World's Easiest Lace Scarf--A Free Pattern!

I had the urge to knit a lace scarf out of some Sea Silk I had in the stash. Alas, we all know my unfortunate history with lace knitting. I wanted to actually enjoy the experience, and after a couple of hours on Ravelry, it became obvious to me that I was going to have to come up with something a whole lot easier than any of the lace scarf patterns available online.

It took just a few minutes to come up with this pattern. There are only two easy rows to memorize, and it is highly adaptable to any yarn and any needles. I used Sea Silk, which is a fingering weight, simply because that was the yarn I wanted to use. I used size 3 needles because I have a pair of Signature straights in that size, and I felt like using them. I would have preferred perhaps a size 5 needle with this yarn, but it's no big deal. I just have a bit denser lace than I would have liked.

I had a hard time coming up with decent pictures, as it is dark out and my kitchen lighting doesn't seem to be the best for this sort of thing. But I hope you get the general idea.

Without further ado, here's the pattern:

Cast on a multiple of three stitches, plus two for the edges. I used 47 stitches, which is giving me a scarf about 8" wide with my chosen yarn and needles. Your results will, of course, vary. If this matters to you, knit a swatch.

Row 1: K1, *P1, K2tog, yo*, end K1

Row 2: *K1, P2*, end K2

Knit until you're sick of it, or the scarf is long enough, whichever comes first. Cast off. Block it if you want to.

That's it. Really couldn't be easier, right?

The pattern as written creates a scarf that is entirely lace, with a single-stitch garter border. If you want more of an edge, cast on a few more stitches and work those in garter stitch. If you want a shawl, cast on more stitches; just make sure you use a multiple of three for the lace section. I think this would make a great shawl or throw in worsted, or even bulky weight, yarn.


The pattern looks great from both sides, which I think is important in a scarf.

So...anyone feel like knitting along? I only have about eight inches done, so you have plenty of time to join me!

FO: Ribby

I blogged about this one here. Again, a while ago. It doesn't look a whole lot different now, but I thought it deserved an official FO post.

This is an interesting design, if I do say so myself: nothing more than basic ribbing, with a little shaping, but the horizontal ribbing in the center panel makes for a pretty dramatic design feature and adds curves where they don't really exist.

I used some Rowan cashsoft dk I had in the stash for a long time (I ordered it by mistake, thinking it was cashcotton). I debated for some time about what sort of sleeves to make for this. In the end, I decided to make it a tank top, mostly because I wanted to move on to something new and this was the fastest finish.

I did a quick single crochet finish around the armholes to give them some structure.

I've never actually worn this. I think it would be more wearable with sleeves, and some day I may get around to knitting some. In the meantime, I think it would make a good vest over a shirt, but since that's not really a wardrobe concept I've ever embraced, it mostly just sits on a shelf in my closet.

Look! Up in the Sky!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...

Knitting content!

I blogged about this one way back here. It's been done for a while and I've been wearing it regularly. In fact, it needs washing, so I decided to get some pictures before I put it in to soak--because, you know, I'm always convinced my knitting is going to hit water and dissolve. It hasn't happened yet, but I'm still on the alert.

This is the one I've named Flame D'Amore. It's based on Francis Revisited, which is a lovely pattern all by itself, but I'm not one to follow a pattern. I worked this from some handspun merino and merino tencel which I plied together for a fingering-dk weight yarn. I knitted it at 19 stitches to four inches for a light, drapey fabric. I added plenty of waist shaping using darts both front and back.

I did this one as a top-down raglan and knitted the cowl neck on afterward. I picked up stitches and worked the sleeves top-down in the round, so there was no seaming at all. We love that!

I left the edges to roll for a light, casual finish. They rolled a bit too much initially, but after a little steam blocking, they relaxed nicely and gave just the baby-roll I was hoping for.

The fabric is surprisingly warm, considering the light weight. I've even worn it to work under a suit a couple of times. It looks great with a black suit; the reds and blacks add a nice pop of color. Since I wear black suits several times a week, I'm always on the lookout for flattering bright colors to wear with black.

Tough Week

Just...tough. Every day this week, something has gone wrong at work, either personally or professionally. Most of it is not my fault, but I'm exhausted from the stress of dealing with it. I've mentioned here before that I am "volunteering" because the agency I am working for has had a hiring freeze in place for the past two years. Even in normal economic times, the only way in is to start as a student worker or the equivalent, and work for a year or so before applying for a real job. Right now, though, they aren't even hiring people for those positions. To fill the ranks, they are relying on "volunteer attorneys." Which is just what it sounds like: all the work and responsibility, none of the pay. Obviously, not many people can afford to do this. The idea is, those who stick it out will have a much better chance of getting hired when the agency does finally start hiring again. I know; it sound ridiculous. But there are reasons it makes sense for me to do this.

In my position, I am pretty much in the middle of a very extended job interview, so I constantly feel like I'm under a microscope. Whenever something happens around me that draws possible negative attention, I am hyper aware that I am constantly being assessed, and that whatever conclusions my supervisors draw may affect my ability to eventually get hired. I am much more vulnerable than someone who already has a job, because things too minor to ever get anyone fired are more than sufficient to keep me from being hired. Which makes my work life just a weeeee bit stressful.

I'm hoping to post actual knitting content this weekend, once I get a chance to get some pictures and this stress headache has subsided to a dull roar. Until then...

Still No Knitting Content

I had planned to begin an FO Parade today, but that would have required actually getting FOtos. Which I didn't. We had lovely weather yesterday (if you consider 84 degrees in January "lovely"), but it was also the first day in almost three weeks that Younger Son has been well enough to go out, so I took him to the zoo instead.

You read that right. Three weeks. The poor kid got the flu (despite a flu shot), which lasted ten days, and then he developed pneumonia and dual ear infections. He was absolutely miserable. This began (naturally) on what would have been his first day back to school after the interminable winter break. The KH and I have been tag-teaming kids for over a month now. Today would have been our first kid-free day--so of course Older Son woke up with a fever and headache, and I am home with him instead of doing the bazillion other things I need to be doing.

Like getting FO pictures. &%^$!

All Tangled Up

This is what I've been doing instead of knitting. My pen ran out of ink, though, so I'll have to take a break until I can get another.

What Sound Do Lemmings Make?

I was catching up with some of my favorite blogs today and I came across this one of Becky's. It's about Zentangles, which I had never heard of before. Essentially, it's just a form of abstract doodling. It's meant to be very Zen and relaxing. That is quite appealing to me at the moment. Most of my brain power seems to be tied up in my work these days, and with the general stress of trying to manage both work life and family life, I don't seem to have much left over, even for knitting. So this seemed like a relaxing creative pursuit, and since I am nothing if not open to the smallest suggestion, I immediately pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and started doodling.

Here is the result:

But I'm apparently not very Zen. Instead of getting into a mindless zone, I kept judging the results and trying to figure out what to do next. I don't have any particular artistic talent, so this required more effort than I expected. I don't think I've drawn anything except knitting diagrams and smiley faces since I was child.

It was fun, though. And maybe with practice I'll even learn to relax.