Daisy

The first version of the Daisy shawl was published in 2011 and became one of my best selling patterns. I also teach the Daisy shawl workshop regularly and over the years I've been teaching this workshop I decided that I wanted to over-haul the pattern slightly. Over the past few years I've learnt a lot about pattern writing through working with some fantastic tech editors (they check all my patterns before they are published). And I've changed the layout and my style of pattern writing.

In addition, I didn't like the bead placement on the original Daisy shawl. In the original version, the beads are placed between yarn overs on three increase rows where there's a yarn over after every stitch. In some of my classes, a few knitters experimented with putting the beads between the daisy chains which I decided I preferred. So for this new pattern the bead placement is different. I've also updated and re-written parts of the pattern to make it fit in with my current pattern writing style. And because of these changes I got the pattern tech edited again.This reduces the chance of any errors creeping in. The original pattern also had a high risk of running out of yarn when knitting the small size, so I've taken out a few rows to reduce the risk that you may run out of yarn. If you purchased this pattern from Ravelry, you will have received an e-mail this morning with a new download link and the new pattern will be added to your Ravelry library.

The photo below shows the new bead placement between the daisy chains (the stitches with yarn wrapped around them in clusters).

The Daisy shawl has a crescent shape which is easy to wear as a shawl or wrapped up around your neck as a scarf. These pictures show the small version but there is a large version too. The small size takes just one skein (400m/100g) of sock yarn and the large version takes 2 skeins (although I think it probably takes closer to 1.5 skeins). The original version was knitted in my own hand-dyed yarn but as that wasn't available anymore, the new version, knitted by Frances, was knitted in Schoppel Admiral Cat Print in colour 2157. This shawl is designed to work with variegated hand-dyed yarns but would also work perfectly with self-striping or solid yarns. I'd like to knit up the large version in Zauberball. The beads used are colour 49 Green in size 6/0 from Debbie Abrahams. I'll have both the pattern, yarn and beads at Woolfest next week.

Here are the important details for the new Daisy pattern:

Materials:
Schoppel Admiral Cat Print (4ply; 75% superwash wool/25% nylon; 420m/459yds per 100g) x 1 (2) skeins. Shown in shade: 2157
4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needle, 80cm (32in) length
235 (493) Debbie Abrahams seed beads, size 8/0, colour: 49 Green x 1 (2) bags of 500 beads
0.75 mm crochet hook (if using beads)

Tension:
13.5 sts and 20.5 rows over 10cm/4in in stitch pattern after blocking.
Exact tension is not essential but a difference in tension may affect the final size and amount of yarn used.

Size: 

Small:

Depth: 42cm/16½in

Inner crescent: 105cm/41½in

Outer crescent: 270cm/106½in

Large:

Depth: 63.5cm/25in

Inner crescent: 148cm/58½in

Outer crescent: 304.5cm/120in

Difficulty level:

Easy/Intermediate

If you are new to adding beads with a crochet hook, I've got a video demo (click on Knitting with beads). There's also a video demo there on elongated crossed stitches but not specifically on the daisy chain stitch but you may still find that video helpful. The daisy chain stitch is explained very clearly in the pattern.

This year I've gradually been bringing my pattern price up to £3.50. Any new patterns published are £3.50 and older patterns have been increased as they've been updated. I will bring my remaining pattern prices up to £3.50 (apart from a few patterns which still need updating) over the summer. 

If you're active on various Ravelry groups you may have heard about EU VAT. It's been causing a big stir since the beginning of this year. In the past VAT (which is value added tax) was based on where the seller lived and in the UK the VAT treshold is very high and therefore I wasn't liable for VAT so I didn't need to charge it. Now, VAT in EU countries is charged based on where the buyer lives. Therefore, if you live within the EU and I think also EEA countries, you will be charged your local VAT rate. Ravelry is repsonsible for collecting the VAT  and paying it to the various countries. I've chosen to add VAT to my existing pattern prices. So if you live in the EU you will be charged the pattern price of £3.50 (or £3) plus your local VAT. The VAT doesn't go to me, I pay that to Ravelry and they pay the various EU governments. 

The reason I've chosen to add VAT to my existing pattern price is because I can't afford to loose that money on my profit. It costs a lot of money to publish a pattern and because knitting patterns are fairly cheap (just compare them to sewing patterns!) I struggle to re-coup my initial costs, let alone make a profit on my patterns. I'm sorry if you live in the EU and you feel that my patterns are getting too expensive. I'm hoping you feel it's worth it as my patterns are well written and professionally tech edited.