Knitting Friday

I promised directions for a shawl made of left-over yarn last week. I'm going to give you the basic pattern which has not been tested completely (it's still on the needles) so I would appreciate any feedback if you try the pattern.

Leftover Yarn Shawl Pattern
First, prepare your yarn by making a good-sized ball either by Russian joins or splicing.

Materials: yarn, any size needles. I'm using US 17.
Abbreviations:
K - Knit
Kfb/ Pfb - Knit (or purl) in front and back of the stitch
M1 - make one stitch in the horizontal thread between the stitches
P2tog - Purl two stitches together
RS - Right side
Sts - Stitches
* * - repeat directions between asterisks to last stitch

Set Up: Co 2 Pfb (4 sts)
Row 1 RS: Kfb *M1, K1* Kfb (2 st increase made)
Row 2: K *P2tog* K
Repeat Rows 1 & 2.

At your desired width, Row 1 becomes:
Row 1: Kfb *M1, K1* K2tog

At your desired length, Row 1 becomes:
Row 1: K2tog *M1, K1* K2tog

Tricky Part: The K st on the Row 1 side (not the M1 st) will look like a diagonal braid st. To the right of this st is the M1 area. You will notice two horizontal threads here.
________
________(this is the front thread)

With your right needle pick up the front horizontal thread and place it on your left needle. Knit in the front of this stitch. This becomes your M1 stitch.

On the first and second stitch of Row 1, it's difficult to see both horizontal threads in the M1 area. Just pick up the one you see. For the other M1s, if you stretch your work horizontally you will easily see the two threads.

Second Tricky Part: If you have to frog, remember that Row 1 has a lot of M1 stitches. To get that row back to its original count after frogging, you have to drop the M1s (they will just go back to being horizontal threads) and then start the row again, re-making the M1s.

Helpful Note: When you get to your width, count your stitches. That number must stay the same until you get to your length.

That's it. On US 17 needles, I'm getting a stretchy shawl (as you do knitting on the bias.) I'd like to try this on smaller needles to see the effect.

What's really nice is the fact that the colors seamlessly blend in and the front is attractively textured. (A picture will follow soon.)

At this point, I haven't decided what to do to the edges. More on that later.

Enjoy your knitting.