 |
| Float Flutter Fly Scarf |
I know what you're thinking: Isn't this scarf named for a line in a song in an episode of The Backyardigans? And to that, I say: of course not! What do you think I am, some kind of lunatic? No, I am merely using these three delightfully alliterative words to remark on this scarf's floating ends and fluttering edges, as well as the fact that you'll fly through making this not-too-basic knit and purl design. Any presumed reference to Uniqua, Tasha, Tyrone, and Pablo's quest for a levitating stone is purely circumstantial.
Update as of January 27, 2016: A sharp-eyed commenter brought it to my attention that both my set-up row and my first pattern row were labeled wrong side. Therefore, I've chosen to omit the set-up row from the pattern. If you're halfway through and are lamenting this decision, please don't worry! I highly doubt you will notice the presence or absence of this row when you reach the end of the scarf; you'll be too busy twirling in it to notice. :)
Yarn: Berroco Folio (65% Superfine Alpaca, 35% Rayon; 219 yards [200 meters]/50 grams); #4563 Napa Valley - 2 skeins
 |
| A closer look at the knits and the purls. And a mannequin's armpit. |
Notions: Tapestry needle
Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette
And now, it's time to make a scarf! With that in mind, cast on 37 stitches loosely. Then we'll get straight to our pattern, which you'll find below. Note that it's a-okay to pull your yarn tight behind your 5 slipped stitches; this will help form that little ridge in the middle of the scarf.
Row 1 (wrong side): purl
Row 2: p1, k15, slip 5 with yarn in back (sl5 wyib), k15, p1
Row 3: k1, p35, k1
Row 4: p2, k14, sl5 wyib, k14, p2
Row 5: k2, p33, k2
Row 6: p3, k13, sl5 wyib, k13, p3
Row 7: k3, p31, k3
Row 8: p4, k12, sl5 wyib, k12, p4
Row 9: k4, p29, k4
Row 10: p5, k11, sl5 wyib, k11, p5
Row 11: k5, p27, k5
Row 12: p6, k10, sl5 wyib, k10, p6
Row 13: k6, p25, k6
Row 14: p7, k9, sl5 wyib, k9, p7
Row 15: k7, p23, k7
Row 16: p8, k8, sl5 wyib, k8, p8
Row 17: k8, p21, k8
Row 18: p9, k7, sl5 wyib, k7, p9
Row 19: k9, p19, k9
Row 20: p10, k6, sl5 wyib, k6, p10
Row 21: k10, p17, k10
Row 22: p11, k5, sl5 wyib, k5, p11
Row 23: k11, p15, k11
Row 24: p12, k4, sl5 wyib, k4, p12
Row 25: k12, p13, k12
Row 26: p13, k3, sl5 wyib, k3, p13
Row 27: k13, p11, k13
Row 28: p14, k2, sl5 wyib, k2, p14
Row 29: k14, p9, k14
Row 30: p15, k1, sl5 wyib, k1, p15
Row 31: k15, p7, k15
Row 32: p16, sl5 wyib, p16
Row 33: k16, p5, k16
Row 34: k16, sl5 wyib, k16
Knit rows 1 - 34 until scarf measures a minimum of 48" and you've just finished row 34 of the pattern (I recommend 48" as a minimum, but you're welcome to make it as long as you want! It will stretch some during blocking, but not substantially). Bind off loosely, tuck in ends, and block.
Love the name and the scarf. Started singing the song as soon as I read the title. The Backyardigans were a staple in our house a year ago and still put our youngest to sleep on really late nights. Thank-you for all the wonderful patterns.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me feel exceptionally justified in my naming process! That's either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how much you like terrible alliteration and even worse puns. Anyway, glad you like the scarf (and the Backyardigans, which my eldest used to call the Backlardigans, much to my delight). :)
DeleteHello Gretchen, love the look of this scarf but can't work out what the 'WYIB' stands for? I'm looking for a lovely pattern to make up and this one looks just perfect!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks,
Ellen - Fat Fairy Jewellery
Hi Ellen! That just means with yarn in back. :) Let me know if you have any other questions!
