Inspiration
Mad Dash: 3 One-Skein Patterns for Big Yarn
Dear Ann,
I closely follow Ravelry’s Hot Right Now (HRN to the kids who are down with the lingo; greetings, fellow young people).
Every year, it happens: the Big Yarn Patterns of December. Just when you think all of the super fast, super simple, super gauged patterns had been thought of, some kind and clever designers come through with the lifesaving patterns we gift-knitters crave.
I rarely plan to knit with bulky yarns like Malabrigo Rasta, Madtosh A.S.A.P. or our very own Jill Draper Brunswick. But in December, the impulse to whip up quick, cushy knits to stick under the tree becomes overpowering. It’s fun to blast through a quick knit using one of these lush fat yarns. Whee!
Here are a few new patterns, just in time for last-minute gift knitting:
Rasta Fasta by Monika Anna. One skein=one hat.
And the Rasta Fasta Cowl by Monika Anna. One skein=one cozy neckwarmer. (Note: both patterns are free until January 1. Thanks, Monika Anna!) 
Loey by Alexandra Alfonso. One skein=one hat. I’m loving the herringbone stitch and conical shape of this beautiful hat. (Get 15% off the pattern with the coupon code “masondixon.” Thanks, Alexandra!)
Giftalong Report Card
My Big Plucky Garter Scarf gets a big Plucky check mark: it’s all done but the drying. (Still a little damp in these photos.)
Pattern: 6-8 skeins of Plucky Knitter Bello Worsted, double-stranded, US 9 Needles. Cast on 58. Knit, slipping the first stitch of each row purlwise. never change both colors at the same time. bind off.
a case of unintentional roy g biv. no violet, but otherwise it’s a marled color wheel.
Something that will always amaze me: how much superwash yarn grows with washing. Especially if it’s garter stitch. This mega-scarf was big on the needles, but now it is worthy of Lenny Kravitz.
I hope the recipient isn’t over-muffled by this muffler.
Of course I immediately cast on another gift, without skipping a beat. Needs must! With each project, the pattern gets smaller and the yarn gets bigger.
Stay strong, Giftalongers! We can do it!
Programming Notes: Vogue Knitting Live
The holidays have me so distracted that I was shocked to realize how soon Vogue Knitting Live (New York) is coming up. January 12-14 is just around the corner! For readers who are planning to attend, a couple of programming notes.
On Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m., we’ll be hanging out in the Knitty City booth in the marketplace, signing Field Guides and saying hi. (Thanks Knitty City, for always making room for us in your double-wide booth.)
On Saturday at 5:30 there will be a special fashion show: Rowan on the Runway. (Guess who’s going to be in it? Hint: a superfoxy matron who may look familiar.) Rowan fans will not want to miss the chance to ogle patterns from Rowan’s glorious past and present. And if you don’t know Rowan well, and want a quick history lesson (with the risk of falling in love), it will be an excellent overview of this iconic design house.
Finally, we’re cooking up some kind of MDK sit & knit & beverage event, time and location to be announced, near the Marriott Marquis. When we get the details ironed out, we’ll announce it here, but save some mental space on your VKL dance card for us if you can. We’d love to see you.
Love,
Kay
our Thanks to DESIGNERS Monika Anna and Alexandra Alfonso for KIND permission to use their photos.
HRN – updating my lingo so I can be one of the fellow young people! The Plucky Scarf turned out amazing. I’ll be sure to stop by the Knitty City booth at VKL (alas, no husband in tow) and I’ll keep an eye open for the MDK event.
I love unity city! I went there when I was in NYC and it was wonderful.
That scarf is gorgeous! But wait! What’s up with that incredible chair underneath the scarf??? I need a full picture of that chair. I’m not saying it upstaged your FO but it came pretty darn close. I’m intrigued
It’s an old office chair reupholstered in striped canvas.
Oh I wish I could come to Vogue Knitting.
“With each project the pattern gets smaller and the yarn gets bigger”– Amen sistah!
Wait – is the big flower coat making its debut?!?
Could be…
I love that scarf. Is there a kit available?
Sadly no! I was using up some lovely skeins of Plucky Knitter Bello Worsted that had been calling to me from the cupboard for a long time.
Love this scarf. When do you change to the second color?
It’s a beautiful scarf!
what does “Roy G Biv.”mean?
Over the rainbow .
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet. – it’s the first letter from each color and a way kids learn to remember the color wheel. 🙂
They Might Be Giants have a fun song called Roy G. Biv-
https://g.co/kgs/m6cLnx
CJ, thank you so much for the video link. I didn’t know that one, and I love it.
I can see why you wanted to make that scarf. It’s a big winner.
LOVE the scarf!!!!!
It’s like Stephen West’s Garter Squish Blanket but for your neck!!
How many rows are in each section please? Thank you!
Didn’t count, just knit all the way through each skein or partial skein.
Do you use one or two strands of yarn??
Two strands all the way. The two strands are different colors, which is what creates the marled effect. Don’t change both colors at the same time; that way one color continues, which is what makes the color changes look gradual.
I’m currently obsessed with this big yarn pattern by Helen Stewart, The Sonder shawl. https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sonder-shawl
Oh I love the look of that shawl. It’s such a nice, hefty garment and also looks like it would be fun to knit, with all those eyelets.
I really like the shape, it’s like an assymetric scarf.
Love, love the Big Plucky Garter Scarf (or is it an afgan?). Any chance we will see this modeled? It sounds like that would be a significant moment in determining if it were to be inspiration for one for me since I’m about Kay-high.
I love your RoyGBiv scarf! Superwash wool can really take one by surprise in the blocking phase, but I’ve learned to pat it back into reasonable size, and when it dries, it’s back to where it was. Usually. Or, you can block garter superwash wool into an airy ethereal fabric by taking advantage of that stretch. Blocker’s choice!
Bless you!! Read this yesterday AM and by noon have discovered another gift was needed! (Last minute guest at gift luncheon!) To my LYS for Rasta and a’cowling I did go!
How did I not clink on Lenny’s link til now?!? ♥️♥️♥️ It!
Please explain how to follow ravelry hot right now group? I’m searching but nothing comes up.
I don’t know if it’s helpful or not, but Hot Right Now is on the patterns page, left hand side, about half way down. I’ve got it strictly in knitting mode, but you can switch it up to show crochet and knitting, or just crochet. No group to follow. It’s just always there, waiting for you.
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/knitting
I see it! Thank you!