My Jade Starmore Leo Scarf (click there for a proper idea of "the scarf of scarves", as it's called in the pattern notes) has grown a bit today for the first time in ages - it has been sadly neglected while I made other things which demanded less in the way of concentration. Here it is inside out (I risked dropping stitches by turning it the right way) with four and a half repeats of the pattern done.
The instructions say to knit the scarf in two pieces* and graft them together - this way the lion motifs, etc. are the right way up as you wear it, but I have a question for Fair Isle knitters with more experience than I have: could I not, when I get to that midway point, simply knit the remaining rows in reverse order and thus save having to do the second cast on and the grafting? Surely that would work?
*Piece 1 comprises 6 repeats of the 54 row pattern; piece 2 calls for 5 repeats and then rows 1-36. What I'm suggesting is that when I reach 'the turning point', i.e. the end of piece 1, I continue by knitting rows 36-1, then 54-1 x 5. If there's a flaw in my scheme, please shout!
My suggestion: knit the scarf in two pieces as she says and then join the two with a three-needle bind-off (or would that be cast-off). Anyway, by the time you've blocked the whole thing and put it around your neck with the join at the back, you'll never know that you didn't wrestle with grafting/kitchener stitch.
I hope that's helpful. Knit on so we can see it on Ravelry. Oh--I'm "Lorana".
Posted by: Wendy Winkler | 10 April 2013 at 10:30 PM
No help from me I'm afraid but I have to say I'm in awe. Well done so far!
Posted by: Claire | 11 April 2013 at 08:01 AM
Thankyou, Wendy, that's a good suggestion, and I shall put it on Ravelry when/if it ever gets finished!
Posted by: Cornflower | 11 April 2013 at 02:19 PM
It's only taken about three years to get this far, Claire ....
Posted by: Cornflower | 11 April 2013 at 02:20 PM
Your thinking makes sense to me which begs the question why didn't the designer think of it? Perhaps there's a reason for knitting the two pieces and we haven't realized it just yet. If there is a contact email I would try asking Starmore.
A nice relaxing cup of tea is mandatory after a round of Kitchener stitch to finish the toe on a pair of socks. Your scarf...now that might be a case for something all-together stronger. It will be stunning though!
Posted by: Darlene | 11 April 2013 at 03:43 PM
I was thinking of emailing, Darlene, so when I get to the end of piece 1 I shall.
As to why - if it can indeed be done that way - they didn't put that option in the pattern, maybe it causes less confusion to do it in two pieces, and each one would be more easily manageable and portable than one very long one, I daresay.
Posted by: Cornflower | 11 April 2013 at 04:18 PM
I would not want the raised edge of a 3 needle bind off. I would just knit the pattern "upside down" from the centre.
Posted by: LoriAngela | 14 April 2013 at 10:50 PM
Thanks, LoriAngela - glad to know there's no pattern-related reason why that method wouldn't work.
Posted by: Cornflower | 15 April 2013 at 03:14 PM