DeleteYou have outdone yourself with this one! Love it so much!! The shade of the yarn, the pattern stitch..... so fun! and lovely - and magical!
ReplyDeleteLinda in VA
Yay! So glad you like it. :) I loved this yarn color so much that I bought it even though I've made a couple of other projects with the same fiber, and I usually try to branch out more. Ultimately, though, it's a perfectly airy yarn that needed a light and fluttery design (or so I figured!).
DeleteHow did you block this scarf? Mine's curling at the edges and I wonder if blocking will help.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hi! I just soaked it in cold water for about twenty minutes and then pinned it out flat (I stretched it when I pinned it out too). That reduced most of the curl. :)
DeleteLove this pattern. Using Cascade Cherub DK in a fuchsia color and it's working up great!
ReplyDeleteHi Louann!
DeleteThat sounds amazing. I love pinks!!! Anyway, let me know if you have any questions. :)
OH! So beautiful - and as others have said "magical" - This MUST be done in some kind of green that changes color! MUST be "dragon wings". I can't wait! But........ got to find the right green - hopefully color-changing. Any recommendations? It MUST be "right" for a surprise for my sister.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeannie!
DeleteI have to say, any time I think "right" I think Malabrigo. Both the Rastita and the Arroyo are this weight, and both have beautiful colorways. You can find more info on their website here: http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/yarns-5#.Vp_l__Feqi4. If those don't appeal to you, let me know and I'll try to think of something else! :)
Do you slip knit wise or purl wise for the sl5wyib? Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteHi there! You slip purlwise - knitwise would twist the stitches. :) Let me know if you have any other questions!
DeleteI thought that it would be purlwise but wanted to check. Looking forward to starting the scarf. Thanks!
DeleteI'm always happy to help! :)
DeleteHello I love the look of this scarf and very excited to try it, just one question though, I see you have listed 5 stitch markers but I do not see in the pattern when to place the markers.
ReplyDeleteOops, that's leftover from an earlier design of the scarf. I'll remove it. Thanks for letting me know! :)
DeleteGreat thank you can't wait to try the scarf
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Let me know if you have any questions. :)
DeleteHello, when you are talking about the set up row as purl and then to pattern, does this mean you do 2 rows of purl at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much.
Hi there!
DeleteYes, you'll purl two rows. Let me know if you have any other questions! :)
Hi Gretchen,
ReplyDeleteI notice that the set up row (P) and the first pattern row (P) both say 'wrong side'.
should the first pattern row be 'right side'? Also do know of a similar pattern for a hat/beret, or one that would work well with the scarf?
Thanks
Hi Ronnie!
DeleteYou're totally right! What's funny is that I've seen completed projects of this, and you must have just been the first one to notice! Anyway, the first pattern row is definitely a right side row, so I must have labeled the set-up row wrong. And honestly, you could totally omit it; I highly doubt you will notice ANYTHING you did with the set-up row in your finished results. Finally, I don't have any hat patterns that match, although I did make the Super Slouch Hat in the same yarn, so that's something I suppose: http://www.ballstothewallsknits.com/2014/10/super-slouch-hat.html :)
Wow! You sure are fast with your replies! Thanks so much.
DeleteI am when I can be! Let me know if you have any more questions. :)
DeleteLove the pattern! But I'm questioning the number of skeins used. I've only found Berroco Folio in 50 gram skeins, not 100. If you could clarify it would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
You are totally right! I'll fix it. :) Let me know if you have any other questions!
DeleteThanks so much for the quick reply! So you used just two 50 gram skeins?
DeleteYup! That part was definitely right!!! :)
DeleteThanks again. Can't wait to get started!
