At the beginning of this year we were really excited to have Dani Sunshine join the team at YAK as a knitting teacher. She instructs all of our beginner classes including Learn to Knit and Next Steps in Knitting.
Dani designed the Inbetweener Shawl and Hat to accompany the Next Steps in Knitting class – the perfect pattern for the ‘inbetweener’ knitter. Those who have their knits and purls down pat so no longer a complete beginner but perhaps lacking some key skills and confidence to knit just anything that takes their fancy. One of the hardest things to work out as an inbetweener knitter is what kind of pattern to choose. My advice in the shop is always that each new project should be just a little harder than the one before. Then once you’ve cracked a few new techniques, having them under your belt will give you the confidence to try anything.
Both accessories that Dani has designed are the perfect patterns for inbetweener knitters. They are chock full of key techniques that will come up again and again in patterns. The simple lace and cable panel will test the skill of any knitter but the rewards; increasing, decreasing, yarn overs, cables, the list goes on, will be obvious by the end.
I jumped at the chance to test knit the shawl for Dani. I used Malabrigo Rios, a gorgeous hand dyed superwash merino, soft with a lovely stitch definition. The pattern is meticulously written, clear with both charts and written instructions. The shawl comes in two sizes. I made the smaller size which used 2 skeins (just 20g leftover – very satisfying) of Rios, the larger size would have used 3. Although called small the shawl fits easily around my neck without being too bulky.
This shawl went everywhere with me during the month of March. Many trains to London, the tube, the pub, knit night of course. And everywhere I went I forgot my cable needle. Ever the resourceful knitter I worked out there are many everyday things that can be used as a cable needle. None quite as suitable but pretty good for off the hoof.
The sample is now in the shop so do stop by and see it (we also have Dani’s sample hat!), try it on and sign up for our Next Steps in Knitting class!
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