New Year's Catch-Up and Demonic Lengths Scarf

Everyone keeps asking what was my New Year's Resolution, but I didn't make one this year. The usual "lose weight" is not available as a resolution this year. Since I was diagnosed as diabetic two months ago, weight loss is no longer optional -- it's mandatory. I'm simply counting calories, with the understanding that I'll be counting calories for the rest of my life. Once I lose all that I need to (23 pounds down, 77 pounds to go), I'll switch to maintenance calorie-counting. From past yoyo dieting, I know myself and recognize the fact that I'll never again be able to "eat normally", because, for me, eating normally means consuming comfort foods, and these are almost all high in calories, fats and carbs. [sigh] If I allow myself the least leeway, I'll fall back into temptation and the usual "just this once won't hurt", spiralling into multiple "once's" and the weight's piling back on. Hence, calorie counting will now be enforced for the rest of my life.

So, that left me searching for a new New Year's Resolution. Then I realized how far I am behind in getting all my projects and patterns posted to this blog. Well, folks, I am resolved to catch up.

I'm going to start with the long overdue pattern for the scarf that completes my Supernatural winter accessories set. I posted the pattern for the Demonic Thoughts Tuque back in July and the matching Demonic Hands Mitts project in August.


Demonic Lengths Scarf

Free pattern (for personal use only).

This short, sassy scarf knits up quickly and makes the perfect match for the accompanying tuque and mitts. The vivid red made these the perfect accessories for the just-past holiday period, and I received lots of compliments every time I wore them.

Materials:

• 1 ball Bernat Boa Cardinal eyelash yarn



• 1 ball Red Heart Classic Cherry Red worsted-weight acrylic yarn



• 4 mm knitting needles



• 4.5 mm knitting needles



• Tapestry needle

Instructions:

Holding together one strand of the Boa and one strand of the worsted-weight yarn, cast on 17 sts using the 4 mm knitting needles.

Knit 8 rows in single ribbing:
Odd rows: *K1 P1* repeat to end of row
Even rows: *P1 K1* repeat to end of row.

Cut off Boa, leaving a tail to weave in at the finishing stage.

Change to the 4.5 mm knitting needles and continue knitting with a single strand using the seed stitch.

All rows: *K1 P1* repeat to end of row.

When the scarf reaches 36 inches long, add a strand of the Boa to the worsted-weight yarn and switch back to the 4 mm needles.

Knit 8 rows in single ribbing, as above.

Cast off.

Finishing: Weave in the yarn tails and block the scarf.

Note: Normally, the addition of the Boa strand for the cuffs would cause them to be wider than the body of the scarf. Using the smaller needs and rib stitch should make them the same width as the scarf body. If not, even up the width when you block the scarf.

Below is a picture of all three items in the Supernatural winter accessory set.



© 2010-01-07 N0Nightowl