Need pattern/stitch for scarf

Hi, This holiday season I'm unemployed and giving knitted gifts to friends and family. I am (trying) to knit a scarf for my 10 yr old step-grandson. I'm working with black and red worsted weight acrylic yarn (apologies to the yarn purists), and am using what is called a brioche stitch I found in a book on knitting weekend projects. The projects in the book are knitted in the round and have an I-cord edging. I want to work with two needles - probably size 8 or 9. I would like something that shows the red predominantly on one side, black on the other.

The projects in the book do that by working first round in the light color, the second round in the dark color. However, I am not able to figure out how to work the red and black every other row using two needles.

The stitch pattern is: Setup round: K1, sl 1, yo to end of row. Round one: Sl 1, yo, p2tog, repeat to end. Round two: K 2tog, sl 1, yo, repeat to end. (I'm converting to straight rows).

If anyone can suggest a stitch that will do what I need, I would appreciate it. Or, a project pattern would be good, but I just really need a stitch to use. Or - how to knit using red for row one, black for row two.

Thanks! Susan

*************************** Knitting is a haven, a safe place where one can touch history, dance with art, and create a peaceful life.

---Nancy Bush, author of "Folk Socks"

The easiest way would be to use two long double pointed needles (or use a short circular needle to knit back and forth). Knit one row red, then go back to the beginning and knit one row black. Then pick up the red and knit back, and then pick up the black and knit back. And so on.

Jane Neighbors' book _Reversible Two-Color Knitting_ had some interesting patterns that had one side very different from the other, but most of them required double pointed needles, and the book is out of print and fairly rare.

Here's one she called Shadow Rib: Using two dpns and an odd number of stitches: Cast on in dark color. Turn and knit starting row with dark yarn: p1, *(k1, p1)* to end. Slide stitches to the other end and begin using light yarn:

Pattern Row 1. With light yarn: slip 1 yif, *(k1 into the loop in the row below the next stitch and slip that next stitch off the left needle, p1)* repeat, end with slip 1 yif. Turn to knit back, but begin with dark yarn:

Pattern Row 2. With dark yarn: k1, p1, *(k into row below next stitch, p1)*, end with k last stitch. Now slide the stitches to the other end, and pick up the light yarn again.

Pattern Row 3. With light yarn: slip 1 yib, *(p into row below next st, k1)* end with slip 1 yib. Turn to knit back but begin with dark yarn:

Pattern Row 4. With dark yarn: p1, k1 (*p1 into row below next st, k1)* end with purl stitch. Slide stitches to the other end of the dpn, and pick up the light yarn to begin with row 1 again.

The four rows are the pattern. This is a two-color relative of the brioche stitch. She says the stitches slither this way and that so one side is more dark and the other is more light.

=Tamar

Richard, This looks like what I need - later today I will sit down and try it out. Thanks!! Susan K

The lady thinks I'm a miracle worker.... either that or I just have a reputation for coming up with all sorts of URLs. LOL Just kidding! I'm actually very flattered that you would think that I would know this. I quite honestly hadn't seen a pattern for anything like this, or if I did, I just never noticed it.

The closest thing I can think of is crocheted, but at the moment I can't even think what that is called... where you crochet across in one colour and work your way back in the other colour. What's really bad about this is... that I have actually done this (in dark grape and dusty rose), but it *was* about four or five years ago and it was only once that I did it. ;o)

Gemini

Hi Gem,

Are you thinking of tunisan crochet?

Hugs,

Nora

No clue, Nora. All I know is that it was a VERY long crochet hook.... may have even been the one with a hook at both ends. But it turned out looking really neat. Not quite what I was expecting, but still neat! :o)

Gem

Hey, that's pretty neat looking! :o)

Gemini

Thanks - will do that.

You could do it with a regular "tunisian" crochet hook, but you'd have to go back across with the same color; the result would have the bottom half of the stitch in one color, and top half in the other. Using the double-ended CroHook (or whatever it's called lately - it's been around for a while) would let you choose which end to use and you could make every trip across a different color and make each row in two different colors if you wanted to.

=Tamar

Sounds neat! I'll have to dig my large hooks out again and see what I can play with. ;o)

Gemini

I've just started making a scarf from a MagKnits pattern for DD2's boyfriend. Pattern looks complicated but when you get going it turns out pretty good Love & higs Christine

sue

Oooh, I like that pattern, Christine! :o)

Gem

And the really good thing about it, Gem, is it grows really quickly. I'm making it with Lana Gatto Madeira, in blue/grey/brown/cream sort of slubby and it looks really great. And not at all "girly" which is what DD2 requested for her boyfriend!!

Love & higs Christine

Wow, that sounds really nice! Will you be posting a picture when it's finished?

Gem

I'll try, no guarantees on the success of the effort though!! Love & higs Christine

That's all we can ask... for you to try! ;o)

Gem