Comments | who_knits: Yarn Acquisition and Sizing Questions

illix in who_knits

Yarn Acquisition and Sizing Questions

Jun 21, 2007 21:22

Hello all! [insert obligatory reference to the fact that it's my first post]. I just got back from the yarn store with the raw materials for my scarf. There would be a photo here, except that my sister has carried off my digital camera to Taiwan and odds are I'll never see it again. In lieu of the picture, therefore, I will substitute a ( Read more... )

scarf, knitalong, yarn, fourthdoctor

Comments 7

widgeon7 June 22 2007, 02:15:29 UTC

I am almost finished with a season 18 scarf. I am also a small woman and not a 6 foot tall man, so I had to make a change in the pattern to make a narrower and shorter scarf or be swamped. Because you can't reduce the overall number of rows without changing the stripe pattern, I reduced the number of stitches in each row from 60 to 36. At present it is about the right proportionate width and length, and when I block it I don't intend to stretch it out any.

lucifers_girl June 22 2007, 02:37:17 UTC

pictures after blocking?

widgeon7 June 22 2007, 02:50:14 UTC

When I get done. :) It still counts as an experimental method at this point.

rustydog June 22 2007, 05:30:11 UTC

I'm 5'2" and had the same concerns as you about the length and bulk affecting wearability. I made the Season 12 pattern and skipped the sections (marked in the pattern) that were cut out in Seasons 12 and 13. It ended up being just right for me: wraps around my neck once and almost trails the ground with the ends of the tassels. I figure if it stretches once I start to wear it, I'll just make a bigger loop around my neck. Tom Baker may have managed not to trip on his, but I'm sure I would not be so lucky!

I was hesitant to say, "I am attempting to replicate the seventeen-foot scarf of an alien time traveler," lest she reply with, "You are clearly a madman and I wish you to leave the premises."

Hee. I tried to hide my intentions for awhile, because really, how do you explain? - especially in a region where few people have even heard of Doctor Who - but finally gave up and just started admitting what I was doing. I was surprised at how calmly most folks took it!

Good luck with your scarf! The colors sound nice.

rustydog June 22 2007, 05:30:58 UTC

Oh, forgot to say, I also decreased the width by ten stitches.

tia_tarina June 22 2007, 19:53:10 UTC

You'd be surprised how many yarn shops not only know what a Doctor Who scarf is, but have patterns in their files.

Most yarn shops either have a resident Whovian or have knitted Doctor Who scarves on commission.

I used to get good money knitting them.

When I was calling around trying to find the missing Jo Sharp color, I hit three shops that knew exactly what I was up to and one that knew about the upcoming Livejournal knit-a-thon.

So, those of you out there who haven't yet got your yarn, don't worry about looking foolish! Yarn shops deal with grannies knitting adult sweaters in fiesta neon colors; you knitting a fourteen foot scarf only means one thing: money in their hands.

If you're really worried, print out a picture and show it to them.

freyja June 22 2007, 05:40:41 UTC

Explaining to the saleslady exactly what I was doing was a bit difficult because I was hesitant to say, "I am attempting to replicate the seventeen-foot scarf of an alien time traveler," lest she reply with, "You are clearly a madman and I wish you to leave the premises."

y'know, i was hesitant to tell people what i was doing too, but after i made that first breach into it i tell everyone now. it's great fun; they're very impressed. some of them don't even know what doctor who is, if you can believe that :P

as far as swimming in the scarf, it hadn't even occurred to me. i'll probably just wrap it around several times if i need to-- and since i'm knitting in fibonacci, i adjusted the numbers of rows by rounding down, so it'll be a little shorter (i'm knitting season 15). i dunno, for some reason i'm not worried although i probably should be. :)