31 July 2018

A new scarf for men – the Cambourne Scarf

Cambourne Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
Last time, I started a new "Summer and Winter" blogpost series, looking at pairs of knitting patterns with something in common but with very different seasons in mind. In that post, I looked at two scarves that had been worked sideways. This is a great technique for adding in details that will then run along the length of the scarf.

The "summer" knit was a ladies' scarf with vertical bands of openwork, while the "winter" pattern of the pair was a brand-new pattern for men which features a contrast colour stripe at one edge.

I promised to write more about this new pattern this week so here it is: the Cambourne Scarf.
Cambourne Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The Cambourne Scarf features a deeply textural rib and check pattern with a slimming contrast-coloured striped border along one edge. The depth of the texture adds both warmth and softness to the design to give a real chill-beating combination.

The pattern includes three different suggestions for the side contrast-coloured band. The small scarf is shown in blue with a navy stripe at the side, the medium version features a subtle two‐tone grey, and the large scarf is in a deep charcoal colour with a dark blue band.

The design was actually inspired by pictures of Cambridge college scarves from the 1930's. There are some wonderful old photographs with scholars wending their way across draughty quadrangles to their next lectures, striped scarves in their college's colours flapping in the breeze. This look has come back into favour again over the last few years and long striped scarves have made their appearance in a number of recent menswear collections.
Cambourne Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
For more information about the Cambourne Scarf, please click here. The pattern is available for instant download from my website so you can get started knitting today. After all, it may still feel like the height of summer here in the north but winter will be upon us before we know it!

In my next blogpost, I am going to talk about another Summer and Winter pattern comparison: two throws, one which would be perfect for a summer evening by the coast, and the other for snuggling under while the icy winds are blowing outside.

Until then – Happy Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Patterns/Mens Patterns,
scarf, scarves, sideways-knitted scarf, stripes, striped scarf, grey, blue, wool, reversible stitch, reversible scarf, reversible knitting, summer and winter,

12 July 2018

Summer and Winter

Kangaroo in the snow, photo in blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
It's Winter‐time! Or at least it is if you live in the Southern hemisphere.

At the moment is it 4:45pm in Sydney Australia and the sun has only a few more minutes before it sets behind the harbour bridge. The temperature is 11ºC/51ºF but will quickly drift down lower once the sun has gone down.

​Of course meanwhile in the north, it is anything but mid‐winter, with sweltering temperatures and heat advisories. Such a contrast.
Summer & Winter weaving, photo in blogpost by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
I was musing on this the other day while I was sorting through some old weaving books and was reminded of the weave structure called "Summer and Winter". This is a technique that is often worked with simple blocks and a limited range of colours but giving stunning fabrics.

The main feature of Summer and Winter is that the technique produces a reversible fabric, with one side usually lighter in colour and the other side darker. You can use the light side during the long summer days but then flip it over to give a second look for the winter months.
Sideways knit Cast on, photo by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
So I thought it might be fun to contrast pairs of knitting patterns, both similar in some way, but with a very different climate in mind for each of them. Today I thought I'd start with two sideways‐knitted scarves.

I enjoy knitting items sideways. It can be a lot of stitches to cast on at the start of the item, and of course each row lasts f‐o‐r‐e‐v‐e‐r, but I love that meditative feeling that descends on you as you work the same pattern over and over along the row.
Kimpton Scarf and Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
I have written before about the joys of knitting designs that are worked lengthwise. In that blogpost I was writing about a wrap version of the Kimpton Scarf shown above, one of my all‐time favourite summer knits.

It's perfect for throwing around your shoulders as you sit on the beach watching the sunset or in a slightly over air‐conditioned restaurant. This is such a light and airy pattern and is worked in a lovely crisp cotton mix yarn for the ultimate in summer wraps.
Cambourne Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
And here's what I'm working on right now: a super‐toasty men's scarf also worked lengthwise. This is the Cambourne Scarf and I will be uploading the pattern for this very soon. I finished one of these scarves the other day and am now working on a second version.

The scarves are worked in Lang Merino+, a gorgeously soft Aran weight yarn in a wide range of colours. The one above features a deep charcoal colour with a slim dark blue band down the side.
Cambourne Scarf by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
The second one still on my needles is a slightly slimmer version with two contrasting greys, the lighter main colour contrasting with the narrow charcoal band.

I have used a combination of two stitch patterns from our book, Reversible Knitting Stitchesand love the way the yarn emphasises the textural appearance of the stitches. The yarn has just enough sheen to catch the light and bring out the stitch definition.

I'll put some more details about this new scarf pattern in my next blogpost.
Kimpton Scarf and Wrap by Moira Ravenscroft, Wyndlestraw Designs
I hope you have enjoyed the first of these Summer and Winter pairings! The next pair of patterns will be two blankets, one just right for a summer beach hut and the other for snuggling under when the snow is falling outside.

Meanwhile, if you would like more details about the Kimpton Scarf and Wrap pattern, please click here.

Until next time – Happy Knitting!

Moira
Keywords: Patterns/Mens Patterns,
​scarf, scarves, sideways-knitted scarf, stripes, grey, blue, wool, yellow, cotton, lace, mesh, reversible stitch, reversible scarf, reversible knitting, summer and winter,

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