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Knit an Infinity Scarf

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Knit an Infinity Scarf

Some time ago I was fortunate to win an Instagram giveaway offered by Kathryn at The Australian wool Store.  I won a hand dyed skein of beautiful 100% Superwash Merino. I was so thrilled with the prize that I decided to  knit an Infinity Scarf for myself and to find a pattern I looked to spin the pins. So here it is –  my Spin the Pins  to knit an Infinity Scarf.

I decided on a scarf but thought that it would need to be ‘lacy’ to ensure that I had enough (being hand dyed the skein is unique).

I should tell you that I was experiencing a bad ‘Fibro’ time so that’s my excuse!  I was at the local Spotlight store and thought “Oh I need some circular needles – mm I think it was size 19” and so home I came with 19mm needles.

I  started to wonder when I couldn’t find the pattern that I was so sure used 19mm needles (I thought Pinterest must have hidden it!!) so I thought I would experiment a little.  You can see that I had wound the skein into a lovely woollen ball.

Well that was a  big NO-NO (read failure) but you have to love the fluro green needles!

I searched the pins again and decided on the Emerald Isle Cowl by Linda at Natural Suburbia.

I finally got back to the shops to end up with the right size needles and started again.  I think over the next few days I knitted, unpulled, knitted, unpulled until Poppy said ” I’d just put the scissors through it!”  I explained (very patiently) that it was not about the unpulling and restarting but rather the process. It was making me feel like I was doing something useful while the rain continued and the fibro flared and it was actually keeping my mind busy.  I know fellow fibro warriors will appreciate my efforts.

Anyway, I did get started, I did continue and I did complete my project.

I  followed the pattern as stated. (I should add my problems were not due to the pattern – just my fibromyalgia and foggy brain)

I  reminded myself of these things to think about when using circular needles:

  1. When you join the cast on stitches, you want to use a method that will avoid a gap etc.
  2.  Before you join the cast on stitches, make sure you have no twists in the length.  I think it is easier to see what I mean in this photo

I loved it when the  pattern began emerging

and I loved how the colours were appearing.

To avoid the “Oh I hope I don’t run out before I cast off” thoughts, I decided that I should prepare for the casting off requirements. As I was using wool from the centre of my ball, I took the other end and measured out 4 x the length of the project, rolled it up and secured it and continued on with confidence.

The pattern was looking great – open,  with a little bit of interest, without taking away from the effect of the gorgeous hand dyed wool.

When It was time to cast off I decided to try a new method (to me) as demonstrated by Knit Purl Hunter called Grandma’s Favorite Bind Off (Loose Bind Off) . 

I used a larger needle and it worked beautifully.

So, after all that, I am happy to report that I did finish my Infinity Scarf and I love it!

Thank you to Australian wool Store for the gorgeous Merino wool, Linda for the easy to follow pattern and Knit Purl Hunter for the great video instruction – what a great Spin the Pins!

Until next time

Nanny xx

Make a Ruffle Scarf

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I have been asked, over the years, how I manage my crafting and my chronic pain and Fibromyalgia so today I thought I would share with you one of my ‘brainless’ crafts – these are things I can do where I don’t need to be able to think clearly, don’t need to calculate, don’t need to keep count, don’t need to cut with precision etc.  I will show you how I make a Ruffle Scarf.

It was a couple of years ago now, that I made my first Ruffle Scarf and I had that aha moment – I can still craft on my bad days if I find the right craft!!

 

What you need:

A ball of ruffle yarn (I am using Elicia from Lincraft)

A pair of knitting needles – I am using 6.5 – the size doesn’t affect the outcome so just use what you are comfortable with.

 

Let’s Craft!

I know that one ball makes a very long scarf – approx 2.3m and I am making these for Angels For The Forgotten so have decided to make them smaller.

1.  Take the ball of ruffling yarn

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2.  Unravel it all and find the 2 ends

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3.  Holding the two ends, slide through your hands to find the halfway mark and cut

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4.  Put the end between your little finger and ring finger then around your thumb to form an 8 – keep wrapping in an 8

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and you will end up with a nicely wrapped half ball!

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In fact you will have two half balls!

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5.  Take the first half ball and stretch the yarn open so you can see all the ‘holes’

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6.  Take a needle and ‘thread’ it from the back, through a ‘hole’, then around the back and through again until you have 5 stitches on the needle.

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7.  Put the other needle through the first stitch – in the photo below, you will see the needle through the stitch and the joined yarn beside the needle and then another ‘hole’

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8.  You take that next ‘hole’ and place it over the needle

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9.  Turn the needle through to ‘knit’ the stitch

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10.  Lift it off the needle to complete the ‘knit’

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11.  Continue ‘knitting’ in this way until you get to about 8 ‘holes’ from the end.

12. Cast off

13.  I then tie both of the ends into a knot and trim.  You don’t really see this but if you do, this provides a neat finish.

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So there you have them – two scarves all ready to keep some little neck warm this winter for 69 cents and some Nanny time.  They actually measure approx 57″ in length so could be worn by adults as well!

 

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I would love to see if you decide to give them a try!

Until next time

Nanny xx

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