Bojagi Shawl

This project was my choice for the Quiet Queers Craftalong 2020, it’s a design by the craftalong’s creator and when I saw it I adored it. It also finally felt like the right project for my handspun gradient that I’d been holding onto for the perfect project. I’d made this gradient yarn by painstakingly pulling apart 2 variegated braids and then rearranging the coloured bits to flow from one into the other as smoothly as possible.

Key Details

Pattern: Bojagi Shawl by knitboop designs

Needle Size: 3.5mm, 3.75mm

Started: 14 July 2020
Finished: 5 September 2020

Size:
Project yarn use: 545m total
MC- 378m, 197gm
CC- 167.5m, 60gm

MC yarn: Alegryarn-Ixchel Blush Bunny
Colourway – purple, blue, green gradient

CC yarn: Fleece Artist Merino 2/6
Colourway – natural/undyed

Yarn Particulars and Rating: gradient was selected for garter section as it’s slightly thicker than the commercial undyed which is fine for the lace section as it’ll show up more airy and light. I also wanted to take full advantage of the gradient and use as much of it as possible.

Techniques

Cast on: Twisted German CO, aka Old Norwegian
Bind off: forgot to note down, opps

Slipped Stiches – used this technique with both the MC and CC as the slipped stitch in different parts of the project.
Cables – there are a couple of fiddly cable stitches in the lace section. A lockable stitch marker will serve you well.

Modifications, pattern notes, errata.

Pattern Notes

To add a second lace section ensure the number of stitches you have divides evenly by 14, plus 5.
For example (10*14)+5 = 145 stitches.

If you want to add another lace section you can do so straight after mosaic section 2 or knit garter for a while and use the formula above to calculate when to transition to the lace repeat.

Modifications

I changed the slip at the end of WS rows to a ktbl and then slipped the first stitch on RS rows. I found the results more pleasing and the stitch progression more consistent.

Switched the colours for the first mosaic section as I liked that transition when done in AbbyNormal’s Bojagi test knit project.

Crafter Log

Start

Yarn weights. MC: 207.7gm. CC: 124.8gm

I opted not to swatch for this project. I’m using smaller needles than the pattern recommends mainly because that’s what’s free.

Progression

July 24, 2020

Finished first mosaic section. Have been really enjoying this knit.

Yarn use so far. MC: 166gm CC: 112gm

August 22, 2020
Finished lace section. 60gm of CC remaining.

August 28, 2020
Almost finished the second mosaic section and still not out of the purple in the gradient. Tempted to do another half section inverting the colours and then just do all garter with the gradient to use it up and hopefully not end up with a too huge FO.

August 28, 2020
36.67gm of white left after mosaic 2. Going to do the garter section and see where we’re up to.

Finishing

I wet blocked this piece after a soak in cold water with some vinegar to avoid any colour runs. I blocked the lace a little aggressively to open up the design and show off the YOs. The garter I wanted to keep somewhat squishy so it was lightly bunched up and no stretch at all introduced on the blocking mat.

Very happy with how it all came out and while it’s large in size on me it’s not unwieldy. Very wearable and does stay in place better using a shawl pin but doesn’t need it to stay on.