Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Day 11 and the Mistake Rib


I can't speak for your stash, but I am always receiving hand-me-down yarn from someone's aunt who passed away, someone who thought they'd try knitting or crochet and didn't enjoy it (god forbid) or someone who "saw this at the thrift store and thought of" me. I certainly do appreciate the gestures! Unfortunately, as often as not, there is a lot of unpleasant yarn in the batch. You know what I'm talking about. Orlon from the 70's. Squeaky acrylic that has been frogged many times over and is already pilling. I know you know.

Previously in ribbing, the knits and purls all lined up. In mistake rib, you have a 2x2 ribbing which doesn't line up properly. Every other stitch will be lined up and on either side of that stitch there will be a seeded column. It's a very easy stitch to knit as well as to read, but it creates such a dense stretchy and squishy scarf that it's the perfect stitch to use up some of your less desirable yarn and still have a pleasant wearable item.

On the other hand, if all your yarn is lovely, then your scarf will be divine rather than just wearable and you have my jealously.

Choose a needle at least 1 or 2 sizes larger than the ball band recommends.
Cast on a multiple of 4 stitches plus 3 more.

Mistake Rib (aka Mock Brioche)
Every row: *K2, P2* repeat to the last 3 sts. K2, P1
Cast off row: K 1, *P2tog, Bind off the previous stitch, K2tog, Bind off the previous stitch* repeat to the end.

This is unusual for a cast off row, but it's absolutely necessary to decrease your stitches by half or your scarf will flare terribly at the cast off edge. This does make that end less elastic, but since the beauty of this scarf is the deeply ribbed texture, you won't have need to stretch that end out very often anyway.

2 comments:

  1. I love mistake rib, it's really snuggly to wear round your neck.
    As for the Disney picture in your previous post, I think the Goofy one would be funny. have a ball at Disney! I go every year to Florida and I just adore it.

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  2. Wow~! Every year? Now you have me jealous!

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