The first proof of my actual craftiness...

So roughly a year ago, I made a gigantic blanket that I never got pictures of for my now-ex boyfriend. It was so gigantic, I was continuously buying balls of Natural colored Bernat Softee Chunky. And because I'm more than a bit scatterbrained sometimes, I managed to misplace several balls under my bed, in a drawer, etc... Fast forward a few months and my oldest friend decides to go to school in Boston (brr...) and would I please make her a scarf. I threw together a pattern of my own (rather boring) design and figured I could use all the remaining balls of yarn until they ran out. Here's the pattern, though it shouldn't be too hard for anyone to figure out.

The Wellesley Scarf

My charming brother offered to model for me in North Carolina's July heat. Keep in mind, he's about 6 feet tall and it's wrapped twice around his neck.


Detail:



Use any yarn and the recommended straight needle size. I used Bernat Softee Chunky in Natural on size 8 needles

Cast on some multiple of 6. Repeat each row's directions until you reach the end of that row. For neater edges, slip the first stitch in each row.

Row 1: K3, P3

Row 2: P1, K3, P2

Row 3: K1, P3, K2

Row 4: P3, K3

Row 5: P2, K3, P1

Row 6: K2, P3, K1

Repeat Rows 1-6 until you run out of yarn.

For those of you who prefer a chart view, I've created two charts. The first is what the pattern should look like from the right side and is a bit easier to decipher. The second chart should be followed starting at the (1,1) block, worked to the right, jump up to the (6,2) block and worked to the left and so forth, weaving back and forth across the chart. I clearly need to learn how to make charts...



I think I'll go learn how to make a chart now...

Edited to add:  Thanks in part to the efforts of the fabulous knitters on Ravelry, I've got some additional ideas.  The first was discovered by accident, although I'm still not entirely sure it's not just a mistake in my pattern.  Instead of continuing the diagonal lines in the same direction for the entire scarf, reverse the direction of the diagonals once the diagonal that started on the left has reached the right side (or vice versa).  The next is my suggestion after seeing a few examples (sorry!).  Instead of shifting the knit/purl pattern over every row, only shift the ribs on alternating rows.  This will give the scarf ribs a more gradual slope and help elongate the appearance of the scarf.  Here's an excerpt of what the pattern would look like:

1- K3, P3, repeat across
2- repeat row 1
3- K2, P3, K1, repeat across
4- repeat row 3
5- K1, P3, K2, repeat across
6- repeat row 5

Even though I have no intention of testing the pattern out any time soon (it's April in North Carolina, people!), I'll try to add an image as soon as possible.

-Cristy