Pattern: Boyfriend Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: School Products Bulky Cashmere
Needles: Clover US 9 straight needles
Recipient: C.
Notes: Chris has been a reluctant scarf wearer, partially because he viewed it as metrosexual, partly because he despises anything remotely itchy. But after his first dress-coat purchase, he changed his mind and went along with my plan to knit him something nice and soft in cashmere. He thinks he'll actually wear this guy, and if he doesn't I sure as hell will. This pattern creates a plush waffle-weave type thing - simple but more exciting than a plain old rib:
If you plan to knit ANYTHING from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, make sure to check out the zillions of pattern corrections on Purl's website! The pattern for this scarf in the book is a completely different scarf, it seems, from the one pictured. I'm surprised there are so many mistakes, since the book was edited by Melanie Falick whose books are usually tip-top. It's really as if this one wasn't even proofread. Thankfully, the mistake was so obvious it didn't take long to figure out. Once I got knitting, I was quite happy with the scarf.
I substituted a slightly smaller-gauge yarn and needles, so I cast on 30 stitches rather than the 21 required with the original yarn, Classic Elite Forbidden, which at $50 a skein was a little spendy considering the scarf required 3 skeins. I kiss the feet of School Products.
In any case, C. seems quite pleased and is growing to like having a warm neck. I think he looks quite dashing with his new neckwear!
A couple of additional photos:
UPDATE: This scarf curls like a muthah! I'm probably going to rip it out and make another for C. from the same yarn. For a good alternative way to construct the scarf to counteract the curling problem, check out Sandra's revised Boyfriend Scarf (she used the same yarn, too!).
Posted by jess at January 5, 2005 2:58 PM | TrackBackWow. Lucky boyfriend!
Posted by: Ann at January 5, 2005 5:10 PMgorgeous! my hubbie is much too manly for a scarf, but he does insist that knit him another beanie. he's begun to rely on guilt tactics. (i could just BUY one....)
Posted by: semaphoria at January 5, 2005 6:20 PMThanks for the info on the corrections - I got the book for Christmas and was about to start a number of projects!!
Posted by: Shannon at January 6, 2005 11:52 AMOooh, pretty scarf! It must feel glorious!
Posted by: vanessa at January 6, 2005 12:31 PMHi! I just found your site and its wonderful! I was wondering which brand of yarn you substituted for the boyfriend scarf? Thanks!
Posted by: Stefanie at January 6, 2005 5:20 PMNo man is "too manly" for a scarf. The manlier the man, the better the scarf looks.
Posted by: boyfriend at September 13, 2005 4:22 PMi've been having issues trying to replicate the photo with the pattern. even with the correction i cant seem to pull it off. what is so obvious that i feel like a complete moron for missing it?
Posted by: jessica at November 2, 2005 9:59 PMYou left a comment on my blog about how your scarf rolls... Mine did too, but just a little bit. I think it's because I used bulky yarn. I also blocked by soaking the scarf water--have since found out this is a no-no with alpaca. In any case, the scarf grew a lot, but is nice and drapey. Maybe the combo of the bulky yarn and size 11 needles helped my scarf not to roll. Anyway, I made another in mistake rib, and I think I like that one even better.
Posted by: Kristi at December 18, 2005 8:06 AM