Back Road Scarf

I'm on a roll this summer with Knitscene.  This year's Accessories issue is now available download and for print pre-order, including one of my designs!  Back Road Scarf is a generous, wide scarf with a delicate (and easy) crocheted edging.  I even wrote a tutorial for the edging for the magazine, so even if you've never crocheted in your life, you can get a great introduction.  

© Knitscene/Harper Point

I used two different yarn weights for the body of the scarf and the edging to keep the fabric consistent because crochet is so much denser than knitting.  Happily, Hazel Knits Artisan Sock and DK Lively work perfectly for this.  (Thanks to Kim Werker for her talk on crochet at last year's Knit City; she put the idea in my head to use a different weight yarn for a crocheted edging.)

© Knitscene/Harper Point

For a care-free, bright look, I chose Shanny Pants for the main body of the scarf and worked it in an engaging, but simple knit-and-purl check pattern that includes parallelograms.  The crochet edging is worked in three different colors - Sassafras, Nekkid, and Lichen.  

© Andrea Rangel

I love the fantastic stitch definition that both yarns have.  Even the semi-solid colors show off the stitch patterns beautifully.  The scalloped edging might be a little girly, but without it, I think this would make a fantastic men's scarf too.  

© Knitscene/Harper Point

© Knitscene/Harper Point

This scarf looks especially beautiful after blocking.  I used blocking wires to help the scallops really pop.

© Andrea Rangel

The magazine is now available for download, or if you prefer print, you can pre-order your copy.  You can see the pattern on Ravelry too.

Pattern Info

Finished Measurements

87.5 in/222 cm long and 10.5 in/26.5 cm wide

Yarn

Hazel Knits DK Lively 

(90% superwash merino, 10% nylon; 275 yd 251 m per 130g skein): 

Color #228 Shanny Pants, 3 skeins 

Hazel Knits Artisan Sock

(90% superwash merino, 10% nylon; 400 yd/366 m per 120g skein):

Colors: #246 Sassafras, 1 skein (I used about 50 yd/46 m); #200 Nekkid, 1 skein (I used about 70 yd/64 m); #269 Lichen, 1 skein (I used about 50 yd/46 m)

Gauge

22 sts and 33 rows = 4 in/10 cm in checks pattern, after blocking

Needles & Notions 

Size US #6/4 mm needles 

Size E/3.5 mm crochet hook

markers 

tapestry needle

Skills

following a knit-and-purl chart, crochet: single crochet, slip stitch, double crochet

Interview with Cirilia Rose

Recently Cirilia Rose, prolific designer, fashion maven, and Creative Director at Skacel, interviewed me for her blog, Bricoleur Knits, about Pacific Northwest fashion, knits in movies, designer inspiration, the business of publication, and where I'm headed.  Check it out and comment for a chance to win a copy of Woodsmoke & Ash: Knits for Men.

Grafting Using Kitchener Stitch

I've been meaning to make a tutorial on grafting for a long time because it's such a useful technique and I use it a lot in my patterns.  I didn't realize how many of my patterns feature Kitchener stitch until I was listing them under my tutorial page - 14!  And that only counts the independently-published ones.  I hope this helps you if you're new to grafting or just need a refresher.  You can also find this under the Tutorials section of my website.

This tutorial shows the technique on a sock toe, but it's useful anywhere you want to join two sets of live stitches without a seam.

Arrange the stitches so that all of the instep stitches are on one needle and all of the bottom of the foot stitches are on the other needle.

Cut your yarn, leaving a long tail (about 3-4 times longer than the width of the fabric to be grafted).  

Thread the end of your yarn on a tapestry needle and hold the project so that one needle is in front and one behind with the needle tips pointed to the right.

Set up for working Kitchener stitch:

First, insert needle as if to purl in the first stitch of the front needle and draw through.

Next, insert needle as if to knit in the first stitch of the back needle and draw through.

Now that the set-up is complete, follow these steps to graft:

1. Insert needle as if to knit in the first stitch of the front needle.  

Slip that stitch off the needle and draw yarn through without pulling too tightly.

