Monday, November 23, 2009

Red Scarf: The Sequel

Once I knit a scarf with yarn from a shop in Monterey, CA. The scarf was the color of the sea.

Unfortunately, I didn't buy enough yarn for an entire scarf. I had to do a nationwide yarn hunt to find another skein.

Now when I buy yarn for a scarf, especially a scarf with a vague, undecided design, I make sure to buy plenty of yarn.

At WEBS in July, I found 3 skeins of Misti Alpaca (Color WP01 Inca Red) for my niece K's scarf. Her scarf, in all its fabulousness, used just a tad over one skein.

I promised my sister-in-law J a scarf with the remainder of the yarn. (It is gorgeous yarn, this Misti Alpaca. Beautiful colors and so, so soft!)

When K chose her scarf from 5 swatches, J chose another swatch from the set. Each chose the dimensions for her ideal scarf.


For J, I started this Ribs and Ruffles scarf, a free pattern from Misti Alpaca.

Since I'm not using Misti Alpaca Chunky, I'm using two strands of Misti Alpaca Hand Paint worsted. I lined up the balls of yarn so the colors match.

I'm the worst at getting the gauge in patterns - and I'm not off in a consistent direction.

The scarf should have been the perfect width for J, but when I got started and measured, it was only 3.5 inches wide. J wants 5. (A 3.5 inch wide scarf is pretty small I must admit!)


Frogged it and started again....I just added another rib (by adding 4 stitches to the rib pattern)

This time the width is coming out a tad over 5. Works for me!!

It's interesting to see how the color pattern acted in the original version and then this wider version. I liked how the original skinny scarf had mostly red on one edge and mostly burgundy on the other.

This yarn is so beautiful, you really could probably knit anything and have it look and feel great.

9 comments:

Theresa said...

It is beautiful yarn no matter what you make with it!
Glad the frogging and such worked for proper width.
How is the woven scarf coming along?

Life Looms Large said...

For the woven scarf, I fixed the broken selvedge by re-arranging some of the left edge. And I'm part of the way through re-threading so I'll have a straight draw. I've got weft all picked out, and hope to be sampling any day now.

I've been interrupted by this dye project. I didn't realize when I brought home free dye, that it was already mixed and I should freeze it or use it. I was planning to freeze it, but changed my mind and decided to just go for it and use it. I spent all free moments on the weekend winding skeins and had a first big dyeing day yesterday.

So dyeing has badly interrupted other creative activities....but I'm still working on the scarf an hour a day no matter what. I think I have one more dye session and I'll be done. (Although I still have rinsing to do on skeins of red, purple and turquoise...so the first session isn't all the way done.)

I totally expected to be posting about the woven scarf by now....but soon I hope!

Sue

Theresa said...

LOL, oh my you have been busy! Can't wait to see all the dyed stuff you did. Wahoo!
Well, back to sleying for me...sigh....doesn't it almost always seem like everyone else's creative endeavors are more exciting than your own at any given point?

Life Looms Large said...

I just came back downstairs after tackling more of the re-threading. Should finish that tomorrow morning! Yay!

And am sitting contemplating the work I have to do to finish this dyeing project. I'm not sure I like to dye....so it's a bit tough working up the resolve to just do it!

Sue

Cindie said...

what a cute scarf - thanks for the link - I generally spin thin but I have some very fun chunky yarn I spun that will be perfect for this pattern........now where to find the extra hours in the day to knit it!

Delighted Hands said...

Alittle frogging now pays off.....this is going to be a great colored scarf!

Sara said...

That will be a wonderful gift - I am just learning to like scarves! I know it took me 5 years in cold country to like them...

Life Looms Large said...

Cindie, It is a pretty scarf and super fast to knit. (And I'm a slow knitter!) It's a fun pattern as well. I gave myself a 15 minute knitting break this afternoon - and loved every minute of it!

Sara - I am shocked that it took you 5 years to learn to like the scarf. I love scarves because if you go somewhere and are too cold, you can wrap up in your scarf. Plus it gives you a chance to have all that yarny goodness close at hand!

I am thinking about cowls which are everywhere on knitting blogs right now. Can't decide if they're a do or a don't!

Sue

Jennifer said...

I agree - sometimes the yarn is so beautiful it's really hard to do anything wrong with it! lovely!