Picture courtesy Renee Ladd
Knitfriends -
This is an attempt to compile and organize the multitude of recent postings on Seaman's Scarves- Thanks to Helen Naleid, who forwarded most of these messages.
1. Pattern, Gauge
From: GrandYarn@aol.com
CAS Seamen's Scarf
Materials: 4-ply acrylic yarn - 4.5 oz. Makes one scarf
Needles: Pair # 6 (4.25 mm)
Wool needle for joining yarn and finishing garment
Gauge: 5 sts = 1", 7 rows = 1" Garter Stitch - Important - Check your gauge
Directions: Cast on 32 sts with medium tension
Knit even (garter stitch) for 14 inches.
K4, P4 for 18 inches.
Knit even (garter stitch) for 14 inches.
Bind off with medium tension.
Please do not block scarf.
Note: Measurement of completed scarf is approximately 6 1/2 " wide, 46" long.
Submitted with permission from:
Ms. Barbara Clauson
Christmas-at-Sea
The Seamen's Church Institute
241 Water Street
New York, NY 10038
(212) 349-9090 ext. 257
Unless you are working with some amazingly esoteric material you will not achieve a gauge of 5 sts and 7 rows = 1 inch in garter stitch; you will achieve, with 5 stitches, approximately 10 rows. The pattern is "misinformed". Ignore the row count and use the stitch count.
From: Mary Bowman-Kruhm kruhmmc@erols.com
Based on the article by Myrna Stahman, "Seamen's Scarf," in the Fall 1998 issue of Interweave Knits, p. 44, here is the brief history:
Unlike George Gray, who realized too late how to put meaning in his life, you are embarking with full sails on a new decade of life and a career move too!
To help you face the winds of change wherever they blow you, we thought
that a very appropriate gift for you is this Seamen's Scarf. Scarves using
this pattern have been made by literally thousands of knitters since
the pattern originated over 100 years ago, during the
Spanish- American War. At that time Mrs. E. A. Gardner of New York
began a program of supplying seamen with Bibles, medical supplies, and
handmade knitted items. This program evolved into the Seamen's Church Institute.
By 1941, 2,000 volunteers from many churches of all denominations throughout
the US provided about 5,000 gift boxes of hand knit items. The work has
continued and in 1996 alone about 17,000 garments were donated by knitters,
including 6,000 scarves like yours. I am also working on a
scarf to donate to the Institute in your honor.
May this little scarf keep you safe and warm as you face the sometimes stormy seas of life.
>From KnitRN@aol.com
In looking at several stitch patterns, I offer the following for others
to consider for men's or
non-lacy designs:
From Leisure Arts "Sampler Afghan" book:
# 5, Double Parallelogram
#6 Harris Tweed
#18 Moss Panels
A multiple of 4sts plus 1
K1, P1 (K3, p1) to last stitch, K1
I'm doing this in a wine coloured Wendy Family Choice Chunky on 5.5mms
I do a provisional cast on with this one so the lace is going the same direction on both tails.
Pattern:
CO 28 stitches.
R1,3,5,7,(RS): k2,(ssk,yo) 4 times, k8, (ssk, yo) 4 times, k2
R2,4,6,8: k10, p8, k10
R9,11,13,15: k10, (yo, k2tog) 4 times, k10
R10, 12, 14, 16: k2, p8,k8,p8,k2
VARIATION:
do the odd rows as written, and knit the even rows.
I'm doing a scarf in medium grey Plymouth Encore with this now,
and it's just gorgeous (I'm VERY pleased) <VBG>. Encore washes
beautifully, and even does well in the dryer. I've done a seed stich
S. Scarf and a Double Moss Stitch scarf, and they're both just lovely.
Can't wait to
see the recipients' faces when they open them on Christmas.
RT#1: Multiple of 6 stitches
Row 1: *K3, P1, K1, P1; repeat from *
Row 2: *K1, P1; repeat from *
Repeat these 2 rows for desired length
-------------------
Variation on Above pattern
RT#2
Also a multiple of 6 sts
Row 1: *K3, P1, K1, P1; repeat from * to end
Repeat this row to desired length.
-----------------------
RT#3 Multiple of 4 sts
Row 1; *K2, P2; repeat from * to end
Row 2; As row 1
Row 3; *P2, K2; repeat from * to end
Row 4; As row 3
I have used all these patterns on the wide ends of my Seamen's scarves.
I begin by casting on 36 sts and work in K2 P2 rib for 16ins.
Then I change to one of the above stitch patterns and work for 14
ins.
Pick up the cast on stitches and work the other end to match.
Sometimes I work throughout in one colour and sometimes I change colours after 4 rows. I like the slightly tweedy effect you get when changing colours on the purl stitches.
I am just sorting out wool to do a rainbow version with the central rib part in the darkest colour and working outwards to red.
I love to knit scarves, too. I've never done the triangle pattern but I have done the same thing with the square. A square of alternating knit and purl stitches makes a lovely scarf which needs no edge and lies flat. I suspect the triangle pattern is the same alternating knit and purl stitches - not garter because garter has a very different row gauge from stockinette. The purl stitches will look like garter on the right side of the scarf.
An even easier and quicker scarf pattern that works well for mohair
is one I found in Vogue. It goes roughly as follows:
Cast on about 8-12 inches using a loose gauge (I use size 11 for mohair).
