Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Floral Mesh Scarf

Floral Mesh Scarf

I hope you all are holding onto your butts, because this week's post is a big one! Well, that may be overstating things, but since this purty little number is only my second scarf I feel like it should receive some recognition. And even if it doesn't, I should also mention that it has a fun-to-knit and relatively quick-to-learn lace pattern that pops beautifully, and that its shape features tapered ends so it's a bit more of a challenge than just a rectangle. Basically, this bad little mamma jamma would make a nice addition to your scarf collection, or a lovely gift.

* As of November 25, 2015, I have added a second chart to correspond better with the given row numbers. You can find it right below the first!

You also have two choices for a matching hat: the Floral Mesh Bonnet, or the Floral Mesh Beanie!

Yarn: Schoeller + Stahl Pantino (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic; 98 yards [90 meters]/50 grams); #0007 Egg Yolk (I made up that color name) - 3 - 4 skeins, depending on finished length

A close up of the pattern
and the decrease end of the scarf
Needles: Straight needles in size US 5

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 17 stitches = 4 inches

So let's make a scarf, people! First, then, I should mention that I actually charted this pattern, so you can find it down at the bottom. Also, since I charted the cast on, the pattern, and the decrease, you could knit almost exclusively from that (except I didn't chart the wrong side rows. The edge of the scarf has two stitches in garter - otherwise, the whole back is purled). Of course, I'll also spell things out. With that in mind, cast on 5 stitches loosely. Then we'll work some set-up rows, as follows:

Set-up Row 1 (wrong side): k2, purl until you have 2 stitches left in row, k2

Set-up Row 2: k2, m1l, knit until you have 2 stitches left in row, m1r, k2 (+2 stitches)

Knit set-up rows 1 & 2 until you have 13 stitches on your needle and you've just completed row 1 of the pattern. Now we're going to begin working in some of our pattern, which is Floral Mesh from page 218 of Barbara G. Walker's A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns, as follows:

Set-up Row 3 (right side): k2, m1l, k2, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2, m1r, k2 (15 stitches)

Set-up Row 4 and all wrong-side rows: k2, purl until you have 2 stitches left in row, k2

Set-up Row 5: k2, m1l, k2, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k2, m1r, k2 (17 stitches)

Set-up Row 7: k2, m1l, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, slip 2 stitches together knitwise-k1-p2sso (sl2-k1-p2sso), yo, k4, m1r, k2 (19 stitches)

Set-up Row 9: k2, m1l, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k1, m1r, k2 (21 stitches)

Set-up Row 11: k2, m1l, k1, (k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1) twice, m1r, k2 (23 stitches)

Set-up Row 13: k2, m1l, k3, (yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k3) twice, m1r, k2 (25 stitches)

Set-up Row 15: k2, m1l, (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, m1r, k2 (27 stitches)

Set-up Row 17: k2, m1l, (k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, m1r, k2 (29 stitches)

Set-up Row 19: k2, m1l, (k2, yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1) three times, k1, m1r, k2 (31 stitches)

Set-up Row 21: k2, m1l, k2, (yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1) three times, k1, m1r, k2 (33 stitches)

Set-up Row 22: k2, purl until you have 2 stitches left in row, k2

Knit set-up rows 3 - 22. Now we'll discontinue our increases, and move to our main pattern, as follows:

Row 1 (right side): k4, (k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1) three times, k5

Row 2 and all wrong-side rows: k2, purl until you have 2 stitches left in row, k2

Row 3: k4, (yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k3, yo, k2tog) three times, yo, ssk, k3

Row 5: k3, yo, (sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, yo) three times, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k3

Row 7: k4, (k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk) three times, k5

Row 9: k4, (k2, yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1) three times, k5

Row 11: k2, k2tog, yo, (k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo) three times, k1, yo, ssk, k2 

Knit rows 1 - 12 until piece measures at least 51" (you could add 12" or so to that number, or more, if you want a longer scarf) and you've just finished row 8 of the pattern. Now, it's time to begin our decreases for the other end of the scarf. So let's continue like so:

Decrease Row 1 (right side): k2, ssk, (k2, yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1) three times, k1, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 2 and all wrong-side rows: k2, purl until you have 2 stitches left in row, k2

Decrease Row 3: k2, ssk, (yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k1) twice, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 5: k2, ssk, (yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3) twice, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 7: k2, ssk, k3, (yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso,yo, k3) twice, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 9: k2, ssk, (k1, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo) twice, k1, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 11: k2, ssk, k1, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k1, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 13: k2, ssk, k4, yo, k2tog, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k4, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 15: k2, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, k2

Decrease Row 17: k2, ssk, k2, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2, k2tog, k2

Knit decrease rows 1 - 18. Then we'll knit the following finish rows:

Finish Row 1 (right side): k2, ssk, knit until you have 4 stitches left in row, k2tog, k2

Finish Row 2: k2, purl until you have 2 stitches left in row, k2

Knit finish rows 1 & 2 until you have 7 stitches left and you've just completed row 2 of the pattern. Then we'll knit the following final row:

Final Row (right side): k2, sl2-k1-p2sso, k2

Bind off loosely, tuck in ends, and block.










