more Pi

more Pi
Originally uploaded by nigelpcat.

The bits I forgot : finished size is more than 5 feet across.
Thank heavens for Denise needles, I had to lengthen them a couple of times.

Pi shawl

Pi shawl
Originally uploaded by nigelpcat.

I have to say I love this!
The pattern is from a book I found in the library - 'Shawls and scarfs - best of Knitter's magazine' and the famous Pi is by Elizabeth Zimmerman. The whole thing is very simple and true to it's mathmatical origins - each time the radius doubles the circumference doubles. Or to put it simply there are only a few increase rows where the stitch numbers double.
This one has patterns as well but given how well the yarn works it would have looked good if left unadorned.
The yarn is Jojoland Melody, a fingering weight yarn, I used 6 balls at 220yds each so approx 1300 yards in total.
The rounds got a bit epic when I reached 576sts but well worth it.
In the end I just changed to garter stitch and added a few more rounds to finish off rather than add a proper border. I will admit to being put off at the thought of 576 rows of border. Although not visible in this photo my edge works well.
The photo doesn't do justice to the variation in colour - it took me a while to realise the obvious, that each time the number of stitches doubled the width of the colour band halved. As I say, very effective.
Only thing is I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it now!