27 June 2020

Social distance scarf

Scarf, Stacy Charles Luna Effects, colorway Fireglow.

So, no movie theaters, concerts, parties, fiber arts classes or coffee with friends.  But we are lucky - no sickness either.  Time to knit and decrease that stash (pun intended). I'd bought this Stacy Charles mohair/silk blend a while back, thinking to blend it with a tonal solid, as the "pooling" of color in self-striping yarns can be awkward.

Instead, decided to use two balls of this yarn on its own for a scarf. One ball pulled from the outside, gray to coral, the other ball pulled from the inside, coral to gray. You have to use two skeins which more or less match in terms of color gradient.

Adapted from a Stacy Charles e-pattern, the Turtle Bay Shawl. That pattern uses size 8 needles however, and, although it might knit up faster, I've learned that the resulting fabric doesn't hold its shape very well. This is true for another mohair blend favorite, Debbie Bliss' Angel yarn, as well.

So, here's my pattern for a scarf with some body to it.  I do like this yarn; it was like knitting a pet.

Finished measurements:  7 1/2" wide by 62" long

Materials: 
1) 2 balls Stacy Charles Luna Effects, 70% kid mohair, 30% silk, colorway Fireglow
Nota bene: Both balls featured the color gradient gray to coral, outside to inside
2) Size 4 needles, 16" length
I like Hiya Hiya Sharp circular
3) Tapestry needle, markers (optional)

Gauge:
20 stitches and 28 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
BUT the gauge doesn't matter that much in a scarf

Cast on 58 stitches

Ribbing:
Row 1: Knit 2, purl 2 across row
Row 2: Purl 2, knit 2 across row
Alternate Row 1 and 2 for a total of 6 rows of  2 x 2 ribbing

Pattern stitch:
Right side: [k2, p2] twice, [k10, p2, k2, p2] 3 times, k2
Wrong side: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches as they face you.

A tip: If it will help you keep track of pattern, place one marker after the first [k10, p2, k2, p2] sequence and another marker after the second sequence.

Work the first skein, then join yarn to reverse the color gradient. Knit in pattern until about 62" or until you've finished the reverse gradient, ending with a wrong side row, then finish with 6 rows of ribbing to match the first six rows.

Finishing:
Cast off all stitches in the ribbing pattern, and weave in ends. 


Fluffy scarf with coral center blending to gray at ends.

01 June 2020

Tammis Keefe towels

Linen dish towels by Tammis Keefe, c. 1957.

My wonderful DH just processed a batch of twenty-six towels to add to our Tammis Keefe website.  Visit the website and see more of these charming domestic linens, which brought color, and a little humor, to kitchen chores back in the day.