I'm calling it something really fancy (not), the Zig Zag Scarf. Although a couple of people have said it looks like a snake winding it's way through the scarf
Thank you so much to my pattern testers, Debbie and Ellen. It actually took Ellen a while, because once she got the first few lines of the chart, she either continued on auto pilot without the pattern, or as I had suspected, took liberties and did her own thing/variation. (That's okay, she is a talented knitter and sometimes that's what clever people do). Never mind, eventually she did the painstaking proof reading/knitting bit.
Just reading through the history of this post and I can see that it has taken some time hasn't it? It was all so simple in my head ...
Never mind, I got there in the end and my next post when I work out how, will be to publish the pattern for the scarf. Given that it was yarn from Spotlight that I used, I contacted Spotlight to see if they would be interested in using it for there next 'Feel the Yarn' issue. They said to leave my details and if they were interested someone would contact me. That was a few months ago, and I've heard nothing, so I guess the answer is NO.
As you can see, although not quite as clearly, I have also done a Zig Zag beanie to match. So far the pattern is only hand written. I still have to computerise it.
Anyway, now I can move this post from 'On The Needles' and hit the 'Publish' button.
Cheers
Gina
04.03.2014 Hmmm, Things seem to have stalled a bit. I'm happy with the outcome, I'm just waiting on the pattern testers now. Given that they are doing me the favour, I can't really rush them can I? Thankyou Debbie, she has found one small error in the abbreviations, which is not surprising, given the number I've times I've chopped and changed, tweaked and twerked (can I say twerk?) the pattern.
I think I've finally got it. I spent the weekend trying the new version on some fresh yarn and all the roll problems have gone. Like I said in my last post, not quite the visual I was after, but I guess that's the nature of the stitches combination. I've still got the zig zag and the roll along one edge. It's just the reverse stocking stitch has been replaced with garter stitch.
Two things left to go ...
I found a new written pattern tester and I'm just waiting for them to complete the testing and get back to me. (though I fear my chart tester may be taking liberties with her own creative side).
The other thing is the yarn I'm going to use. spotlight have informed me that moda vera 'Bailey' is not returning this year and perhaps I should try 'Dianthe'. Dear Spotlight, if you are reading this, feel free to send me some 'Dianthe' if you are interested at all in my pattern
01.02.2014 The saga continues.
Still going ... My chart tester and I were both having the problem of the right hand side rolling in. Between us we've tried an extra stitch when turning from zig to zag, an extra moss stitch on the inside edge, an extra moss stitch on the outside edge. A lot better, but still not quite. Oh, and I've gone up a needle size. Now we're trying garter stitch in lieu of the reverse stocking stitch. Not quite the visual I was after, but now there is no inward roll, just the roll outwards, which is good, because then the ridge up the edge is nicely rounded, like the zig zag.
The re knits are getting longer. I've discovered that you need more than 1 zig and zag is required to get the full effect of any design change.
My written pattern tester has dropped out. The large needles are too painful for the arthritis. I'm glad she didn't get too far as the pattern has changed a few times and probably will a few more before we get the finished product. All was not lost though, Coralie did suggest a couple of better ways to write the instructions. I do want them to be easy to read, so I might just take up a couple of the suggestions. I don't think it should be too hard to find someone else. This is meant to be fun, perhaps a little frustrating, but definitely not physically painful. Coralie, I do thank you for your efforts.
07.01.2014 Zig Zag Scarf
Finally a couple of photos and nearly there.It's actually coming together now. After numerous false starts and much cursing at the computer, not only am I moving forward with the knitting (I'm on to the second ball of yarn) but I also just about have the pattern written and charted.
I've found someone who is willing to test drive the charted pattern, now I just have to find a volunteer for the written pattern.
Dec 2013
No photos yet, but I'm trying to design, write and create my first scarf pattern. To date it's one step forward and two steps back. Trying to work out the right number of stitches, what size needles, when to zig, when to zag, ...
Trying to get the picture from my head to reality is not going quite as smoothly as I had desired, but hopefully my stubbornness will see me through.
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