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October 1, 2005

Lacy Goodness

River... its a scarf one minute, a wrap the next:

The Specs:
Pattern: River, by Sharon Miller, from Rowan 37
Yarn: Rowan Kidsilk Haze, 2 balls, in Trance
Finished Size: 14.5" wide by 66" long
Needles: Size 7 circs

Pattern Modifications:
Used size 7 needles rather than the size 10.5 called for. Knit to 20 pattern repeats for a longer scarf that used up almost all the KSH. I also did not knit the beaded knot.

River_done_flat.jpg

Thoughts on KSH:
Knitting the KSH was not really stellar, but the results are so gorgeous, I'll probably use this yarn again. It may be better suited to bamboo needles.

Blocking:
I wet-blocked River. This is what KSH looks like straight out of the bathtub:

River_done_bathtub.jpg

When pinning River out to dry, I pulled out a scalloped edge along all the edges. The BO edge was a bit tight and not nearly as stretchy as the CO edge.

River_done_blocking.jpg

Thoughts on the pattern:
This pattern seems easy, and doesn't involve any advanced knitting trickery, but its somehow very easy to make a mistake. I had to go back and fix misplaced YOs a couple times. And memorizing the repeat was impossible until Yahaira mentioned the secret way to remember it:

"Just memorize the first K# since it goes 3, 4, 5, 6, then 5, 4, 3, 2 and round and round it goes"

That's what got me through the last couple repeats! So glad I did too.. River is sure to be a favorite this fall.

Comments (48)

Oh, wow! WOOOWWW! It looks so great. And that color--fantastic. Do not take it off, ever :-).

Adele:

Stunning! Stunning! Stunning!

I agree that KSH is much better on bamboo needles. I could not working with it on Addis. Impossible. Way to slippery.

I really can't wait to start mine now. Still to order the yarn but I'm really tempted to use Trance like you. Oh and like, I'm going down needles and making a more scarf-life version.

Wow.. that looks great! I may take your lead and use 7s for the scarfie version, too. AND I also want to use trance too, instead of that Habu I got. Such a copycat I am.. ;) Congrats on a beautiful knit!

It's gorgeous. The color is perfect! Great job, and I'm glad I was able to help on some way at the end there.

Cari:

Amazing how something that looks like a hairball when wet can block out to be a beautiful scarf. Nice work!

Beautiful knitting, gorgeous colour. Very, very nice.

Wow, it's gorgeous!

Lori:

Gorgeous, Gorgeous, Gorgeous! I broke down and bought Rowan 38 and will knit River thanks to your inspiration! I will definitely use size 7s.

wow!!! so incredibly gorgeous!! you are so right, knitting it small gauge makes it look so much more practical and i think it looks much better than the original.

KSH trance is a lovely color. ok, i may have to make this one now.

Shar:

Your River is GORGEOUS. I absolutely love that color. I've just completed the second pattern repeat and agree with your observations on the pattern. I try to remember the 54321 and see if it helps. Thanks

June:

You did a wonderful job - it looks gorgeous!

Beautiful! It looks great that length. And the color - so amazing. I'm sure you'll wear it lots!

Emma:

Beautiful !

That looks beautiful & I love the color.

Dana:

Pretty! I'm totally going to make this your way, on 7s - much more wearable as a large-ish scarf rather than a wrap. Cheers-

Oh Diana, it's gorgeous! Really beautiful!

kris:

damn it, i had erased this from my todo list and now you come here and make this b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l version! it's gorgeous! love the difference smaller needles and more repeats made. argh, now i have to make it as well and there are way too many scarves on my list as it is ...

Stunning! Gorgeous! Fantastic job! Your River is sooooo lovely!

This is the best version of River I've seen so far. Your scarf is infinitely more wearable than all the wraps, stoles, shawls I've been seeing. And that color is stellar. Gorgeous!

Wow, absolutely stunning!

jody:

it looks beautiful! nice job!

Beautiful, and looks great worn either way! The picture of it right out of the bathtub is priceless - like a big hairball!

great choice of colors, and good decision on the smaller needles. looks stunning.

It is stunning and looks absolutely wonderful on you! YAY!

River looks so great on you! The outfits you wear in your photos are always so cute! Keep up the great knitting work!

ok ok ok - you've convinced me. i am going to take a break and pick up river again in a couple of weeks. i think i'll go down a few needle sizes as well.

thanks for the tips.

erin:

This is so beautiful. Like your version on smaller needles much better. Thanks for showing that out of the tub photo. I have some fine mohair and if I knit it up one day and wash it, I won't be so horrified.

That bathtub-to-shawl transformation was alarming. But the results- breathtaking!

Dani:

Beautiful! I love you you are wearing it in the picture on the left. Do you think this pattern would look good in an Alpaca silk lace that is alot smoother?

It looks fantastic!!

kate:

what a beautiful job and i esp love how you blocked it out. i'm making it in trance, too...so it's very cool to see it all done. i think you've inspired me to stop blogging and get the dang thing done.

Gorgeous!! And I love that the color you chose makes it actually LOOK like a river :)

Wow! Just fabulous!!

Absolutely gorgeous!!! I love that you made it longer. And I agree that the pattern repeat was aggravating to memorize. In fact, I never did memorize it. Wear it with pride and enjoy all the compliments you're sure to receive!

SQ:

its very webby and complicated looking! nicely done!

It is beautiful--so wearable too. I love how you can dress it up or down. You did a great job on it, D! :)

Simply gorgeous!!

Very pretty! Making it longer was a brilliant idea, now it seems far more versatile. Love, love, love that color!

Stephanie:

It looks wonderful. I really like it at the smaller gauge - makes for a wonderful scarf.

It looks gorgeous! Thanks for the hint on remembering the pattern, I have noted it for my attempt at river!

very nice river! maybe this is a good project to do to get rid of some of my ksh stash!

when work w/ ksh, i always use bamboo needles, i found that they seem to work the best.

Your river looks fabulous. Isn't it so fabulous to wear?

River is sooooo fabulous. Lovely knitting, lovely color choice. Just fabulous. Although it does look like a pile of fuzz out of the bath. That's kinda scary.

beth:

Wow! Stellar Scarf! It is on the list to do for me! Sigh......... Yours is just beautiful.

li:

River is beautiful! congrats on such a fabu piece

Simply gorgeous, and you definitely wear it with style. Love the colour too ;)

Absolutely beautiful! What a stunning color! I love the different ways you modeled it.

gosh that's so beautiful.
i now know what i'm making my mum for christmas! can i ask how long it took you?

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