2. Insert needle as if to purl in the next stitch of the front needle and draw through, leaving this stitch on the needle.

3. Insert needle as if to purl in the first stitch of the back needle. 

Slip that stich off the needle and draw yarn through without pulling too tightly.

4. Insert needle as if to knit in the next stitch of the back needle and draw through, leaving this stitch on the needle.

Repeat steps 1-4 until only 1 stitch remains on each needle.  Then simply slip the needles out.

I have a chant that always helps me maintain a good rhythm while working Kitchener stitch:

"As if to knit, slip off; as if to purl, leave on.  As if to purl, slip off; as if to knit, leave on."

I just repeat that mantra as I work and it helps keep me from getting confused.

And there's your sock toe!

When you finish, you may notice that the grafted stitches aren't quite the same gauge as the surrounding stitches.  Just use your tapestry needle to gently tug on the stitches, one at a time until they are more uniform.  

If you have any gaps on either side of the graft, use your remaining tail to cinch them closed while you weave it in.

A Little Cowichan Valley Springtime

The weather has warmed up and turned sunny here.  It's perfect and I love seeing some plants and animals around that I didn't see during the winter.  I'm not sure where these donkeys and alpacas were holed up, but it was a fun surprise to see them on my regular route to the farmer's market.

I'm pretty sure they were expecting treats from me based on their excessive friendliness.

Looks like the alpacas knew better.

We have some lovely trails right in our neighborhood.  The lush greenery is back after the gray of winter.

And of course, the blossoms.

As I celebrate my local area, I'm happy to have my first workshop scheduled locally.  I've teamed up with my local yarn shop, The Loom, to give an all-day workshop on sock knitting using the magic loop method.  Check out the class page for more info and to register.

In other springtime happenings, the Hazel Knits/Andrea Rangel Knit Along has gotten under way over in the Hazel Knits Ravelry group.  Come join us for discounted patterns, camaraderie, and a chance to win free patterns and a $50 gift certificate to the Hazel Knits online store.  Lots of folks are knitting ankle socks - Hex, Wendee, and Lochside - which are all perfect for wearing with clogs or Mary Jane's in warmer weather.  They're also fun and knit up fast. 

I hope the weather where you are is as beautiful as it is here!

Photography

Since I moved up north, I've been trying to improve my photography skills, mostly by just taking lots and lots of pictures.  Riding my bike around, though, I don't always want to carry my big DSLR camera, so I often resort to my iPhone.  Here are some favorite images, in no particular order, both taken with the iPhone and with my Nikon.  

Ocean Beach in San Diego

The boats on a gloomy Cowichan Bay morning

This is the view from where we park our bikes at the farmer's market.  It was taken in early winter.

The beach at the Mill Bay Ferry dock

A little stream next to Cowichan Bay

Hazel Knits Knit Along

I've worked with Hazel Knits in all sorts of ways, and now I'm excited to be the featured designer in the Hazel Knits Ravelry group's upcoming summer Knit Along.  I'm offering a 15% discount on patterns and ebooks for the KAL, and there are prizes too!  Wendee has generously offered a $50 gift certificate to the Hazel Knits online store for the grand prize winner, and 3 other winners will get a free pattern or ebook of their choice.  The KAL includes all of my designs, so this is a great time to cast on a new project and spoil yourself with some gorgeous Hazel Knits yarn.  

Spring is the perfect time to knit up some ankle socks to wear during the warmer months.  I've been wearing my Wendee socks in Carnelian now that the sun is shining.  Come join us!

Bike Travel & Vogue Knitting Live Seattle

I'm finally starting to get myself together after an amazing trip to Seattle last week.  I went down to participate in Vogue Knitting Live, working in the Hazel Knits booth, and had an intense and exciting experience.  

The last time I went to Seattle, I traveled by bike and was impressed at how easy the route was, considering I was riding between countries.  So this time I planned to do the same.  The weather was a bit warmer, so most of my layers were packed away.  Wool leggings, a wool base layer, and my mink cowl were just right for the brisk morning ride.  

