Long Skinny Scarf finished — at last

Edited July 11, 2009:

The end of this post now contains links to all of the posts that contain the pattern for this scarf.

Well, that was a little bit longer break than I initially anticipated, but I’m back! These last four weeks were filled with lots of house renovations and not so much knitting

My Long Skinny Scarf is finished — with a puddle of yarn left over. I’ll have to be more careful next time when I measure the centre point of the yarn.

While the ends are not truly symmetrical, I do like the shaping. It’s a keeper, I think.

As mentioned before, the edges do curl under and I do like that effect. It does make the scarf even more narrow, which I like as well for this one.

I think I would like to try a version of this with a little border on each side that eliminates that curl just to see the effect it has on the overall design details.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this little jaunt and are happily knitting!

Edited July 11, 2009:
Here are links to all the posts relating to this pattern:
Introduction
Long Skinny Scarf Part 2: the first 25 rows forming the point
Long Skinny Scarf Part 3: lace pattern for beginning of scarf — charted and written directions
Long Skinny Scarf update: picture – almost half-way finished
Long Skinny Scarf Part 4: centre turn-around section — written directions only
Long Skinny Scarf Part 4b: chart for centre turn-around section
Long Skinny Scarf Part 5: end tip charted
Long Skinny Scarf finished: picture

Long Skinny Scarf – Part 5

I spent a little time today charting the end tip of our Long Skinny Travelling Scarf and here it is. This should be a mirror image of the beginning. (For definitions of the cable pattern stitches, see the Sept. 10 blog post.)

Now, I haven’t knit this yet myself, so if you’re jumping ahead, there may be some issues with this draft of the chart. If you find anything, please tattle and tell all!!

Once you complete Row 23, k2tog and bind off.

I’ll will post pics as I knit mine.

Please feel free to share your scarf pics either here or on Ravelry. Just email a copy of the pic at southmountainnaturally_at_gmail_dot_com and I’ll be glad to share!!

Hope your scarf is just fabulous!

Long Skinny Scarf – Part 4b

(c)2008 PurpleSage Designs
Here you are – the chart for the “not so mirror image” of the scarf pattern.

I can’t stop it — yarn just keeps creeping onto my needles!!

I had some FT Meriboo left over from the Cridhe Irish Heartbeat child’s sweater and darn if the that yarn didn’t slink onto the needles and started whispering hat, hat, hat…..

Long Skinny Scarf – Part 4

Well, it’s not a true mirror image.

This is about trial #17 –honest!! Who would have thought it would be this difficult???? Maybe it’s just me?

However, as you can see in the second picture, I ended up with a twisted stitch, so I’ll have to frog the 16 rows to undo that (I could try just ripping down that one stitch, but the rows are so short I think it will be faster if I just reknit the rows).

On the left hand side of the scarf, however, the stitches are lying as they should.

As you can see, in trying to reverse the pattern, I had to move the yo (yarn overs) to the outside of the pattern in order to have the direction of the stitches flow toward the middle.

All in all, I think I like it and will knit the “last half” in this new pattern.

Here are the written instructions for the new pattern sequence (8 row repeat):

Row 1: k1, yo, k3, ssk, k3, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, k3, k2tog, k3, yo, k1
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8: p9, k2, p2, k2, p9
Row 3: k2, yo, k3, ssk, k2, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k2, k2tog, k3, yo, k2
Row 5: k3, yo, k3, ssk, k1, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k3
Row 7: k4, yo, k3, ssk, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k2tog, k3, yo, k4

I’ll chart it up in a few days, if you prefer to work that way.

If you really need to have the transition at the halfway point, you’ll have to measure the yardage of the yarn you’re using. If you’re a free spirit, pick a turnaround spot and let the lace fall where it may — who says the pattern has to switch at the halfway point? Be brave!

Happy knitting.

Long Skinny Scarf – Update

We took a little trip down to “The Valley” (aka the Annapolis Valley) today and my little scarf is now 33″ [84cm] long!

I am almost half way through my skein of yarn.

Someone asked if this was going to be a symmetrical design (i.e. mirror image) and while I toyed with the idea for a while today, this pattern does not reverse easily.

So, if you do want a mirror image scarf, you can stop at the half way point, cast on and knit half the scarf again and then graft the two pieces together.

Hope you’re having fun, too!

Long Skinny Scarf – Part 3

Here you are, my special people! Part 3

The stitch pattern is the Spiral and Eyelet Panel from the Harmony Stitch Guide Volume 3. The only change I made was in how the left decrease was worked (see pictures below).

En route to an estate auction in Windsor, NS today I managed to knit the scarf to a total length of 22″ [56cm] and I think I have at least 2/3 if not 3/4 of the skein still left — it will be a loooooong scarf!

Here’s what it looks like so far.

The edges do curl under a bit but I quite like that effect – makes the scarf appear more three dimensional. Depending on the yarn you use, if you don’t like that effect, you can opt to block your scarf when you’re done.

Chart
So here’s the chart for the main part of the scarf. Repeat these 8 rows.

All of the even numbered (wrong side) rows are the same.

