options, especially when working with combinations of multiple cakes or if you want to make something a little softer with a more simple look.

As is always the case for me, colour selection was an issue. I went back and forth for ages, very nearly going with my recent phase of being addicted to all things pink, but in the end I decided to go with the colour that grabbed me the first time I looked at the photos.

This is Turquoise Turntable (559) and it is even more gorgeous in real life. Something just called to me with this colour and it was fortuitous because it fits perfectly with the theme I have chosen for this series – the elements. Not just the elements of knitting, but nature’s elements – Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

It’s all Elementary, my dear knitters!

The first of the four instalments will be Water and Ice called Glacia. A shawl designed using a single element of knitting in a number of different ways, to show you how a few simple stitches can be used to create a variety shapes and textures. This will be a totally beginner friendly project using a single ball of Whirl, which will be a great learning experience. For the more experienced knitters, it will be a lovely gradient shawl which has nice texture and is definitely a TV or travel friendly project.

I started planning this shawl while my husband and I were in Canada on holiday for a month in December. I knew what I wanted to do in terms of the series of knitting elements but the added elements of nature wasn’t a thing yet. I did feel quite a connection to water when we were there, though. Having grown up on Cape Breton Island, water was all around me and I realised just how landlocked I’ve felt in France. I took this video while on a drive along the shore of the Bras’dor lakes and that sound of the water lapping against the shore was like music to my ears.

The project never actually began until I was back in Europe and away for the weekend in the south of France visiting my husband’s family. We were staying in Pezenas in a lovely apartment we rented on AirBnB and it all started to fall into place. I had a few quiet moments in the morning to sit and knit which is when the actual idea for this element really came together.

I’m not sure what the timeline will be for this series. I’m expecting to release this shawl within the next 4-5 weeks. It is with the testers now and I want to give them plenty of time as some of my previous tests I’ve given them were major rush jobs. haha I’d like them to be able to take their time and just enjoy the flow with this one. I promise it won’t be two years like my All Good Things cowl, though!

I’m not sure when the following instalments of the series will be released, but I will keep you posted once this one is finished. I do have an idea brewing for Fire, so perhaps that will be next. We’ll see!

In the meantime, I’m sure if you are anything like me, you have plenty of WIP’s to keep you busy. I will be back with some WIP info on this shawl soon, stay tuned!

WHERE TO BUY

If you would like to prepare ahead, this project can be made with any Scheepjes Whirl, Woolly Whirl, Frosted Whirl or Whirlette!

UK and International buyers can find Whirl at Woolwarehouse, Black Sheep Wools and Deramores.
Canadian and International buyers have a great option with Knotty House.
Those of you in the Netherlands can find all you need at Caro’s Atelier.

You can also ask your preferred Scheepjes retailer or find a shop near you!

This post contains affiliate links. This is a way for you to support Canadutch and me as a designer. It is no extra cost to you, but if you shop via one of these links, I get a small percentage of the sale!