Malabrigo Quickies: Gemma Shawl
Have you knitted with our Ultimate Sock yarn yet? It is a delightful treat for your fingers, and if you need a project, our May Quickies design is sheer perfection! Gemma is a top-down triangular shawl designed by Linette Grayum. It features squishy layers of garter envelope eyelets and lace.
Linette even provides instructions for making a more extensive, lace-weight version! Linette learned the basics of knitting and crocheting when she was young, but not until her sister introduced her to hand-dyed yarn and indie designers just over a decade ago did she start exploring the amazing world of knitting and crocheting in depth.
When life seemed to unravel, she picked up her needles to create something new and uniquely hers, which in turn got her started in writing and publishing her own patterns. She loves designing, knitting, and wearing shawls, as well as hats and fingerless mitts. Her designs often incorporate an unusual construction element or fun little design detail.
Linette was kind enough to give us the inside scoop on her beautiful design!
1: What is your favorite part of your Quickies design and why?
It’s hard to say, I love the squishy garter stitch because it’s such a soothing, rhythmic stitch pattern and just comfortable to wear, but then you have the lace edge, which brings more interest to your project just when you’re about to get bored with the garter and adds a beautiful (feminine) touch when you wear it.
2: What should knitters pay attention to when working this pattern? Do you have any tips or tricks to make knitting this pattern easier?
The center (spine) only increases every other row, while the beginning and end of each row have a double increase. Stitch counts can get messed up if you’re not paying attention to the increase ratio (tho it’s easily fixed)
3: What do you think knitters will enjoy the most about this project?
The pattern’s versatility is beautiful in any yarn: semi-solid, gradient, handpainted.
4: What does your design process look like?
It differs from project to project, but I mostly find a beautiful stitch in a “stationary” or on Pinterest, or I am intrigued by a design in nature or around me and then create a stitch and design a pattern (mostly shawls) with that. I’m a “knit-first-write-after” kind of designer, which sometimes causes me to forget to make notes, and I have to go back to remember what exactly I did to replicate it into a workable pattern for others to follow
5: What is your favorite color in Malabrigo’s catalog?
Oh, that’s a tough one. I love that Malabrigo always has beautiful new colorways that are
intriguing and fun but also have steady constants. Besides Myths, I really like Hojas, Arugula. I want to work with “Archangel” in Lace soon.
6: What is the one thing you wish people knew about you as a designer?
Many of my patterns are accessible via screen reader and in large print. I try to be inclusive.
You can find Linette on IG: https://www.instagram.com/knitwithlinette, or her Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/KnitwithLinette/
And be sure to find her on Ravelry as LinetteG.
Gemma can be found on Ravelry here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gemma-28.
