Weaving frenzy

Happy Fibre Arts Friday! I'm doing a show and tell for my weaving projects this week because I suddenly had an urge to weave lately.

I had some variegated pure wool yarn and I wanted to explore how they behaved in weaving, so I wove two scarves: the first one using the same yarn as both warp and weft, the second only using the variegated yarn as warp and a plain matching yarn for weft.

I think I prefer the one on the right, i.e. variegated yarn for warp only but not for both. 

But what I love the most is the third one I made, this time using a space dyed yarn for weft.

It turned out really well, the bamboo in the weft yarn gave it just the right amount of drape without being too heavy, there's also a soft sheen to it. 

When I first finished it I wasn't too happy with the overlaps where I joined the new balls of yarn, so I appealed for help on the Rigid Heddle group on Facebook, it is a fantastic group for weavers by the way. From the advice I received I decided to pull out the overlaps, split the yarn (a single) and weave in the split ends separately. The result was amazing, you can hardly tell where they are. 

That's me for the week, now it's your turn.

I'm linking this to Fibre Arts Friday at Andrea's place, you can find more fibre arts goodies over there. 

My First Design - Mist Stole

I still can't believe that I am actually writing a pattern. My Mist Stole generated some interests on Ravelry and I have been asked for the pattern. As I have never written a pattern before, this attempt will be rather challenging.

I wanted an airy lacy stole with an easy pattern that’s quick to make, one that would give instant gratification. I have a crochet pattern book that I bought from China some time ago and it has many lovely stitch patterns, and this one always catches my eyes whenever I flip through the book, it has no name, only No.265

The stitch pattern is easier to do than it looks, it has a 15 st x 6 rows repeat, however to get symmetry one row should consist of multiples of 15 + 8 stitches. I added 3 stitches each side to make up the edges. The sample stole has 5 repeats, so 15x5 + 8 sts + 6 edge sts = 89 sts to start off (stitch count varies each row).
Yarn: any fingering weight yarn about 700 meters. (I used Patons Australia’s Mist, hence the name)
Hook: 4.5mm or size to get the fabric you like

Gauge doesn't matter in this project. My finished stole measures 20 x 68 in (51 x 172 cm), but it can easily be altered to suit your personal taste by doing more of less pattern repeats

Instructions  (American crochet terms)

Ch92, dc in 4th chain from hook (2 dc made), dc in each chain across. Total 89 dc.

Set up row: ch3 (= 1dc throughout), dc in next dc, ch1 (these 3 sts form the edge on one side) :: *4dc in next dc, skip next 6 dc, 4dc in next dc, ch4, skip next 3 dc, sc in the next dc, ch4, skip next 3 dc*, repeat  between * * 4 times ::  4dc in next dc, skip next 6 dc, 4dc in the next dc ::  ch1, dc in next dc, dc in top ch. turn.

Row 2: ch3, dc in next dc, ch1 ::  *4dc in next dc, skip next 6dc, 4dc in next dc, ch5, sc in the next sc, ch5, 4dc in next dc, skip next 6dc, 4dc in next dc*, repeat between * * 4 times :: 4dc in next dc, skip next 6 dc, 4dc in the next dc ::  ch1, dc in next dc, dc in top ch. turn.

Row 3:  ch3, dc in next dc, ch1 ::  *4dc in next dc, skip next 6dc, 4dc in next dc, ch6, sc in the next sc, ch6, 4dc in next dc, skip next 6dc, 4dc in next dc*, repeat between * * 4 times :: 4dc in next dc, skip next 6 dc, 4dc in the next dc ::  ch1, dc in next dc, dc in top ch. turn.

Row 4: ch3, dc in next dc, ch1 ::  1dc in next dc, *ch4, sc between the 2 sets of 4dc, ch4, 4dc in next dc, skip all the chains and 4dc in next dc*, repeat between   * * 4 times :: ch4, sc between the 2 sets of 4dc, ch4, 1dc in next dc :: ch1, dc in next dc, dc in top ch. turn.

Row 5: ch3, dc in next dc, ch1 :: 1dc in next dc, *ch5, sc in next sc, ch5, 4dc in next dc, skip next 6 dc, 4dc in next dc*, repeat between * * 4 times :: ch5, sc in next sc, ch5, 1dc in next dc :: ch1, dc in next dc, dc in top ch. turn.

Row 6: ch3, dc in next dc, ch1 :: 1dc in next dc, *ch6, sc in next sc, ch6, 4dc in next dc, skip next 6 dc, 4dc in next dc*, repeat between * * 4 times :: ch6, sc in next sc, ch6, 1dc in next dc :: ch1, dc in next dc, dc in top ch. turn.

These form the 6-row repeat of the pattern, repeat these 6 rows until desired length. Obviously on Row 7 you will not follow the instructions for the set up row, but by now you will have a clear picture of the pattern and your hook will know where to put the stitches. :)   Please refer to the chart if unsure.  

I finished with a Row 3, but you can finish with a Row 6 if you wish. 

End border: ch1, slip stitch in the next 3 stitches, *ch6, slip stitch in the last of 4dc, ch6, slip stitch in the next dc*, repeat between * * until only the 3 edge sts left, slip stitch till end.  turn.  ch3, dc each ch across. fasten off, weave in ends. 

Block and enjoy! :-)

Chart:

(Hint: work the chains between the groups of 4dc very tightly)

After thoughts: 

The end borders of this stole are really quite unimaginative, just plain old DCs. When I made my stole I was under time pressure and couldn’t think of a border that would compliment the stitch pattern, although I like the way it is I would love to see what other options you could come up with. 

My stole was made in one direction, but I think it would also work from centre out in both directions. I also thought about adding buttons to the sides on each end to make it convertible, the edge stitches should be perfect as button holes.