In which I both crow and complain.

[rainne]

So, I have been meaning to share this with you all, but I kept forgetting. My first ever Ribbed Item of Ribbedness is done! (This is a big deal because I really struggled with figuring out how to do ribbing.) It's actually been done for some time, and rolled up in one of my knitting boxes. I located it today while I was searching for my lost pair of size 7 needles, and remembered that I hadn't uploaded the finished product here or to Ravelry. So here it is!





I'm really pleased with how this came out. It was a simple, improvised design - I cast on 28 stitches, then worked it k2 p2 on every row until I decided I was done, then fringed. One end is stretched out oddly, which is something I think I did when I put the fringe on, but I haven't blocked it yet so I'm hoping it'll fix itself when I do. If it doesn't, I may give it a stitch or two with some white thread to pull it back into shape.

Now it's time for me to gripe!!!

I'm sure you've all seen the Spectra frilly scarves - they look like this:





I like these scarves; they're cute and trendy and VERY quick to make - I can do two in an afternoon of TV-watching. Well, when I was at JoAnn yesterday, I found that Red Heart is now making its own version of this same yarn. In case you've never made one of these, the Spectra scarf is made of a specialty mesh thing that you really weave more than knitting, and whenever I'm making one I kind of feel like I'm repairing a fishing net. *g* But here's my complaint:





As you can see, the Spectra mesh is much larger, and the Red Heart mesh also doesn't like to stay open after you've opened it. It just sort of squishes back up. Because of this, it takes FOREVER to work. I sat down yesterday expecting to knock out two of these; I am only HALF finished with ONE of them. (I also found as I hunted down the Spectra in my stash, another brand of this called "Flounce" that has even smaller mesh. I didn't realize when I was grabbing EVERY COLOR THEY HAD at the yarn shop that I wasn't getting all Spectra. That'll teach me to pay attention!)

My other complaint about the Red Heart is that it's not as pretty all knitted up. You saw the Spectra and how cute and frilly it is; here's the Red Heart:





In short, I am very unhappy with the Red Heart and I strongly recommend to anyone who's planning to make one of these that you go with the Spectra and avoid the imitations. *grumble*

Cross-posted to knittingpix

Comments

[ngakmafaery]

...nice job on the first one, and yeah, I can see the floppy disappointingness of the second one...too bad...maybe if you rinsed it with some stiffener or something it'd perk up...?

[rainne]

I doubt it; it seems to be made to hang like that. I might give it a try, though, and see what happens.

[foxyfurs]

Congratulations on the ribbed scarf! You never forget your first one, and the colorway you picked for it is gorgeous. I can see that going with just about anything!

On the "ruffle" yarns: keep in mind that there are maaaaany different brands of mesh yarn coming out now. Last ... September? when we first started seeing them there were only a few and no one could keep them on the shelves. Now there's ... seven acrylic ones that I know of, quite a few that are brand-specific, (Red Heart Sashay, Starbella, Chrysalis, Spectra) and that's not even getting into the ones from Germany with the reeeeaaaally teeny holes!

For the Red Heart, if you're not happy with the way it's looking -- and I don't blame you, it's kind of reminding me of a big blue worm right now -- there are a couple of things you can do to change it up and maybe getting it to look more like what you need.

First, needle size. The Sashay probably recommended a certain size needle on the label, but you don't have to follow their recommendation! Go up a few sizes. Try going down a few sizes. (I'm betting up will be better!)

Second, spacing. With the Spectra, I'm betting you knitted every mesh loop as they came along? Which works out wonderfully if you're using size, um, looks like tens or so. If you try the same thing with the Sashay, however, the ruffle will be too "fat" to droop down like you need it to. You're going to need large needles and you're going to need to skip mesh loops. Try knitting every third one instead.

Thirdly, stitch count. If the ruffles are so tightly-curled you can't see the bottom edging like you're wanting, I'd recommend dropping the stitch count down to four per row. Yep, this is gonna make the scarf a LOT longer than you need, but combined with the larger needles it'll give you a little more "unfurling" room when the weight of the scarf pulls. You may be right about the blocking too, hang it up in a steamy shower to see if that helps unkink things!

You can try any one of these suggestions, or a combination of all three. It's a beautiful color, it'd be a shame to lose such a gorgeous project to stubborn yarn.

<3

[rainne]

The only problem with using larger needles is that they just don't fit into the holes! I started with a 9, and the mesh wouldn't slide at all on the needles; a six was still too big. I ended up dropping all the way down to a 2 before I was able to knit with anything like ease at all. However, skipping loops sounds like a good idea, and that might make it a bit ruffly-er (rufflier? LOL) I might give that a shot and see how it does. Thanks!

[mewsing]

Love the ribbed scarf! :D

With those mesh-type yarns, how you knit them determines the result you get. I've knit with a few of those that had rather fine mesh, and got lovely results:









I knit them like this, though I put my needle a bit more through the middle of the ribbon instead of towards the edge:



ETA: You might also find this video interesting! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMNyeWfk-wE

[rainne]

There's a lot less worrying about precision in that video; I've been very persnickety about catching the mesh properly and that sort of thing, because you kind of have to be with the Spectra. But I see that the smaller-mesh ones have maybe a bit more room for error, and that actually helps with the ruffle effect! I'm definitely unwinding this one and trying again. Thank you!

[mewsing]

I've not used the wider mesh yarn yet, it looks too fiddly for me. XD Oh and I used a 5.5mm (US 9) for all my ruffle scarves. :) Also, I didn't pick up just a thread or two for each stitch, I picked up several threads per stitch, and more to the middle of the ribbon than at the top edge. I find they're sturdier that way (scarf will stretch either way tho).

You're welcome!!

[rainne]

I've started over again using that second video's technique of just picking up every second stitch, and it's better already! Thank you SO MUCH! :D

[eruanna]

Very pretty scarves. Nice work! :)

[rainne]

Thank you! :)

[untonuggan]

Gorgeous! I am tres impressed with the ribbed scarf. What yarn did you use? Also, ruffled scarves are purty! I have been doing a second one with short rows, but maybe I will try one with mesh yarn next time.

[rainne]

The ribbed scarf is Lily Sugar 'n Cream in Mod Ombre. :) Glad you like it!

[untonuggan]

I was looking at that yarn the other day for dishcloths...it knits up really nicely! Now I must get some...*plots*

[rainne]

It does, yes. I actually just went and got a bunch of Sugar 'n Cream the other day to make up those dishcloths you posted - they're going to make GREAT gifts for neighbors, people my mom works with, etc. :D

[mewsing]

Yay!! You're welcome! :D