31 March 2014

It's good to have options - Beckenham Scarf

Beckenham Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Thanks for all the feedback on the Beckenham Scarf knitting pattern – I am glad that everyone is enjoying this so much. I am posting an update today as I have had a number of requests for additional sizes, so I am happy to oblige.

In this new version, I have included three different widths and lengths so you can really tailor your project according to the recipient. There are now charts and instructions for a Slim, Medium and Wide size each with a slightly different look, and of course all are completely reversible like the original.
Beckenham Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Slim scarf:
The slim version of the scarf features deep "V" pattern shapes. This gives a dynamic, modern edge to this version and this could be further emphasised by strong colour choices.

Working in a worsted weight yarn such as the beautifully soft Amherst by Webs this version will measure 18.5cm/7.5  ins in width, while a thicker yarn such as Berroco's Vintage Chunky will give a comfy width of 24cm/9.5 ins.

In the pattern I have suggested a length of 150cm/60 ins, but of course you can work a longer scarf if you prefer. Have a look at my earlier blogpost: “How long shall I make this scarf?” for some ideas on this.
Beckenham Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Medium Version:
The new medium version of the scarf has a slightly wider chevron patterning which gives a pleasing, classic result.

This works very well in a worsted weight yarn with a good standard width of 20cm/8 ins. In a chunky yarn the scarf would be 26cm/10.25 ins wide which is a lovely width for a warm winter scarf.

This version of the scarf is a little longer and measures 165cm/66 ins, but again you can modify this if you desire.
Beckenham Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Wide scarf:
This is the original version of the pattern and features a wide chevron design with a low 'rise' in the V‐shape patterning, giving a sophisticated feel to the final fabric.

It has a width of 21.5cm/8.5 ins (21.5 cm) when knitted in a worsted weight wool, and 28cm/11 ins in a chunky yarn – perfect for the fashion‐forward set. Both measure 185cm/72 ins long.

I hope you enjoy working with these variations. As I said in the title: it's good to have options! The samples have been worked in another of my favourite yarns, Cascade yarns Eco Cloud, a beautifully soft 70% merino wool, 30% baby alpaca mixture with great stitch definition.

Stitch Pattern:
The stitch used for this scarf is a modification of Seeded Chevron from our book, Reversible Knitting Stitches. This is a really interesting stitch giving a wonderful texture and patterning on both sides of the scarf. This makes it really easy to wear as you don’t need to worry which side is showing when you wrap it around your neck.

If you would like to read more about the Beckenham Scarf pattern, please click here. It is available for immediate download from the site.

Happy Scarf Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Patterns/Mens Patterns,
Beckenham, scarf, scarves, reversible scarf, scarf length, scarf width, reversible stitch,

24 March 2014

IBM - CIA - SSK ... k2tog?

Picture
I remember meeting someone at our driving test when we were first in the USA. As we all waited for our turn around the driving course he said that he was going to "really make something of himself – go to work for some three letter organisation."

I really had no idea what he meant at first and then figured it out. "Oh, like IBM or the CIA, you mean?" I said."Yeah, that's it." Quite a surprising difference between the two, of course, but he didn't seem to mind. Once you were with a three‐letter organisation of some kind then you had really achieved something.

And it's the same in knitting, isn't it? When Barbara Walker was putting a name together for her new stitch technique: "Slip two stitches, one at a time, to the right‐hand needle, pass them back to the left‐hand needle and knit the two stitches together through the backs of the loops", she coined the term "SSK".

This elegant shortening captures a lot of information in just 3 letters: Slip, Slip, [remember to do all that bit in the middle without another letter coming into the name], Knit [two stitches together tbl]. Simple, easy, catchy.

So why do we still have k2tog and p2tog? Why haven't these morphed into K2T and P2T? Personally I think this would be an improvement, and surely the magazine folks would prefer an acronym with just 3 letters instead of 5. Fewer column inches and much easier to read. It is also is a better mirror of the SSK, since these often occur together. For example:
  • Row 1: K1, SSK, wk to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. … or …
  • Row 1: K1, SSK, wk to last 3 sts, K2T, K1.

The second one there definitely gets my vote! Of course we can say it's tradition, but we have long since lost the "K1, sl 1, psso" abbreviation [Knit 1, slip 1, pass slip stitch over]. This is now reduced down to the much more succinct "KSP" [Knit, Slip, Pass].

Over time we have also changed many other knitting terms such as "widen" [increase] or "narrow" [decrease]. The term "narrow" was our dear friend "k2tog" and even that was sometimes abbreviated to just one letter: "N", but you don't see that any more now.

There have been some attempts to produce standardised lists of knitting terms, such as the US Craft Yarn Council's List of Abbreviations, but there are still many variations in different books, magazines and individual patterns.

There are also international differences which just adds to the complexity. For example, I still can't get used to using the term "rep" for "repeat" instead of "rpt" which is frequently used in the UK and Australia. I always feel like I should be doing an exercise routine when I see the numbers of "reps" I need to work in a pattern!

Still, the 3‐letter "K2T" doesn't seem to have made the suggested lists, but perhaps I should be radical and sneak it into my next pattern...

Happy Knitting!

Moira 
Keywords: Notes & Travels,
knitting patterns, patterns, abbreviations, knitting terms,

17 March 2014

Hand-knit Home

Scottswood Stole by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
​I don’t know about you, but I like to wear something hand‐made every day, whether it is a super-cozy sweater, a pair of hand‐knit socks or a deliciously warm wrap such as the Scottswood Stole pictured above.

Of course, this isn't an absolute rule but more in the nature of a guideline (and can you tell we've been re-watching “The Pirates of the Caribbean" recently?) However, I find that the day feels better when I have hand‐made things around me.

Shopping seems more colourful with some hand‐knit bags to supplement the plain linen ones. Sweaters are so much warmer when they are made from 100% wool.
Laurie Blanket by Anna Ravenscroft, for blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The same goes for items in the home. I love coming home to a house with knitted cushions, a cozy rug, or warm and fluffy hand-knit blankets. It just feels special to know that an item you are using started life as a simple ball of yarn.

So although there are wonderful blankets, throws and afghans in the shops, I would always prefer to have a hand-made version instead. They are often warmer too, as hand-knit yarns tend to be loftier and warmer than a commercial company might use.

I can, for example, vouch for the warmth of the Laurie Blanket in the photo above as I have used it often when visiting our daughter, Anna. It features Wide Chevron which is a dynamic stitch taken from our Reversible Knitting Stitches book. You can find more details about Anna’s pattern here.
Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
I found a sewing site the other day called Kollabora and saw a quote that resonated with me:
"If you have ever made anything, you know how good it feels: looking at it, wearing it, hearing others' praises for it. It becomes part of you. We are what we make.”
I couldn’t have said it better. It feels good for the soul and it's good for the environment too! Making something from scratch or repurposing an item that would otherwise be cast‐off and thrown away just feels like the right thing to do.

Definitely encouragement, if any were needed, to get out the knitting needles and plan some wonderful projects for the year ahead! Oh and that’s me in a cable sweater I finished not long back. It is also a lovely reminder of what trees look like with leaves on, isn’t it!

If you’d like to see more of Anna’s wonderful patterns, you can find them in her Ravelry shop here, and she also has a delightful range of children’s patterns and finished items on her website. So please make sure to check those out too.
​​
Until next time – Happy Hand Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Notes & Travels,
handmade, knitting, knitting for the home, wool, 

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