blocking

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Happy Veteran's Day!

St. Albans Valentine Cable Scarf
Click here to download St. Albans Scarf Chart

Click here to see more photos of scarf
Click here for St. Albans Scarf Row-by-Row Instructions

Note: Chart last updated 6 March 2009 to correct typos in definitions for BC and FC.

Here is my latest scarf, the St. Albans Valentine Cable Scarf. This is Scarf #15 in my series of cable scarves. I've decided that this will be my winter scarf this year. I used my favorite yarn, Elann Luxury Merino Superwash, in ruby red color. The scarf is knit in two halves and grafted at the center so that the center cable panel will be right-side-up when the ends hang down the front. It measures 72" x 7.5" (183 cm x 19 cm); 9" wide after blocking (23 cm).

I started with the heart-shaped valentine cable for my center cable panel, then decided that the best cable panel to pair up with this would be the XO cable. The other little mini-honeycomb panel was chosen so that the design would not compete with the other two cable panels. I think this would make a nice Valentine Scarf.

I was going to wait until tomorrow to block the scarf because I wanted to do it when Missy was not at home. As you can see, I changed my mind. :-) I hurriedly (read: sloppily) pinned out the center cable panel with my daughter "helping". I was nervous the whole time about her poking herself (or me!) with the quilting pins.

Oh, did you notice something strange about the way I blocked the scarf? Are the pins running down the inside of the scarf? You're not hallucinating. I didn't pin it out at the edges. I only wanted to block the center cable panel to make the heart motif "bloom" and show better. Is it too unorthodox to block only a small section? I did not want to block the other cable panels because I liked the way they looked unblocked.

The Chart is available for download now. Row-by-Row Instructions will be available for download soon.

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Copyright © Smariek Knits 2005-2008. All full copyright rights are reserved by Smariek Knits.
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quoi de neuf chez smariek

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Just a little update Chez Smariek. Barbara at CatBookMom's Yarns has been kind enough to create a chart for my Petra Lace Scarf. She is absolutely amazing with charts! Whereas I am totally useless with charts ... I couldn't figure out how to create one and I have a difficult time reading the chart. Yep, I'm still a row-by-row instructions kinda gal. Anyhow, I've uploaded the chart to box.net, and the link to download the chart is on the Petra Lace Scarf pattern page (more patterns can be seen in my sidebar or on my Pattern Bibliography page).

I also must take this opportunity to point out an easy peasy crochet scarf pattern designed by Trish at My Merino Mantra. It's her Green Stripe for Red Scarf pattern. I don't know how to crochet yet, however looking over the pattern instructions it looks so obscenely simple that perhaps even I can eventually figure it out.

Ok, it's time to take my pork tenderloin out of the oven before it starts looking like pork jerky.

Copyright © Smariek Knits 2005-2008. All full copyright rights are reserved by Smariek Knits.
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Claudia Hat Chart

BB is really clever, she figured out how to knit the Claudia Hat in the round. She's created a chart for knitting this hat in the round, you can find it here.

She mentioned using Excel to create her chart. When I was working on my Osiris Scarf chart using Word, Libby suggested that I try Excel. If I feel up to playing with charts again, I will definitely try using Excel.

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Osiris Chart

Yay, I think I've finished it. I've finally uploaded the chart for the Osiris Scarf. This is my first attempt at creating a chart and it has not been tested. Links to download the scarf pattern and chart can be found here. I would appreciate feedback on the chart so I can make improvements on my next chart attempt, if there is one. This one was created using Microsoft Word. Libby suggested using Microsoft Excel, so I might give that a try next time.

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Georgiana Scarf Chart

[Edited to add photos of Devon Square]

I'm just catching up with some stuff here. Barbara knitted my Georgiana Scarf a while back, and also made a chart for the pattern. You can find the chart from these locations:

1. Smariek Knits Yahoo Group (free registration, instant access)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smariekknits/
2. Box.net (no registration required, just click on link)
http://www.box.net/shared/cqfkdmg8km


I still can't knit from charts. It's on my "to do" list, along with learning how to knit socks and figuring out gauge. But first things first. Now that October is just around the corner, I'm starting to feel the Christmas crunch. What am I getting for some family members? Can I knit something for them and finish in time?

I just finished a 12" blanket square using Elann Devon yarn in Dusty Plum. I just need to find an envelope to mail it to L who is assembling the blanket. The pattern I used for the square is based on the Osiris Scarf pattern, the only difference is that I added more stitches to the edge to get the width I needed. This was the first time I've worked with Devon and I really like it! There's not a whole lot left in stock, I hope Elann plans on restocking it soon. I can see myself getting more of this yarn. I still haven't got my camera (lost while moving house). I'll have to see whether L can take a photo of the square for me. Now where did I pack those envelopes? I've unpacked the box with business size envelopes. I can't exactly stuff the square in that. I know I have larger envelopes somewhere, of course it's in a box we haven't yet unpacked...

Oh, I just got an old copy of Mon Tricot from eBay. I haven't seen this book, but have heard of it. I am looking forward to receiving it in 14 to 20 days (it's coming from Canada).

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