Cross Stitch Scarf
November 29th, 2004 at 12:24 pm (scarf)
I finished the knitting on my Cross Stitch scarf. I have very little yarn left. Here it is pre-blocking:
The drape on this is really wonderful. I think I had less yarn left than I should have because I knit pretty loosely. The pattern didn’t give a gauge, but I went ahead and used the suggested size needles for it. Next time I would go down a size and probably have enough left for a decent fringe.
So what can I do to fringe it (I think it looks incomplete without some fringe) when I don’t have enough of that yarn left? Find a solid to compliment it? I have a little bit of the colors used in it so I could mix it in with a solid. I don’t want to order two new balls of this same yarn just so I can make fringe (well, I do, but I won’t).
Knitting Style
So why do I knit loosely? Well, my MIL was in town this weekend and she knits as well. She knits using english style (throw yarn with the right hand) and I knit Continental style (hold yarn with left hand, like Crochet-ers do). We sat down and compared our styles because the new sweater she is working on is also using Falk just like Hardangervidda and Bjerk use. Her stitches are really tight compared to mine, even on the same size needles! Wierd!
So sitting side by side, I think it’s because of the way she tightens the yarn after each stitch. Because she holds her yarn in her right hand, she pulls on the yarn to the right and it tightens the stitch around about half the needle. When I pull on the yarn to snug it up, it tightens around almost the whole needle and the yarn is going to the left.
That was a horrible way to describe it, and I don’t have any pictures. Needless to say, I thought it was really fascinating that the different styles produced such different gauges using the same yarn & needle size.
Jo said,
November 30th, 2004 at 5:47 am
Beautiful!!! Are you sure you want to fringe it? I think it might detract from the artistry of the cross-overs. I trying to picture an end edging of one repeat of the crossed pattern, but it’s way too early and I don’t have nearly enough coffee in me….
Jill said,
December 4th, 2004 at 7:32 pm
You might remember I use English style too, which is why I think I’m so slow. Next thing I try and knit I’m using bulky thread and big needles!