Scarf Styling Tutorial - Part I, The Plait

Last year I suddenly realized that although I had a lot of shawls and cowls, I was in need of a few scarves and set off to knit some. One of those projects ended up being the recently-released Bosc Scarf pattern (a prototype of which is shown in this post).

I've been a huge fan of scarves and shawls for many years, often preferring them to other accessories like jewelry. It always amazes me how a scarf thrown on casually with a simple tee and jeans can elicit as many, or more, compliments than an outfit that was carefully chosen for a special occasion. 

So it was fun when the editor of a popular knitting magazine, in which a pattern of mine will soon be released, contacted some designers from the issue to ask for feedback on why we like to knit certain accessories and how we style our knits. This got me to thinking about different ways I like to do that and today I've prepared a quick tutorial for one popular method I call the 'plait'.  

I suggest you try this technique by tying your scarf or stole around a post, for practice, before trying to reverse it on yourself in a mirror.

Step 1: Fold scarf in half and drape it around the neck.

Step 2: Pull one free end of the scarf through the looped end.

Step 3: Pull the remaining free end over the top half of the scarf, then down into the looped end and under the bottom half.

Step 4: Pull snug to secure

And there you have it! This method also works by using the free ends in reverse order, so experiment with the look you like. The photo at the top of this post features the same method worn at a slightly different angle. 

I plan to share more scarf and shawl styling ideas in future posts, and I'd love to see your photos if you want to send me pics of yourself in your specially-tied scarves and shawls! 

Still in scarf-knitting mode, I've just finished a very simple design, featuring an easy-peasy, traditional and familiar stitch pattern, with lovely, soft fringes. The version shown here was knit in Malabrigo Merino Worsted. It's squishy and cozy and I can't wait to get to work on another.

And don't forget to enter my Valentine's Day free knitting pattern, yarn and bag giveaway; find details here.

Happy knitting everyone!

It's Beginning to Look a Little Like Christmas

Someone, please pass me the smelling salts, because I about fainted dead away when I saw the response to my new pattern, the Bosc Hat. THANK YOU to everyone for the kind comments, and for making this pattern the #1 hottest pattern on Ravelry.com (holy mackerel!) for all day yesterday.

I'm sure that for many of the wonderful designers out there whose work I greatly admire, having their design on the top 20 patterns list is a ho-hum, all-in-a-day's-work kind of thing, but for me it was very exciting. 

And for those of you who've asked about the photo, well, this one was rather difficult, but the final shot of the gold hat was the result of me running back and forth from the camera to the exact pose spot 68 times while trying to maintain composure, hold completely still, not gasp for breath, and not mess up my hair (a monumental task in itself).

With the Christmas holiday upon us, I also wanted to share just a few seasonal ideas, like this rosemary tree. 

I've had this little tree for about 5 years now, having purchased it at the grocery store for only a few dollars thinking that even if it died, the dried herbs themselves would be worth the price.

But not only has it not died, it's grown about double in size and my husband has decreed that I am no longer allowed to pot it up larger lest it become too mammoth to be moved indoors for winter. Since he is the one who carries it in, to grow in a south-facing window with the aid of additional grow lights, I had to agree. :)  

The tiny glass bell ornaments are part of my favorite collection of vintage ornament shapes from the 1920's-1950's. They are just the right size for my little tree.

We also have a regular tree in the living room, complete with lights.

As a long-time sewing enthusiast, I have a small assortment of vintage household and sewing tools from my grandmothers, like the old folding yardsticks shown here. These jointed sticks are easily bent into fun shapes such as a star, shown single in the photo at the top of the post, or layered as seen below.

 

I love rooting around in drawers to see what I can 'find' to make use of without purchasing anything new.

Boxwood or other greenery is easily formed into a simple wreath and can be tied with a scrap of ribbon or as here, a length of burlap. 

For those who celebrate Hanukkah, I loved this local store display of plain white candles in unmatched glass containers, although the contemporary glass menorah/ hanukiah is quite lovely too.

The mirror placed underneath multiplies the effect of the candles and glass. This is such a pretty tabletop idea for anyone at anytime of the year.

I hope you find a few inspiring ideas here, I'm planning to do my wrapping and baking today and tomorrow, and will try to squeeze in another post before Sunday - we'll see. Happy knitting everyone!

New Bosc Hat Knitting Pattern

I love a set of knitted items that are pretty enough to stand alone, but also have companion pieces. With that in mind, I designed the Bosc Hat as a coordinate to my most recent pattern release, the Bosc Scarf, mentioned in this post.

The entire set was inspired by multiple muses - the graceful curves and rich color of ripe pears, 

as well as an interest in designing pieces that capture the intricate beauty of Japanese-style stitch patterns in an easy, approachable way. 

The Bosc pattern’s lush texture is provided by easy stitches in a quick-knit worsted-weight yarn. Basic cable and lace patterns transition smoothly from a simple ribbed edging 

 

to the crown of the hat.

 

I ripped and re-knit the crown a dozen or more times, until I was satisfied with the amount of slouch combined with the shaping of the design. Shaping is built into the pattern, so blocking the hat flat produces a nicely-slouched beanie and blocking it over a plate, as those shown here, produces a soft, face-framing hat with even more slouch.

