Well, it took me an incredibly long time, but I have at last finished a scarf for the Red Scarf Project. (There is a Red Scarf Project 2007 blog, too, although I believe that the Project itself is on-going.) This is the organization that sponsors "care" packages for kids leaving foster care and heading off for college, the packages arriving around Valentine's Day and including a handmade red scarf in each.
It's a bit embarrassing to call this a pattern, it's so simple. I'm not a big fan of either acrylics or heavily-textured yarns, but I like this -- the bouclé is even nicer on the bias, I think. And machine-washable! The yarn is very splitty, but frankly I just ignored that most of the time, and it was fine -- a little extra texture here and there, eh? The pattern requires almost no concentration at all, although I did find it much easier to remember where I was by putting a large safety pin at the upper edge on the front, moving it up as the scarf grew!
You will need 1 ball of Bernat Soft Bouclé in "Richest Red" and a pair of US7 or 8 needles. This pattern will make a scarf about 7 x 59 inches (18 x 150 cm), is machine-washable, and is designed to use the entire ball of Soft Bouclé, with a bit left over as a margin of error. If you want to make it go as far as you possibly can, I highly recommend putting in a lifeline before beginning the last decrease section, as the bouclé is very tricky to pick up once ripped out!
A Red Scarf
Kfb = K into front of st, then into back of the same st.
Cast on 2 sts.
Row 1: Kfb twice.
Row 2: K.
Row 3: Kfb, K to last st, Kfb.
Row 4: K.
Rep rows 3 and 4 until there are 34 sts.
Work straight thus:
Next row: Kfb, K to last 2 sts, K2tog.
Next row: K.
Rep these 2 rows until scarf measures about 59 inches.
Next row: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog.
Next row: K.
Rep these 2 rows until 2 sts rem. K2tog, and draw end of yarn through the last st to fasten off. Weave in ends.
The scarf looks very soft and pretty! I made a scarf for this project as well, from a lovely bright red wool I had bought several years back to make a felted hat (a project that never materialized). It's nice to think that wool has warmed someone's neck this winter. :)
Posted by: Annmarie | March 27, 2007 at 01:51 PM