So many scarves, so little time

Last Autumn, spurred on by the success of my first knitting project, I decided that it would be well within my capabilities to knit all of my Christmas presents. What’s more, the items I would fashion for my family would be cheap and meaningful. Perfect! Little did I know I had signed up for months of hand cramp and cursing. But in the end it was worth it and I finished all but one of the presents in time for the big day. I only just finished my brother’s woolly hat in time for the snow in February and I was in such a rush to post it to him that I forgot to take a photo. But here’s the rest of the presents I made.

Mum’s scarf

Using 1 x 100g skein of Rowan Colourscape Chunky by Kaffe Fassett on 7mm needles, cast on 22 stitches.

- Knit 4 rows
- *Knit into front and back of 1st stitch, then knit to last 2 and knit 2 together
- Purl row
- Repeat from * to desired length, finish by knitting 4 rows and cast off

Because each row of this pattern increases at one end and decreases at the other, it makes a scarf that’s on the diagonal which is a bit more interesting than just straight stocking stitch.

I got the pattern from the nice lady at John Lewis in Nottingham where I bought the wool. She had knitted up the design from the Rowan Colourscape book and it caught my eye.

Dad’s scarf

Using Marble Chunky wool by James C. Brett (100g of a 200g ball) on 7mm needles, cast on between 24 and 36 stitches.

- Knit a row
- Purl a row
- * Knit 3 rows
- Purl a row
- Repeat from * until the scarf is the desired length and cast off.

Great for keeping Dad warm at the rugby!

Grandma’s scarf

Using Sirdar Click Chunky wool (shade 0150, 3 x 50g balls) on 10mm needles (to make the stitch a little looser), cast on 24.

1. Moss stitch for 6 rows i.e. k1, p1 for first row, then p1, k1 for second row, then back to k1, p1 and so on
2. * k1, p1, k1, p1 then knit to last 3, p1, k1, p1
3. p1, k1, p1, k1 then purl to last 3, k1, p1, k1
4. Repeat from * for 20 rows then 6 rows of moss stitch
5. Repeat stages 2-4 until scarf is desired length, then cast off.

This gives a pattern with moss stitch edging and stocking stitch squares.

Kitty’s scarf

Using double knitting wool (I used 1 ball of 100g) on 4mm needles, cast on a multiple of 4, 32/36 is good.

- * Knit a row, purl a row
- k2, p2, k2, p2 for 4 rows (rib stitch)
- Knit a row, purl a row
- p2, k2 for 4 rows (so the rib is offset)
- Repeat from * until scarf is desired length, then cast off.

I made this pattern up when I was experimenting with variations of rib stitch, although I’m sure someone else has thought of it before me! I like the way the finished pattern looks like it’s woven.

And here’s Mum, Dad and Grandma wearing their gifts on Christmas Day!

My first knitting project

Just before I moved to Falmouth in July 2008, I was lucky enough to meet the lovely Sarah in Nottingham who was also headed to sunny Cornwall. We met on the UCF forum for new MA students and it turned out we were both migrating south on the same day. Well a few G&Ts later we became firm friends and we’ve not stopped eating, drinking and guffawing since.

It was Sarah who had the idea to start up Knit Club, having been a member of a knitting group for young, trendy types in Nottingham. I of course agreed to attend the first meeting, at the lovely Babahogs art cafe, thinking I could always just busy myself with tea and cake while the real knitters got on with it. But it wasn’t long before I was knitting along with the rest and with Sarah’s expert tuition, and some distant memories of knitting scarves for teddy bears when I was about 7, I soon completed my first project! Click here to see me proudly modelling my scarf when I finished it at Knit Club.

It ended up being much too wide and much too long and really much too fluffy to wear, but it’s still the first thing I knitted, so I’m proud of it.

Here’s how I made it:

Using chunky wool (I used 5 x 50g balls for mine but I could have managed with 4 if I’d made it narrower) and 10mm needles, cast on 32 stitches.

Row 1 & 2 – *K1, P1, repeat from * to end of row
Row 3 & 4 – *P1, K1, repeat from * to end of row

I think this is called irish moss stitch.

Repeat rows 1 -4 until desired length and cast off. Finish off with tassles (here’s how to make them if you’re not sure)