Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Stitches, Bags and Holiday Wishes

You all have probably seen this long since, but take a look at this scarf.  It’s the stitch pattern that’s so interesting here.  It’s very simple:

On an even number of stitches:

Row 1: K1, *sl 1, K1, psso but before dropping the slipped stitch from the left needle, knit into the back of it; repeat from *, end K1.

Row 2: *Leaving the stitches on the left-hand needle, P2 tog, Purl the first stitch again and then slip both stitches from left-hand needle; repeat from *

Repeat these two rows for pattern.

When I first saw the directions and tried to work them, I was totally lost.  I couldn’t figure out how to knit that passed over loop in the back.  While I was fooling around with it last night though, something clicked into place.  There was something familiar about this...Hmmmm…

There’s a stitch pattern called Tweed Mock Rib.  I used it in the Cameron Scarf.

On an even number of stitches

Row 1: K1, *sl1, K1, YO, psso - passing the slipped stitch over both the knit stitch and the yarn over; rep from *, end K1.

Row 2: Purl

After working part of the above swatch as directed for the So Called Scarf (having figured out how to manage that knit-through-the-back on the slipped stitch) it dawned on me that this row (Row 1) and the Tweed Mock Rib are exactly the same except that for me, the Tweed Mock rib instructions are easier to interpret and to follow.  So I switched over to that and saw no difference in the resulting fabric.  The switchover took place about in the middle of the swatch.

The difference between the two stitch patterns is in how the wrong-side row is treated.  For the Tweed Mock Rib it is simply purled.  For the So Called Scarf stitch pattern, pairs of Purls are twisted so that instead of getting vertical rows of Vs running up and down you get horizontal rows of Vs running across the width of your work.  Very spiffy!

This is another pattern that I want to try with two alternating colors.  The fabric is not so dense as Linen stitch, but has beautiful visual texture and can be pretty solid.  As with Linen and Half-Linen, needles a couple of sizes larger than are recommended for the yarn would yield a softer, drapier fabric while the recommended needle size would produce something sturdier and more solid.

I also started on my Monk’s Bag with the plum cotton and size 4 (US) needles.  If you have made this, you know the most tedious part of it is the strap/sides/bottom piece.  As I look at the stitch above though, I find I’m not sure I want to continue with the Monk’s Bag or start something else entirely.  Or maybe just use a different stitch for things?  We’ll see when I pick things up this afternoon :)

I will be taking the holidays off blogging so I’d like to wish all of you very dear readers the very best the holidays have to offer - peace, love and happiness - however it is you celebrate!  Stay warm.  Stay safe.  May the new year be a good one for all of you and all of yours!  Blogging will resume on January 2, 2006.

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1. geez, that plum cotton is pretty-

   i do appreciate your being ‘the swatch queen’- i can’t count the times i’ve looked back into your archives to find something about stitches you’ve tried and commented on- many thanks for the efforts-

   to both you and myria, all good wishes for happy holidays and a great start to 2006-

   Posted by  on  12/21  at  12:15 PM
   Location : waiting for mr. claus



2. Happy holly-days to you two, too.

   Posted by  on  12/21  at  02:41 PM
   Location : Louisiana



3. Have a happy holiday! Hugs to both of you. :)

   Posted by Bron  on  12/21  at  03:01 PM
   Location :



4. Ohh thanks for the clarification I had the same problem with the stitch pattern when I tried swatching...now I can go back to it!  Happy Holidays!

   Posted by Marie  on  12/21  at  03:03 PM
   Location : Brooklyn



5. I was baffled too. I was wondering whether you moved the slipped stitch back onto the left needle, knitted into the back of it, then dropped it.  Your way sounds much easier.

   Posted by  on  12/21  at  04:25 PM
   Location :



6. I want to wish you very Happy Holidays. Look forward your future knitting projects and adventures.

   Posted by Maureen  on  12/23  at  11:11 AM
   Location :

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