Cow scarf a.k.a. Learning how to knit-purl
Nothing makes me feel more cozy than a soft and fuzzy scarf to warm my neck, which is probably due in part to my paranoia about my neck being touched unexpectedly. That probably makes me seem a little weird, but it also means I have a strong affinity for scarves and all things neck-wear, especially since they are typically relatively easy to make.
In my quest to find new ways to protect the vulnerable space that connects my head to my shoulders, I discovered the convenience of infinity scarves because I hate having to deal with the loose ends of a regular scarf (metaphor?). Naturally, this meant I would eventually fall in love with the cowl, and I did. Then I decided to make one!
I found a pretty easy pattern for a cowl --or "cow scarf," as misinterpreted by my friend Kevin -- off of Ravelry, but it requires alternation between knit-purl in the same row. Every time I've tried to practice this in the past, I've given up because limited internet meant I couldn't look up instructions and I wouldn't give myself enough time to just hunker down and make it work..
My solution? Trap myself in my tent with some yarn and needles and try over and over and over again until I get it right. I am nothing if not stubborn.
So I added some weight to my pack on my trip to Horseshoe Basin and made numerous attempts until finally I figured out that I just wasn't quite positioning the yarn correctly in relation to the needles to make the stitch face the right direction. After I solved the enigma of the knit-purl transition, I practiced switching back and forth to put the pattern in my muscle memory until the soft sound of raindrops on my tent put me to sleep.
The next day I surprised myself with not forgetting what I had learned, and even though I stretched out how much time I actually devoted to working on it, the full cowl took maybe a total of 2 hours. I used the modification for straight needles since I don't have circular needles, but it turns out I didn't quite follow the instructions, because I was supposed to use double strands of yarn instead of one. As a result, my finished product looks entirely different than what was intended, but it is still has a great fit and feel and I actually really like the look of the more subtle texture, so I love it anyway. For yarn, I used Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick N Quick in "Desert" and after sewing the ends together I added some beads on one of the seems for decoration.
The main pendant I used is something I got a few years ago at the annual Whole Earth Festival while I attended UC Davis. Joe Peace has been a vendor there for several years, and he has made thousands of these clay pendants. Each "peace chain" varies in color and ornamental design, and they all say "peace" in different languages. Mine is the Spanish translation, "paz". At the festival he accepts only donations in exchange for these small emblems of beauty and peace -- a fantastic example that anything we take the time to craft and create can be a powerful symbol of love, care, and thought (even if you get the instructions wrong).
In my quest to find new ways to protect the vulnerable space that connects my head to my shoulders, I discovered the convenience of infinity scarves because I hate having to deal with the loose ends of a regular scarf (metaphor?). Naturally, this meant I would eventually fall in love with the cowl, and I did. Then I decided to make one!
I found a pretty easy pattern for a cowl --or "cow scarf," as misinterpreted by my friend Kevin -- off of Ravelry, but it requires alternation between knit-purl in the same row. Every time I've tried to practice this in the past, I've given up because limited internet meant I couldn't look up instructions and I wouldn't give myself enough time to just hunker down and make it work..My solution? Trap myself in my tent with some yarn and needles and try over and over and over again until I get it right. I am nothing if not stubborn.
So I added some weight to my pack on my trip to Horseshoe Basin and made numerous attempts until finally I figured out that I just wasn't quite positioning the yarn correctly in relation to the needles to make the stitch face the right direction. After I solved the enigma of the knit-purl transition, I practiced switching back and forth to put the pattern in my muscle memory until the soft sound of raindrops on my tent put me to sleep.
The next day I surprised myself with not forgetting what I had learned, and even though I stretched out how much time I actually devoted to working on it, the full cowl took maybe a total of 2 hours. I used the modification for straight needles since I don't have circular needles, but it turns out I didn't quite follow the instructions, because I was supposed to use double strands of yarn instead of one. As a result, my finished product looks entirely different than what was intended, but it is still has a great fit and feel and I actually really like the look of the more subtle texture, so I love it anyway. For yarn, I used Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick N Quick in "Desert" and after sewing the ends together I added some beads on one of the seems for decoration.
The main pendant I used is something I got a few years ago at the annual Whole Earth Festival while I attended UC Davis. Joe Peace has been a vendor there for several years, and he has made thousands of these clay pendants. Each "peace chain" varies in color and ornamental design, and they all say "peace" in different languages. Mine is the Spanish translation, "paz". At the festival he accepts only donations in exchange for these small emblems of beauty and peace -- a fantastic example that anything we take the time to craft and create can be a powerful symbol of love, care, and thought (even if you get the instructions wrong).
Love it! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
ReplyDelete