Monday, March 24, 2014

A Gift for Lorene


I have been exceedingly lucky in the fact that I have wonderful in-laws.  After meeting them the first time, I understood why my husband is as kind as he is. This was the Christmas gift I knit for my lovely mother-in-law. A special thanks to my gorgeous niece who braved the cold to model the scarf for me.




Lorene's Christmas Scarf:

Materials:
2 skeins Misti Alpaca Pima Silk in Pansy
Size US 6 Needles

Finished Measurements:
72 inches long
10 inches wide

Gauge: 24 stitches by 24 rows = 4 inches

* A note about gauge, I am NOT a fan of doing a gauge swatch, that doesn't mean I never make them, I just don't like to do them.  I have a hard time with knitting and then ripping it out.  I am far more likely to do a 1x1 or at most a 2x2 swatch for most projects.  Usually for my own patterns I finish the project then measure a 4x4 section.  That said, if your gauge is off of 24 stitches by 24 rows for this project, it's not a deal breaker.  I should start putting "gauge in the neighborhood of" whatever mine turns out to be.

Pattern Notes:
This scarf is knit by increasing from a point to a 6 inch width.  The width eventually narrows back down to another point.  From there the yarn over loops along the edge are picked up and knit to form a lace border.  Finally a garter edging is added.


Abbreviations:
 k:           knit
p:            purl
yo:          yarn over
k f&b:     knit into the front and the back of the stitch
k2t:         knit two stitches together
k3t:         knit 3 stitches together
ssk:         slip two stitches, knit them together
sk2tp:     slip stitch, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over




Body:

All rows are in knit stitch.

CO 1

Increase Section:

Row 1) yo, k f&b
Row 2) k
Row 3) yo, k to last stitch, k f&b
Row 4) k
Row 5) yo, k, k to last 3 stitches, k2t, k f&b
Row 6) k
Continue repeating rows 5 and 6 until 29 stitches on the needle, end with row 6 (my scarf measured about 4.5 in long at this point).

Next row: yo, k, ssk, k to last 3 stitches k2t, k f&b
Next row: k

Continue repeating last two rows for another 63 inches or to desired length (my scarf was roughly 67.5 inches total at this point).

Decrease Section:

Row 1) yo, k, ssk, k to last 4 stitches, k3t, k f&b (one stitch decreased)
Row 2) k

Continue to knit rows 1 & 2 of the decrease section until there are 6 stitches left on the needle, ending with row 2.

Next row: yo, ssk, k2t, k (5 stitches)
Next row: k
Next row: yo, ssk, k2t (4)
Next row: k
Next row: yo, k, k3t (3)
Next row: k
Next row: sk2tp (1)




Lace Border:

Begin to pick up loops on the edge, yarn over inbetween each loop you pick up.





Row 1) k, *yo, k2t* to end
Row 2) p

Repeat rows 1 and 2 three times.



 

Garter Edging:
(When you ssk at the end of the odd rows you will be connecting the edging to your main body of work.)

CO 10

Row 1 (rs): k3, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 2 (ws): slip wyif, k10
Row 3 (rs): k3, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 4 (ws): slip wyif, k11
Row 5 (rs): k3, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 6 (ws): slip wyif, k12
Row 7 (rs): k3, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 8 (ws): slip wyif, k13
Row 9 (rs): k3, yo, k7, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 10 (ws): slip wyif, k14
Row 11 (rs): k2, k2tog, yo, k7, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 12 (ws): slip wyif, k12, p2tog
Row 13 (rs): k2, k2tog, yo, k6, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 14 (ws): slip wyif, k11, p2tog
Row 15 (rs): k2, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 16 (ws): slip wyif, k10, p2tog
Row 17 (rs): k2, k2tog, yo, k4, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 18 (ws): slip wyif, k9, p2tog
Row 19 (rs): k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k1, ssk
Row 20 (ws): slip wyif, k8, p2tog

 For those chart lovers out there:
 



Happy Knitting!
*bwm