After all that preparation before heading up to Seattle for Thanksgiving, I ended up casting on exactly one project, and then knitting only that ever since. I really liked the look of the Murano Scarf in the latest issue of Interweave Knits, especially since it was the perfect way to use up some of that sock yarn that’s been marinating in my stash for so long. I figured I’d stick with the Trekking XXL that the pattern used, but pick different colors, so I picked one that knits up in graduated rainbow stripes, and one that is subtle shades of a dark purple. I wasn’t sure how well they’d go together, but once I’d finished the ruffle and started in on the slip-stitch portion, I was hooked.
Size 1 (US) needles and slip-stitching means this thing did take an awful lot of time to knit. And since the main body of the scarf is all in stockinette, no amount of blocking is ever going to remove all the curl. But I am happy with the end result, nonetheless. I wove in the ends yesterday afternoon and blocked it out last night, and have been finding any excuse to wear it ever since.
I am having a hard time understanding the chart and directions for this scaef. Under Body, it says, “Continue in charted pattern, alternating CC and MC every two rows.” The pattern shows rows 7 and 8 as one color (MC) across the row. Is this where I alternate the colors, switching from MC to CC across on rows 7 and 8 which means rows 15 and 16, etc? Or, do I change colors after rows 2, 4, 6, etc.?
For the example you gave, you’d knit rows 5 and 6with CC, then switch to MC and knit row 7 and then row 8 (still in MC). Then you switch back to CC and knit row 9 and row 10, then back to MC for 11 and 12, and so on. In this way you’re only ever working with one color at a time. In addition, by doing two rows of each color, you’ll always carry both yarns up the scarf on the same side (hopefully that makes sense).
Thank you so much. Yes, it does make sense. Once my itsy biysy tiny-sized needles arrive, I’ll try it!
I have a question, too, please! I understand the switching colors every two rows, now, but the chart shows to switch colors during the rows. In the repeating part of the pattern, the first stitch, v, is one color, then the next three stitches are the other color. Do you do this switching of colors as you go along each row?
Thanks SO MUCH!
No, you only carry one color per two rows. The color changes are done by slipping the stitches. Since you swap colors every two rows, when you slip the stitches, you’re actually ‘carrying’ the color beneath your stitches, which is what makes it look like you’re carrying both together.