easy knitting | Alaska Knit Nat

I had to do a deep scroll on my blog to find the last knitting pattern I posted. It was more than three years ago! But with my city’s non-essential business closure mandate I’m unable to operate my floral business, so that means I have more time to knit!

I logged into my Ravelry account (again, it’s been more than three years and I’m so glad my computer remembered my password) and found this lovely cowl pattern that implements a very simple lacework pattern to create a pretty pattern and scrumptious texture.

I augmented the Ravelry pattern by using lighter weight yarn, one variegated skein instead of two contrasting colors, and smaller needles.

It’s a special time of year in Anchorage that we call “break up,” where the snow is melting, river ice is breaking up, and everything outside is mucky. There’s still a chill in the air and this cowl is just right for break up season.

The Lion Brand Scarfie yarn is the perfect amount of wool to make it fluffy and a nice amount of acrylic to make it not itchy. This project knits up pretty fast and I recommend it if you’re looking for a simple stitch pattern that won’t make you count so you can binge watch your favorite show and not lose track of your work.

Sunny Side Up Cowl

Materials:

1 ball Lion Brand Scarfie yarn in cream/mustard or any heavy worsted or light bulky weight yarn
Size US 9 circular needles, 16 inch length
Stitch marker
Darning needle

Directions:

Cast on 100 stitches. Place marker and join in round.

Knit 1 round.

Purl 1 round

Start pattern:

Round 1: *Place yarn in front of work, slip 1 stitch, place yarn in back of work, k1. Repeat from * to end of round. Slip marker.

Round 2: K round, slip marker.

Round 3: *K1, place yarn in front of work, slip 1 stitch, place yarn in back of work. Repeat from * to end of round. Slip marker.

Round 4: K round, slip marker.

Repeat this pattern until work is 9 inches tall from cast on edge or until it’s the height you prefer. End with either row 2 or 4.

Purl 1 round

Bind off. Weave in ends. Block if you feel like it, but I never do.

Last week a friend asked me if I could make a toddler scarf for her little niece, Amelia. The idea of a toddler wearing a scarf is funny to me. I can’t imagine it staying on a wriggling little 2-year-old. But that got me thinking: why not make a scarf that will stay put?

I searched Pinterest and came across the most adorable scarf pattern that uses a bow as a button. This was definitely the right idea. Create a buttonhole near the end of the scarf and secure a knit bow in the buttonhole. That should keep the scarf in place on a hippitty-hoppity hyper toddler.

I love the look of seed stitch, a.k.a. moss stitch. It keeps the knit piece from curling on the edges and it looks attractive on both sides of the fabric. And it’s a little fancier than garter stitch.

This is a simple weekend project that’s bound to keep your little lady cozy and warm.

Little lady scarf with bow

Materials:

1 skein Lion Brand Woolspun in Fisherman
1 skein Lion Brand Woolspun in Charcoal
Size 10 US needles
darning needle

Seed stitch:

Row 1: k1, p1 across all stitches

Row 2: p1, k1 across all stitches

Essentially, you knit where there’s a purl and purl where there’s a knit on the previous row.

Note: I slip the first stitch of each row, knitwise, and purl the last stitch of every row regardless of where I am in the seed stitch pattern. This creates a neat edge. It is not required and therefore I haven’t included it in the row-by-row instructions below.

Instructions:

Cast on 20 stitches.

Seed stitch for 18 rows.

For the buttonhole:

Row 1: Slip 1 stitch, seed stitch for 9 stitches. With the left needle, pull one stitch over the other stitch, *knit one, pull the second stitch over the knit one; repeat from the * twice more. You have now cast off 4 stitches. Continue with the seed stitch for the rest of the row. You should have 8 stitches on either side of the cast-off stitches.

Row 2: Slip 1 stitch, seed stitch to button hole, cast on 4 stitches, continue the seed stitch for the rest of the row. – 20 stitches.

Continue the seed stitch pattern until the whole piece measures 25 inches. Cast off and weave in ends.

Bow: Cast on 10 stitches and knit in garter stitch for 10 rows. Cast off and weave in ends. Wrap grey yarn around the middle of the strip several times and tie the ends in the back of the bow.

Using the fisherman color yarn and darning needle, sew the bow to the end of the scarf opposite the button hole, the same height as the button hole (about 4 inches from the edge).

I don’t have a little lady, so my little gent got to be the model. Kind of looks like a bow tie, right?