How to Knit a Scarf in Random Lace

I once read a book (called Crazy Lace) that was all about using random lace stitches to make awesome, one-of-a-kind lace shawls. I loved the look of the projects and really wanted to try it, but so far I haven’t done it. It just seems like a really daunting project and like it might not actually turn out as beautifully as her samples did. Or maybe I don’t trust my ability to actually knit randomly.

One way to try random lace on a somewhat smaller scale is to try knitting a random lace scarf, which you can see a tutorial about at Knitting and do on. She counted her stitches every row to make sure she had the same number she started with, which admittedly sounds a little maddening, and she notes that it’s hard to track your progress when there are no visible repeats.

But the results are beautiful, and you could do this on a smaller project (washcloth? iPad cover?) to see how it works before embarking on a larger project.

I’m almost convinced I want to try it. What about you? Have you ever knit random lace? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo via Knitting and so on.]

Not too long ago I did a test knit for another designer that was for a cabled cardigan. It’s really cozy and nice but it just about broke me in a ton of different ways. I couldn’t get gauge, which I suppose is my own problem, but mainly I was somehow both bored and forced to pay attention at the same time.

Because it used the same cable all over, I always had to know what row I was on, but nine out of ten of those rows, nothing in particular was going on. So I couldn’t stop paying attention, but what I needed to attend to was boring.

It may have ruined me for knitting cabled sweaters, but maybe I just need something that’s more engaging. Like this Modern Aran Cardigan pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.

This is a reworking of an old pattern from their archives, and you can tell that form the classic look of the cables and the oversized feel (nothing cropped about this one!). It has allover cables, but like a classic Aran sweater it’s not the same cable, so you’ll have to pay attention to what row you’re on and what cable turns happen for which cables on that row.

Because of this, it’s considered an intermediate knitting pattern, but if you’re comfortable working from multiple charts at once it shouldn’t be a problem for you. There are three different charts and seven different cable moves.

Also because the pattern is so big and boxy there are only two sizes available, with a finished chest measurement of either 49 or 63 inches (that’s 124.5 or 160 cm). It’s up to you to decide how much ease you would like and whether that will work for your body.

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn (and calls for another classic, Lion Brand Fisherman’s Wool). It calls for six buttons and includes pockets to make it extra cozy.

This one looks like a great winter project to make and to wear if you’re up for a bit of a challenge. You can grab the free pattern or buy a kit with the yarn needed direct from Lion Brand Yarn.

[Photo: Lion Brand Yarn]

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