2009-11-06

Winter Knitting

As the weather is getting colder here I've been inspired to pick up knitting again. So far I haven't had any crippling wrist and hand pain, so the prospect of more projects is looking good.

This scarf is the first thing I've completed in a year!

In general I'm much more intrigued by texture knitting than by the garment or color/pattern knitting like intarsia. That means I tend to only knit scarves and hats; I find a stitch I like, and focus on it over and over, without having to worry about gauging the stitch, or losing patience before the whole garment is finished (see box of 1/4 done sweaters and one mitten with fingers too short to fit husband's hand.)

scarf

The scarf is done mostly in moss stitch:

Cast on multiples of four stitches.
Rows 1 (RS) *K2, p2; rep from * to end. Rows 2 and 3 *P2, k2; rep from * to end. Row 4 *K2, p2; rep from * to end. Rep rows 1-4.

I think I used rows of 16 stitches.

stitch detail

I ended up putting in several rows of ribbing. The ribs started as a mistake, but I liked the visual interest they added to an otherwise boring white scarf (not totally boring, look at the sparkles!)

fringe detail

I finished it off with a variation on double-knotted fringe. The yarn was too bulky to double-knot all the strands, so I only used 2/3 of each tassel. The whole project used one skein of some cheapo poly-blend yarn I'd gotten years before, and I think it looks fantastic.

The scarf and fringe are still curly in these pictures, and I might need to block it. But hey, it's a scarf and I'm a lazy knitter.

If you're looking for a good knitting book my go-to book is a late '70s/ early '80s version of Vogue Knitting, although this is on my wish-list.

I'm currently looking for an easy pattern for knitting flowers if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them!

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