If at first you don't succeed.......... keep casting on until you get it right! Yes, this is the tenth time I have cast on for the Noro Striped Scarf and finally I think I have cracked it. I have been doing so much crochet lately that I thought it would be a good idea to get back to some knitting but it has been so long since I tried that it was like starting all over again. All this scarf calls for is a K1,P1 rib over 39 stitches. Well, that threw me for a start. I tried a few times (once I had managed to work out how to hold the needles again) and just couldn't get it to work. Then I realised that the pattern I was following had an extra stitch (this rib only works over an even number of stitches) as the person had added an extra stitch for doing a special edge (which of course I haven't worked out how to do) After several more attempts which saw dropped stitches, broken yarn and tears of frustration, I went back to basics and got my favourite starter knitting book out and started with the instructions for casting on (I hadn't even been doing that correctly!) and once I had got the basics right it started to work. My problem was that I thought I knew what I was doing rather than actually knowing.
Anyway here is my scarf as it stands so far............
The original pattern uses Noro Silk Garden but I am using Noro Kureyon in 3 colours - 2 balls of colour 52, 1 of 138 and one of 206. Look at all those ends to weave in - you change the colour every 2 rows _ I wonder what a fringe down one side would look like?
The finished scarf is supposed to be 6ft long (72 inches) This piece you see in the picture is 7 inches long and represents the following time spent:
1 omnibus edition of The Archers - approx 1 hour
1 film - The Sons of Katie Elder - approx 2 hours
2 episodes of Anna Karenina - approx 2 hours
1 episode Frasier - 30 mins
1 episode of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - 1 hour
so in total about 6 1/2 hours or roughly 55 mins an inch! I see I have an awful lot of TV watching ahead of me - I say watching but what I mean is listening as I daren't take my eyes off the knitting!
Starting this project has allowed me not only to reduce my stash but to use the lovely needles I bought some time ago at a local charity shop - so many great knitting bargains to be had. I bought 4 pairs of metal needles for about 75p a pair - they look like they are from the 50's....
I love the funky colours and as much as I like wooden needles I find the metal ones easier to work with as my tension is quite tight when I knit.......
I tried googling Atan but all I came up with is that it is an inverse tangent!
I have been so enjoying all the mitt crocheting I have been doing recently and have quite a few comments about the colour of the New Lanark Wool, that I have decided to do a little Giveaway which will help reduce my stash further. I am giving away 2 balls of New Lanark Wool ( one ball is plenty to make a pair of mitts) so you have 2 chances to win one. The first name out of the hat will get to choose which of the two lovely colours they would like and second out of hat will get the other colour. Here they are.....
They are both 100% scottish wool and they are both Aran weight in colourways Clematis and Blueberry. Just leave a wee comment on this post and you will get entered into the draw. Closing date at 12 noon GMT on Sunday 31st Jan.
That's weird I picked up my knitting needles last night for the first time in an age and like you I was struggling to remember how to cast on via the thumb method - I think it gives a nicer edge. Anyway, after X number of attempts I gave up and cast on with two needles - the way I was taught moons ago. (Why didn't I think of looking at my learn how to knit book?! Think it is beside my learn how to work your digital camera properly manual!) I'm not a fan of the wooden needles either - look nice but not for me. What am I knitting? More squares - quick, easy and take little thought. Maybe one day I will sew them all together to make a blanket - but can't give any guarantees!
Posted by: Bella Bheag | January 25, 2010 at 04:16 PM
..."a wee comment...."
I love it. Reminds me of the nice Scottish couple who lived a few doors up from me when I was growing up. Even after 40 years in Australia, they still had their accent.
Posted by: Frogdancer | January 25, 2010 at 08:35 PM
Your scarf is lovely! People at my knitting group were just talking on Monday about giving your finished knitting to someone else to sew up/finish! I think I would pass this one on, tho' you could spend quite a good time doing it while listening to your films/stories - a cosy idea.
Posted by: tea and cake | January 27, 2010 at 03:47 AM
Hey Suzanne, that's a stellar effot to get this scarf up and running. Could I please borrow some of your determination and focus.Once you get the rhythm going you will be able to watch T.V. as you knit. I have been crocheting away with my wrist warmers and then when I realise I haven't made them wide enough to go around my wrist, I pull it out and start again. Somehow, the rows seem to angle in as I go along, so I am on to my third attempt. Pleaes enter me in the draw for the wool love the colours and their names.
Regards, Claire
Posted by: Claire Smith | January 30, 2010 at 03:48 AM
uhmmmm.... I too am one of those people who doesn't really knit, and would definitely need to pull out the knitting instruction book... But I wanted to add - my regular crafting group is mainly knitters, and I have seen one gal knit two of these (which I think look REALLY great and are fun to watch evolve.) However, I don't think she had "ends" that needed to be knit back in every two rows... I think she was changing yarn leads then, and the one she wasn't using was carried up the side. I would look into that if I were you, because it could save you a LOT of work.
Posted by: Kay | January 30, 2010 at 05:05 PM
Lovely colours you're using in your scarf! Kay is right - don't cut the yarn every two rows, just swap to the next colour and carry on. The new working yarn will hold the non-working yarn in place while you rib two rows. Twist the yarns the same way each time when swapping colour to get an even edge. Easy Peasy and so much easier than all those ends to weave in afterwards.
Keep trying!
Posted by: Jacqui | February 08, 2010 at 02:13 PM
Another way is to simply slip the first stitch of your knitting onto needle, and carry the other colour up behind it: so much quicker and very neat. Good luck with your scarf: great colour combinations!
Posted by: Julie Nelson Rhodes | March 10, 2010 at 01:58 AM