bits and bobbins

zig(zagged)

the riotously colored zig-zag knitted scarf i started about a month or so ago is still in progress! i’ve been knitting away at it this week like a fiend.

it’s one of those mindless sort of knitting projects that i love. the stitch pattern is ridiculously easy to knit as well as remember, there’s no need to refer to any written instructions. i do like the challenge of doing special, complicated knitting stitch patterns in my knitting from time to time, but i REALLY, REALLY enjoy simple ones that are easy to remember, like this one, and the feather and fan stitch like i used on this scarf from a while back. both are stitch patterns that look complicated but aren’t. they both provide a lot of visual interest and lovely texture.

fun fact about this here zig-zag scarf? i’m using little bits of yarn from my stash to make it…so far i haven’t used a yarn twice. gives you an idea of the ridiculous amount of yarn hanging around in the ye olde bits and bobbins atelier. all the yarns are either jumper weight, sport weight, or worsted (most are the latter).

i’m making it up as i go along, adding colors and textures in as i feel like it, thinking, “hmm, i haven’t used blue yarn in a while, better add some in again”. i’m embracing the insanity. goes along with what i like to think is part of my fashion ethos: calculated craziness and clearly colorful.

i’ll probably be finishing it soon. i’m thinking it would be cute as a sort of medium size scarf, that i can tie once at the neck for a big shot of color.

***

as far as a pattern, there’s not much of one.

i’m a freestyle knitter to a great degree…i often don’t use patterns. i just *knit*.

but here’s the pattern, for anyone interested:

amount of yarn: unknown. several balls total? it’s your call. however you want to stripe it.

needle size: i used a US 7, but use what works for you and your yarn. maybe a US 8 or 9? again, it’s your call.

the stitch pattern is a multiple of 14 stitches, plus 2. you can add/subtract to the multiple by any multiple of two for thinner or wider zig zags.

i also added 5 stitches to each side of the scarf, for a garter stitch border (total of 10 extra), and separated them from the edge with stitch markers. you could eliminate this, but i think scarves look better when they have a border of some kind…they look “finished” to me.

start off with a couple rows of garter…your choice. something like 3-5 rows, for a little border at the end of the scarf.

stitch pattern:

row 1: (WS) k5, PM, purl to marker, PM, k5.

row 2: (RS) k5, slip the marker, k1, inc (by knitting into front and back of st), k4, sl 1, k1, psso, k2tog, k4, *inc in each of the next two stitches, k4, sl 1, k1, psso, k2tog, k4; rep from * to last 2 sts, inc in next stitch, k1, slip the marker, k5.
row 3: (WS) k5, slip the marker, purl to marker, slip the marker, k5.

row 4: repeat row 2.

you can make wider or thinner rows by say, adding 4 more rows of a color, or just doing two…get it? so for the wider stripes i did 8 rows, and the thinner ones, only 4.

there is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the pattern of my stripes or the colors. i put a thicker stripe in when i felt like it, and added colors as i felt like it. of course, you could plan yours out. i wanted something organic and chaotic. you’re the boss. make it your own! no need to copy mine explicitly! the neat thing is that if you use bits from your stash, the yarn mix is a direct reflection of you and what colors and textures you favor…and thus, it’s a complete original!

make the scarf as long as you’d like.

finish off with the same number of rows you started with, in garter stitch only (k every stitch), and bind off all stitches. hide all the ends of yarn, too, of course.

you’re done!

March 18 2007 | Posted in creative dabblings., make it yourself!, yarn insanity.

1. March 19 2007 at 4:14 am

   Zena

   I love it! So cute, so colorful, so stash-busting. What, pray tell, is the pattern?

   
   

2. March 19 2007 at 8:13 am

   Adrienne

   You scarf looks WONDERFUL!!!!

   
   

3. March 19 2007 at 8:18 am

   Marlena

   What a great idea! I recently bought a big basket to put all of my leftover yarn in, and seeing it all together moved me to want to use it. It looks like all of your yarn is the same weight. Is it?

