Chidder
Submitted for the 2014 Discworld Design Challenge
Chidder is a graduate of the Assassin's Guild school in Ankh-Morpork. Immediately affter graduation, he went into the family business of piracy (they call it "Commerce"; Chidder claims they only raid other pirate ships). Known for dressing in the finest of silks and laces, velvets and furs, as long as they are all black. His ship, the "Unnamed," is a sleek black vessel with a low profile, but the inside is excessively ornate, with a lot of gilding, "as tasteful as the interior of a jeweled egg." This scarf was designed to evoke the interior of the "Unnamed," with a floral colorway, gold beads and sequins, shaped in awavepattern. After all, a man such as Chidder must make enemies, and there are times when he will wish to go incognito. Surely no one would suspect this flamboyant, lace-scarf-wearing tourist to be the subtle and fearsome Chidder... Chidder and the "Unnamed" appear in the Discworld novel Pyramids by Terry Pratchett, 1989.
Requirements
Yarn: 1 skein (400 yards) of Artyarns' Silk Essence in 1015 and two skeins (114 yards each) of Beaded Mohair and Sequins in 1015G. One strand of each yarn is held together to work the entire project. Any yarn or combination of yarns can be used for this project; choose a needle larger than the yarn manufacturer recommends. Needles: US size 8 (5.0mm). Other notions: 2 stitch markers; row counter.
Starting Edge
With both yarns held together, cast on 16 stitches. Row 1: k2 edge stitches, place marker, k to last 2 sts, place marker, k2 edge stitches. Row 2: k across.
Lace Section
wave Increases
Row 1: k2 edge sts, sm, \*k2tog, yo, repeat to marker, sm, k2 edge stitches. Row 2: k2 edge sts, sm, purl to marker, sm, k2 edge stitches. Row 4: k2 edge sts, sm, plinc, purl to last stitch before marker, plinc, sm, k2 edge sts. Twostitcheshavebeen increased. Row 3: k2 edge stitches, sm, \*yo, k2tog, repeat to marker, sm, k2 edge stitches. Repeat these four rows until you have reached 30 total stitches (26 main sts plus 4 edge stitches) and then proceed to the Wave Decrease section.
Wave Decreases
Row 1: k2 edge stitches, place marker, \*k2tog, yo, repeat from \* to last 2 sts, place marker, k2 edge stitches. Row 2: k2 edge stitches, slip marker, purl to marker, slip marker, k2 edge stitches. Row 3: k2 edge stitches, sm, \*yo, k2tog, repeat from \* to marker, sm, k2 edge stitches. Row 4: k2 edge sts, sm, p2tog, purl to last 2 sts before marker, p2tog, sm, k2 edge sts. Two stitches have been decreased. Repeat these four rows until 16 stitches remain on the needle (12 main stitches plus 4 edge stitches) and then repeat WaveIncreasesection. Continue alternating Wave Decrease and Increase sections until the scarf is the desired length and you have reached the end of a Wave Decrease section (16 stitches total). Then continue working the four rows of the Wave Decrease section until 5 stitches remain - two edge stitches on each side, plus one center stitch. Next row: k2tog, k1, k2tog. Bind off all stitches. Weave in ends.
Blocking
Finish by blocking with a method that will maintain the wave shape; the cast-on edge will be rounded, and the bind-off edge comes to a point. I simply wet it, rolled it in a towel to absorb excess water, and laid it out on the carpet, pulling the waves into shape (no pins or blocking wires). It's going to collapse somewhat when worn, so precision in blocking is not critical.
Wear boldly, and enjoy your newfound anonymity.
