One of our Stitch & Bitch group members has recently made a lovely 'spiral' scarf using some Noro Silk yarn and when she showed me the pattern that came with it I knew I just had to try it out. The pattern was free with the yarn. When you look for it online it exists in various forms and I am sure you could adapt it to suit yourself.
This scarf is so quick and easy to knit (really, it is!) and the instant effect it creates is amazing. Using yarn that has a gradual or random colour change is ideal and fortunately my stash contained some of this self-patterning Wizz Aran that I discovered a while back in an InStore shop.
This is the pattern, and that is all there is to it! Because my yarn is chunkier than the Noro I have used 5.5mm needles. The swapping over of the needles to knit back where you have just been is a little disconcerting at first (for us k1 p1 folk!!) but you soon get the idea.
Oh, and don't be put off by how it starts out. Initially you would not think that the pattern is doing what it is supposed to.......
....but after a few rows it does start to take shape....
....and eventually starts to twist.
This is where the use of the self striping yarn comes into it's own. Although I have several balls of wool that have been dyed in this way I have never used them but have to say that I have been pleasantly surprised.
Eventually you will start to see that your scarf is forming a spiral or corkscrew.
Have a look at this link to see a blog where someone else has made one of these scarves. The finished item looks really good!
********EDIT - February 2014!********
Please let me know how you have been getting on with this pattern! If anyone tries it for themselves I would be both interested and delighted to hear about your results - just post a comment (with a link if you have pictures). If I get enough responses I will blog about it in a separate article, referring to all the replies!!Thanks! :)
Somehow I have never seen this pattern before, it is definitely a lot of fun! I love the yarn you chose for it. I'm sure you will be done with it in no time!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It might travel with me to work on the train in the morning........we shall see!
DeleteHi! Thanks for linking to my blog, and in case you missed it here are a couple more completed Noro ones here: http://freemotion-kate.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/rotini-scarf-update.html
ReplyDeleteFab! Thanks Kate!
DeleteLooks good, let me guess who inspired you!
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of how good you are with your blogging, wish I had the time to do this with my knitting but until then I'll just have to stick with happy knitter.
Can't wait to see the finished effect and love the wool choice. Will one ball be enough for one scarf?
C-L, your life is a little more hectic than mine at the moment. It is a wonder you have time to knit, let alone blog!
DeleteI have two balls of this wool so a decent sized scarf should not be a problem.....and I will be emailing the link to Wendy in the morning! :)
B x
Looks lovely and has almost inspired me to pick up my needles and try it! (I am trying to NOT start any new crafts as I don't have enough time to do the ones I do already!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen! Go on....give it a go....you know you want to!!!!
DeleteB x
This looks such fun Bev! I love those patterns for any craft project that look counterintuitive and even as though they must be wrong but if you follow them produce a clever and unexpected result and this is definitely one of them. Can't wait to see the finished scarf so keep knitting! E x
ReplyDeleteThis scarf is well worth a try and I am sure this would be a good pattern for you to try too (although judging from that cushion you made I would say you are much further ahead than me now!)
DeleteIf there are a couple of spare bits of yarn lying around?.......
B x
Super easy! Love it..... Christmas is coming.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased that you love this pattern. I think it is maximum reward for minimum effort - it makes such an excellent spiral shape. Would love to see how your work turns out! :)
DeleteB
i just started this scarf today. im not sure its going to twist 4 me..hoping it does. any words of encouragement? cougar.cougar@ns.sympatico.ca thx
ReplyDeleteHi! How's it going after two days? Seriously, it will twist for you. The person who showed me how to make this sprial scarf had the same concerns because initially it looks totally wrong - she has since made 7 or 8 of them. Stick with it and you will be pleasantly surprised.....as I was!! If you get the chance I would love to see how your scarf turns out too! :)
DeleteI was skeptical, but wanting an easy project to work on while watching tv, I decided to give it a try. Happy to say it works!
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased that you gave it a go! What I love about this pattern is that it looks extremely complicated......but it's not! And it DOES work! :)
DeleteLOVE this pattern. Thank you. I made it a tad bigger (27 sts) and added a "knit 12, turn, knit back, then knit across. I used a black wool with small sequins. It is very chic. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love this scarf, it is easy and fun.I want to end with the same look as the beginning,can that be done,not straight across?
ReplyDeleteMe encanto la idea!!! Hoy lo empece entre otros proyectos que tengo en curso, asi que apenas lo termine les cuento!!! Gracias!!!!
ReplyDelete