What a week! I promise not to stray too far from the scope of this blog, but I’m so excited to tell my lovely and gentle readers about my trip to NYC to promote KNITFreedom to the media.
A garter-stitch scarf can be a great conversation-starter, and may lead to something more...
Today, we’ll talk yarn. And gorgeous men.
I left at the crack of dawn on Monday, and flew to Chicago, where I phoned with my web-mistress about the website and published the quick iPhone cozy pattern.
Then, on the plane to New York City, the most gorgeous guy walked onto the plane. Then he sat next to me!
“Be awesome. Be awesome. Be awesome,” the helpful voice inside my head said.
As I chatted with him about the mini-guitar he had brought on the plane, and where he was from, I took out my Magical Beginner Scarf and began to knit.
When he asked, “What are you knitting?” I explained that this was a beginner scarf I was using to show that anyone can learn to knit.
It took him about five minutes until he said, “Okay, so show me.”
Men really are fantastic at learning to knit! They’re not afraid to make mistakes, and they don’t get scared when they mess up.
Nico was a great student – I came away with a wonderful appreciation for Argentine men, and for the power of a garter-stitch scarf.
Handsome strangers can become knitting buddies with a simple scarf
A garter-stitch scarf (where you knit every stitch, on every row) is like vanilla ice-cream: the ingredients must be sublime for the product to shine.
Because of the soft yarn and the changing colors, you don't need fancy stitches for this garter-stitch scarf
For my trip to New York City to meet the media, I had a challenge – I really wanted to turn heads, but it had to be with just a plain ol’ garter-stitch scarf.
I chose a bulky-weight, 100% alpaca handpainted yarn from MistiAlpaca called Hand Paint Chunky.
Normally I don’t prefer to knit with 100% alpaca – it is almost too warm, a little fuzzy, and doesn’t hold its shape as well as wool.
But for a garter-stitch scarf, the handpainted colors really shone, and the stitch pattern had plenty of structure on its own.
Magical Garter-Stitch Scarf Pattern
To make your own Magical Misti Alpaca scarf, buy 3 skeins on Hand Paint Chunky, cast on 20 stitches using size 10 1/2 needles, and knit until you drop.
If you’d like me to teach you to knit, just watch my learn-to-knit videos here.
In them, I show you step-by-step how to start from the right end of your ball of yarn, cast on, get comfortable with your needles, and knit your very own scarf.
Related Pattern: Mary’s Bulky Italian Garter-Stitch Scarf
If you like this pattern for a chunky garter-stitch scarf, post in the comments and click the “Like” button!
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What a week! I promise not to stray too far from the scope of this blog, but I’m so excited to tell my lovely and gentle readers about my trip to NYC to promote KNITFreedom to the media.
A garter-stitch scarf can be a great conversation-starter, and may lead to something more...
Today, we’ll talk yarn. And gorgeous men.
I left at the crack of dawn on Monday, and flew to Chicago, where I phoned with my web-mistress about the website and published the quick iPhone cozy pattern.
Then, on the plane to New York City, the most gorgeous guy walked onto the plane. Then he sat next to me!
“Be awesome. Be awesome. Be awesome,” the helpful voice inside my head said.
As I chatted with him about the mini-guitar he had brought on the plane, and where he was from, I took out my Magical Beginner Scarf and began to knit.
When he asked, “What are you knitting?” I explained that this was a beginner scarf I was using to show that anyone can learn to knit.
It took him about five minutes until he said, “Okay, so show me.”
Men really are fantastic at learning to knit! They’re not afraid to make mistakes, and they don’t get scared when they mess up.
Nico was a great student – I came away with a wonderful appreciation for Argentine men, and for the power of a garter-stitch scarf.
Handsome strangers can become knitting buddies with a simple scarf
A garter-stitch scarf (where you knit every stitch, on every row) is like vanilla ice-cream: the ingredients must be sublime for the product to shine.
Because of the soft yarn and the changing colors, you don't need fancy stitches for this garter-stitch scarf
For my trip to New York City to meet the media, I had a challenge – I really wanted to turn heads, but it had to be with just a plain ol’ garter-stitch scarf.