The pattern offers more options to knitters with both charted and written instructions, as well as a choice of two sizes.

This pattern has been extensively tested and I want to thank my lovely test knitters: Becky, Simone, Josefina, Laurie, Lisa, Jodie, Alyson, Jessica and Tina. You ladies are superb!

In other news, it's been an extremely hectic, but also exciting, month. Our basement flooded late one rainy evening, requiring a midnight scramble to replace a broken sump pump and mop up an inch of water, followed by a week of cleaning and ripping out sodden, ruined carpet. That alone set my work and blog posting back substantially.

But I did finally manage to get my last two patterns of the year posted (hurray!), was invited to do two designer interviews within one week (I'm working up the nerve), received this beautiful cardigan made just for me by my wonderful, super sweet Ravelry friend Loren (Twisted1 on Ravelry - thank you so much Loren, I love it!!)

and was awarded the Versatile Blogger award (thank you very much to Anna and Johanna!!).

I've had a a frenzy of large Christmas events to host and attend, and multiple major tasks to complete. Whew! And the month is not over yet!

I am now able to relax a teensy bit and enjoy the coming Christmas and New Year holidays. Although still hard at work finishing up a couple of patterns for publications next year, hopefully things will settle down soon and I will return to more regular knitting and other updates and fun stuff, including a new prize giveaway! Uff da.

New Bosc Scarf Knitting Pattern & Recipe

I've long been intrigued with the idea of trying to capture the delicate beauty and intricacy of Japanese-style knitting stitches in a simple, approachable way. A way that would be fun for experienced and newer knitters alike, especially those who love the look of these types of stitches but are perhaps a little unsure of trying something that may appear rather scary.

With this technical concept in mind, the idea for the design of my newest knitting pattern was begun, aesthetically inspired by the beauty of ripe pears, the most elegant of which, in my opinion, are the Bosc variety.

I love their gold, green and russet hues, graceful curving shapes, and sweet but subtle flavor. 

When I found Quince and Co. Lark worsted weight yarn and saw the rich "honey" colorway I knew I had a match for my project.

 

The 100% wool yarn is soft enough for a scarf, with excellent drape for a yarn of this sort, but the twist still has a nice amount of body to give structure to the stitch pattern and to the scarf itself as it drapes around the neck - all details that were important to me as I selected yarn for this design, the Bosc Scarf, available here on my blog or on my designer page at Ravelry.com.

The scarf's texture is created with very basic stitches. Simple increases and decreases as well as easy cables shape the lines into a semblance of a pear shape and leaves (although you might very well see tulips and that is OK too!), separated by vertical lines of rippling eyelets.

I knit all of the cables without a cable needle; many excellent videos and tutorials for this technique can be found on Youtube or in this video from Knittinghelp.com or on the Grumperina.com or  Knitting Daily websites.

Lace ends grow organically into and out of Bosc's main stitch pattern, so the project is knit straight through from cast on to bind off with no grafting or provisional cast on necessary. The ends can be blocked either straight across or into a scalloped shape as I have done in the example here. 

A sleek corded edge is built into the knitting by slipping stitches as you go. This small detail keeps an elaborate stitch combination modern and un-cluttered (I love lace and cables but wanted to avoid a fussy look).  

Large charts as well as written instructions are included, and tips for adapting the length are given, offering multiple options for knitters.

The entire project began late last summer just as the pears were coming into season and I began experimenting with recipes for this fruit. Bosc pears are excellent for cooking as they retain much of their shape and flavor when baked or poached, although many other varieties cook nicely as well. 

One of my favorite pear dishes poaches the fruit in champagne with vanilla, and I hope you will give them a try and see just how lovely they can be.

Champagne Poached Vanilla Pears

Ingredients 

1 bottle champagne (any sparkling wine will suffice, or non-alcoholic version if you prefer) 
1 cup sugar (or sugar substitute)

1/4 tsp. lemon zest 

1  4" vanilla bean - split lengthwise

2 firm Bosc pears - peeled but with stems intact (slightly underripe is ideal)
Optional garnishes - dark chocolate, star anise, bay leaves

Directions

In a saucepan just large enough to hold pears and liquid, combine first four ingredients. Bring to a boil, immediately reduce to a simmer. Gently lower pears into the simmering liquid until fully submerged.

Cover pan and simmer for 15 minutes, baste with liquid occasionally, avoid stirring. Finished pears should be tender and easily pierced with a fork; very firm pears may need up to an additional 5-15 minutes of cooking time. Allow to cool in liquid for at least 20-30 minutes before serving.

Pears may be served immediately, or wrapped tightly and stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. To serve, place a single pear upright on a small plate, spoon a small amount of liquid over pear. I love to garnish these pears with small squares of extra dark chocolate, or for a festive look try adding a star anise and a single bay leaf, if desired.

I hope you enjoy making this recipe, it is a light, but delicious, dish to keep in mind with Christmas and New Year's celebrations approaching. If you decide to make either the scarf or the pears, I'd love to know! Bon appétit and happy knitting!