For some time I've been periodically glancing at Marieke Sattler's 'Henry' scarf in Knitty and admiring its simple, unfussy elegance. I've always loved tweeds and twills and self-patterning weaves, and this scarf fits within this tradition - conservative and a bit daggy in the best of all possible ways. I decided that it would be perfect in the rich Botticelli Red colour of Malabrigo sock yarn. So far, so good.
But...
1 The scarf is knitted lengthwise, which means I have 452 stitches on the needles. It takes me an eternity to knit a single row.
2 I already made an error on the setting up rows for which I've cobbled together a clumsy 'correction'. I know it's there and I'm hoping it won't come to haunt me. Normally I would simply unpull the whole thing and start again, but with 452 stitches I can't bear the thought.
3 The pattern involves much yarn forwarding and backwarding and slipping of stitches - the kind of pattern where one miscounted stitch can put the whole 452 out of alignment. I can't afford to even think of this as I'm knitting as I just get more and more unconfident. It's like driving a car - you're fine as long as you can avoid thinking about all the things that could go wrong.
4 All the yarn forwarding and backwarding and slipping means that the tension and direction of the stitches into which you're knitting are very variable. I need a sharp needle and even sharper eyesight, but...
5 While I love the deep brick red yarn, at night-time under artificial light it's just so hard to see clearly, and I have very limited day-time knitting time.
I'll persist for a while longer, and I'll try to resist pulling it all out to remedy the mistake in the set-up rows. It's the week-end, so maybe some daytime knitting on Henry will restore my confidence. I'll update you next week.
7 comments:
i've been seriously put off this scarf in the past, despite it looking so very appealing, for all the reasons you list. I'll watch with interest!
Ditto with Bells. I wonder if you can knit it in the usual way (ie not lengthwise?).
But I do think you can do it!!
love the colours - and make it the thinking project when you feel like a challenge
It all seems so complicated with that many stitches! Do you have stitch markers between the pattern repeats so that you only have to check a limited number of stitches?
I attempted Henry - also in brick red - the sad story is in my blog but it reads pretty much like the things you have already encountered. I will try again but with a lighter coloured yarn with great stitch definition because the herringbone stitch is easy to see once its established. I took many runs at the cast on - if I do make it again I will forgo the fancy edge in favour of an easier time with the set up row.
I love this scarf also. I don't know if the 452 stitches puts me off or not, it's only a few rows that way, and often my lace ends up double that number.
But I have a similar tale to tell of the 'herringbone' stitch in the Stormsvale coat - I keep getting the row number wrong and biasing the whole thing. Painful and ploddy - and who likes that kind of knitting?
I know you've since 'rested' it. No matter, it's time will come again.
Love the colour of the yarn, but wow that is a huge knit.
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