Special Olympics Scarf - Knit - Free Pattern

This pattern is modeled after my "Scarf from He**" pattern.





Here are the particulars:


SPECIAL OLYMPICS SCARF - KNIT

Measurements: 6" wide x 57" long.

Gauge: 2.5 stitches = 1” in garter stitch

Row gauge is not critical.


Materials:

1 skein – Red Heart Soft Yarn – Navy (#4604) – A

2 skeins – Red Heart Soft Yarn – Really Red (#9925) - B

Needles: Size 13 (9 mm) needles

Hook: Size N15 (10 mm) crochet hook


Body:

Using A and B together, cast on 15 stitches, using a knit cast-on.

Work in garter stitch until the scarf measures 60” long.*

Bind off.


Border:

Double up Color B and, using a size N15 (10 mm) crochet hook, crochet into the garter stitch "nub" selvage at the row ends. Crochet in slip stitch up the scarf and all the way around, making a border.

Bind off and weave in all ends.

*The length shortened due to the crochet border step, which is why a length of 60" is knitted, but the finished result is 57".


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The Great 2012 Waverly for Bernat Mystery Afghan Crochet-Along!

I’m happy to report that today is the first day of the great 2012 Waverly for Bernat Mystery Afghan Crochet-Along! Yes, yours truly decided to cave and participate. I’m going to give away the final product, so as not to completely jettison my New Year’s Resolution. For my colors, I have:

Main Color – Tibetan Red
A – Antique
B – Stone Brown
C – Cadet
D – Gypsy Gold




I purposely picked out colors that won’t work in my house, so that I’ll be forced to part with the afghan. Of course, one good paint job could take care of that. NO! Must not be tempted…must not be tempted…must not be tempted…

Anyway, I just completed the gauge swatch and discovered, in fine-honored tradition, that I need a hook WAY bigger than the size 5.00 mm (U.S. H8) indicated. I’m going with a 6.50 mm hook (U.S. K10). I also discovered that while I like the colors, I’m not wild about the splittiness (if that’s a word) of the yarn. Because of this, I’m using my Susan Bates Quicksilver hook. I don’t know what it is about the coating on a Quicksilver hook, but it just works miracles on yarn that splits.

If you’re interested in participating, just go to the Bernat Forums at:

http://www.bernat.com/forums/

You’ll see the Crochet-Along subject right at the top of the posts. There is also a Knit-Along, if you’d prefer that.

Let the games begin!


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In Praise of the Lowly Garter Stitch!

I found myself today at the doctor's office. We won't dwell on the utter pain in the nether regions it is to drive down to Hartford, find a spot in the hospital ramp garage, and then sit around for ages, waiting for my doctor. He's an absolutely wonderful neurologist, but today he was running woefully behind schedule...

Anyway, I had brought (yet another) Special Olympics scarf to work on (thank heavens, as I definitely had the TIME). I decided to use up the last remaining yarn by doubling it and making my infamous "Scarf from He**" which can be found at:

http://wildknitter.blogspot.com/2011/04/scarf-from-he-finally-done-pattern.html

I have to say, it looks really nice in red and blue--I figure I'm going to trim it in the red.

ANYWAY, I was happily knitting away when a woman came into the doctor's office and remarked favorably on my scarf. Immediately, instead of simply thanking her, I had to launch into a lengthy dissertation to defend my choice of garter stitch. "Really," I declared, "I'm really capable of much more complicated work! I can cable and everything! I make socks, too! I'm just doing this because I knew it would be a quick knit..." I went on and on.

Afterwards, I had to stop and consider. WHY am I defending my great love of garter stitch??? I know it's the stitch of grade-school children, but it's also the basis for Sally Melville's The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch, Inspiration & Instruction. I think we can all agree that she turns out a mean pattern. I just love the soft, bouncy, squishiness of garter stitch. Blankets, scarves, and casual sweaters made from it are just so cozy. I love to make scarves where I stripe garter stitch vertically, which makes a nice effect. I'd love to try a log cabin afghan someday, as that's more garter stitching!

