I caught a glimpse of the (free) l’escargot bleu scarf by Escape Tricot while on Ravelry. If it’s mostly stockinette with stripes, I’m totally in to it. Plus, this works as a blanket scarf which everyone seems to be wearing these days.
This scarf is shaped like a snail (although the typo in the directions read ‘sail’ which also made sense to me). I copied their colors and made one of my own on my standard gauge knitting machine. I’m still using super inexpensive acrylic from Michael’s (Loops and Thread). I made two of these. The one on Ravelry is straight stockinette. But, the one here has a 1×1 ribbed border. The original uses garter stitches at the end.
On a knitting machine, you can make ribbing by latching up on the main bed. Or, by using a ribber. Luckily, both my machines came with ribbers. And, I finally tried the ribber out and it works! I’m terrible at it (loopy edges, blech). But, it works.
My next knitting project should be a garment. I promised Jordan a vest and I’ve been practicing the techniques. I’ve ordered some yarn from Colourmart and expect it next week. I am of course terrified.
My current project is sewing related. After two hours on the floor matching plaids, I’ve cut out Butterick 6244 the Lisette waterfall coat pattern. I also think I have never actually sewn a plaid garment before. And, I LOVE plaids. But, I’m terrified of matching. But, I bit the bullet and dug into this one.
There’s a helpful sew along on Lisette’s website that I’ll follow. And, I can’t wait to use my *awesome* 8mm flat fell foot on my Bernina 830.
Here’s hoping I finish this while it’s still winter!
Miss Celie's Pants 
Cute scarf, the colors are so pretty. I have that Lisette pattern also and am looking for fabric for the waterfall jacket; love the style. Looks like your time on the floor was well spent – I spy some excellent plaid matching there.
Love the scarf! That’s on my to-do list as well! There’s a ribber cast-on called broken toe cast-on, and when you try it, you’ll see that it will tighten up that cast-on edge. I meant to comment on how great your “Michigan” scarf looks, too!
Ooooh. Thanks for the tip! I think I saw something about this on Diane Sullivan’s page. I’ll check it out! I still need to finish that scarf. I just thought I’d wait until I came into some ‘nice’ yarn (rather than knit it in acrylic for him).
On Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 9:57 AM, Miss Celie's Pants wrote:
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I will not succumb to shiny knitting machines. Seriously, Stop! flashing these awesome looking knitting projects.
Your coat will look awesome. I just went to a discussion on pendleton. Their plaid shirts had like 22 pieces to meticulously match up.
I’m planning a plaid wool duffle coat (Cascade from Grainline). I was just looking at the line drawings wondering if I would go crazy trying to match. I have about ten plaid shirtings that have never been sewn for this very reason.
On Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 10:20 AM, Miss Celie's Pants wrote:
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Miss Celie, do you go to the ACC Crafts Show—this weekend in Baltimore? There are usually a few vendors with high-end inspiring machine knit garments.
I didn’t go this year. But, I’ve been several years before. I didn’t even think about it this weekend. And, you’re right. They have a lot of machine knit garments there. My best yardstick also came from a furniture maker there too. I’m definitely going to Maryland Sheep and Wool this year. I also have my eye constantly out on Craigslist for an electronic knitting machine and a punchcard bulky. It’s so addicting!
On Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 11:00 AM, Miss Celie's Pants wrote:
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Beautiful plaid! Can’t wait to see the coat.
I’m really impressed with the scarf, I must say. Also quite jealous of your 8mm flat fell foot. I have a 4mm and have been looking for an 8mm for my older Bernina. I’ve only tried out my 4mm once so far, and I’d love to hear how the 8mm works out on your coat fabric.
It worked SO WELL. I bought a 4mm foot for Trena’s Bernina. My local shop was doing an insane 70 percent off all old-style feet. I might have bought every single one.
On Mon, Feb 15, 2016 at 12:17 PM, Miss Celie's Pants wrote:
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Great find! I’ve been thinking about getting an adapter so that I can just use snap-on generic feet.
I cannot wait to see this jacket.
CHIC!!!! I really love the colour combination of your stripes. It looks really cool 🙂
I love the scarf! BTW I finally took my old Studio machine to be refurbished and cleaned by a professional and have joined a machine knitting guild. It’s an interesting group – lots of underground sharing of arcane knowledge for our old old machines that are still be quite usable. At one of our meetings, I saw a demo of the Broken Toe cast on mentioned above so I guess I am learning something. I understand your feeling terrified – guess we just have to jump in! I get my machine back in a week or two.
Both garments are going to be so useful. The scarf is gorgeous (I have my eye on my mum’s old knitting machine!), and I can’t wait to see that coat in a plaid.
OMG the colors on the scarf are so beautiful!
The scarf looks so cool! Do you have a picture of it laying flat so we can see the snail shape?
It is a really cute scarf! I love the colors, very cool! I agree your time on the floor was spent very well working out matching of the plaid!
I was wondering where a person can order machine knitting yarn. I live in Albuquerque and our only store closed many years ago. I love seeing your progress on using your machine. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Patty,
I’ve just started ordering cones from Colourmart in the UK. It takes about two weeks to ship. But, they have mostly natural fibers. Which *can* be more expensive, but the yarn overall is very well priced. The acrylic I use is Loops and Threads Woolike from Michaels. I tend to buy it on sale on line and it’s like $1.50 a skein. I do have some Tamm from my instructor, but that was when I was first starting.
I’m trying very hard not to stash….
On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 9:56 PM, Miss Celie's Pants wrote:
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Since I have a significant stash of coned yarn, I feel I should mention a couple of other sources: KnitItNow where you can get Silk City Fibers (swoon!) and also she orders Yeoman yarns twice a month. Both of these yarns are great! Also Silk City is opening a retail site soon—I’ve been waiting for months—and they have an Outlet sale once a month that has super values.
I bought some cones from Silk City via School Products in NY. But, I think I made a mistake because I have no idea what it is or what it can really be used for. If / when you’re back in Baltimore (maybe you were traveling?) could I bother you to bring it by for your assessment? It’s kind of a boucle? http://www.ravelry.com/people/cidell/stash/poncho
I’m going to plan my next trip to NY around the Silk City outlet sale 🙂
On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 9:18 AM, Miss Celie's Pants wrote:
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Webs gas coned yarn. My favorite is their Alpaca/silk blend that knits beautifully on the standard machine. http://www.yarn.com Click on weaving and spinning.
Of course!! Come on over and bring the yarn—I don’t have an major trips planned for a while. I live in Baltimore over near Patterson Park. I looked at your Ravelry page, and it doesn’t look familar, but all of the Silk City yarns knit like butter!
Oh! I just remembered another
source of coned yarns: http://www.madeinAmericayarns.com I ordered some woolray from them in January and just swatched it the other day. It knit beautifully in a complicated lace pattern. Lots of different yarns offered at great prices.
Oh, wow. That’s awesome. They are much closer than NY too. I wonder if they ever have outlet sales. Mmmmm. That fingering looks wonderful too.
On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 5:40 PM, Miss Celie's Pants wrote:
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Georgia Yarn Company has georgeous silks and cotton yarns on cones. http://www.handweaver.us/georgia_yarn_company.htm
To improve the loopy edge on your scarf, thread a very thin needle thru the bottom of the loopy and pull down firmly.