A new grandchild, some new knits

For the last few months I have been getting stuck into the knitting as we await our 7th grandchild. A beautiful heirloom favourite is the christening shawl or baby shawl.

There are many captivating designs available but one I have loved is called Bubbles and is a Patons pattern. It is now available in Patons Book 5000 where it is worked with a 4 ply yarn. It has previously been available in the Heirloom collection of Baby Rugs and shawls Book 2105 and prior to that I remember seeing it in a book of my grandmothers. So it has been around for a long time.

This timeless piece is a unique circular design worked from the centre out and I believe that this factor plus its economic use of yarn has made it a perennial favourite. The bubbles are formed by the yarn overs, which create a hole and this is interspersed with garter stitch making a frothy finish which is easy to knit in terms of the basic stitches needed. There are however long rows of 400+ stitches and you need to work on a circular needle. While you are not knitting in the round, the single seam required to form this shawl into a perfect circle takes some time care and patience.

Looking at the references to the pattern I see it can be worked in 2, 3 or 4 ply yarn. I have done this project twice. The first time was using a 3 ply pure wool Patons yarn and this time round I am using Bendigo Woollen Mills 4 ply pure wool. Spectacular result. I just love it. 

​The most difficult thing for me was getting a photo of the whole circle, so I have included a shot from the internet which is the first one you see below. Mine follows, unblocked, but lace edges steam pressed.

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