QUARRY CREEK
BY STEVEN HICKS Inspired by bare birch groves in late autumn mornings obscured by rising mist and reminiscent of frost creeping along a windowpane on an early winter morning, Quarry Creek scarf is etched with a knitted field of an inviting variation on a star stitch and bordered by a large loose cable and twisted ribing. Starting on the long edge with a twisted rib, Quarry Creek scarf works quickly with simple wrong side rows--purl stitches and twisted rib. The scarf is bordered by i-cords, which lends a thoughtful and classic selvedge finish.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
17" X 64" (43 cm X 162.5 cm) GAUGE 5 stitches per inch in stockinette 800 yards(732m) fingering weight or light sport weight yarn 36-40" (90-100 cm) US #8 (5mm) circular needles, or size needed for gauge Stitch markers Tapestry needle
The success of many knitting projects starts with the cast on. Sometimes there's a cast on that just seems to be better suited to some projects than others. Quarry Creek is knitted at a looser gauge than usual for the weight of yarn, which means the ribbed border is spread wider when blocked. A loose, but not flimsy, cast on is necessary to prevent the starting edge from pulling in too tight. One cast on that can be used is Lace Cast On in Leslie Ann Bestor's “Cast On, Bind Off: 54 Step-by-Step Methods." It creates a slightly looped cast on that closely matches the bind off. A knitted cast on would also be a good option. No matter the cast on you choose, be sure it is loose enough to spread when blocking. ABBREVIATIONSANDSPECIALSTITCHES Kknit Ppurl K2tog knit 2 stitches together yo yarnover k-tbl knit through the back loop p-tbl purl through the back look sl slip stitch wyif with yarn in front Star stitch: sl 1 as if to knit, (k2tog leaving sts on left needle, yo, k2tog in same 2 stitches and lift stitches off needle), pass slipped stitch over 8/8RC: sl8 to cable needle and hold to back, k8, k8 from cable needle Cast on 305 using lace (aka knitted) cast on.
WORK BEGINNING BORDER:
Row 1 (RS): k3, \*p-tbl, k-tbl; rep from \* to last four stitches, p-tbl, sl 3 wyif Row 2 (WS): k3, \*k-tbl, p-tbl; rep from \* to last four stitches, k-tbl, sl 3 wyif Repeat border rows five more times (12 rows total). On the 12th row (WS), pm after 35th stitch.
WORK CHARTASFOLLOWS:
Work Rows 1-20 twice, then Rows 1-19 once more. Odd rows (right side): reading from right to left, work border stitches; then work the star stitch pattern to marker, repeating the area in red 33 times; then work to the end of the row as indicated Even rows (wrong side): reading from left to right, work the first 35 stitches to the marker; then work the star stitch pattern to last 3 stitches, repeating the area in red 33 times; then work border stitches Remove marker on last row of final chart repeat.
WORK ENDING BORDER:
Row 1 (WS): k3, \*k-tbl, p-tbl; rep from \* to last four stitches, k-tbl, sl 3 wyif Row 2 (Rs): k3, \*p-tbl, k-tbl; rep from \* to last four stitches, p-tbl, sl 3 wyif Repeat border rows five more times, then Row 1 once more (13 rows total). BINDOFFUSING TWO-ROWBINDOFFASFOLLOWS: Row 1 (RS): \*k1, p1, pass k over p stitch; repeat from \* to end of row. Cut yarn and leave a tail toweave in. Row 2 (WS): sl 2 as if to purl, pass 1st over 2nd stitch, \*sl 1 as if to purl, pass 1st stitch over 2nd stitch, repeat from \* to end of row. Secure last stitch with a short piece of yarn. Weave in all ends. Block to measurements.
