Here's a little project I knit for myself as I recovered from my epic four-fail weekend.
It's the Medusa Cowl from Ruby Submarine. Ruby Submarine patterns have a decidedly oceanic bent to them without being kitschy or hitting you over the head with a motif. I really love how tentacle-y this pattern is; inspired by the Medusa jellyfish, no doubt.
It was a really quick and easy knit - exactly what I needed after a frustrating weekend. Medusa is knit in the round, basically in bands of stockinette stitch which are separated by areas where you bind off and then cast back on in the next row to create the loopy, holey affect. A few intersections where you don't bind off or cast on keep your scarf in one piece, and the stockinette makes it curl into tentacles with the purled side showing.
You can wear it any number of ways - looped a few times, draped across the shoulders or down the back. I really love how drapey and somewhat amorphous it is. I'm not really sure that "scarf" is really the right word to use for it.
The pattern is knit with bulky yarn on large (US 13) needles to give it an extra drapey, loose feel. I'm really pleased with the yarn I used. It's Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky, which is a 100% merino, in a blue green colorway. I couldn't resist picking seaweed or Caribbean blue hues for this cowl. I was unfamiliar with the yarn until my LYS suggested it for this project. I have to say, it's unbelievably soft. This is definitely the kind of yarn you'd like to have next to your face.
It's the Medusa Cowl from Ruby Submarine. Ruby Submarine patterns have a decidedly oceanic bent to them without being kitschy or hitting you over the head with a motif. I really love how tentacle-y this pattern is; inspired by the Medusa jellyfish, no doubt.
It was a really quick and easy knit - exactly what I needed after a frustrating weekend. Medusa is knit in the round, basically in bands of stockinette stitch which are separated by areas where you bind off and then cast back on in the next row to create the loopy, holey affect. A few intersections where you don't bind off or cast on keep your scarf in one piece, and the stockinette makes it curl into tentacles with the purled side showing.
Tentacles
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| Here's one of the intersections where you knit a few stitches in between tentacles. |
You can wear it any number of ways - looped a few times, draped across the shoulders or down the back. I really love how drapey and somewhat amorphous it is. I'm not really sure that "scarf" is really the right word to use for it.
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| This view makes me think of seaweed |
The pattern is knit with bulky yarn on large (US 13) needles to give it an extra drapey, loose feel. I'm really pleased with the yarn I used. It's Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky, which is a 100% merino, in a blue green colorway. I couldn't resist picking seaweed or Caribbean blue hues for this cowl. I was unfamiliar with the yarn until my LYS suggested it for this project. I have to say, it's unbelievably soft. This is definitely the kind of yarn you'd like to have next to your face.
Gauge is somewhat irrelevant for a project like this, but mine was a little tighter than the suggested 2.75 stitches per inch, clocking it at about 3st/inch. So, my Medusa came out a bit short. I think my yarn was perhaps slightly thin for a bulky. However, I think the needle size was right for this yarn and project. The stitches look so pretty IMHO and I don't think would look better if they were any looser. So, overall, I'm really happy with the end results and I've been wearing this cowl pretty non stop, both outdoors as a scarf and indoors as an additional warm layer and pop of color over a top.
A few questions for you other knitters: When you are knitting a project like this, do you even bother to check the gauge or do you just go by whether things look good as you knit? Also, I haven't actually blocked this cowl. Would you? To be frank, I'm not the most knowledgeable about blocking and I'm not sure how I would or what shape I should block it into. Does it matter?
12 comments:
Love the colors and pattern! When I'm knitting scarves (and sometimes hats), I tend to not check my gauge and just keep checking whether everything is working as I knit. If I'm pleased with how it turns out, I don't block it either ;)
The view that makes you think of seaweed - to me it looks like it is sticky like bubble gum and you are trying to pull it off you hehe. Beautiful FO.
LOL - I can totally see that. It looks like I've been attacked with silly string.
Glad I'm not the only one!
It's really awesome! I love everything ocean-y and the color is gorgeous!!!
1. I almost never do a gauge swatch, bad bad me, but I think it is pretty irrelevant on projects like this. 2. I don't think you need to block it, but again, I don't really block, I usually pull at my projects as I go along which does the trick. Probably not professional, but similar to doing a finger crease instead of bothering to iron sometimes.
The one time I did block was on a scarf that was curling at the edge but shouldn't have, but it never fixed it.
What a beautiful scarf! I love the tentacle-yness
I would not bother with gauge on something like this, as long as I liked the fabric and it wasn't ridiculously off (checking once after a couple of rows). This is a totally fascinating garment. It's not for me - too dramatic - but it works gorgeously on you. The colour is great and the drape is lovely. And I'm sure you're going to get tons of compliments and questions about it.
Not a knitter but think this cowl is pretty darn cool!
My horrible confession of the day? Unless I'm making a fairly fitted sweater or cardigan, I don't check gauge. Loose garments, shawls and scarves can be made to fit somebody. Socks are small enough that I don't mind frogging and re-knitting if it seems it won't fit the intended recipient -- or, I finish the thing and give it to someone whose foot it WILL fit, instead.
This is awesome! I love the tentacle-y look.
As for gauge, I don't bother unless I'm knitting something that has to "fit." Sweaters? Yes. Scarves? Never!!
I was going to comment on the gorgeous color but then I saw tentacles! I love this!! And no, I wouldn't necessarily do the gauge for this or block it - I only do that when I'm concerned about fit and for something like this, you can just eyeball it.
It's really good to know that I am in excellent company when it comes to gauge and blocking scarves!
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