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you have any other questions! :)
DeleteHi, I fancy converting this pattern into a bed throw. Could you tell me, please, how many stitches form the pattern repeat, and do you recommend any edge stitches to give it a border and prevent it curling? Thank you
ReplyDeleteHi there! I designed this scarf to work the pattern across all 37 stitches, so it's totally a 37-stitch pattern, and that's probably how I would continue to work it, even in a bigger piece. Speaking of which - the edges of this do curl a bit, but not significantly, and certainly wouldn't curl beyond the first faux i-cord. Long story short, I'm not sure adding any edging would be a significant help!
DeleteHi Gretchen,
ReplyDeleteI've just done the first 20 rows, and I'm finding that the stitches are looser when I switch from purl to knit than vice versa, making one side of the scarf tighter than the other. Do you suppose this would be corrected in blocking? Any tips for reducing the looseness when I change to purls?
Hi Carolyn!
DeleteThis is an age-old problem. :) Luckily, there are many good blog posts with helpful tips, like this one: http://blog.ysolda.com/ysolda-blog/2014/6/12/technique-thursday-tighter-purls
I hope that helps, and let me know if you have any other questions! :)
Thank you so much, this was really helpful! :)
DeleteYay!!! :)
DeleteLove this pattern! I'd like to make it longer. Do I just start over with row 2, or work the pattern in reverse, starting with row 33?
ReplyDeleteHi!
DeleteGlad you like the pattern! :) I'm not totally clear on which part you'd like to make longer, though - the stitch pattern, or the scarf. If it's the stitch pattern, it's already worked across the width of the scarf, so you'd either need to make the scarf wider, or work each pair of rows twice for a steeper angle. Let me know if I'm not understanding your question correctly, though, and I'll try again! :)
Hi Gretchen,
ReplyDeleteI love this pattern and also the yarn you used! I found the yarn for sale on an online store through Ravelry, but the Napa Valley colour looks very red, almost a wine colour on their site and more purplish on your photos (using the same laptop to view both). Is your scarf purplish or maroon - or is it very red and the photos just look more purplish on my screen? Thanks so much!
I also noticed that some of the project using this patter on Ravelry look more solid, less light and floaty than yours (using DK weight yarn). I'd really like to get this light and floaty look so I'm interested in using the same yarn as you. :)
Hi Lynn!
DeleteIt's funny - I read your comment and then went to look it up on Amazon and found a page that listed this yarn twice, and one of the listings looks purple, while the other looks red. Kind of crazy! Anyway, my yarn was definitely purple, although I suppose there might be a lot of variation between dye lots? I'm not sure. However, if you're really committed to the lightness and worried about this particular yarn or color, you could also consider buying a lighter weight yarn (fingering or sock) and then knit it on larger needles. Then you'd definitely get the lightness! And if you went with something kind of hairy - maybe a mohair or an alpaca blend - you would probably end up with something quite pretty as well!!!
Anyway, a little food for thought. :) Let me know if you have any more questions!!!
Thanks for the info and suggestions, Gretchen!
DeleteI like your suggestion of a lighter yarn with some hairiness to it - I like the idea of the finished scarf being quite wispy and ethereal. :)
If I knit this pattern with fingering or sock weight yarn would I use size 5 needles or go larger? (When you suggest larger needles, I'm not sure if you mean larger than usual for the yarn weight or larger than the size 5 recommended for this pattern.) If larger, what needle size would you recommend.?I'm a beginner and don't have much experience with modifying these things. :)
Thanks also for checking out the yarn colour! Great blog you have! :)
Hi again!
DeleteAs far as the needle size goes, I would probably size up even more than the 5s if you're going to use a smaller yarn - maybe a size US 7 or 8 (you can always swatch, too, to get a better idea of what your finished product is going to look like). That way your stitches will look nice and airy!
Thanks, Gretchen! I really appreciate your help and your beautiful patterns! :)
DeleteI need help with the SL 5 wyitb, I can’t seem to get it to make the ridge.
ReplyDeleteHi there!
DeleteThe ridge should happen as long as you're pulling the yarn tight-ish after the slip. You can also try to yank it a bit vertically along the ridge and see if that helps. :)