I chose a bulky-weight, 100% alpaca handpainted yarn from MistiAlpaca called Hand Paint Chunky.
Normally I don’t prefer to knit with 100% alpaca – it is almost too warm, a little fuzzy, and doesn’t hold its shape as well as wool.
But for a garter-stitch scarf, the handpainted colors really shone, and the stitch pattern had plenty of structure on its own.
Magical Garter-Stitch Scarf Pattern
To make your own Magical Misti Alpaca scarf, buy 3 skeins on Hand Paint Chunky, cast on 20 stitches, and knit until you drop.
If you’d like me to teach you to knit, just watch my learn-to-knit videos here.
In them, I show you step-by-step how to start from the right end of your ball of yarn, cast on, get comfortable with your needles, and knit your very own scarf.
Related Pattern: Mary’s Bulky Italian Garter-Stitch Scarf
If you like this pattern for a chunky garter-stitch scarf, post in the comments and click the “Like” button!
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Ha ha ha. Misti Alpaca has magical properties. I'm gonna get out my own unfinished Mist scarf and see what luck it might bring me.
…some of the best knitters in Norway are men. There is a 80 year old man that knits a pair of Selbu mittens every day and sells them. He has done so for the past 50 years.
My son who is 14 is a wicked good knitter.
Your scarf is perfect! It shouts "KNIT ME!" I'm sure your beginners will be very pleased with this as a first scarf. And ladies…the yarn is a MUST!
if I were 20 years younger, well heck younger at all, I would really appreciate sitting next to that handsome devil! Oh, by the way everyone, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Lol! Great comments, everyone! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Lucky you, getting to sit next to that eye candy and then to teach him to knit a scarf!
The scarf is beautiful and the colors are perfect!
Loved this little story. I'm enjoying your site, too. Good work.
Cheers from Bozeman!
Hi Tori!
I'll actually by giving a workshop in Bozeman at Stix in December all day – Magic Loop and Two-at-a-Time (yet to be announced) – I would love to see you there!
I’m enjoying your site.The scarf is absolutely beautiful. . . Great job!
Hi there, thanks so much for checking it out!
Love the colors! Do you ever have any problems taking your knitting needles on the plane? I also love the brown fingerless mitts (?) you are wearing in the first pic, do you have a pattern for those? I have become obsessed with the fingerless mittens for some reason and searching for the perfect pattern. I really like your site, very easy to follow. I found you first on you tube, looking for the magic loop. Planning to buy the ebook soon.
Thanks for you teaching,
Jyll
Thanks Jyll! I don’t have the pattern for the brown fingerless gloves – I just made those up as I went along. Sorry! But you can use the worsted-weight mittens pattern and just stop once you get to the fingers, and do some ribbing. That’s basically what I did. And yes, you can take knitting needles on the plane now. I’ve never had a problem bringing circular needles of any type or length, plus metal tapestry needles and small sewing scissors.
Liat,
You make me laugh! I enjoy Knit Freedom very much, and check it
out every day. I knit English, but I would really like to try continental.
It world up much quicker. I have Knitting like a superstar, and magic
loop videos. You were born to teach, my friend. Keep going, and we
will keep watching and learning. Best to you!
Kathi, you are too sweet. I’m so glad that I get to be a part of your life through KNITFreedom and it means so much that you visit every day.
I hope that you get a chance to try Continental Knitting. You’ll have to let me know how you like it. :)
Hi Kathi,
You are ready to learn Continental! You’ve got in in your Knitting Superstar e-book (the bonus videos). I know you can do it!
Hello, my friend. I’m happy you have such faith in me….Could I borrow some?
I have the wonderful tape from the hypnotist, and believe me, it was made with
all of us in mind. Is there anything you can’t do? What a blessing you are to so
many. You inspire great things in otherwise ordinary knitters.
Come East, and meet all your followers and friends. Liat, you are heaven sent.
PS If you need a place to stay, I have a super guest room.
xoxo
what size needles did you use on this garter stitch scarf?
Whoops! I can’t believe I left that information out! Haha. I updated the post to have the needle size (which is 10 1/2). Thanks!