Dr Who Scarf
Jan. 9th, 2009 08:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Okay, the universe wants me to make David a Dr. Who scarf.
I was reading my Google Reader feeds and clicked on a pattern for a neat looking scarf. While I was checking it out, David glanced over and said, "Oh! Could you make me a Dr. Who scarf?"
So I googled it and found www.doctorwhoscarf.com (who knew?) and spent about 10 minutes checking it out before going back to Google Reader. Read a few more articles, scrolled down... and there was this.
So, clearly, I am meant to make this scarf.
However, I'm not sure quite how. I mean, I have the directions (he wants the season 15 version), but I'm not sure about the yarn. Wool makes me itch, and him, too, so I'm stuck with non-woollen yarns. The directions call for a sport or DK weight yarn, and I would prefer to use something that feels nicer than the cheapo "pound of yarn" crap (I hate that stuff). OTOH, it's a *crapload* of yarn, and I don't want to pay more than, oh, say, $50 for the yarn. I can't tell exactly from the pattern, but it looks like I need between 200 and 400 yards each of 7 colors. Of course, the pattern calls for it to be between 10-12" wide, and David wants something about half that width (and maybe shorter, once he sees how very long it is), so I guess I don't need quite as much.
Knitters, do you have recommendations for nice-feeling but not bank-breaking yarns? I like working with soft but not too stretchy yarns; have had success with a lovely chenille I got at my LYS, but it was years ago and I don't remember what it was called.
I was reading my Google Reader feeds and clicked on a pattern for a neat looking scarf. While I was checking it out, David glanced over and said, "Oh! Could you make me a Dr. Who scarf?"
So I googled it and found www.doctorwhoscarf.com (who knew?) and spent about 10 minutes checking it out before going back to Google Reader. Read a few more articles, scrolled down... and there was this.
So, clearly, I am meant to make this scarf.
However, I'm not sure quite how. I mean, I have the directions (he wants the season 15 version), but I'm not sure about the yarn. Wool makes me itch, and him, too, so I'm stuck with non-woollen yarns. The directions call for a sport or DK weight yarn, and I would prefer to use something that feels nicer than the cheapo "pound of yarn" crap (I hate that stuff). OTOH, it's a *crapload* of yarn, and I don't want to pay more than, oh, say, $50 for the yarn. I can't tell exactly from the pattern, but it looks like I need between 200 and 400 yards each of 7 colors. Of course, the pattern calls for it to be between 10-12" wide, and David wants something about half that width (and maybe shorter, once he sees how very long it is), so I guess I don't need quite as much.
Knitters, do you have recommendations for nice-feeling but not bank-breaking yarns? I like working with soft but not too stretchy yarns; have had success with a lovely chenille I got at my LYS, but it was years ago and I don't remember what it was called.
no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 01:29 am (UTC)That said, Knitpicks.com has a decent line of cotton blend yarns that may be suitable--I'm thinking specifically of Shine Sport which is $2.50 for 110 yards so, if they have the colors you want, you could get enough for around your target price. If they do not, they do have a cream yarn that you could over-dye with fiber reactive dyes to be the right colors--heck, you might even want to check Etsy for folks who do custom dye jobs and see what they charge if you don't want to faff about with that yourself.
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Date: 2009-01-10 01:39 am (UTC)Thanks for the link! I'll check them out :D
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Date: 2009-01-10 02:01 am (UTC)Now, if you are at all inclined to double check and see if you are truly wool-intolerant vs "just" scratchy-wool intolerant, you might consider snuggling some Malabrigo wool just to see. If not, don't bother :)
All of that said...my husband hates wool, but LOVES the llama-silk blend I just made him a hat from. And that said, that stuff was mucho dinero, so it won't help you.
Hmmm. how about a nice cotton??
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Date: 2009-01-10 02:09 am (UTC)Llama/silk sounds lovely, though...
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Date: 2009-01-10 03:14 am (UTC)Hm. Lion Brand Cotton-Ease might be another option, too. Not sure what colors are available, though.
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Date: 2009-01-10 07:18 am (UTC)Actually, this is not true. Technically wool refers to the fibers of certain animals, of which sheep is the main, but can also refer to the hair of goats, llamas (of which the alpaca is a cousin) and rabbits.
This is a common misconception, especially in the US.
EDITED TO ADD: Cashmere is considered a type of wool.
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Date: 2009-01-10 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 03:19 am (UTC)Also, if you get to a bookstore or yarn shop, look for Amy Singer's No Sheep For You--she has a wool allergy and therefore the entire book is devoted to non-wool fibers. I think it's mainly non-animal fibers, too, so most of the yarns used in the projects should be fine.
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Date: 2009-01-10 03:25 am (UTC)I got the "Shine" stuff from knitpicks in the end. I hope it's nice :)
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Date: 2009-01-10 03:27 am (UTC)Too Lazy To HTML Code
Date: 2009-01-10 01:29 am (UTC)It's a worsted weight yarn, but that shouldn't be too much trouble to convert. Just go up a needle size or two and change the number of stitches per row accordingly. I can help you figure this out, if you like.
The biggest challenge for you will be finding the right colors.
Another good resource is Webs (http://www.yarn.com/). There is a lovely DK weight cotton/microfiber blend called Longmeadow by Valley Yarns (http://www.yarn.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/categoryID/E2AB2957-FA64-4734-9962-53AA2A644DBD/productID/43B108F7-7006-40C8-8E49-5004F4435543/) that has a good color selection.
You can also try Knitpicks. http://www.knitpicks.com/KnittingA.aspx
Also Yarndex can help you search by weight and fiber and may give you some good ideas. http://www.yarndex.com/
Re: Too Lazy To HTML Code
Date: 2009-01-10 01:41 am (UTC)Thanks again!
Re: Too Lazy To HTML Code
Date: 2009-01-10 01:45 am (UTC)And my dirty little secret is that I hate to swatch. So I don't. But because I've been knitting since I was about six, I know how my stitches are compared to most folks. I can look at a pattern and just by seeing the yarn recommended, needle size and cast on amount I can tell from there whether I'll be on their gauge or need to go up or down a needle size.
I'm a renegade!
I never tell this to newbies by the way.
Re: Too Lazy To HTML Code
Date: 2009-01-10 02:47 am (UTC)You may also check out Little Knits (http://littleknits.com/) or Smileys Yarns (http://www.pagelinx.com/cgi-shopper/loadpage.cgi/smileysyarns/ezshopper?user_id=id&file=iriot.htm) for good deals on quality yarns.
Re: Too Lazy To HTML Code
Date: 2009-01-10 03:26 am (UTC)Re: Too Lazy To HTML Code
Date: 2009-01-10 03:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 01:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-01-10 01:33 am (UTC)http://community.livejournal.com/crafty_tardis/tag/the+scarf is just the place for this question.
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Date: 2009-01-10 01:48 am (UTC)How did you find them, out of curiosity?
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Date: 2009-01-10 01:54 am (UTC)