More Knitted Winter Scarves

As Winter draws to a close this week, here is a collection of my favourite hand-knitted scarves.  I particularly enjoy working with mohair, especially from New Zealand.  Most skeins were bought from the Stitches & Craft Show, which used to be at the Caulfield RaceCourse every March & September... for years! (See my earlier post, Fire Scarf, which I completed in June this year).

While we are we looking forward with anticipation to the first balmy breaths of a warm Spring breeze ...  in reality, I expect the weather will remain quite chilly for a few more weeks (or months?!) - That's Melbourne!

Purple / Green / Brown scarf:  "Touch Alpine" - 12 ply.  Knits up beautifully, and is SO light and warm to wear!  This is a lovely, variagated woollen thread, and amazingly, it arranged itself into those vertical stripes.  

I receive so many compliments about this scarf! Plus, it's really versatile to wear, colour-wise.  Cast on 22 stitches onto size 10mm needles.  Do Garter stitch (knit every row), until desired length.  (I prefer about 110-130cm).  It's 25cm wide. (Winter 2007)

Red Rib:  Use 2 threads: Cleckheaton De Luxe Velvet Ribbon + 8ply plain red.  Cast on 20 stitches, Size 10mm needles.  Pattern is Single Rib (Knit 1, Purl 1, continue). Chunky and bright.  I made this one 140cm, as it was a bit thicker.   (Winter 2006)

Lavender  Rib:  Used "Fairy Floss", from Lincraft.  It feels like Chenille - lovely!  Using 2 strands, cast on 14 stitches, Size 10mm needles. (Knit 1, Purl 1).  Looks great with jeans, for a casual look.  (Winter 2008)

Rust / Cinnamon Broken Rib - Another favourite!
Using Filatura Di Crosa - Multicolour.   60% mohair, 40% acrylic. 2 x 50g balls. Needles: 5mm.  Cast on 45 stitches - Knit 2, Purl 2 to end, Knit 1.  Repeat for each line.


This Rust scarf took a lot longer (smaller needles, and more care required to ensure pattern doesn't get mixed up...) needless to say... the occasional back-tracking was required to fix minor mistakes. Completed on the daily train commute from Ashburton to the City. (Winter, 2008)

Soft Smoky Denim Blue / Silver Grey.  Picasso Heirloom, 12 ply, made in France. 38% mohair, 59% acrylic, 3% polyester.  So Soft!  Cast on 22 stitches, 10mm needles.  Finished size: 22cm x 130cm.  Pattern is Garter stitch. This ensures the side edges don't curl in.  (Winter 2007)

As you can see, I'm very much influenced by flattering colours, and top-quality wool.  Then, you really only need a simple pattern which doesn't overpower scarf.  This allows the beauty of the fibre to shine through!  Try it!  I just love wearing my own creations!

Knitting weather in Melbourne

I started this scarf last winter, from some wool picked up at the Canberra Markets, in June 2010.  Doesn't it look fiery and warm?   A simple garter stitch shows up the beauty of the variegated colours. There's probably only another 10 cm to go to finish it....  so that will be my project this weekend.

Fire Scarf

We are definitely feeling Wintry blasts here in Victoria, during the final week of Autumn.  I've got the beginnings of a head-cold to prove it! However, despite the wind and the rain lashing the windows, it's lovely to snuggle under a cosy, warm, hand-made quilt and settle in for the evening, with my honey, and Misty, the cat.  Autumn, with it's coppery colours and crisp days, is my favourite season of the year!