Sunday 10 May 2009

In May A Knitter's Thoughts Turn to....

...scarves?

I don't get it either. The sun is shining and temperatures are up -- but scarves it is.


The first is this super dooper colourful scarf knit with Noro Sock Yarn. The pattern, the imaginatively titled Drop Stitch Scarf, is in the summer 2009 Vogue Kniting (aka Designer Knitting) magazine.

It's a pattern I expect I wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been pointed out to me by the very friendly shop assistant at iKnit when I bought the magazine. She suggested it would look fab knit in a yarn with long stripes of colour -- and I agreed.

It was a straightforward project to knit - although I think there were a few errors in the pattern. I just did what I thought made sense and ignored what I decided didn't. There isn't an errata posted yet - so if you decide to make it and want to know what changes I made just let me know.



The horiontal stripes of dropped stitches are made by wrapping the yarn round the needle 3 times for each stitch, and then in the next row knitting into one of the wraps and dropping the other two.

The long vertical strips of dropped stitches are made by dropping a stitch off the needle during the cast off. Of course all knitters know that if you drop a stitch accidentally it will unravel at an alarming speed - particularly if the knitting is complicated. I can confirm though that if you drop a stitch on purpose it will unravel only through brute force. It took over an hour to drop the 6 stitches from the cast off edge back to the cast on!

I used almost all of the skein of yarn - these few yards are my leftovers.

The finished scarf is 15 inches by 72 inches.

More scarf action in the next post!




Now that the lovely weather appears to be settling in I've returned to work. Well, part time work so I can't complain too much! I'm doing some consultancy in the City which I'm actually enjoying.

I've set myself up a little company and I'm currently in the throes of sorting out logos and business cards, registering with Revenue and Customs, and just figuring out what it means to be a limited company in the UK!

I think I'd like to continue as a consultant - it suits my skill set and personality EXCEPT I'm such a rubbish networker/sales person. I'm going to have to work on that.....

CUPCAKES!!
Unrelated to knitting or my attempts at a career change I would like to draw the attention of any readers in London (or surrounding area) to the first ever Iron Cupcake:London Competition! Hosted by the Caked Crusader (who else?) which is due to be held June 1st in central London.

You can attend as a competitor or just to gobble up the lovely cupcakes - either way I expect it's going to be a fab evening!!!

You can find more details on the Caked Crusader's blog or at the Iron Cupcake:London website.

19 comments:

Chrissy said...

Oh wow that scarf is amazing. It looks big enough to be used as a shawl, so it should get used for summer evenings (shouldn't it, is it too warm?)

fleegle said...

Yowzer! What a scarf!

The Caked Crusader said...

Thanks for the plug on your esteemed site. It would be great to have some knitters come along.
Was it coincidental that you've picked a photo of cupcakes that tone with the colours in your lovely scarf?

Ann said...

I would indeed like to know the changes you made to the pattern. How very kind of you to make such an offer. Many thanks.

Shirley Grant said...

Your scarf is lovely! Did it take long to make?

Opal said...

gorgeous scarf! the colors are so vibrant. so alive.

Poison_kitty said...

Oh that scarf is beautiful, I love the colours! It reminds me of evenings on the beach, when it's starting to get chilly...

carolpa said...

I would love to know what your corrections were for your beautiful scarf. I'm just getting into knitting and would love to try this. I'm not able to read possible problems let alone solve them. I'm off to purchase the publication. Thanks for your offer--- Carol

Fiona Reynolds said...

Your scarf is stunning! The cupcakes are mouthwatering too.

Trista said...

I enjoy your lace knitting so much! I just wanted to say that as well as ask for your corrections to the scarf pattern. I am ready to knit that in a skein of Malabrigo sock yarn!
Thanks!

michelle said...

lovely scarf/shawl! what color number of noro sock yarn is that?

such wonderful colors. i LOVE it!

Linda said...

The scraf and cupcakes look delicious!

cici said...

what a lovely scarf.. and it's so cool how your cakes colors match♥

Sue T. said...

The cupcakes are wonderful!

The scarf looks so different in the Noro sock yarn. I too would be most interested in the corrections you made. The pattern claims to be easy but my knitting friend and I thought the stitch directions were written abominably. Pls, share what you changed?

Also must say that your Loopy Ewe Tea Cozy makes me smile whenever I open your blog page.

Anonymous said...

May I wear your scarf while eating one or two of those cupcakes? Both are totally delicious looking!
Sandra Singh

Angelika said...

You couldn't have found a better combo between yarn and pattern. Just great.

Batty said...

Lovely scarf, I love the happy colors. The pattern never appealed to me, but now, I think I have to make it.

And those cupcakes... yum!

Sue T. said...

Corrections for Spring/Summer 2009 Vogue Knitting on their website now include the Drop Stitch Scarf.

http://www.vogueknitting.com/node/584

florencemary said...

I missed this post, Soo... wow, that scarf in that yarn is stunning!

Hope the return-to-work continues to go well!