Now Norma Knits

Basketweave Scarf -- The Secrets Revealed

Several people have asked me to write down the pattern for the basketweave scarves I made for the Red Scarf Project, and specifically to clarify how I did the edges.  

Because I did it the way I often do things -- that is, just DO it, without thinking about it -- I could not remember, when pressed, exactly how I had made that nice edge. So I had to sit down and start another one, writing down every step so that I could convey it clearly. 

Here it is.

BASKETWEAVE SCARF WITH SELVEDGE EDGE

Soft worsted-weight yarn, about 360 yards (I used Cascade 220, and I'm only estimating at the yardage, but this pattern is very economical with the yarn. It took less than two skeins of 220 to get a 6-inch by 64-inch scarf.)

Size US8 needles

Cast on 30 stitches to make a scarf approximately 6 inches wide. (Make the scarf wider or narrower by increasing or reducing in multiples of 4. Always add 2 stitches to your number for the selvedge edge. The blocks of stitches on either end are composed of 5 stitches; the others are composed of 4.)

Row 1:  With yarn in front, slip 1st stitch as if to purl; put yarn in BACK.

K4.  P4 K4 across until you reach last stitch. K1

Row 2: Hold yarn in FRONT. Slip 1st stitch as if to purl. Keep yarn in front. 

P4. K4 P4 across until you reach last stitch. Put yarn in BACK, K1.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1

Row 4: Repeat Row 2

--------------------------

Row 5:  (You are switching here from a knit block to a purl block first, to begin the change which will result in the basketweave pattern.)  Repeat Row 2

Row 6: Repeat Row 1

Row 7: Repeat Row 2

Row 8: Repeat Row 1

And then start the sequence all over again.

Easy!

This pattern is a super-easy, super-fast knit, which results in a fabric that is the same on both sides. I maintain that it grows faster than many other scarf patterns, because the fabric it creates is so flat, but maybe that's just me. You've done a 60-inch scarf that is unisex and lovely and soft and highly suitable for the Red Scarf Project in no time at all! 

This pattern greatly benefits from a light steam blocking.

Double-Thick, Super-Warm Dulaan Hat Pattern

Billy Bear and his friend Black Bear would like to announce that Norma created this in honor of The Dulaan Project: 

A double-thick, super-easy, super-fast, super-economical, super-warm, super-versatile, super-stretchy (so one size fits a wide range of kids) very cute hat.  This is an easy pattern to use for a hat for the Project.  It took me only a few hours to make, and I used yarn leftovers. 

Here's the pattern:

Use 2 strands of yarn held together throughout, (or one strand of bulky or super-bulky, I suppose).  I used one strand Plymouth Encore worsted in red and one strand Patons Country Garden DK superwash wool in apricot.  You can get creative with stripes, whatever.  You can make it slightly larger by using two strands of worsted weight, and even go up to a size 15 US needle. 

The gauge I got was about 3 stitches to the inch.  Row gauge doesn't really matter. 

US 13 (9 mm) 16-inch circular needle

Cast on 40 stitches.  Join, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Knit all rounds, resulting in a tube shape, 'til the tube reaches 17-18 inches long.  Cut yarn, leaving a piece about 12 inches long.  Thread the yarn through the stitches left on the needle and pull to gather.  It forms a sweet little pinwheel on the top.  See?

Secure.  Cut yarn after weaving it in a bit to make sure it's secure.  Take another piece of yarn and thread it through the cast-on edge on the other end of the tube.  Gather snugly.  Stuff this end up through the tube and attach this gathered bit to the top gathered bit.  Tack with a piece of yarn.  You're done.  You can adorn it if you wish, but I don't think I will. 

This hat can be worn with the brim rolled up or down, and it's very stretchy, yet snug and warm, so the age range it will fit is quite large.  My guess is it will fit ages 2-8, or maybe even up to 10.   It can actually fit on my head, but I have admitted to being a bit of a pinhead.  It fits me so it wouldn't keep me that warm in super-cold weather, as it doesn't cover my ears very well.  But it will fit many a kid really well.

This is how the size, with brim rolled down, compares to an adult-size store-bought ski cap:

Here 'tis, sitting on my desk, cute as can be.  It makes my desk all nice and warm. 

For my next trick, I'm going to do exactly the same thing, but end it at about 13 inches, and seam the edges together to result in a matching double-thick neckwarmer.