INSTANT INFINITY
QuiCK! CroChET BEFOre TrEnd EndS!
DESIGNED BY
Kathleen rogers
This is about as close to instant gratification as it gets in Craftyland. In a couple of hours, you can have an upto-the-minute accessory for yourself or for a gift. Color choice can make it as girly or as guyish as you like, and the size is easily adjustable for anyone from baby to Bigfoot. The sample scarf was crocheted in the round with aran weight yarn held double and a large hook in order to give it warmth and heft. FINISHED SIzE: 6'X48" (15 cm X 122 cm) YARN: 275-300 yards (250-275 meters) aran weight yarn, or equivalent. Sample worked with yarn doubled in Manos del Uruguay Wool, 138yds/126 mts, 3.50z/100gms, Color 110. Two (2) skeins used (with a few yards remaining). MATERIALs: Crochet Hook Size P/12.75 mm Tapestry Needle GAUGE: 6.5 SC stitches/8 rows in 4'X4" (10cm X10cm) square, but there is no need to agonize over these numbers-it's a scarf, after all. Check your gauge with your chosen hook and yarn and adjust the number of stitches and rows accordingly if necessary. Remember that your yardage requirement may vary. NoTEs: Before you begin, determine the circumference you want for the finished scarf. The easiest way to do this is to use a 5 or 6 foot length of yarn, drape it around the wearer's neck, tie it off where you want the scarf to fall on the wearer's torso and measure the result. The 48" circumference as shown will be a goodly length for most adult women. If you want to make the scarf longer or shorter, adjust the number of stitches in your first round. For a wider scarf, add more rows. Remember, if you make it larger, you will need more yarn. TIPs: This can be a good stashbuster, since you can use, solid, tonal or multicolor yarn in any combination, or, alternately, one by one for stripes. Using a solid or tonal colorway highlights the raised detailing created by working some rows in the back loop of the previous row. I like using the foundation crochet (aka chainless foundation) technique for the first round. This method essentially creates a chain base and the first round of stitches at the same time and eliminates the need to deal with the floppy, wet noodle quality of the chain by itself. If you don't know how to do this, it is really worth learning. Check the REsouRcEs section for more information.
ABBREVIATIONS:
$\mathsf{s c}=$ SingleCrochet SI $\mathsf{S t}=$ SlipStitch Ch $=$ Chain
Step One: Foundation round
With yarn held double, make 78 foundation SC and join round without twisting. (See REsouRcEs for a link to an explanation of this technique.) Ch 1.
OR
With yarn held double, Ch 78. Join into round without twisting. Ch 1. Work one SC into each chain stitch all around. Join round. Ch1.
Step two: Pattern rounds
Round 2-3: SC around. Join. Ch1. Round 4: SC in back loop around. Join. Ch 1. Rounds 5-6: SC around. Join. Ch1. Round 7: SC in back loop around. Join. Ch 1. Rounds 8-9: SC around. Join. Ch1. Round 10: SC in back loop around. Join. Ch 1. Round 11: SC around. Join. Ch1. Round 12: SC in back loop around. Join.
SteP three: FINISHING
After completing round 12, Sl St around through the front loop. Fasten off. With right side facing, join yarn to the base of the foundation round (Round one) and SI St around through the front loop. Fasten off. Work in ends. Block lightly with a bit of steam, if desired.
Step four: Wearing
The scarf can be worn draped around neck over the chest as usual or from there it can be twisted and looped again over the head down to the neck to form a cowl collar, (as shown in the second photo) or left over the head to cover the ears..
RESOURCES
1. For an online photo tutorial of the foundation single crochet: http://snuffykin.livejournal.com/43642.html 2. For an excellent print and pictorial explanation of chainless foundation and many other useful techniques: Lily Chin's Crochet Tips & Tricks; Shortcuts and Techniques Every Crocheter Should Know (New York, New York: Potter Craft, 2009)
