Finished scarf - parti colored lace

Scarf, mixed fibers: polyester, nylon, simple lace stitch, size 10 plastic needles, 10 in.

This was definitely an impulse and it knitted up very quickly. The nylon makes it a rather heavy fabric in spite of its lacy construction. The photo doesn't capture the bright colors, which are also very shiny.

I struggled for quite awhile with this lace - I mean for years. It's very easy to make a mistake at the end of one particular row in the four-row pattern. This piece was about the first time that I "got it" without having to rip out many rows. It's a good thing, because trying to see the individual stitches with a yarn of this nature is almost impossible.

In the studio - filet crochet

Scarf, mixed fibers: linen, cotton, silk, filet crochet with crocheted embellishments, size E aluminum crochet hook.

This net is like a blank canvas. Embellishments will include neat crochet shapes and some wild fuzziness,

In the studio - greens and purples

Scarf, garter stitch; mixed fibers, cotton, linen, silk, microfiber, rayon, size 11 plastic cable needle, 30 in.

If all goes according to plan this will be a very long narrow ellipse shape with a loose drape. I hope the perfect summer scarf.

In the studio - stash from Webs

For those of you who have yet to be introduced, Webs is a wonderful yarn store in Northampton, MA, a.k.a. www.yarn.com A few friends and I have a habit of meeting in Northampton to catch up with one another and enjoy a communal day of shopping and hanging out. Webs is always on our itinerary.

The one huge pleasure that I love most is that not only do you get to shop a rather large yarn store that serves both the knitting/crocheting crowd (and I'm sure at least a few tatters) but the weaving crowd as well. They've left the doors to their warehouse in the back open so you can wander back and pretty much have a go at the whole stock. It's not pretty, but the bargains are neck deep and higher. This visit I was very pleased to see the younger set making thrilling discoveries in the warehouse. I hope to see more and more in future.

Several overstuffed lounge chairs are a welcome site for many a weary shopper and husband, and I think they help make the atmosphere casual and very friendly.

This stash is a small compromise of shopping pleasure and the knowledge that I just got two rather large bags of free stash from a friend. I got that cone because my companions discovered the $5.00 cone sale shelves and...I just couldn't help myself. That and I'm a crocheter and one can never have too much crochet cotton on hand.



Taking about 18in lengths of each yarn in the new collection, I'm creating this diagonal garter stitch scarf. It's an unusual combination of pinks with a lot of blue and greens with a lot of blue and some just plain blue, and I'm liking it a lot.

Mixed fibers, cotton, wool, silk, nylon, microfiber, rayon, linen; diagonal garter stitch, size 10 cable needle, 30 in (too long!)

In the studio - saturated hues

Boa, merino wool and polyester with lurex, garter stitch, size 11 plastic needles, 10 in.


This yarn is from my friend Elizabeth's stash - she couldn't think of how to use it and when she gave it to me I was rather daunted, but one night I said haayyyyyy..... these two might work if I put them together. I think I was right.

Finished silk scarf with mohair edge

Finished scarf, silk ribbon, rib stitch with crochet mohair edge, size 11 plastic knitting needles, 11 in. and size I/9 5.5mm aluminum crochet hook.

I called this ribbon "ornery" because it was very challenging to get a gage and stitch pattern that would allow the fabric to drape without it looking like a tangled mess of yarn rather than a real fabric. I found it also very difficult to find another yarn for a finishing edge due to the colors in the ribbon and how they change. But I DID find this lovely periwinkle mohair and I'm very happy with the results. It's a very light weight beautiful spring scarf.

In the studio - sawtooth ruffle with sequin edge

Scarf, mohair, sequins, nylon, knit stitch, size 10 plastic needles, 10 in.

This is going along very quickly and is a study in contrasts with the fuzzy matte mohair and the very shiny sequins and nylon yarn along the outer edge. The ruffle is very subtle and the larger needle makes the drape very lovely and soft.

Finished cotton scarf with ruffle edge

Completed scarf, original design, cotton, seed stitch with crochet edging.

This is a wonderful worsted weight cotton.

In the studio - silvery lace

Scarf, viscose, petal and fan crochet lace pattern, 3.25 mm aluminum crochet hook.

I began this piece five times before getting the proportions the way I want them. But I think it will be worth it now that the drape feels right and the scarf is not too wide.

In the studio - rib stitch

Scarf, linen and silk, rib stitch with size 5 needles, 14 in.

After all the fancy laces and ruffles this is a really plain Jane piece of knitting! It will get more interesting with an edge on it. I'm thinking of a very thin ruffle in a more lightweight yarn, same color.

In the studio - fluffy lace original design

Scarf, original design, cotton chenille, lurex, cotton, mohair, crochet and knitted ruffle, size 4 aluminum cable needle, 30" and size 3mm bamboo crochet hook.

I reached for the cotton chenille because it so beautifully soft and the drape is good for ruffles. The lurex stripe shines with bright colors and is buffered a bit by the final fluffy edge.

A technical note - the bamboo crochet hook is easily bent at that small size. If you tend to bend needles, I wouldn't recommend using bamboo at this small guage.

In the studio - symmetrical crochet ruffle; original design

Scarf, mixed fibers: cotton, acrylic, polyamide, crochet, size 3mm hook

This symmetrical ruffle emanates from the middle rather from one edge of the fabric, as all my other ruffles have done so far. I like the effect. It is a very long scarf, almost six feet, and it will remain this narrow. I did a very heavy half double crochet stitch as the final round, which holds the ruffle out rather than letting it collapse on itself. The texture and weight are very much like linen.

In the studio - fuzz and shine original textile

Stole, original design: mixed fibers:wool, lurex, cotton, nylon, rayon, microfiber; size 15 aluminum cable needle, 24 in. Projected size: 14 in wide, 60 in long

I got wonderful stash donations from Dr. Brat and so I couldn't resist playing and designing this new fabric. It's very net-like and drapes loosely. There are many very reflective elements among the yarns, so it flashes and glimmers.

In the studio - Noro lace

Scarf; cotton, silk, viscose; simple lace stitch, size 9 wood needles, 11 in.

The yarn is the star in this scarf. The simple lace stitch produces a bias in the fabric, so it drapes in interesting ways, but mostly the complexity and interest in the yarn is what makes the scarf beautiful. It uses pink, black and lime green to wonderful effect.