Some may be substituting knitting needles for their wintered garden tools, but I never quit knitting over the summer—although it was a challenge in the 90 plus degree heat we had. From grubbing in the garden, to picking up my needles, the summer was wonderful. Now the garden has retired, and the needles are clicking overtime.
Along with a precious Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Dylan, the above photo features a fresh-off-the-needles shrug which incorporates a pattern I created with easy lace stitches and beautiful yarn which I spun from a blend of three gorgeous rovings. The fibers are shetland and mohair, dyed and combed with a touch of glitz by Laura Matthews at Psalm 23 Farm, near Kiel, Wisconsin.
The embryo stage of the shrug and a closeup of the yarn are pictured below:
It appears (and actually is true!) that my very favorite fashion statements begin with an “S”—Shrugs, Scarves, and Shawls. I’m currently doing a potato chip scarf for a friend who loves a combination of blues and greens. (I also love those analogous colors—actually, most any combination of colors—analogous or complementary.)
Awhile back, I posted the next photo to illustrate how I now put a button hole and funky button in all scarves and shawls—so they don’t slide off shoulders and onto the floor (which I’ve always found to be very annoying):
Since anything to do with knitting produces a lot of hits on this blog, I have the audacity to post fiber photos again! I think there are three re-runs on this entry!
Finally, here’s a sample of a button hole/plus button in a shawl. The button hole discovery (so easy to do!) is turning shawls and scarves into comfortable, practical, and wearable delights—at least one for every color chord in my closet!
Margaret L. Been, ©2012
NOTE: Here is the potato chip pattern, courtesy of Ravelry’s free downloads:
Any size needles and any size yarn. Any number of cast on stitches. I’ll give the minimun, although I tend to include extra stitches at the ends, and decrease around the neck as the flare is becoming to most of us. I like #7 or #8 (US) needles. My handspun tends to be quite fine, between sock and DK. (Worsted is way too bulky for my taste, and I only use it for children’s outdoor wraps.)
I knit the Potato Chip in garter stitch, but that can be varied. Some prefer the look of stockinette in this case. Patterns would not show up very well, but they could fly if so desired.
Cast on 20. Knit across row before beginning the curls, to stabilize the work.
Row 1: Knit 8, Turn; Knit Back to Beginning; Knit 6/Turn/Knit Back; Knit 4/Turn/Knit Back; Knit across entire row.
Row 2: Same as Row 1, only from other side.
Knit the two rows (each one containing 3 short rows and 1 full row) back and forth, for as long as you like.
End with 1 row of straight knitting to stabilize the other end.
For a button-hole and button scarf, I position the button hole a few inches from the bottom edge on what will be the right side of the scarf. It’s fun and funky to make the left side longer than the right.
Decrease however many stitches needed for the size button you have selected, and increase those stitches back on the needle on your return trip. To employ a couple of silly clichés, a button hole is easier than falling off a log and the greatest thing since sliced bread!!! 
Things to remember:
1) The curl doesn’t appear immediately; it takes from 15 to 20-ish rows to begin to discern a potato chip, as that many increases on the edges are needed for the waves to set in.
2) There will be tiny holes in your work, due to your turns and knitbacks. At first this nearly drove me nuts, until I realized that the holes are uniform in their repeating sequences of 8/6/4—consequently a pattern is created by them. So I got over it!
Enjoy your potato chips. I guarantee you won’t be able to stop at only one scarf!
I also knit year round. I find it very relaxing and fun too
Beautiful beautiful…
Great stuff! Love the shrug and the button hole scarves!! Your place looks fabulous…I believe I would be very comfy there!
You look beautiful in your knitted shrug!!! What beautiful colors!!! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Thank you, all of you! Knitting is certainly enjoying a huge revival! So wonderful! Happy Thanksgiving and love to all of you!!!
Julie, give my love to all the family out there! Maybe we’ll get back to Colorado yet—come spring!
awh… thanks for the pattern. I know to told me it awhile back, but the brain doesn’t work so well. Where’s the best place to purchase some of that beautiful yarn?
You are welcome, Patti! Almost every time I go somewhere wearing one of those scarves someone asks for the pattern. Just today I jotted it down for the owner of the ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY. She wants to make one for her mother.
Now you will probably wonder, “What was Margaret doing in the CHOCOLATE FACTORY?”
Eating ice cream, of course!
The yarn in shades of brown and rose (pictured on the yellow chair with the needles, etc.) is yarn I spun myself on one of my spinning wheels. (That’s what I used for the shrug shown in the first picture, with Dylan.)
The potato chip scarves are in commercial yarns. I get some at the Knitch in Delafield on Milwaukee St. just east off “C”, and also at Ben Franklin–which has become a really great source of good quality commercial yarns. The prices are more reasonable at BF, too.
Knitting is not a “cheap” hobby, unless one uses wimpy 100 % acrylic yarns (which I refuse to do)!
My hand spun yarn is a lot more fun to work with, than commercial yarns. It’s my all time favorite. It is also very warm!
Suddenly we may discover that loads of ladies are running around our counties wearing potato chip scarves!
Love your knitting Aunt Margaret-I just relearned a couple of years ago-I’ve made a lot of purses and squares to cover a worn out chair-it’s lots of fun! you look so tiny-hope you are eating enough! Love-nancy
Hi, Nancy! Good to hear from you! Yes, I do eat but for the first time in my life I’ve been eating right. Losing 13 inches of colon 2 years ago was a wake up call, and I feel better than I have nearly forever–except for the Longenecker arthritis, etc. That just goes with the territory, and I have pills for that.
Have a beautiful Christmas season. We just got back from a road trip to Toledo with Eric and Cheri to visit their daughter, Nicole, and her husband. Nicole sings in a community choir, and we went to their Christmas concert last night. BEAUTIFUL!!!
As you undoubtedly know, Ohio, PA, and W. Virginia were the major glass making areas in the heyday of gorgeous art glass. They make glass at the Toledo Museum, and you can take a workshop there and make something.
We made a glass icycle. They show you how its done, and then walk you through the process–and they will do whatever you choose not to. Like I let them stick the punte (I think that’s what it’s called) with the molten glass back into the 5000 degree oven each time. But I got to roll the thingy on the slab, and then flatten the glass on all sides.
After it went in and out of the oven one more time, I made the contours in the icycle with a long pliers while the instructor (who held the punte in one hand) pulled the glass out at the bottom. It gets pulled down and broken off at the end a few times before it’s done. The last thing is a dab of more glass at the top, which I twisted with a tongs to form a loop for hanging the icycle.
The glass has to then stay in a “healing” cupboard which controls the cooling down process so it won’t break. This takes 2 or 3 days, depending on the size of what you have made. So Nicole will bring our icycles to us when she and Travis come back here for Christmas.
This is TOO MUCH FUN! You would love it. If I lived in Toledo I’d hang out at that museum a lot!
Love,
Margaret
Hi Margaret, Simply beautiful; it’s great to see you (and Dylan) here! I’ve been away from WP for awhile; my business has been busier … anyway, as part of that, I’ll be changing my blog a bit, and part of that is linking to other WI artists on my home page. I’d love to add you, and hope this is OK ~blessings,
Colleen
Hi, Colleen. Good to know that business is going well for you! Yes, it would be a pleasure to link with you. What a great opportunity for artists to get acquainted!
Have a blessed Christmas, but I’ll probably be in touch with you before then!
Thank-you Margaret and a very blessed Christmas to you, too!
Dear my friend , your blog is great. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy the mslima your words and your art- .Thanks again.Have a nice day. :
maxima with love
Thank you!!!