Hello dear Knitters! In this post you’ll find all the useful information about the Jimmy shawl KAL.
What is this KAL about?
In this KAL we knit the Jimmy shawl, the pattern you received as a gift when you subscribe to the Tricot & Stitch newsletter. Not a subscriber yet? Click here and join us!
When does it start / finish?
The KAL will run from Saturday, April 4th to May 17th, 2020.
Where does it take place?
- First and foremost, there will be a super fun, bilingual Cast On Party on Zoom on Saturday, April 4th at 5:00 pm Paris time. The meeting number is 613-642-226. Zoom is really easy to use, just download the app and enter the meeting number. It's that simple! To know what time that would be in your time zone, check this page. EDIT after April 4th cast-on party on Zoom, we decided to do a weekly zoom! Same time, same meeting number each Saturday!
- On Instagram, you can use and follow the hashtag #KALJimmy2020. There will be weekly prompts to share your progress, and it starts now: I would love to see what you come up with after your stash dive session! Snap a photo of your yarn choice and post it on Instagram with #KALJimmy2020 - I'll be there to cheer and/or if you need help choosing ;-)
- On Ravelry, chat the time away in the forum: there are threads for the KAL where you are more than welcome to flash your stash, ask for advice, share your progress and crack a good joke!
How can I join?
If you’re already a newsletter subscriber, grab your pattern and join the fun! If you misplaced your pattern, send me a message and I will send it again to you.
If you’re not a subscriber yet and want to be, click here and join us!
If you want to join but do not want to subscribe, you can purchase the pattern on Ravelry and join as well!
Read-along, anyone?
Because a KAL is even better when you have an accompanying read-along, I thought we could enjoy "The Murder at the Vicarage", the first Miss Marple book by the Queen of cozy mysteries, Agatha Christie. For those willing to join, there will be a thread in the Ravelry forum as well. The book is a classic and is available on an array of digital platforms.
So I prepared a little planning for both the Knit-along and and the Read-along. You know, for those of us type A who like to have every little detail cared for? You are welcome to use it as you see fit, no obligation whatsoever! I myself will use it to ensure steady progress while I continue working/knitting/reading on other projects... because I'm a mutitasking homeschooling-homecleaning-knitflixing-ninja-mompreneur. Aren't we all!
Week # - Jimmy rows - Book chapters
Week 1 - Knit until row 79 - Read chapters 1 to 5
Week 2 - Knit until row 115 - Read chapters 6 to 10
Week 3 - Knit until row 141 - Read chapters 11 to 16
Week 4 - Knit until row 158 - Read chapters 17 to 21
Week 5 - Knit until 55 repeats of the edging are completed - Read chapters 22 to 27
Week 6 - Finish the shawl - Finish the book
Must read before you cast on!
- The shawl uses two skeins of fingering weight yarn and the contrasting color (black in my original version) was completely used up. Plan for success and make sure you have enough or prepare a plan B if you loose at yarn chicken.
- Reason would have me tell you variegated yarn would work only for the main color, bla bla bla. But as I've decided to hack my own pattern and knit the lace border in stripes and variegated yarn, I won't. Explore options & have fun!
- In need of inspiration? Check the Jimmy projects on Ravelry and the #jimmyshawl hashtag on Instagram to see some FOs with different color combinations and pattern hacks (longer border, no edging, lace pattern with a rest row...).
- I put together LOTS of color options for the Jimmy shawl while pondering on my color combinations. I showed them at length in my two last podcast episodes here and here. There are timecode indications corresponding to each podcast section - you'll find the part on the Jimmy shawl KAL directly and you won't have to watch me rant about spinning and brioche unless you want to!