Sleeve progress

This past weekend I finished up sleeve one of Juli's barter cardi, and got about halfway done with sleeve two. I won't have it done in time for Christmas, but I hope to be able to bring it in with me after the holiday break and give it to her for a belated gift. Just like all my other presents: late. What can I do?

And there won't be much of a chance to knit on Wednesday because we're having a chow-down shindig at Bev's place instead of the usual B&N knit group. That means it's time to hit the gym tonight and tomorrow and make room for all those extra calories!

Charting the pattern

Wow. I never knew that developing a pattern was so much work! I'm trying to record my efforts with this Saxon braid scarf creation and it's proving a bit harder than I thought. All that's left to do is create a chart, work out the longhand version and proof everything before I release it to the public. I say that like I have free time.

But the scarf itself is coming along nicely with only the occasional mistake to rip out. This is what I get for talking and cabling at the same time, though contrary to popular belief I can walk and chew gum. I'm about halfway into the second ball of yarn and it's working out as a nice chunk of knitting. Pictures will be forthcoming. Eventually.

*keeps her fingers crossed for that digital camera for Christmas!*

Gabriel: a cabled scarf pattern

This scarf was made as a gift for my friend Gabe, Christmas 2005. I chose a braided/knot pattern because to me, it symbolizes friendship. Plus, I adore cables. The yarn choice is important too: I picked Aurora 8 because it's soft and very wearable (superwash is a plus!), and the smooth-spun yarn makes the cables stand out nicely. I really enjoyed working with this stuff. Feel free to substitute any touchable worsted weight yarn, preferably a smooth-spun wool or a wool-blend.

I consider the pattern to be suitable for intermediate knitters... you must know how to knit, purl, and work cables. If you think you're not ready, try it anyway. Most cables are much easier than they look! Essentially, the construction follows this simple pattern: the main Saxon braid cable panel is framed by mirror image 2x2 cable twists and 2 sts of garter selvedge. Please note that none of these cables are an original design, but the layout is my own. Provided here are longhand directions (for those of you who hate charts). Charted directions are forthcoming, as I can find a few moments here and there to pull it together.

This pattern is for personal use only. I have chosen to make it available to the general public because I'm sure you enjoy free things as much as I do! Eventually, I'll try to get this into a convenient PDF format. If you find a mistake, please let me know!!!

Materials:
Yarn: 4 balls of Aurora 8, by Karabella, color 201 (50g/90m per ball)
Needles: size 8
Extras: Row counter, cable needle, stitch markers
Gauge: not terribly important, it's a scarf!
Dimensions: approx. 5.5" x 60"

Abbreviations:
BO = Bind off
C4F = 2x2 Cable, Left Twist
C4B = 2x2 Cable, Right Twist
PC4F = Purl Cable, Left Twist
PC4B = Purl Cable, Right Twist
CN = cable needle
CO = cast on
K = knit
P = purl
RS = right side
st(s) = stitch(es)
WS = wrong side

Cable Patterns

2x2 Cable, Left Twist (C4F)
Place 2 sts on CN and hold in front, K2, K2 from CN

2x2 Cable, Right Twist (C4B)
Place 2 sts on CN and hold in back, K2, K2 from CN

Purl Cable, Left Twist (PC4F)
Place 2 sts on CN and hold in front, P2, K2 from CN

Purl Cable, Right Twist (PC4B)
Place 2 sts on CN and hold in back, K2, P2 from CN

Longhand Directions:

*CO 40 sts

*Work set-up rows, starting on WS:
Row A) K2, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K2
Row B) K6, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K6
Row C) repeat row A

*Begin 16-row pattern repeats, starting on RS:
Row 1) K2, C4F, P4, C4B, P4, C4B, P4, C4B, P4, C4B, K2
Row 2) K2, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K2
Row 3) K6, P2, PC4B, PC4F, PC4B, PC4F, PC4B, PC4F, P2, K6
Row 4) K2, P4, K2, P2, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P2, K2, P4, K2
Row 5) K2, C4F, P2, K2, P4, C4F, P4, C4F, P4, K2, P2, C4B, K2
Row 6) K2, P4, K2, P2, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P2, K2, P4, K2
Row 7) K6, P2, K2, P2, PC4B, PC4F, PC4B, PC4F, P2, K2, P2, K6
Row 8) K2, P4, K2, P2, K2, P2, K4, P4, K4, P2, K2, P2, K2, P4, K2
Row 9) K2, C4F, P2, K2, P2, K2, P4, C4B, P4, K2, P2, K2, P2, C4B, K2
Row 10) K2, P4, K2, P2, K2, P2, K4, P4, K4, P2, K2, P2, K2, P4, K2
Row 11) K6, P2, K2, P2, PC4F, PC4B, PC4F, PC4B, P2, K2, P2, K6
Row 12) K2, P4, K2, P2, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P2, K2, P4, K2
Row 13) K2, C4F, P2, K2, P4, C4F, P4, C4F, P4, K2, P2, C4B, K2
Row 14) K2, P4, K2, P2, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P2, K2, P4, K2
Row 15) K6, P2, PC4F, PC4B, PC4F, PC4B, PC4F, PC4B, P2, K6
Row 16) K2, C4F, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, C4B, K2

*Ending rows
Row C) K2, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K2
Row B) K6, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K4, P4, K6

*BO all sts and admire your work!

Charted Directions:
*CO 40 sts

*Work set-up rows A-C

*Work rows 1-16 from chart until scarf is almost as long as desired or until almost out of yarn.

[Chart in progress, please be patient!]

*Ending rows: work Row 1 from chart and then work the set-up rows C and B.

*BO all sts and admire your work!

New Knitty is up for winter

Yesterday I got the email that the new winter issue of Knitty is up. Why do they have to have so many things that I want to make? Kate is cute. I've got a thing for hand knit stuffed animals, and I'd surely have a collection of my own if I could stop giving away the ones I make. I also love the Creatures -- little pocket warmers. My favorite, and one I will have to make when I start my yoga class again is the cabled mat bag. *drool* And the cabled cardigan is on the list, too. So many patterns, so little time.

I stole most of my lunch hour today to work on the saxon braid scarf. The yarn, Aurora 8, is lovely to work with. Now that the scarf is getting a bit of length to it, the edges are starting to curl in. I only hope that blocking will take care of this horrible tendency, otherwise, I couldn't bear to give a defective curling gift!!! Also, I noticed that the Saxon braid pattern I'm using doesn't cross like I want it to, so I'm going to have to go back and rip out the whole thing to get the crosses I do want. Ugh. This is going to be one seriously late present. (At least I've only done 3.5 repeats.)