Knitty: little purls of wisdom
Spinning Loft
Title
beauty shot by Jillian Moreno

Tangy

Sometimes I like to be a contrary spinner. This is one of those times. I love the shine and heavy drape of merino tencel. I love the colorway of this fiber and don’t want to interrupt it.

Usually when I see a handspun merino/tencel yarn it’s fine and spun worsted to maximize the shiny-love. I wanted to see what would happen if, I went the opposite route. I spun this woolen -- supported long draw, but smoothed as I went to coax the shine, and I spun it thicker than I’ve seen merino/tencel spun. To preserve the color flow and tempt fate by making it a fatter yarn, I chain plied it. The result is a yarn of depth and slinky weight.

Continuing in the contrary vein I knit lace, chunky. I love this scarf. The length gets you to tie it around your neck, with the ends in front, so people notice it and you in your contrary glory.
spacer model: Isobel spacer photos: Jillian Moreno

SIZE
One
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FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Width: 9 inches
Length: 40 inches
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MATERIALS
spacer CJ Koho[50% merino/50% tencel; top]; color: Jillian; 8 ounces

Finished Yarn:
spacer Wraps per inch: 7
spacer Yardage used: 150 yards

Drafting Method:
spacer Supported long draw with smoothing

Plying Method:
spacer Chain, or Navajo ply

gearbox

Spinning Tool: Schacht Matchless DT; scotch tension
Niddy Noddy: Schacht
Commercial Yarn Alternative
spacer Crystal Palace Chunky Mochi [80% merino/ 20% nylon; 49 yd per 50g skein]; color: Intense Rainbow; 3 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer 1 set US #10/6mm straight needles

Tools
spacer Cable needle
spacer Yarn needle
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GAUGE

12 sts/16 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
 

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

SK2PO: Slip next st knitwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over.

C4B: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold in back.  K2, then k2 from cable needle.

Lace Pattern
Row 1 [RS]: [P1, C4B, p1, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo] to last 6 sts, p1, C4B, p1.

Row 2 and all following even rows [WS]: K1, p4, k1, [p7, k1, p4, k1] to end.

Row 3 [RS]: [P1, k4, p1, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1] to last 6 sts, p1, k4, p1.

Row 5 [RS]: [P1, C4F, p1, k2, yo, SK2PO, yo, k2] to last 6 sts, p1, C4F, p1.

Row 7 [RS]: [P1, k4, p1, k7] to last 6 sts, p1, k4, p1.

Row 8 [WS]: K1, p4, k1, [p7, k1, p4, k1] to end.

DIRECTIONS
Loosely cast on 32 sts.

Knit 2 rows.

Pattern row: Work lace chart across, working 13-st repeat twice. Use written instructions or chart, as you prefer.

Work in pattern for 14 full repeats of Lace Chart.

Knit 2 rows. Bind off.

 

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Block to open up lace

 

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Jillian dreams of electric sheep.

Pattern & images © 2010 Jillian Moreno.
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