Thanks very much to everyone who commented on my previous post! Those three projects are high in my list of favourites – they’re very wearable and go with almost all my other clothes.
On that note, I have to confess to not wearing some of my older projects as much as I thought I would. It’s “eyes bigger than belly” syndrome, I suppose: one sees something and decides one must have it, but doesn’t really think hard enough about yarn/pattern choice and although the finished item is fine, it gets relegated to the back of the drawer for eternity. I hate waste and I’m trying to be very conscious about what will genuinely suit me, and what is just a case of “ooh! Pretty!”. With that in mind, I have unravelled Garland, having very nearly finished it some weeks ago. I tried it on once and realised I’d made an error in judgement. No matter, though! I’ve ditched it without any regrets and am working on the Somerset cardigan from Neoknits, albeit with a few little modifications (I’m making it a bit longer, for starters – oh, and in a different weight of yarn, and with longer sleeves! In for a penny…).
I seem to be unable to keep from modifying patterns these days, and so it may seem like a natural progression that I’m dipping my toes into the pool (ocean?) that is designing. I posted a little preview of this just before Christmas, but now I’ve written up the pattern and can share it with everyone without fear of spoiling the recipient.
Change-ringing scarf: Plain Bob Minor
This is a cabled scarf (a very cabled scarf!) which depicts the change-ringing method known as Plain Bob Minor. I will rely upon wikipedia to explain change-ringing better than I ever could:
Change ringing is the art of ringing a set of tuned bells in a series of mathematical patterns called “changes”.
These methods are often presented in the form of charts (you can see the chart for Plain Bob Minor here) which just beg to be turned into cable patterns. The scarf uses DK weight (or greater) yarn and for mine, which ended up as 66″ long, I used about 500 yards.
The pattern is free, and you can either go and see it on Ravelry if you have an account, or you can use the above button to download the PDF, which includes both charted and written instructions.
I’m already planning my next design, which will be a little more involved, in that so far it seems to be a cardigan, but without any cables (bliss!). I am swatching and reading Sweater Design in Plain English while waiting for some needles to arrive. It’s a good life.
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Wow!! Great scarf!! I love cable looks but i hate to knit it but mabe one day i’ll make that scarf this is so beautiful!!
Thank you, Alice! I don’t think I want to do any more cables for a while… :)
Wow that’s a bit adventurous for a first design! It is gorgeous though and I can see why you had to make it after being inspired by those charts.
Is the book useful? I really want to have a go at designing my own sweaters as I am not a regular shape. I’ve just had a look at the reviews on Amazon and it seems to be well thought of. What’s your opinion?
Thank you – yes, it was adventurous and I felt a little out of my depth initially, but then realised that it’s all just stitches and numbers. I also had a stack of graph paper to help me on my way – the designer’s secret weapon!
The book is excellent. It’s extremely comprehensive and detailed. The first half of the book is a primer for everything you might need to know before you start, and the second half contains the maths and construction information. (I find the former useful and the latter invaluable.) There are plenty of examples of different sorts of construction with clear explanations of why and how to do shaping, collars, pockets, etc. I’d highly recommend it!
thanks for the info re: the book, I shall stick it on my Amazon wish list, alone with about 10 other knitting books. I don’t think that wish list will ever be finished!
Wow-that is soooo beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
Wow !! Amazing scarf ! I love cables.
Thank you for offering this pattern.This scarf is amazing ! I knitted Melusine’s scarf ( also with cables)and hope to knit yours for the next winter.
What a lovely pattern! I love the fact that it is based on bell ringing charts, how clever you are. Thank you for sharing the pattern for it also, I’m very tempted, as I have a friend who was a former bell ringer and a current scarf wearer.