Speedwell Scarf

Naming patterns is hard. I really struggle to think of a name that "suits" the pattern. I've picked up a habit lately of naming things after places that I associate with the pattern, but I worry that these names won't resonate with many people. So, I'm moving on to wildflowers (mainly because I picked up a secondhand collins-gem guide recently...) 

And here's the latest scarf pattern. It's a lovely bright blue, so, I look at the index for blue flowers and find sheep's scabious, viper's bugloss and speedwell. I think it's got to be speedwell: this pattern isn't really edgy enough to be called "viper's bugloss scarf"....

Yarn : Regia Hand-Dye Effect, 1 ball (=420m)

Needles :  4.5mm/US 7 needles

Gauge:  20sts and 28 rows in stocking stitch

Size: 6" x 52"

Extras: Four buttons.

Notation: 

k = knit

p = purl

sl = slip purlwise

wyf = with yarn held forward

wyb = with yarn held back

CO = cast on

RS = right-side

WS = wrong-side

Directions

Garter Slip Stitch Pattern:

Row 1(RS): knit

Row 2: knit

Row 3: k1 *sl1 wyb, k1* to end of row

Row 4: k1 *sl1 wyf, k1* to end of row
Row 5: knit

Row 6: knit

Row 7: k2 *sl1 wyb, k1* to last stitch, k1

Row 8: k2 *sl1 wyf, k1* to last stitch, k1

To make scarf: CO 45 stitches. Work in Garter slip stitch pattern until scarf measures around 50", ending on row 8 of the pattern (a wrong-side row). Now work in garter stitch (i.e. knit every row) for 10 rows, again ending on a WS row. Work buttonholes as follows:

Buttonhole Row: k3 k2tog yo k10 k2tog yo k11 yo ssk k10 yo ssk k3.

Now work 8 more rows of garter stitch, ending on a RS row. BO all stitches on WS. 

Sew four buttons on the RS of the scarf, equally spaced about 1" up from the CO edge. Weave in any loose ends and you're done!

What to do with art yarn...

So, those of you who follow this blog will be aware that I've been spending a lot of time spinning and dyeing lately (at the expense of coming up with new knitting patterns, sorry about that!) And now that I've spun up a large pile of beautifully coloured yarn, I need to come up with something to do with it. This is a tricky task for all those early skeins of thick-n-thin "art yarn" that I've amassed. And here's what I came up with, a one skein cowl made from my handspun merino. It's a little crazy looking, but that's kind of a given if you're working with art yarn. Also, if you like the colour but are looking for a more sensible yarn, there's a skein of bluefaced leicester yarn in my Etsy shop in the same colourway.

Needles : 10mm / US 15 needles.

Yarn: 100 -150m or so of thick and thin art yarn (check out Etsy for handspun, thick n thin goodness!)

Gauge:  15 sts = 4'' in stocking stitch on average (but with thick and thin yarn gauge varies).

Size:  21'' around and 8" across

Notation: 

k = knit

p = purl

sl = slip purlwise

wyb = with yarn held at the back of your work

wyf = with yarn held to the front of your work

CO = cast on

Directions

Garter Slip Stitch Pattern

Row 1: knit

Row 2: knit

Row 3: k1 *sl1 wyb k1* to end of row

Row 4: k1 *sl1 wyf k1* to end of row

Row 5: knit

Row 6: knit

Row 7: k2 *sl1 wyb k1* to last stitch, k1

Row 8: k2 *sl1 wyf k1* to last stitch, k1

To make the cowl, CO 29 stitches. Now work in garter slip stitch until your work measures just over 20", ending on row 8  of pattern. Knit one row, then bind off on wrong side. Turn cowl onto wrong side and sew cast on edge to bind off edge using whip stitch (art yarn looks crazy enough that you'll never notice the seam). Weave in loose ends and you're done!

Now for the shameless advertising. There's a couple of skeins in my Etsy shop that I think would be perfect for this, although they're not as crazy as some art yarns, they'd give you a more wearable cowl. There's a lovely blue skein here, and a white skein for all you dyers out there here.