Papa Bear Sampler Scarf - Week #1

Welcome! Today we start our first knit-along. Grandma Coco's so excited she hardly slept a wink all night.

You will need 400 to 500 metres/yards fingering weight wool (sock yarn would work well) and for needles, choose the size that lets you achieve a loose and lofty fabric, somewhere in the neighbourhood of 5mm (US8).

Cast On 48 stitches loosely. We like a stretchy cast on for this like a cable cast on.  http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer05/FEATsum05TT.html

Knit 7 rows in garter stitch (knit every row) and after the first row, slip the first stitch of every row.

From here on, the first and last 5 stitches of every row are continued in garter stitch for the edging. You can place a marker, if you think you’ll forget.

Our first stitch pattern is All-over Lattice. This is an old stitch pattern (as are all the stitch patterns we'll be using). Simple knit and purl stitches, transformed only by the order in which they're done. Pretty cool, eh?

Row 1: purl

Row 2: knit

Row 3: purl

Row 4: K1, *C4B, K4, C4F;  repeat from *  to last stitch, K1

Row 5: purl

Row 6: knit

Row 7: purl

Row 8: K3, C4F, C4B, *K4, C4F, C4B repeat from * to last 3 stitches, K3

C4B = Cable 4 Back – Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold to back. Knit next 2 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle.

C4F = Cable 4 Front – Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold to front. Knit next 2 stitches from left hand needle, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle.

Repeat these 8 rows 4 times and then work Rows 1 to 4. Total 36 rows.

Here’s a chart for the pattern. Left click on the photo and it should enlarge so you can print it or just download the .PDF below.  Row 1 starts on the wrong side of the knitting.

You can use a cable needle to make these cables in the traditional manner OR you can stretch a little and try to cable without an extra needle. It’s not as hard as it sounds. Kinda fun, really. Just remember to pinch the base of the stitches that you’re slipping off the needle. That way they can’t go anywhere. (Where would they go anyway?) Here’s everything you need to know about cables, including how to do it without the special needle.  http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter07/FEATwin07TT.html    There are also videos on YouTube you can google.

Once  you’ve completed the section of All-Over Lattice, there is a separator strip between the blocks of fancy stitches. Knit 5 rows (starting on the wrong side) and this time, decrease 1 stitch on the last of these rows by knitting 2 stitches together somewhere in the middle of the row. (47 stitches total) You’re now ready to start a right-side row.

That’s it for Week #1.  Don’t worry if yours doesn’t look as neat as ours. We cheated and blocked this bit for the photograph. Before blocking it’s a little uneven. Blocking is the penicillin of the knitting world. Be sure to come back next Tuesday for the next exciting installment.

If you'd like to print these directions, click here for a downloadable PDF.

The Papa Bear Sampler Scarf © Cheryl Coville 2011