INTRODUCTION

Switch Way

by Stephanie Shiman



When it comes to knitting, I have a short attention span. I blame the almost infinite possibilities that can created with sticks and string. As a result, I easily tire working miles of stockinette or garter—too soon I am ready to move onto the next shiny thing, leaving a basketful of abandoned, albeit very pretty, half-finished projects. I've learned that I need two things in my knitting—color and change.

To that end, this wrap falls neatly into the category of non-boring, mindless knitting. At just about the point you feel bored with garter stitch, you switch to eyelets, and after working with just one color becomes monotonous, you go back to stripes. Playing with color throughout, before you know it you've got a big squishy wrap that will quickly become your go-to chill chaser.

model: Mesa Kennedy

photos: Shannon Herrick

SIZE

Long[a bit longer]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 12.5 inches/30 cm
Length: 82[90] inches/ 208[228.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Wonderland Yarns "Mad Hatter" [100% superwash merino; 344 yd/315 m per 4 oz/113 g skein];
[MC] Ink: 1 skein
[CC] Confused Clamour: 1 skein

Wonderland Yarns "Mad Hatter" Mini Skein Pack [100% superwash merino; 430 yd/393 m per 5 oz/142 g skein]; color: Summer's Glory: 1 pack, M1-M4 (only four minis are needed)
Note: For the sample shown, I used the bright green as M1, tealy green as M2, variegated as M3, blue as M4

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #7/4.5mm circular needle, 24 inch/60 cm or longer

Notions
A single needle in a size or two larger than the project needles, for binding off
yarn needle
stitch markers, if desired
something sturdy to wrap yarn around to make tassels—such as a small book, or cardboard, if desired

GAUGE

17 sts/38 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in garter stitch
18 sts/24 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in diagonal eyelets

PATTERN NOTES

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

This wrap is worked on the bias. By increasing a stitch at the start of the row and decreasing a stitch at the end of the row, the work will slant. The stitch count will remain the same throughout.

It's constructed with three repeating sections: an eyelet mesh border at the start and end, two-color garter stripes, and diagonal eyelets. The shorter version has fewer garter rows in the first and final garter sections, otherwise both versions are the same.

If you'd like to change the length of the scarf, change the number of repeats in each Diagonal Eyelet section.

Designate four of the five colors from the Mini Skein Pack as M1, M2, M3, and M4.

DIRECTIONS

With M1, CO 80 sts.
Set-up row [WS]: Purl.

Eyelet Mesh Border
Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfb, [yo, k2tog] to last 2 sts, k2tog
Row 2: Knit.
Repeat the last 2 rows three more times.

Garter Stripe Section 1
Join MC and work the next two rows:

Garter Stripe Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfb, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog.
Garter Stripe Row 2: Knit.

With M1, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Cut M1.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Join CC.

*With CC, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Repeat from * 10[16] more times – 11[17] ridges in CC. Cut CC.

Join M2, leaving MC attached and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Cut MC.

Diagonal Eyelets Section 1
Continue with M2.
Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, yo, [k3, k2tog, yo] to last 5 sts, k3, k2tog.
Row 2: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat Rows 1-2 19 more times.

Garter Stripe Section 2
Join MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
With M2, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Cut M2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Join CC.

*With CC, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Repeat from * 9 more times – 10 ridges in CC. Cut CC.

Join M3, leaving MC attached and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Cut MC.

Diagonal Eyelets Section 2
Continue with M3.
Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, yo, [k3, k2tog, yo] to last 5 sts, k3, k2tog.
Row 2: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat Rows 1-2 19 more times.

Garter Striped Section 3
Join MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
With M3, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Cut M3.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Join CC.

*With CC, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Repeat from * 9 more times – 10 ridges in CC. Cut CC.

Join M4, leaving MC attached and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Cut MC.

Diagonal Eyelets Section 3
Continue with M4.
Row 1 [RS]: K1, kfb, k1, k2tog, yo, [k3, k2tog, yo] to last 5 sts, k3, k2tog.
Row 2: K2, purl to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat Rows 1-2 19 more times.

Garter Striped Section 4
Join MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2

With M4, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Cut M4.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2. Join CC.

*With CC, work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Repeat from * 10[16] more times - 11[17] ridges in CC. Cut CC.

Join M1, leaving MC attached and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Change to MC and work Garter Stripe Rows 1-2.
Cut MC.

Eyelet Mesh Border
With M1, repeat Eyelet Mesh Border.

Using the larger needle to work the stitches, bind off.

FINISHING

Weave in ends.

For tassels, I used the acid green border color. There should be enough of this color for two 4 inch/ 10 cm tassels. Use a piece of cardboard or something sturdy that measures the desired tassel length. (I used a 4 inch/10 cm metal needle gauge.) For the example, I wrapped the yarn 40 times around before tying off the tassel. I used a leftover contrasting color to bind the tassel—just for fun--and sewed one tassel to the lower corner on each end.

To block, wash. Stretching and pinning isn't necessary: the sample wasn't pinned, but you can do it if you'd like to open up the eyelet sections.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Stephanie’s first pattern for Knitty was “Unbiased” in the fall of 2004. As soon as the issue went live, her inbox was filled with emails from knitters looking for the yarn she had used. So, with a box of recycled silk yarn under her dining room table, Frabjous Fibers was born. Fifteen years later, Stephanie and her team of creatives fill 7,000 square feet with color and texture. Little did she know the path that one design would lead her down and she’s been grateful every step of the way.

Stephanie (stefknits on Ravelry) is the owner of frabjous fibers and Wonderland Yarns. When she’s not up to her elbows in dye, she enjoys foolishness with her daughters, junk shops, pottery, and all manner of fiber crafts.

Pattern & images © 2019 Stephanie Shiman