rhapsody in blue and brown

Remember my little yarn shortage problem? Well, desperation is a hard but compelling mistress. She forced me to see the resources I had on hand, and thanks to the spit join, a color card, and a few 2 - 3 inch yarn scraps recovered from the wastebasket, I was able to piece together a length of yarn long enough to knit the last row plus the cast-off row. In the process, I learned that with garter stitch it's rather a waste to cast-off on the front of a garment. I didn't have enough scraps to knit two rows plus a cast-off on the front, so I knitted one row, which landed me on the back, and cast-off on that side. I was surprised to find it looked exactly the same as if I'd knitted that extra row. If I had been casting-off on the back all along, I wouldn't have fallen short. Whadda they say? Live and learn.

And so the Stevie 41 Scarf is warming the neck of its intended recipient, possibly as we speak.

Made from Beaverslide Dry Goods' 100% wool -- you haven't used wool like this before -- in "bison brown" and "hidden lake," it's a simple garter stitch, vertically striped piece. I did it in panels for portability and flexibility. This is not a project I had planned, but I was minding my own business one day (in December, yah, because this year I haven't bought a single skein) when I came across this post. Before you go here, BE WARNED. This guy is a pusher. He takes the sexiest and most seductive pictures of yarn your eyes have ever seen. I loved his scarf, done in another of Beaverslide's yarns, a merino/mohair blend. I loved it so much that I had to order something from them. I called myself saving money because the yarn I bought is a bit cheaper, but the minute I received it, I placed two more orders. Oops. This yarn is a heavy worsted, and it feels/looks a little bit felted. It has a lovely masculinity, saturated color, and blocks like a dream.

Here's what I did:

Stevie 41 Scarf

• In color A, cast-on 46 sts using size 9 needles
• Knit 8 rows in color A
• Switch to color B and knit 8 rows (word to the wise, save your sanity by doing this)
• Switch to color A and knit 8 rows
• Switch to color B and knit 10 rows
• Switch to color A and knit 8 rows
• Switch to color B and knit 8 rows
• Switch to color A and knit 7 rows
• Cast-off on row 8

Alternate colors A and B so that the panels will be opposite. In other words, knit 3 panels where brown is color A and three panels where blue is color A.

Once you've done 6 panels, crochet them together. (Or use whatever method you fancy. I like the ridge the crochet join creates. It gives the scarf an industrial look.) Wash and block. I repeat, wash and block, especially if you're into drape. The finished size should be about 8.5" x 72".