20 comments:

  1. This scarf is beautiful and I can't wait to make it! I'm always so excited when I see an email from you because I love all your patterns! Keep up the great work! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yay! That's just what I like to hear. :) Glad you like the scarf, and please let me know if you have any questions!

      Delete
  2. Thank you for sharing your lovely pattern!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are very welcome! I'm glad you like it. :)

      Delete
  3. Thank you so very much for sharing. I can't get enough scarf patterns and this one was definitely a keeper. You are very generous with your talent. Again, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gretchen,
    I am amazed to find your wonderful site where you share such great patterns! Are all of these patterns you have designed yourself? They are so great!

    I found your site in searching for cowls, and I've put a link to your site on my blog: crookedneedles.net

    Thank you!
    Jo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jo!

      I'm glad to hear you like my patterns, and to answer your question - yes, they are all things I have designed. As you can imagine, I spend a lot of time knitting! :) Also, I took a quick look at your site. It looks like you do some beautiful work! Thanks for sharing.

      Delete
  5. Would it be possible for you to add the yarn weight/size category to your description? I frequently have to substitute (also trying to use up stash) and it would make it so much easier and THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your fun blog and patterns.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lynne!

      Thanks for your question. :) Unfortunately, many yarns that I use are not actually labeled with a size category, and so I do my best to estimate the correct one based on gauge and my experience with the yarn. I tag each pattern with that information at the bottom of the post (for example, as "worsted" or "dk"). In the cases where the yarn is specifically labeled with a numerical category (which is true, again, for very few of the yarns I work with), I will do my best to tag patterns with that information in the future. In the meantime, and for existing patterns, I encourage you to use the Craft Yarn Council's yarn weight table for any necessary conversions, which you can find here: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/weight.html. In general, I always give the package's gauge as my gauge, make a note if I used an unusual weight/needle combination, and also note if I didn't achieve the package gauge with their suggested needles, which should make conversion relatively simple. And, of course, if there's any specific pattern or yarn that you need help with, just let me know. :)

      Delete
  6. Hey there, Gretchen. I love your site and sense of humor. I plan to be a regular visitor. So I bought yarn to make the floral mesh scarf but it's gauge is more in the 22/4 inch range rather than the 17/4 inch as the pattern recommends. What would you recommend: larger needles, an extra pattern repeat, etc? I'm not sure I want to do a double strand. I bought a cotton silk blend since we're heading into spring, and double strand would he heavy. I'm interested to hear your thoughts. Thank you. --v/r, Beth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Beth!

      Glad to hear you like my site! :) And, reasonably, I think you have two options. If you simply work the scarf as-is, except on the needles recommended for your yarn, it will probably end up just under 6" wide, which really isn't bad. You could, as you suggest, also add 8 more stitches so that the width remains pretty much the same. If you chose to do that and need help adapting the ends, let me know! I'm always happy to help. :)

      Delete
    2. Hi again, Gretchen. Just to close the loop: I added in the eight stitches as recommended and slightly expanded the pattern on both sides to accommodate. The scarf turned out beautifully. Once I blocked it I could see the delicate flowers in the pattern repeat. I also got very good at correcting mistakes in rows with yarn overs! Thankfully I could always count on ripping back to a row 1 or 7 for best results. I look forward to making my next Balls to the Walls project. Thanks for all you do. ~Beth

      Delete
    3. Yay! Thanks for the update!!! I'm glad to hear that your scarf turned out well. And remember, for any projects you attempt in the future - I'm here to help! :)

      Delete
  7. Hi Gretchen,
    So many gorgeous patterns, so little time :) Thank you!
    For this pattern, in the set up rows, it says to do rows 3-22, but I can't see Row 22. I'm wondering if I missed something or it's just a typo and should read rows 3-21? Thank you for being you, caring and generous, and wow, what a designer you are!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there!

      Row 22 is just a wrong-side row like Row 4. I'll update the pattern to make it clearer! :)

      Delete
  8. Hi Gretchen! Just wondering if you could share how to block yarn that is 75% acrylic and 25% wool? I would appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi there!

      I'm no blocking expert but with that blend I would probably just pin it out on a towel or blocking mats and then spray it rather than go the full soak method. :)

      Delete
  9. OMG, perfect pattern for a perfect scarf as a Christmas present for my boss.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you like it! Let me know if you have any questions. :)

      Delete