With each new triangle, I’m liking my Wingspan more and more. I’ve said this before and will probably say it every time I show my knitting . . but I’m not a good knitter. My mind wanders and I forget where I am on a chart, even using those magnetic things that are supposed to keep you from losing your spot, or on written instructions, and that’s when no one is talking to me. With a few interruptions, I’m ripping back. Yesterday we were visiting with some nurses who knit, Vince had already had some meds and was feeling quite brave I suppose. The knitting nurses and I were talking about patterns and we agreed that we like easy patterns that don’t require a lot of attention. I said “I knit to relax” and Vince piped in “You must be the most relaxed person in the world because all you do is knit!” Huh . . did he notice he’s been having fresh veggies every night from a garden I’ve been tending? Does he notice he has home cooked meals, clothes to wear, fruit trees alive because I water them . . not to mention that I maintain a path through the clutter so he can get from his recliner to the bathroom and to the bed?? But, we all smiled and the nurses knew he could be in big trouble for that remark.
Wingspan is so easy! It may look a bit intimidating . . or it did to me, but it is one I can easily do while talking, put it down and pick it up and never have to figure out where I am in the pattern.
On the Ravelry projects some mentioned holes where the short rows are made without wrapping that stitch. This is the area where the holes are.
Wingspan Short Rows
I’m going strictly by the pattern (no wraps) and am not finding the holes to be noticeable. They may be more so after I block it but I talked to Denise about it and she said since the holes are every 3rd stitch on those rows, it will look like a design element if there’s a hole so I’m just doing the S1 for my short row turns.
For the cast on stitches at the end, I’m doing a cable cast on and am real happy with the results.
I’ve just finished the third and started on the fourth triangle.
Wingspan
I have run into one little snag. This will be total Greek to non-knitters so if you’re not a knitter, or if you don’t want to do Wingspan, you might want to go do something fun! I suppose the non-knitters left a long time ago, don’t you think? 🙂
My skein is 100 grams, which is what is called for but since I have no idea what the yarn is, I don’t have a clue about the yardage. It’s a thin fingering weight so I figured it would have excess yardage. Not counting the initial cast on, or the knitted rows at the top, there’s 12.5 grams for each triangle. I was thinking if I used 12 grams per triangle, that should leave me enough for the knitted rows. After finishing the third triangle, I weighed the remaining yarn and found I had used 12.67 grams per triangle so I’m going to run short at this rate. For the fourth triangle, instead of knitting back to 16 stitches from the marker, I knitted back to 19 stitches from the marker, and instead of casting on 15 for the new triangle, I cast on 14. Not sure how much difference that’s going to make but I’ll weigh the yarn again after the fourth triangle is finished.
I would love to get 8 triangles instead of 7 but I surely don’t want to run short in the middle of a triangle.
Sharon in Michigan says
Your wingspan is looking mighty fine, Judy. I love the colors. I’ve always wanted to make one but the pattern intimidates me. Many someday…. Vince better know how good he has it. My husband doesns’t get freshly baked bread and sometimes it’s his turn to cook!
JudyL says
It is a very easy pattern! Don’t let it intimidate you!
Cindy F says
Love the pattern so I went and downloaded it. I just took up knitting and don’t know how to follow a pattern yet but I’m practicing my knitting and when I feel like I have the hang of it, I’m going to try it!. I found a bag of needles and yarns at my mother’s house and am trying out the various items to figure out what works for me. Now if only my eyes would cooperate! I should have taken this up years ago. I may have to change my bifocal prescription!
Maggie says
When I knit my Wingspan,I ran out of yarn and had to knit that final strip that goes the whole length of all the triangles with a different yarn. My yarn was brght pink/grey/black and I used a plain black yarn for that last edging. (Since it was my carry around knitting, I did not weigh it along the way like you are.)
Susan says
Now I see why it’s called Wingspan. I love the way the colors go.
AngieG9 says
It’s beautiful Judy. I love the colors, esp. when you show them close up. I may have to stop making the ruffled scarves and start on a Wingspan, but up here I will need a mohair blend and a much longer wrap for winter. Probably will just increase the edging a few feet to make it work.
Donna Williams says
You have inspired me again. Had to go to Little Rock today so we stopped in at one of my favorite LYS. Not only did they know the pattern, they had a sample all knitted up so I could see it. When my mother died I inherited all her knotting stuff, so I had the needles. Got some yarn and am ready to start! It will be a day or so though, have some stuff in front of it. Thanks for the inspiration Judy. If you were not as positive about things, I’d sure miss out on a lot. Yours is beautiful!
BethL in MD says
Love your Wingspan!! When I knit mine I used a Crazy Zauberball and only got 7 triangles. I still love it though 🙂
Bett says
I printed out Wingspread and Dreambird…….decided to jump right into Dreambird! It is true, once you do one feather, the second one is easier…..you know where you are going and what it is supposed to look like. I read through the instructions and I can follow the chart better than the step by step (too many words, just tell me what to do). I do have one issue that I need to research and see if it is just me or has someone else had the same problem. It is really an easy fix, but I think it is something I am doing and I want to correct whatever it is I am doing or not doing! Also, because there are 70 rows in one feather, I have to check off each row as I complete them. I really like how it looks!
Bett says
Sorry it should be Wingspan…..auto spell check got me again!
Judy S says
This pattern is on my list also! Yours looks great so far! A good friend gave me a Wingspan that she made, and she finished it off with a contrasting color on the edge which is beautifully effective.
Mel Meister says
I wish I could love Wingspam. I tried to knit it last year, but I dislike garter stitch. A lot. So I frogged the Wingspan and made a pair of socks out of the yarn. I don’t think it would work knit as stockinette because it would curl. I may experiment though.
Mel Meister says
Love the typo ‘”Wingspam”. Sounds like a canned meat product! LOL!