Monica Knits

I had a few skeins of white mohair/merino wool yarn that I was anxious to try. While leafing through a knitting book, I was struck by the the cascade ruffle silhouette and mohair/silk blend yarn of Bess Haile's Scaruffle. It looked like the perfect, quick Thanksgiving project. I began the scarf yesterday evening and finished it today during the Lions / Packers football game. When I showed my husband how like fluffy clouds the yarn worked up to be, he replied that it reminded him of cotton candy--his description was more accurate. The fine, shiny white goat hair did indeed look like spun sugar. Read more .....

Design Features This delicious twisting, light dessert uses only three types of stitch: cable or knitted cast-on, garter stitch (all rows knitted), and cast off. The drape results from the use short rows and 2 sizes of circular needle, creating a long side and a short side which bracket an arc.

There are two variations, a 5" wide scarf and a longer, 7" wide scarf. I made a 7" wide scarf. This scarf is very versatile and forgiving; you can vary the dimensions with yarn choice, needle choice and by the number of pattern repeats you choose to make. Since the design used mohair and lacy stitches, the short rows didn't need to be wrapped, simplifying construction.

Construction I followed the instructions with the following changes:

1. Substituted Classic Elite, La Gran Mohair yarn.
2. I used a 32" 6.5 mm diameter circular needle instead of the 29" 3.5 mm diameter circular needle. This gave me a longer scarf and a gauge more appropriate to the yarn I employed.
3. I used a 47" 8.0 mm diameter circular needle instead of the 29" 8.0 mm diameter circular needle.

Gauge (measured in stocking stitch)
5.5 mm needles 16 st = 4.0", 16 rows = 4"
6.5 mm needles 16 st = 4.5", 8 rows = 2.25"

Quality Control Tips

1. The cable cast on forms a beautiful start for this lacy work. I placed small diameter markers every 20 stitches for counting purposes during cast on, since the individual mohair stitches are sometimes tricky to count. These were removed after the first row was knitted.
2. I used 2 different colors of larger diameter stitch marker to mark the short rows, moving the marker as more stitches were parked. The short rows are completed in pairs and a simple count of the number of stitches behind the marker, assures that each pair is completed.
3. I used longer cables, to give more working room and to minimize the chances that stitches would slip off the needles.
4. Use the tape measure to track progress.

Supplies

1. Three (3) skeins Classic Elite, La Gran Mohair, 76.5% Mohair / 17.5% wool / 6% nylon, 1-1/2 oz (42 g), 90 yds (82 m)
2. Two (2) large diameter stitch markers.
3. Eight (8) small diameter stitch markers.
4. One (1) 6.5 mm 32" circular needle.
5. One (1) 8.0 mm 47" circular needle.
6. Tally counter
7. Darning needle.
8. Tape measure or ruler.

Pattern Source
Bess Haile design in, "The Knitter's Book of Yarn - The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn," by Clara Parkes, Potter Craft, pp. 216-217, 2007. Potter Craft is an imprint of Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc. N.Y.

Related Posts
La Gran Mohair
Cascade Ruffle Scarf (3 photos of scarf)
Tools and Sources
Knitting Needle Size Cross-Reference Chart