My Willowy Scarf and Knitting Tip No. 3

This is my new Willowy scarf.

I love this design. It was very easy to knit and can be worn a variety of ways, as these photos attest. I thought it was a chevron stitch until my knitting friend Sherry at Pink Knitter informed me that she thought it was a feather and fan stitch and, as it turns out, she was right! No matter, I love the stitch no matter what it is called.

It is the Willow scarf (wider style) from the Colinette Arboretum booklet, from which I've also knit the Silver Birch hat (Ravelry link).

I love knitting with fine brushed mohair (once you get the hang of it it's quite easy) as it creates such a delicate and warm accessory. While I simply adore the large shawls that I've knit with this yarn, I think that this scarf will be more practical as it can be dressed up or down. And, because I occasionally hear cries of anguish that reverberate throughout the virtual knitting world from knitters who have been frustrated by this yarn, I'm going to share my tips.

Knitting Tip No. 3

Knitting with brushed mohair is different from knitting with a standard yarn so here are my tips which I hope will be helpful: always use circular needles; use needles that have a very sharp point and a smooth join; always sit in good lightening; leave a dish of corn starch or talcum powder at your side to keep your fingers smooth and dry; knit loosely; and never knit while trying to watch TV or carry on a conversation as frogging (i.e. ripping back knitting) brushed mohair is something to be avoided, if at all possible.

I knit this scarf in soft tones that remind me of Spring. The green yarn is Colinette parisienne Kid Mohair (moss colorway) and the cream color is Rowan Kidsilk Haze (ice cream colorway). I used US 6 needles, 2 skeins (1 in each colorway) and the finished, unblocked, dimensions are 11 inches by 55 inches.