Tingly scarf

We love the new Tingle yarn, which makes a perfect trim, both furry and perky. Seeing all the fur scarves on the Paris couture runways for Fall 2004 was pretty inspiring along the same lines. Tingle was clearly the thing for that effect, but we thought it'd be nice to add some Merino Frappe to it, not so much because it needs lightening up but because the resulting scarf would be warmer and have a bit more body. Beside, the Frappe would extend the pretty small yardage on the Tingle. That was a real success, so here is the easy recipe.

Level of difficulty

Beginner.

Measurements

Finished rectangle: 6"x60".

Materials

1 ball Crystal Palace Tingle (50g, 45yd) color 3209 (indigo-sage), 100% polyester.
1 ball Crystal Palace Merino Frappe (50g, 140yd) color 20B (new sage), 100% merino wool .
Bamboo needle, circular 26" (or 35") long, size 11 (8mm).

Gauge

4 st = 4" (10cm) over stockinette.

Stitch pattern

The basic stitch is the garter stitch, ie knit every stitch of every row. Note that the Merino Frappe is held doubled, so that it holds its own amidst the Tingle forest. But you still need only one ball, you can pull out the center end and knit it along with the outside end.

The big trick here is to be sure to use circular needles: you'll be knitting an uneven number of rows, and often starting knitting again from the other end of the scarf, so you don't want to run into a needle dead end. Normally, you flip the work as you reach the end of a row. In this case, sometimes the yarn you need next is not waiting for you at the end of a row, but left behind at the beginning of it (a row down). You won't be flipping the work but instead drop the last yarn and, holding the needles just as when you finished that last row, you'll be going back to the beginning of the row, picking up the next yarn, and knitting that row again in the same direction.

Directions

Cast on 60 stitches with Tingle.
Row 1: Knit with Tingle.
Row 2 and 3: using doubled Merino Frappe, knit both rows in garter stitch.
Row 4: Knit with Tingle.
The Frappe being left behind here, don't flip the work and instead go back to the beginning of the row as outlined above.
Row 5 and 6: using doubled Merino Frappe, knit both rows in garter stitch.
Now the Tingle is left behind, don't flip the work and instead go back to the beginning of the row as outlined above.
Rows 7-12: repeat rows 1-6 as above, knitting one row of Tingle in between 2 rows of Frappe, picking yarn up and knitting again in the same direction as needed.
Row 13: finish with a row of knit Tingle. Cast off in Tingle.
Use yarn needle to work ends in. And don't even think of blocking this...