*** File last modified on May 30, 1994 *** +++++ Contents: Tom Baker scarf Various scarf suggestions including materials and stitches This file was originally compiled by Martha Underwood (ddancer@netcom.com). Please send updates to Emily Way (spamily@io.org). +++++ From: boojum@MIT.EDU Subject: tom baker scarf? The following was given to me as matching the real one: Here is the official BBC pattern: USe no.9 american needles, and start by chaining 60 stitches. Always slip the first stitch of each row. Make rows in the following order: 8 purple 8 mustard 12 grey 52 camel 18 rust 8 mustard 16 bronze 8 purple 20 bronze 10 mustard 38 bronze 10 purple 22 rust 10 camel 12 camel 8 purple 8 grey 32 grey 20 green 40 rust 10 rust 8 mustard 14 mustard 16 mustard 28 camel 20 green 14 rust 8 purple 8 bronze 42 camel 10 purple 12 bronze 42 green 20 grey 8 mustard 8 rust 16 grey 12 purple 8 rust 6 camel 54 camel 14 mustard 10 purple 54 green 12 green 16 rust how much you'll need: 6oz wool of camel, 4 oz of "greenish brown" (try to get almost an amalgam of the two colors, 4 oz of rust, 4 oz of bronze, 3 oz each of purple, grey and mustard. afterwards: make 7 tassels of each end, each made up of 1 foot starnds of each of the 7 colors. ^^^ From: Jessica E Sewell Subject: Re: Scarf Questions My favorite type of wool for scarves is alpaca because it's drapey, soft (very important around the neck and face) and very warm. I don't know about dimensions -- I tend to wing it, making the scarf wider if the fabric is relatively lightweight and thinner if it's thick (or else you get feeling strangled when it bunches at the neck). For length when it's getting long I put it arounbd my neck and knot it and then decide how much longer to make it (this may not be very useful). Usually reversable, flat-lying stitches are good. stockinette curls up, especially under the pressure of being knotted and all. I did one in rib, but it's almost impossibly bulky, so if you do rib, use a thin yarn. Or also a 3x3 rib or something stretched out like that, as opposed to 1x1, would work better. garter stitch is good, so is moss stitch. My main advice is to check how fat the fabric gets and err on the side of thinness (as you can tell, I have some clunky fat scarves around. ^^^ From: ubc-cs!yale.edu!mahe-marie-christine Subject: Re: Scarf Questions Stockinette won't work, because it'll curl. You have to use either garter stitch or seed stitch, or anything that'll look equally good on both sides and lie flat. Any wool will do in terms of weight, you can go from lace to really bluky, but it should be very soft. For that reason, I might recommend merino in this case, if you can get it. A good test is to wear the skein around your neck for an evening, to see if there's any irritation developing, or better yet to get the recipient to do that, since itch perceptions vary widely with the individual. ^^^ From: ubc-cs!juicy-juice.lcs.mit.edu!chf Subject: Re: Scarf Questions Hmmm if I were going to knit a scarf for a guy I'd knit it from alpaca. I'm weaving a bunch of scarves from some alpaca that feel wonderful. It's very soft, sturdy and seems more manly then a mohair or angora. I'm assuming that you are thinking of luxury fibers. If you wanted to make it out of washable wool there's a washable merino wool made by Brunswick which feels really nice and is much less expensive then alpaca. I'd knit a garter stitch mobius strip scarf. I knit one for myself last year from washable wool, and my S.O. wears it any chance he gets. He likes that it keeps his chest warm and doesn't fall off. It's important for mobius strip scarves that the front and back look the same so stockinette stitch doesn't work. I also have plans for a cashmere scarf. I plan to knit one of the knit/purl patterns from Barbara Walker's first treasury of knitting patterns that is the same on the back and the front. It looks kind of like three dimensional blocks. Of course the cashmere yarn is frightfully expensive. ^^^ From: "Victoria Neff" Subject: Re: Scarf Questions Use a stitch that won't curl. Stockinette is out for that reason, unless you knit it as a tube, and that's probably warmer than you want.... Garter stitch is good. I like to use knit/purl patterns from Barbara Walker's collections. She's