Halloween at the PA Renaissance Faire

My friend Joan and I went to the PA Renaissance Faire on their last weekend of the year, Saturday the 29th.  We had a great time!  The wickerman above greeted us as we entered the faire grounds.  The entire property at Mount Hope was PACKED.

We saw a few interesting shows, like the one about falconry.  Below, a handler holds a kestrel, who obviously wants to fly, and they did let her do her thing.

We also go to see a bit of one of Tartanic‘s shows.  They are a fantastic group featuring two traditional drummers and two bagpipers.  Very cool!  Here, their vendor wench, Annika, does some belly dance moves while balancing a sword on her head.

After Tartanic finished their show, and I looked over to my right, and there was a girl knitting a huge green shawl!  Wow!  I have never seen knitters at the PRF.  I mean, I’ve bought yarn there, such as the skein of alpaca yarn I acquired below from one vendor.

I had to talk to her and ask her about her project.  She was knitting a shawl, indeed, in garter stitch with very simple yarn over increases.  I figured, I can do that!  So I started one myself.

The funny thing about noticing one person knitting is that within fifteen minutes of seeing the initial knitter, I saw another, and then another!  How cool is that?!

So, you want to know how to make that shawl?  It’s easy, and here’s how I figured the pattern out.  It’s by NO MEANS an original pattern by me, just one I worked out and decided to share with you.  Here it is.

PA Renaissance Faire Shawl

Use the yarn and needles of your choice.  There is no gauge requirement.  My mine, I’m using fingering weight yarn on US 4 needles.

Cast on three stitches.

Row 1:  K1, kfb, K1.  You should now have four stitches.

Row 2:  K2, yo, k to end of row.

Repeat Row 2 until you have the shawl the size you want it.

Cast off loosely.

So, that’s was my PRF experience!  Joan and I had great time, and it was awesome to see some fellow knitters there, too.