Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

It’s All About The Scarves; Opinion Needed….

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Ok, I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m usually on the tail end of a fashion trend, meaning that by the time I decide it’s really cool and I can’t live without (insert ridiculous, now out of style, fashion), it is terribly out of date. But on this one I watched. I waited. I tried to figure it out. Tried really hard to “get” why scarves are so huge! I’m a Northern Gal and when I wear a scarf it does more than just get in the way. And it has to. In order for me to tolerate the “get in the way” part it better do a darn good job of sealing up the collar area while out tending to the critters. It better be warm and fuzzy and comfy, and wide. Nothing like these scarves that are 2 or 3 inches wide. What in the world???

So enlighten me. What is it about a scarf that makes you think it would be a good idea to throw one on in August, say when it’s 90 degrees and 90% humidity? Seems like it would get caught in the hay equipment to me. Being that I’m soooo glad to get rid of scarves, hats and mittens in the spring, it’s just a bit outlandish to me to think about using them for style or bringing an outfit together or whatever you use them for, although I do admit to thinking maybe it would be more useful than bailing twine for holding my hair back. I mean, my jeans and t-shirts go together just fine, I don’t need hanks of threads dangling from my neck taunting the cattle to chew on them.

So, while I’m waiting for all of you to educate me on this, here’s a free pattern, from Classic Elite, of… yup, you guessed it, a scarf! Click HERE: http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/pdf/KatydidDropScarf.pdf

Comments

  1. Terrye, you MUST say “yes” to the scarf!! A versatile, affordable accessory, a great beginning knit/crochet/woven project, an ideal gift, economically made, the best way to use up that extra ball of yarn, a conservative way to test a new fashion color, AND an ideal way to keep the air conditioning draft off your neck! 🙂 How was that? Did I win anything?
    XO Gail & Fog

  2. Lol, still not convinced, but then the memories of the cold winter winds are still with me. As far as the AC, well, up here, it’s just not necessary save maybe 3 days out of the year. Thanks for your post, Gail and Fog.

  3. When you are a yarn junky and you have a short attention span when it comes to knitting the skinny scarf is the perfect project and then the perfect accessory for savoring said fabulous yarn. Also while sometimes in the way it is also fun to play with.

  4. well, one should have a super LIGHT weight one for summer, to tie your hair back while riding in the convertible, or sitting in the wind on the dunes at the beach…plus at night it’s a touch of added warmth…

  6. Haha, oh Terrye, you are correct. In your day to day world a scarf is not at all practical. But maybe for those times you are going out and about? A pretty silky scarf tied up in your hair can lift spirits!!!

  7. See, I can only knit scarves and cowls, so I tend to wear a lot of them because I make a lot of them. Even in warmer weather, something skinny in a cotton-mix yarn can still add a little something. It’s the perfect meeting of style meets I-can-only-knit-rectangles knitting capability.

Have you read?

Knit a Classic Aran Cardigan with this Free Knitting Pattern

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]