Monday, April 11, 2011

New Super Scarves Pattern - Block and Tackle

Need a very simple two-color scarf pattern?  This one is it - The Block and Tackle Scarf.  Steeped in fundamentals, just like it's name.


Once again, it uses slipped stitches, so that one need only work with one color at a time.  Changing colors every two rows means you can easily carry the yarns up the side without having to cut the yarn when changing colors.  If you plan it right, only 4 ends to work in.  It goes quickly in worsted or aran weight yarn.  I knit my sample in the remaining skeins of Red Heart Super Saver (it's now all gone - sigh) and used a US 10 needle!  That helps with the speed, too.

This stitch pattern is a derivative of the two-stitch check pattern found on page 52 of Barbara Walker's "A Treasury of Knitting Patterns" (otherwise known as the 1st Treasury).    The version presented in the Treasury is stockinette based, and as we all know a scarf based in stockinette will roll up into a little tube.  Not the look I was going for.   I tried keeping the white rows (my contrast color) in stockinette and keeping the blue (main color) rows in garter, thinking that might be enough garter to keep the scarf relatively flat, but no - it was still rolling, rolling rolling....

So I went with all garter - i.e. knit every row.   Fast, easy, brainless, and still a nice texture.

That being said - I really did like the texture of the mixed garter and stockinette.  If you want to try that - just change the knits to purls on rows 4 and 8.   If you knit it up in acrylic and killed it in the blocking phase, it would  correct the rolling, I think.

Here's another option.  This scarf would have worked up maybe twice as fast had I worked it long ways - these are the kind of rows where you can really get into a rhythm and crank out the stitches.  In these cases, having to stop and turn and readjust yarns every 28 stitches will just slow you down.  If you want to try it long wise, I'd cast on about 320 stitches or so (just need a multiple of 4) and give it a shot.

The link to the complimentary pattern can be found over on the right hand side of the blog.  Happy Knitting!

5 comments:

  1. Cute scarf. I reallly like the patterns that look complex but are simple enough that you can work them while talking in a group setting.

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  2. Beautiful pattern! I agree that it does look complex. Thanks for sharing.

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