I have always been fascinated by plaits, maybe it goes back to my time on the farm watching my grandad plaiting intricate belts out of old fashioned bailing twine. I've never had a go at plaiting with more than three strands but I'd love to explore this to see if it is easy or something that you need lots of practice to get it just right.
This winter has begun and it's starting to get a bit cool when I'm out walking Ruby on the beach so I dug out some wool from my stash and sat down to design a new scarf for myself over the weekend. I find the most annoying thing about scarves is that they are really easy to lose because they fall or blow off in the wind. I've overcome this problem by making this scarf continuous. The idea came from a customer who visited our shop a few weeks ago, she was wearing a really long continuous persimon coloured fine woven wool scarf. I stored the idea away thinking that was so elegant but really practical.
This winter has begun and it's starting to get a bit cool when I'm out walking Ruby on the beach so I dug out some wool from my stash and sat down to design a new scarf for myself over the weekend. I find the most annoying thing about scarves is that they are really easy to lose because they fall or blow off in the wind. I've overcome this problem by making this scarf continuous. The idea came from a customer who visited our shop a few weeks ago, she was wearing a really long continuous persimon coloured fine woven wool scarf. I stored the idea away thinking that was so elegant but really practical.
The scarf measures 10cm x 150cm (4"x 59")
You will need a 2 x 50g balls of yarn, the one I used was Sean Sheep Rockbank, made in China, approximately 125 meters/136 yards of very soft self striping 70% wool and 30% alpaca, a scrap of wool for a temporary cast on, a 4.5mm crochet hook (or similar), a pair of 5.5mm knitting needles and a cable needle that will hold 4 stitches. *This wool has a suggested tension using 4.5mm knitting needle producing 28 rows x 20 stitches over 10cm (4") on the ball band.
You will need a 2 x 50g balls of yarn, the one I used was Sean Sheep Rockbank, made in China, approximately 125 meters/136 yards of very soft self striping 70% wool and 30% alpaca, a scrap of wool for a temporary cast on, a 4.5mm crochet hook (or similar), a pair of 5.5mm knitting needles and a cable needle that will hold 4 stitches. *This wool has a suggested tension using 4.5mm knitting needle producing 28 rows x 20 stitches over 10cm (4") on the ball band.
To begin make a row of chain stitches using the scrap of wool and the crochet hook, approximately 36 chain stitches. *If you want to make your scarf wider then add stitches in multiples of 8.
Next knit up 32 stitches with your main wool into the back loop of the chain stitches of the temporary cast on. This cast on technique is used because when all the knitting is finished you can remove the chain stitched crochet cast on and pickup the 32 'live' stitches and then graft them to the other end of your knitted scarf to complete your continuous scarf with an almost invisible join.
Next knit up 32 stitches with your main wool into the back loop of the chain stitches of the temporary cast on. This cast on technique is used because when all the knitting is finished you can remove the chain stitched crochet cast on and pickup the 32 'live' stitches and then graft them to the other end of your knitted scarf to complete your continuous scarf with an almost invisible join.
Row 1 - Purl
Row 2 - K4, (C8B) three times, K4
Row 3 - Purl
Row 4 - Knit
Row 5 - Purl
Row 6 - Knit
Row 7 - Purl
Row 6 - Knit
Row 7 - Purl
Row 8 - (C8F) four times
Row 9 - Purl
Row 10 - Knit
Row 11 - Purl
Row 12 - Knit
Row 10 - Knit
Row 11 - Purl
Row 12 - Knit
Repeat these 12 rows until you finish with Row 11, leave a very long tail ready for Kitchener stitch grafting.
Remove the temporary crochet cast on placing 'live' stitches onto your spare knitting needle making sure that when the scarf is folded in half with wrong sides together that the two needles will both point in the same direction ready for Kitchener stitch grafting the stitches together.
Here is a great video from KnittingHelp.com that shows your exactly how to go about doing your Kitchener stitch grafting.
Weave the tails in and your scarf is ready for your next winter walk. Enjoy.
Remove the temporary crochet cast on placing 'live' stitches onto your spare knitting needle making sure that when the scarf is folded in half with wrong sides together that the two needles will both point in the same direction ready for Kitchener stitch grafting the stitches together.
Here is a great video from KnittingHelp.com that shows your exactly how to go about doing your Kitchener stitch grafting.
Weave the tails in and your scarf is ready for your next winter walk. Enjoy.
Abbreviations
C8B - Put next 4 stitches on cable needle and leave at back of work, K4, then K4 from cable needle.
C8F - Put next 4 stitches on cable needle and leave at front of work, K4, then K4 from cable needle.
An easy knit that would make a great, inexpensive, thoughtful gift for someone this winter.
1 comment:
That should keep you stylishly warm on those foggy, cold mornings!
Those colors are GORGEOUS!
Post a Comment