(This part is going to be all about bike travel, so if you want to get to the yarn, skip to below the next picture.)

I also changed a few things about how I packed my bike for this ride.  First, I carried my new orange handlebar bag up front, which gave me easy access to my phone while I was riding.  Most of my clothes don't have pockets (did you notice I like wearing leggings?), so having a place to get at my maps easily was fantastic.  (The bag was adapted for me by Jessie Kwak, who wrote a great tutorial on how it was done.  She made my belt too!  It's reflective for extra bike safety.)

Second, I decided to move my center of gravity down a bit by eliminating my basket (which slid onto my rack), and carrying the bulk of my stuff in my two lightweight dry sacks on either side of the bike.  One of those dry sacks was almost completely packed full of knitted samples to show off at Vogue Knitting Live.  I attached the dry sacks using webbing straps and giant rubber bands colloquially called "Ranger bands."  They're just pieces cut from a car tire inner tube and we use them all the time.  (That's how my U-lock is attached too.)  Then I just sat my lightweight purple Patagonia bag on top of the rack and secured it with a bungee net.  Carrying the majority of my weight low made the whole thing a little bit more stable for riding.  I also carried some duct tape in my emergency kit in case of dry sack ripping emergencies, but so far, they're extremely sturdy.

Now of course, I just bought a new bike with drop handlebars.  On the new bike, my handlebar bag really only works as a pannier because it gets in the way of my grip up front.  I may put a front rack on later, but for now, I'm carrying it in the back.  We'll see how I pack up the next time I travel.  For the ride home I used two new Basil pannier baskets that I got while in Seattle, but I doubt I'll travel with those regularly since the weight seems unnecessary.  (Pics of the new bike haven't happened yet, but they're on their way!)

Now onto the yarn and Vogue Knitting Live!

Photo Copyright Kathy Cadigan 2013

Because I used to help out in the Hazel Knits dye studio (including at the fun and crazy Sock Summit a couple years ago), Wendee invited me to come down south for the weekend to assist her and the Hazel Knits team at their Vogue Knitting Live booth.  If you hadn't noticed yet, I love this yarn and have designed a whole lot of projects using it.  After Wendee told me we'd be able to attend VKLive Seattle, I managed to get two more designs done in Hazel Knits yarn in the space of about a month.  (Thanks to my turbo-charged testers for knitting like the wind!)  You can see one of them, Orixa just behind us in the photo above, and the other one was Flow, which sold out by noon on Saturday!  I brought a whole lot of that one as well, so next time I guess I'll have to double it!  All of the print patterns and books I sold at the show included a coupon code for downloading the pdf of the pattern and I'm really happy that so many folks have made use of it.  It's good to know that it was worth doing.  

I did theatre as a kid, and I find that setting up for these events is a little like being a stage hand.  It includes lots of heavy lifting, and I get to use my multi-tool a lot.  And when you're done, you get to be really proud of your set.  Thanks to Wendee's genius color-coding and clearly labeled boxes, set-up was achieved in record time.

The colors!

I was really impressed by the beauty and richness of the booth when it was all set up.  Way to go, Wendee and Dave!  

Wendee, the genius behind the company, and Dave, her lead dyer

The booth was pretty packed all weekend, and we got so many amazing visitors from yarn shop folks to designers to old friends.  I didn't get to spend as much time with any of them as I would have liked, but I did get a chance to have dinner with Melissa Goodale Saturday night and lunch with Mary Jane Mucklestone and Gudrun Johnson after it was all over.  The more of these kinds of events I attend, the more fun it gets.  It's great to see the knitting community coming together and to realize I'm not the only one obsessed with yarn and fiber!  

To top it all off, I came home with a bit of Spincycle's new yarn, Dyed in the Wool.  I've been playing with it ever since and am really excited about what it will become.  

What did you bring home from VKLive and what was your favorite part?