So, what is your favorite knitting stitch, and why?

P.S. I was mortified to find that if you Google "Scarf from he**" and "WildKnitter" my pattern comes right up...


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The Bernat Mystery KAL/CAL...caving...caving...

Yes, I confess I'm being led astray from my New Year's resolution to buy NO yarn, unless it's for charity.

I just saw the pictures of the beautiful Waverly Bernat yarn on the site for the Bernat Mystery KAL/KAL. I've heard the chatter on all the forums. I'm being positively SWEPT UP by all the excitement!

Must be strong...must be strong...

Of course, if I DO decide to take the plunge, I can't decide if I want to do the KAL or CAL. Knit or Crochet? Knit or Crochet? Knitting an afghan is usually a massively tedious process, but the crochet version could be one of those weird, holey crochet afghans that make no practical sense.

I have a few more days to decide and take advantage of the Bernat discount. If you want to be wild and crazy, this is the link:

http://www.bernat.com/2012mysteryafghan/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Bernat%20Waverly%20Promo%20Jan%202012&utm_content=

I, for one, am leaning toward the "Simplicity" colors...


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Carrying the Message...of the Yarn!

I think my teaching skills are improving...slightly...

I've always admired people who are teachers, as I'm one of those people who doesn't have a lot of patience. I dread it when they want me to instruct someone at work. I sit there grinding my teeth as the person tries again and again to do whatever the task is. I fight the urge to say "Screw it!" and to do the thing myself instead.

Lately, I've had a few instances where people have wanted to learn...I'm going to say the ways of the yarn here, because in the first instance I thought I was going to be giving someone a knitting lesson, but she showed up in the cafeteria at work with crochet hooks. This first attempt at instruction was sort of a bust, as I think I whizzed through chaining a bit too fast for her. We ran out of time, and I ended up just giving her a link to one of those crochet sites online where you can see videos of different stitches.

The other day, I got another chance. My partner has a good friend who used to...now again, my partner wasn't sure if the woman used to knit or crochet, so I was in suspense until she showed up at our door. Sure enough, it was going to be another crochet lesson! This time, I tried to go a little slower. She caught on very quickly, though. I kind of went a little crazy and tried to teach her how to double crochet, but we both decided she should stick with single crochet for now. By the time she left the house, she was well on her way to making a nice sc afghan.

So, I feel a little better now, and I've managed make yet another convert! Do I get that toaster oven now???



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Mutant Yarn!

Check out the mutant strand of white in my skein of "Medium Willow" Mary Maxim Starlette yarn! Weird... (cue the "Twilight Zone" music)...

Some might say email the company and get my money back or a new skein, but that's not how I roll...I just think it's hysterical!




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Swifting Around!

Show of hands...how many of you just LOVE to use a swift and ball winder?

I know I do!

When I first started knitting and crocheting, I mainly used yarn that already came in pull-skeins, a la Red Heart. As I further explored my yarn options, I came upon yarn at the LYS that one needed to wind into balls. At first, I used the back of a chair. This took ages, depending on the yardage and the yarn thickness. The only one who enjoyed this method was our kitty Franklin, who would leap up into the chair and try to play with the yarn as I was winding it. This is his modus operandi for many human activities...

Later, I began to use the swift and ball winder at our LYS. I got a quick lesson from the owner. I used other people's swifts. I thought of buying one, but figured it was too much money for something I didn't think I really needed. After all, I could always borrow someone else's...

Then, one year, I got a swift and ball winder for Christmas! I was touched by my partner's generosity, but again, didn't really see where I'd use them much. A funny thing happened, though. Now that I had my own swift and ball winder, I was free to buy WHATEVER YARN I WANTED, without having to worry about whether or not I could get it wound. A whole new world opened up to me!

Below is my latest "whirlwind" purchase...Misti Alpaca, to be used for the Knitting Pure & Simple Bulky Neckdown Pullover for Women...




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