   
   

4. March 19 2007 at 10:12 am

   Casey

   that is awesome!! I love the fact that you’re just adding the colors as you go; organic designs are the best way.

   
   

5. March 19 2007 at 10:59 am

   Kathleen

   I covet your scarf too, the colors and zig zags are total perfection!

   
   

6. March 19 2007 at 8:11 pm

   Marsha

   That scarf looks like a lot of fun to make (and wear, too, I bet!). I don’t think my meager yarn stash has anywhere near the variety in color and texture that yours seems to have, so I might have to do some yarn shopping before undertaking this project! Any excuse to buy more yarn…

   
   

7. March 19 2007 at 10:07 pm

   hpny knits

   brilliant little trick!

   
   

8. March 22 2007 at 3:17 am

   Robin

   I’m a little confused on the pattern…let me know if I’m thinking right.

   Row 1: k5 PM (Place marker), purl to marker (this is the 14 stitches?), PM, k5
   Row 2: k5, PM (really just slip the marker), etc….

   am I correct?

   
   

9. March 22 2007 at 3:28 am

   My Home in Israel :: Starting a new knitting project… :: March :: 2007

   [...] I’ve purchased my colors…4 shades–one set in bright primaries, and one in antique shades (did I mention she is having twins?). And now I think that I’d rather not do all the picking up that is required. I saw a really fun scarf pattern with a nice wave to it, and I thought that would be a good blanket. Since it is striped, I could use the four colors, and stripe them. There is a stripe generator program that could help me decide on the widths and color changes. [...]

   
   

10. March 23 2007 at 4:45 am

    Marian

    I like your scrap scarf idea very much. For a baby blanket, I’m doing one now for my first granddaughter in 4 bright colors in acrylic (bought in Herzlyia) and the pattern is just 2 rows of garter stitch and then move on to the next color.

    
    

11. March 23 2007 at 4:56 pm

    pretendingsanity

    cute! All those little ends to weave… you’re one patient girl.

    
    

12. June 25 2007 at 6:49 pm

    kraftwerkpink

    I have been craving an easy mindless project but can’t justify buying any more yarn. This looks like great fun, thanks so much for sharing your pattern!

    
    

13. July 16 2007 at 5:23 am

    Meg

    I just love that scarf. Congratulations on using your imagination so well. I am going to have a go. Thanks.

    
    

14. September 14 2007 at 4:47 pm

    hoyan

    this reminds me of those + 100 euro missoni scarves they sell at the bijenkorf here. i am going to have to try it, it’s brilliant!

    
    

15. October 1 2007 at 12:03 pm

    bits and bobbins » archives » favorites…and stuff.

    [...] anyway, some things i am obsessing over or that i am loving at the momento: -high-waisted skirts and pants. i’ve been wearing and making such (just started putting together a high-waisted skirt in a few free moments i had yesterday)…and i have, as previously alluded to in a post a while back, been pleasantly surprised that such actually looks decent on me! it’s also proof positive that i can, on occasion, give in a little to a trend. or give in a lot. -riding my bike to the grocery store! oh god, it’s so cool to be able to do that now. something about that just seems so right. you live so close you can ride there, and you only get what you need, rather than filling your gas-guzzler to the hilt to stock up for a longer haul (a week or more…of things you might not even have time to eat in said time period). one more reason i believe that the suburbs are missing the point! (i’m convinced i’m allergic to suburbs, btw.) -ripple stitch patterns! i have a sick amount of random balls of yarn that need to be used up and i think this might be the answer. sort of a continuation of the aesthetic of that zig-zag scarf i made ages ago, perhaps-a-mundo. -the superb outfits that miss sherbet tone (who posts to wardrobe_remix) dons. she’s got an amazing eye for stylish discards and puts everything together with panache. she’s the type of person i feel i created wardrobe_remix for, when it gets down to brass tacks. -the cat eye. galadarling and the coveted have recently covered/paid homage to the allure and execution of such maquillage in recent days. i used to wear said look years back, and have started playing around with again of late. fun! *** [...]