Written Directions
If you like working from written instructions:

Row 1 (RS): k3, k2tog, k4, yo, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, yo, k4, slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch, k3

Row 2, 4, 6, 8: p9, k2, p2, k2, p9

Row 3: k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k1, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k1, yo, k4, slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch, k2

Row 5: k1, k2tog, k4, yo, k2, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, k2, yo, k4, slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch, k1

Row 7: k2tog, k4, yo, k3, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k3, yo, k4, slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitch over knit stitch

Repeat these 8 rows.

Working Decreases
I thought I would include a close-up pictures of the two versions of the left side decreases.

The instructions in the stitch guide have you work the left decrease like this:
“slip 1 stitch, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over“

That technique results in what you see at the left. Notice the horizontal bars created each time you decrease.

Instead of just slipping the stitch, I slipped it knitwise – that’s all the change that was required to create the effect you see in the second picture
(stitches above the black line in the picture). So, using the “slip 1 knitwise, k1, pass slipped stitch over” decrease gives a nice smooth line just like the k2tog decrease on the right side.

At the moment, I plan to reverse the shaping of the beginning when it’s time to end the scarf mainly because I like symmetry! But, that’s not written in stone — we’ll see what happens when we get there.

Happy knitting!

Take Along Projects – Sharing 2

The Long Skinny Scarf
Part 2
(Introduction was posted earlier today)

I will tag all of these posts as “long skinny scarf” so if you miss one, or think you missed one, you can click on that tag (label) at the bottom left of the blog and get all of the posts.

I’m using Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Terracotta with 4mm needles (CA/UK8, US6). I did not swatch — What you say? Not swatch? How can this be????? I swatch when it’s crucial — scarves don’t qualify! It will be what it will be.

Choosing a yarn with a smooth surface will help show off the design on the main part of the scarf.

Alright, here are the instructions for the beginning of the of the scarf.

Long Skinny Scarf : Part 2

Rather than describe in detail the Lifted Right and Lifted Left Increases, if you need a little assistance with those increase stitches, here’s a link to a Youtube video

Abbreviations:
p purl
k knit
LLinc (lifted left increase)
LRinc (lifted right increase)
yo yarn over
k2tog knit 2 stitches together
C4R (cable 4 right): place next 2 sts on cable needle and hold at back of work, k2, knit 2 stitches from cable needle
C4L (cable 4 left): place next 2 sts on cable needle and hold at front of work, k2, knit 2 stitches from cable needle

Directions:
Cast on 2 sts
R1(wrong side): p
R2: k1, LLinc, LRinc, k1
R3: p
R4: k1, LLinc, k2, LRinc, k1
R5: p
R6: k1, LLinc, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, LRinc, k1
R7: p2, k1, p2, k1, p2
R8: k1, LLinc, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, LRinc, k1
R9: p2, k2, p2, k2, p2
R10: k1, LLinc, k1, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, k1, LRinc, k1
R11: p3, k2, p2, k2, p3
R12: k1, LLinc, k2, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k2, LRinc, k1
R13: p4, k2, p2, k2, p4
R14: k1, LLinc, k3, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, k3, LRinc, k1
R15: p5, k2, p2, k2, p5
R16: k1, LLinc, k4, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k4, LRinc, k1
R17: p6, k2, p2, k2, p6
R18: k1, LLinc, k1, C4R, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, C4L, k1, LRinc, k1 (total: 20 sts)
R19: p7, k2, p2, k2, p7
R20: k1, LLinc, C4R, k2, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k2, C4L, LRinc, k1
R21: p8, k2, p2, k2, p8
R22: k1, LLinc, k7, p2, yo, k2tog, p2, k7, LRinc, k1 (total: 24 sts)
R23: p9, k2, p2, k2, p9
R24: k9, p2, k2tog, yo, p2, k9
R25: p9, k2, p2, k2, p9

The lace pattern panel will start with the next row…..in a few days.

While I’m using a worsted weight yarn, heavier or lighter yarns can easily be used. Scarves are so forgiving!

Take Along Projects – Sharing

Since I finished Peony Mairei, I feel I can dive into another new project.

Confession
I am not much of a sock knitter — it’s not that I can’t, it’s not that there aren’t multitudinous beautiful patterns out there, I’m just not much of a sock knitter.

My Current Take Along
So, while for many of you “the sock” is your travelling companion, my latest take-along project is a (potentially) long skinny soft scarf. The potentially applies to the “long” — I plan to use the entire ball of Lion Brand Cotton Ease (50% cotton, 50% acrylic; 3.5oz/207yds [100g/188m]) so that will be the determining factor.

I thought it might be fun for you to share the journey (he -he… the puns just slip out sometimes) and I’ll post the pattern charts here so you can try it too.

The Inspiration: I saw a lace panel in a stitch dictionary that just whispered “scarf” to me! I look into my nearest stash holder and a ball of Lion Brand Cotton Ease in a lovely Terracotta says “pick me” — so I did! I have no control over these things

The Pattern: The pattern is a 24 stitch panel with 8 row repeats. I did not want a square end on my skinny scarf, so I created the pattern for the point – a combination of pulling the central part of the 24 stitch panel down and creating some cabling to complement it. I’ll share tomorrow.