First New Scarf---Shag

Bought some hand-dyed silk chenille and decided it would be interesting for Shag. No pictures yet, but have done 1 1/2 squares so far. Washed the swatch to see if it would fluff up before I make a final decision on which needles to use.

I am very excited about finally getting started on this KAL

Meandering Stripes

Hi! Lynne saw my scarf on Flickr and invited me to join the KAL, so here I am. I knit this Meandering Stripes scarf in some of my handspun singles yarn for my aunt for Christmas. The scarf took about 150yds and is around 4 inches wide and 45 inches long. I think I used a size 9US/ 5.75mm needle, but I can't remember off the top of my head. I'm very happy with the scarf and my aunt loved it. I'm trying to decide which scarf to knit next, probably Hourglass, out of more handspun.

New Wave

After a few failed attempts, I'm on my way. And the "failures" were really quite silly, and completely my fault. I read through the instructions until I was pretty clear but I never bothered to check out the recommended yarn. Bad me! Because of the needle size I just assumed that the yarn was thicker than it was. So when I substituted with Andean silk I went down .5 mm on each needle. I don't think the silk content helped much either. This pattern needs a crisp yarn, not a flowly one. Upon realizing my mistake (after going to the source yarn's site all ready to order) I switched over to Cascade 220 from my stash and back to the recommended needle size. I still cast on with more stitches than the pattern calls for because I like a wider scarf. Now all seems to be smooth sailing. I'm also using two circs (Knitpicks Options) instead of DPNs. Much easier!

Looking inside the gap

Combining the stitches

Even though this is basically stockinette in the round, it remains interesting because of the two needle sizes and the combining stitches and rib division. Every time you recombine the stitches with one row of rib, you are basically flipping sides. When divide them again you are putting the larger stitches on the smaller needles and vice versa.

A Shortened Shag

The 90 grammes of Debbie Bliss 'Maya' I had gave me a 32" scarf, which I think is still very wearable as a jabot with a brooch.

I used 6.5 mm needles (6 mm gave me too firm a fabric), and this took from the 22nd of November to the 12th of December, although it would have been much quicker if I hadn't been working on several other projects at the same time. It was very straightforward to knit; the only difficulty I had was picking up stitches evenly across the rectangles, and practice soon perfected that. I'm thinking of Meandering Stripes next with some dark charcoal and light grey aran weight I have lying around.

Tilted Blocks, Etc.

I've finished the pink Tilted Blocks and I'm about to wrap it up so that I can post it tomorrow.The colour isn't at all right in this photograph, but it's my last chance for a picture. The real colour is much more pink, and less violet.

Much more like this, except that the scarf isn't blurred.

I've also taken the opportunity to photograph all the New Scarves I've done, as most of them are leaving my hands tomorrow.


I have, you will not be surprised to learm, already cast on another Shag, in Lorna's Laces Lake Tahoe, although it occurred to me tonight that I might have miscounted and this one might be extra. We'll see.

Shag scarf

This is my first project from the book, probably the first of many. I used Colinette Tagliatelli. One hank makes a short scarf--I won't be wrapping it around my neck a few times, but it's going to be a fun scarf to wear.

Help for Debbie G!

Hi Debbie. Helen alerted me to your comment, “I am a little confused about how to add the contrast color in the slip stitch section”, in the Hourglass Special post.

Here are some additional instructions and photos I hope will clear it up...

From Step 2 in the book: Rib stitches have already been divided in order to knit around.

Step 3: Now you are starting the 2-color slip stitch pattern. This section is knit around. When you knit around, a pocket is formed in the center. That’s where you will hide the ‘knot and tail’ from tying the contrasting color onto one of the main color strands.

The next photo shows the contrasting color yarn (light grey) tied onto one strand of the main color. This main color strand will be carried up through the pocket. The remaining main color strand will be used to work your slip stitch pattern along with the contrasting yarn.

The following photos show the unused main color yarn being carried up through the center, hidden in the pocket until you need it again. The yarns being used to knit the slip stitch pattern are seen off to the right.

I hope this helps, but if more is needed, please don’t hesitate to ask.