got some nifty ones that are reversible and all. As for choosing a fiber -- wear the yarn around your neck for a while. If it prickles, don't use it. :-) ^^^ From: GERSTNER Subject: Re: Scarf Questions Any fiber tip for knitting scarves: avoid yarns that shed! Years ago my sister made me a beautiful cream angora scarf in a stitch that I think is called popcorn -- sort of flat bobbles. It was/is lovely and warm. BUT, it leaves lint all over my coat, my clothes and anything it touches. I have enough fur on my clothes from my cat, so the scarf stays on the shelf, and every so often I pick it up and wish it were more practical. ^^^ From: ubc-cs!bscr.uga.edu!sallyb Subject: RE: Scarf Questions My favorite scarf method is to knit in a long tube, twice the desired width. For a warm climate, you might want to use a fairly thin yarn and slightly larger than normal needles (i.e., loose knitting). I usually did 3-4" wide stripes for about 6 feet, then fringed the ends with opposite colors to close the tube - no sewing necessary. ^^^ From: Martha Underwood Subject: Re: Scarf Questions Pretty much anything goes! Try using a more novelty fiber since you won't be needing that much for a scarf (As opposed to a sweater) I usually estimate 500 yds or so for a good scarf, you may want more for a longer length. Much more than 10 inches (25cm) wide and it'll get very bulky fast. As for length, ask the recipient to either show you a scarf they like, or tell you how long they want it. Depending on the yarn, I like either garter or the following pattern: multiple of 4 + 1 K3, p1 to last stitch, k1 repeat til crazy, length is enough, or you run out of yarn. ^^^ From: "Liz Sommers" Subject: Re: Scarf Questions I like to make handspun cashmere scarves, also qiviut. I have had no luck at all weaving with my handspun cashmere, but it does spin up nice. I can't stand mohair scarves, or any wool except the fines ramboullet or merino. Silk makes a very nice scarf. If you can find lightweight alpaca, it makes a great scarf and is nowhere near as expensive as these others. ^^^ From: ubc-cs!prosaix.com!rbrock (Prosaix) Subject: scarf I have had the most success with a completely reversable pattern. I usually use the ferns & feathers pattern for scarfs, but most guys find it a bit too lacy for them. For a guy, I would probably choose garter stitch. I also knit a long tube scarf for my daughter. That way, I could just knit (I hate purling), and I didn't worry about any kind of pattern. Rather like Dr. Who's scarf. If you are spinning the yarn, try to get hold of some merino or Pollwarth. Both feel wonderful next to the skin. If you are purchasing the yarn, I would recommend rubbing a hank/skein next to some tender skin, i.e., along you neck, on the inner part of your forearm. ^^^ From: Len Alshan Subject: Re:Scarves To briefly return to a previous thread. One of my favorite patterns is described by EZ (of course) in Knitting Without Tears (pp95-97) as 'prime rib or brioche stitch'. I have used this to make stadium scarves of various lengths on bulky yarn and it knits up nicely. You get this deep fluffy rib and once you get the knack of it the stitch is a breeze. I usually make my scarves about 5-6" wide -- the length determined by the height and/or wearers preference. I like mine long so I can wrap them around my neck several times. ^^^ ^^^ From: rbrock@prosaix.com (rBrock@Prosaix) Subject: Re: KNIT: scarf pattern? This is an easy lace pattern. I believe the old name for it is "Ferns & Feathers". I have used it for scarves, baby blankets, and afghans. With fingering yarn and small needles, the holes are not so large as to cause baby fingers to get caught. It is easy enough to carry around with you and does not involve extra needles. I have knitted it in different colors, or all one yarn. One of my aunts liked the pattern and used it for the body in a sweater she knit for my cousin. There is a nice bonus: the pattern leaves you with a scalloped edge. Cast on a multiple of 18 stitches. Row 1: K across Row 2: P across Row 3: K2 tog 3 times * (yo and K1 for 6 times), K 2 tog 6 times, repeat from * across row and end K2 tog 3 times. Row 4: K across --- This pattern downloaded from Wool Works: the online knitting compendium http://www.woolworks.org/