Knit across row
to last 3 sts., slip these stitches as if to purl (bring your yarn
to the front). Repeat this row until scarf is desired length (I like 5
feet). The rolled edge keeps the garter stitch from stretching.
Have fun. Liz
The overwhelming opinions for men's patterns are:
basketweave stitch
moss stitch
seed stitch
knit/purl patterns
Other Suggestions:
In the Winter 1997 issue of Interweave Knits, on page 58 is a pattern
for the Skye scarf. The section above the Church windows pattern (Borreraig
Fern and Kyle Chain) is not too feminine and knit in a darker colour would
be quite masculine.
Paulette Lane
>From KnitRN@aol.com
I just finished the second one- in Avalon by Classic Elite--
angora/lambswool/baby alpaca. Really lovely stuff, too bad it's discontinued.
I used the Marialis pattern this time, after doing the Katherina in camel's
hair the first time.
I did make the ribbing part longer on both of them, as I thought the
measurements given were a bit skimpy. For wearing over a coat, I
would definately make the neck portion longer, and perhaps the patterned
portions as well
I used a merino/silk/cashmere blend called Taj Mahal. It is a
wonderful yarn to work with and fondle. Very creamy. I did the Marialis
II pattern which was the first time I've done
"feather and fan" stitch. It turned out very dressy.
I am about 2/3 finished with my first Seamen's scarf and have learned a few things about mohair. Others may not have these problems, but I did.
I have used Myrna's provisional caston before, but not with mohair.
The mohair fibers somehow got between the plies of my waste yarn chain
- I had to cut the waste yarn almost every inch. Next scarf I will
just cast on, knit lace up to the ribbing, do the ribbing, and then reverse
the lace
back down. Should work.
I can't knit this Narvick mohair in poor light - it is very hairy, and I kept knitting the loops of fuzz that were over the needle - couldn't understand why my stitch count was off!
Next scarf I'll use a reversible stitch, but even though it has a right side and a wrong side, this fish tail stitch lace is very pretty in variegated mohair. I think I'll find a pin to go with it and give it to someone to wear with the tails lapped over and pinned instead of tied.
I'm not having any trouble with this yarn shedding at all, even though it is very "hairy". It is Seduction Narvick, from Yarn Forward, in Canada.
WIPS--another S. Scarf (which, incidentally, I'm using Plymouth Encore
for.
I'm very happy with it. 3 skeins makes 2 scarves for sure, and
I THINK 4 skeins would probably make 3 scarves, although it would be close.)
I am on the lace list and the designer who designs these scarves says
that mohair would be great to make them. She suggests using bigger
needles than what is called for on your ball band.
She is very high on making a swatch and thinks it would be a
great idea too.
Noreen says:
I used Woolease on the basic garter stitch Seaman's scarf. It took about one and one-half skein, on size 8 needles. I'm making them for kids mostly, and for the small kids I had enough left to make a basic roll brim hat but not enough left for the larger head sizes to include a hat.
Maureen says:
I used 4.5mm Addi circulars and found they took one and a half skeins.
Judith says:
I used a little of the 2nd skein of woolease for the seamans scarf
with lace.
I can't find my magazine right now to let you know the pattern, but
it turned
out great. I use 6 needles, since I knit loosely.
Made a Seaman's Scarf in Al-Pa-Ka from Lion Brand; used a double seed
stitch and increased the lengths of each section. Beautiful. Lofty. Will
look great with my great uncle's camel hair coat. Woolease a bit less lovely,
but impressed the heck out of the people sitting around me at a
conference - used seed stitch - am trying some other yarns, but the
Al-Pa-Ka. This was from the LB 'Textures' collection - I think the balls
are larger than usual, and one was more than enough.
I am currently making the Seamans Scarf. I believe it was in the Fall
IK which I lent to a friend. However, the instructions for the original
scarf is cast on 32 stitches. Knit in garter stitch for 14 inches, then
switch to knit 4, purl 4 ribbing for 18 inches, then another 14 inches
in garter
stitch. I am almost to the end of the 18 inch ribbing. It pulls in
beautifully just like the instructions say it will. My only problem is
that I'm making it with Touch Me chenille that I bought at stitches, and
its using far more than I imagined. I just started my third and last skein,
so if anyone knows where I can order some more, I would greatly appreciate
it. I tried Wooly Knits, Patternworks, and Webs. Good luck with your scarf.
It knits up quickly and is a lot of fun.
From: Jean Miles <jean@jeanmile.demon.co.uk
Subject: Knit: provisional cast-on
I've reached Phase Two of my first Seaman's Scarf.
Since many of you have mentioned this pattern, and no-one has complained, I have to assume that you all followed the instructions in IK, and all found that your provisional cast-on unzipped "like the top of a sugar or feed-sack." My! aren't you clever! Here in Drummond Place, it took an hour of agonized unpicking.
The result was perfectly satisfactory -- my angry scissors did not cut the working yarn miraculously), and the lace bit now segues into the ribbing invisibly. But next time -- for I hope to do another before Xmas -- I'll use the long-tail provisional cast-on I learned earlier this year, when I was doing Leigh's Puzzlebox Aran. It felt clumsy in my inexperienced hands, but it worked fine, without any anguish at all.
On the other hand, the "Icelandic bind-off" described in the pattern proved much easier than it sounded, and does indeed provide a nice stretchy edge.