Knitty: little purls of wisdom
The Spinning Loft
Title
beauty shot

Tangy

Got yardage? If you are into art yarns, this is always the first question you ask. Unless the spinner (you or your favorite yarnie) has a bulky flier, chunky skeins top out around 35 yds. It’s no mystery that bigger your needles, the less yardage you need to knit the same width and length of scarf. But just how far will your yarn go?

This simple but elegant scarf is designed to make the most of available yardage and artful “moments” in your yarn (see Lynne's article for tips on knitting with momentous yarns). I wrote the pattern in sections so you can mix and match them to meet your yarn and yardage needs. I’ve also included instructions for three different gauges/WPI with yardage counts to match. Approximate yardage is provided for each pattern section so you have a better handle on how far you can get with what you’ve got.

The Thruway section is a handy double keyhole which stylishly yet practically channels the scarf around your neck and holds it in place, so you feel cuddled and comfy in your creation.


The beauty of this pattern is that it works so well with all those wonderful handspun “art” yarns you can buy from independent spinners. Browse through Etsy to see what’s available. Look for something that appeals to you – you don’t need much in the way of yardage, and it’s a great way to use up interesting thick-and-thin yarns. Key words to search for: handspun, plus any of these terms: art yarn, thick and thin, boucle, and corespun.

spacer model: Lauren Cabe spacer photos: Lynne Vogel

SIZE
One

 

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FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
6 inches wide and approx 77 inches long, without optional fringy embellishments.

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MATERIALS

Note: For all versions, the Commercial Yarn Alternative can be purchased from handspinners online. See last paragraph in introduction above. Fiber Preparation + Drafting Method is described in detail in Lynne's article in this issue of Knittyspin.

MATERIALS

WPI 7
[shown in 1st and 2nd photo]:
wrapping ply
spacer LV Ltd. Merino/Tussah [80% merino wool/20% tussah silk, color Black Hollyhocks]; color “Black Hollyhocks”; 4 oz.
core + binder plies
spacer CJKoho 50% merino wool/50% tencel, color Cameron; 4 oz.

Finished Yarn:
spacer Yardage used: 125


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US #13/9mm needles
spacer A spare DPN of the same or similar size.


WPI 6 [shown in 4th photo]:
spacer Woolgatherings Superfine Merino [100% merino]; color: Friday Harbor; 6 oz.

Finished Yarn:
spacer Yardage used: 103


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US #15/10mm needles
spacer A spare DPN of the same or similar size.


WPI 5 [shown in 3rd photo]:

fiber/yarn
spacer Lucca Dot Yarn’s Super Chunky Spiral Plied handspun [There are so many fibers in this yarn that they can’t all be listed. Most handspun sellers call this “a little bit of everything”. It’s usually mostly wool.]; color: Man for all seasons.

Finished Yarn:
spacer Yardage used: 80


Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US #17/11mm needles
spacer A spare DPN of the same or similar size.

spacer

GAUGE

WPI 7: 12 sts/16 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US #13/9mm needles.
WPI 6: 10 sts/14 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US #15/10mm needles.
WPI 5: 8 sts/12 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch using US #17/11mm d needles.

 

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

To lengthen or shorten the scarf, remove a Block section or two, or eliminate 2-4 stockinette rows in each Block.

Mix and match these sections to please yourself and your available yardage.  

The samples as photographed are worked as follows:
1 Onramp
2 City Blocks
1 Speed Bumps
1 Thruway
4 City Blocks
1 Speed Bumps
1 Offramp

Sections:
Yardages for each section are approximate and generous because they allow for breaking and changing yarns. Knit with one continuous yarn and yardages will be less.

Onramp:
Yardage required: 22[17, 12] yards.

CO 2 sts.

Row 1 [RS]: K.

Row 2 [WS]: P.

Repeat the last 2 rows once more.

Row 5 [RS]: K1, m1, k to end.

Row 6 [WS]: P.

Repeat the last 2 rows 12[9, 6] more times, to 15[12, 9] sts.

Repeat Rows 1 & 2 once more.

City Block:
Yardage required: 11[9, 7] yards.

Knit 6 rows.
Row 7 [RS]: K.
Row 8 [WS]: P.
Repeat the last 2 rows 4[3, 2] more times.

Speed Bumps:
Yardage required: 4[4, 3.5] yards.

Knit 6 rows.

Thruway [see above]:
Yardage required: 10[8, 6] yards.

In this section, the row is divided into three panels and worked separately. Panel 2 has an extra row on purpose because it gets twisted before joining.

Row 1 [RS] K5[4,3], turn.
Knit 12[10,8] more rows.
Break yarn and leave sts on RH needle. Rejoin yarn to where you left off after Row 1.

Row 1 [RS] K5[4,3], turn.

Knit 13[11,9] more rows. 
Break yarn and slide sts onto dpn. Flip the panel over once and slide the stitches just worked to the right hand needle in reverse order to twist the panel. Leave all 10 [8, 6] sts live on RH needle.

Rejoin yarn to start of last 5[4,3] sts of row.

Row 1 [RS] K last 5[4,3] sts of row.
Knit 12[10,8] more rows. 

Final row [WS]: Knit across all 15[12, 9] sts to rejoin row.

Offramp:
Yardage required: 22[17, 12] yards.
Row 1 [RS]: K.
Row 2 [WS]: P.
Repeat the last 2 rows once more.

Row 3 [RS]: K2tog, k to end.
Row 4 [WS]: P.
Row 5 [RS]: K.
Row 6 [WS]: P.
Repeat the last 4 rows until 2 sts rem.
Final row [RS]: K2tog, cut yarn and pull it through final st to end.

M1: make one by casting on with backward loop cast on.
[Note: this is not the usual M1; this increase method leaves no hole, gives you a more flexible selvedge and is easier to work with heavy textured yarns]

DIRECTIONSStart with an Onramp and work City Blocks, Speed Bumps and Thruways as you wish, until you’ve just about run out of yarn. 

End with an Offramp.

 

FINISHING
To finish, weave in ends.

Feeling frou frou? Cut a few lengths of especially momentous yarn and thread them through the cast on row and tie with overhand knot. 

Or not.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Eat, sleep, spin, knit, (dye, crochet, weave, felt) usually with dog attached and hubby looking on.

You’ll find more of her patterns and her LV Ltd fiber and yarn:

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