Scarf Pattern

After various attempts to post a .pdf file, .html version, etc. I gave up and just copied the pattern to the page. If I can figure out a better way or is anyone has suggestions I will fix it.

Lotus Scarf Pattern

Lotus Scarf
Designed by Deborah Evans
*This is a free pattern-please pass it around but do not sell it*

-based on lace pattern in “A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker

Works best with a smooth yarn that gives good stitch definition, wool with a nice sheen, handspun soy silk, or silk.

Explanation of stitches
Yo - yarn over

K2 tog – knit two together


ssk- slip the next two stitches, knit-wise, one at a time, and then knit them by inserting the tip of the left-hand needle into the fronts of both stitches at once and knit them together.


Sl2-k1- p2sso: insert needle into the fronts of the second and first stitches on the left-hand needle, as if to knit 2 together; do not knit, but slip them, both at once, from this position. Knit the next stitch on the left-hand needle an, then insert left-hand needle point into both slipped stitches and draw them together over the knit stitch and off the right-hand needle, just as in psso.

Sl2-p1-p2sso: Keeping yarn in front, insert the needle from the left into the back loops of the second and first stitches (in that order) as if to p2tog and slip them, both at once to the right hand needle. Purl the next stitch on the left hand needle and then insert the point of the left hand needle into both slipped stitches and draw them over the purled stitch.

In knitting the scarf you have two options:
You can knit the scarf in one long strip as shown in the photo. The flowers will be upside down on one side and one edge will be scalloped while the other is nearly straight.
You can knit the scarf in two pieces from the bottom to the mid-point, either both at once or separately. End first half at row 1, end 2nd half at row 2. Graft the two sides together –directions below.

Materials
You will need approximately 200 yards of yarn. I used handspun to knit both of my scarves. I recommend that you knit a test swatch to determine gauge.

Needles size 4 or the correct needle for your yarn.

For the alpaca scarf I used 180 yards of two ply measuring 14 wpi. And needles size 4 US. 35 stitches = 7inches, 5 stitches per inch, on the needle in garter stitch. Blocked scarf will measure about 6 inches wide x desired length. The scarf pictured is 55 inches long.

Pattern is based on a multiple of 10 plus 1 – 33 stitches for the pattern, I added two stitches, one at each edge for a nicer finish.

Cast on 35 Sts on #4 needles or the size best suited to your yarn.
Row 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 – Knit
Row 6- (Wrong side) k1, p2, *yo, p3, sl2-p1-p2sso, p3, yo, p1; rep from *; last repeat p2 k1
Row 7 - k4, *yo, k2, sl2-k1-p2sso, k2, yo, k3; rep from * last repeat k4
Row8- k1, p4, *yo, p1, sl2-p1-p2sso, p1, yo, p5; rep form *; end last repeat p4, k1
Row 9- k6, *yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k7; rep from *, end last repeat k6
Row 10- k1, p3, * k2, p3; repeat from P*, end last repeat p3, k1
Row 11- k3, *yo, ssk, p1, yo, sl2-k1, p2sso, yo, p1, k2tog, yo, k1; repeat from * end last repeat k3
Row 12-k1, p4, *k1, p3, k1, p5; rep from *, end last repeat p4, k1
Row 13- k4, *yo, ssk, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k2tog, yo, k3; rep from *, end last repeat k4
Row 14- k1, p3, *k1, p5, k1, p3; rep from *, end last repeat p3, k1
Row 15- k4, *p1, k1, yo, sl2-k1-p2sso, yo, k1, p1, k3; rep from *, end last repeat k4
Row 16- Repeat row 14.

Repeat these 16 rows to the desired mid length ending with Row 5 for the straight scarf at row 3 for the grafted mid-point version.
Grafting For Garter St:
End on a right side row. Hold the knitting needles with needle points to the right and wrong sides facing in, put the sewing needle in the first stitch of the front knitting needle knit-wise and pull the yarn all the way through. Do not drop the stitch off the knitting needle.
Next put the sewing needle into the first stitch of the back knitting needle purl-wise and pull all the way through. Again, do not drop the stitch off the knitting needle.
** Now put the sewing needle into the first stitch of the front knitting needle purl-wise and draw the yarn all the way through. Drop the stitch off the knitting needle.
Put the sewing needle knit-wise into the next stitch on the front knitting needle and draw the yarn through. Do not drop the stitch off the knitting needle.
Put the sewing needle knit-wise into the first stitch on the back knitting needle and draw through. Drop the stitch off the knitting needle.
Put the sewing needle into the next stitch on the back knitting needle purl-wise and draw through. Do not drop the stitch off the knitting needle.
Rep from ** to the end of the row.

Current Spinning

Pink/Purple soy silk plus Smoky Mountain Fibers Carnivale = Romance Novel

Spinning

Decided I needed a spinning break and found this so soft teal fleece in a bag of blues and greens. Unfortunately there wasn't much. Decided to ply it with itself. It's resting now, but my guess is around 70 yards.

Lotus Scarf Pattern-Almost

This week I have been working on writing up the pattern for the Lotus Scarf that I knitted in soy silk. I am knitting the test project in hand spun alpaca, but have found that I like the stitch definition of the soy silk better. Any smooth drapey yarn would work. Textured handspun with a bit of shine would be even better
The original scarf was knitted in one long piece which means that the flowers are upside down on one side and the ends do not have the same scallop. I am writing this version so that the lace reverses direction at the mid point.
These are photos of the original scarf.
I hope to have the pattern done by Monday.

Custom Spinning

TaDa!

I finished the custom spinning. I really love the brown mix. The red mix is soaking in Eucalon at the moment. The pic I took for this was blurry so I'll add one later.

Antique Trim

One of my many hats is costuming. I attended the "fashion show" of dresses restored for a local costume collection last week. Folded trim was very popluar in the late 1800's. These are two examples.

Kissel Spinner

When I bought my Kissel electric spinner, I didn't know much about it. In searching for information on the web, I found two other spinners who owned them but knew nothing about their history. One of those spinners graciously sent me a copy of the instruction manual which had the manufacturer's address on the last page. I was able to contact them and recently received a reply and the added bonus of a few extra drive bands. The drive bands are large O-rings which should be readily available, but none of the hardware stores in my area have the size required.
The Kissel Spinner was designed in the early 1980's by Tom Kissel. He and his wife, Ruth made and sold some 400 of these little machines. Their goal was to make an inexpensive electric spinner that many people could afford. They sold them through advertisements in Spin-Off magazine.
I have no idea where mine fits in the line-up. It is a box model. The later box models had a built in lazy kate. The woman I bought it from told me that for plying you twist the drive band to make the machine spin in reverse for plying. I have yet to try it but, Mrs. Kissel confirmed this.

Back to Blogging

Currently on the wheel is a custom spinning project. Merino/Colonial combed top from CJ Kopec Creations -spun thick and plyed with worsted (Brown - plyed with Manos del Uraguay silk blend - color 3109, Pink plyed with Wonderful Wool -Hot Lips, and Lavender is plyed with Wonderful Wool -Boysenberry), for a chunky yarn in three colorways. One done so far.

I opened my esty store in August and have been busy keeping it stocked with handspun. I try to add something new weekly and am working on a couple of patterns.

I am currently playing with soy silk. I love the way it takes color and drapes! I will be dyeing more soon and will add photos when I do.