So I was yarn shopping the other day and I found a skein of Malabrigo Lace AND IT WAS THE COLOR OF ROMANCE NOVELS.
I mean, you guys, it’s pink and teal and lavender.
All that’s missing is a hero farting butterflies or something. So I had to make a scarf.
Things you will need:
1 skein Malabrigo Lace in the color cuarenta
1 skein Rowan Kidsilk Haze in color Alhambra (or complimentary color of your choice)
size 4 circular needles with a longish cord. You’ll find lace needles work best because of the pointy tips
A stitch marker. Look at these adorable ones! Or these! Or these!
A tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Step 1: Look at this picture of David Tennant with a kitten.
Let your ovaries settle.
Step 2: Holding one strand of Malabrigo and one of Rowan together, cast on 260 stitches.
Join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.
Note: I cast on 320 for my original scarf and it was WAY TOO LONG. It hangs past my lady business and has to be wound around my neck 3 times (it also took a little more Rowan).
Step 3: Pattern:
Round 1: purl
Rounds 2 – 11: Knit
Round 12: *YO, k2tog repeat from *
Rounds 13 – 16: Knit
Rounds 17 – 36: Repeat rounds 12 – 16 four more times
Rounds 37 – 42: knit
Step 4: Loosely bind off purlwise.
Step 5: Weave in ends
Step 6: Block. I blocked the shit out of this and it still curled as I wore it. Fucker.
Tip: Mohair can be itchy. To make it soft, fill a sink with COLD water (this is wool, people). Add some hair conditioner and swirl the scarf around. Rinse with cold water and ring out. Lay flat to dry.
I do this, then pin it for blocking.
What do you think? Is this scarf the color of romance or what?
Happy knitting!
Wait, you want more knitting patterns? We are here to help!
You can also find knitting patterns for:
- The Smart Bitches Outlandish Cowl
- The Smart Bitches Outlandish Arm Warmers
- The Smart Bitches Last Minute Neck Warmer
- The Smart Bitches Two Hour Scarf – includes knitting & crochet instructions
- The Smart Bitches Lacy Cowl
- The Think Pink Cowl
- The Smart Bitches Colorblock scarf
Would it curl less if you began and ended with a few rows of seed, moss, or garter stitch? I mean, that looks like it might be a little curly about the midsection regardless, but.
Er, rounds, not rows. It’s why are you up o’clock.
Nice scarf!
Btw, you can subject wool to hot (even very hot) water if you need or want to. The clue is NOT TO SHOCK OR TOUCH the wool at all when it’s in the hot water. Heat water with wool up, DON’T TOUCH OR AGITATE THE WOOL WHEN IT’S HOT or it will felt, and leave it in the water until it has cooled down. THEN you can remove it from the water.
So why did I (almost) boil my yarn? The color was fugly, so I used food coloring and vinegar to dye it. Worked like a charm! The results are quite nice, and I’m debating with myself what to make from it.
This only work with protein fibres (wool, mohair, silk etc) but it is a wonderful way to change the hank of butt-ugly fibre into something you will want to knit with. Ther4e are several differend variations on the theme out there, depending on wheather you waht to use a microwave oven or a pot on your stove, and the result can vary with the method you use.
Nice resource page here: http://www.dyeyouryarn.com/
The other main limitation is that you can only go darker.
I second wednesday’s suggestion about the border done in seed stitch, moss stitch, or garter stitch. I do this for all my knits in stockinette stitch that don’t have ribbing or a picked up edging. Works like a charm. The band of moss stitch, seed stitch, or garter stitch becomes a “design element” and looks just fine (lots better than the curling stockinette stitch IMNSHO.)
Why do you always do these cool patterns? I am still working on the last one! And now you post this? I will never catch up…
Also, for what it’s worth, I love Malabrigo.
Just found this site and basically this post proves the authors/creators of this site know my soul perfectly.
Yep, stockinette curls. Block the shit out of it, it will lie flat for maybe half an hour, then it will start to curl up again. Curling is its destiny.
Curling aside, though, that is a lovely, lovely scarf.
Welcome Zoe! I’m happy you’re here!
love it!
This is awesome – and just what I wanted to do with my impulse buy (Knitpicks Diadem fingering yarn in ruby). But I’m a newbie – is my 24″ cord long enough? If I use bigger needles will it just be more open? Thanks!
Hi Janet! The 24″ cord might be a little short. Cast on and see if it fits. And yes the stitches will be looser with a larger needle.
I love it. It would go so nicely with bright blue eyeshadow and long luscious raven locks flowing in a dramatic wind, too.
Malabrigo yarns are super fab. I used to live within walking distance of what I’m pretty sure is the biggest yarn store in the US (like, it’s a warehouse) and I’d visit the Malabrigo display every time I went there just to stare at the gorgeous colorways.
Not only is your (beautiful, gorgeous) Malabrigo indeed the color of romance, but the Rowan reminded me of Thornton’s sister in North and South, who always wanted to see the Alhambra. Lovely pattern!
‘It can’t hurt to just do a quick check of SBTB while I brush my teeth,’ I reasoned, and my better judgement cautiously allowed it. But now, all I want to do is to open another bottle of red wine, pull out the Special Yarn I’ve been saving for a worthy project, and knit up this lovely scarf while re-re-re-watching North and South instead of going to bed the way grown-up/semi-responsible me knows I bloody well should do.
North and South and scarf it is! I just love this website.