Thursday 8 August 2013

Quaker Yarn Stretcher

My latest pattern is the result of an experiment to see if I could make something scarf-sized with about 220m (245yds) of handspun yarn and use as much of the yarn as possible.  I'm happy to report that it worked.





This was the first one - made with a Gift of Grace handspun in colourway Boomerang, which is what got me trying this in the first place.











You can find the pattern on ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quaker-yarn-stretcher


Then I wanted to try it again - and again....

I have made four so far and they all ended up about 150cm (5') long - which isn't huge, but is long enough to wear as a scarf.
























You can drape lots of different ways.

I like the thicker end down the front and the skinny end at the back - like this - see the dark shape on the right side, that’s to show that there is as much length down the back as at the front (no cheating to make it look bigger ☺):
Silk Quaker ( #4 )
This shows the other side - more ridges, less stockinette - with some yarns this side may be more interesting. The way the edges are worked will make it reversible:
Silk Quaker ( #4 )
This one shows the skinny end in front - you get a lot more coverage in the front if you wear it this way (good for windy winter days):
Silk Quaker ( #4 )
It’s actually long enough to wrap around and leave the ends down in front (or you could tie them if you wanted):
Silk Quaker ( #4 )
An overall shot:
Silk Quaker ( #4 )
And one more to show off the colours and sheen - the yarn is fabulous !! It's Lady Godiva by Handmaiden.
Silk Quaker ( #4 )

13 comments:

  1. Love the colors you used, great pattern!
    Hugs, Else

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  2. Muchas gracias por el patrón. Intentaré hacerlo, pero antes lo tendré que pasar a español.

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  3. Thanks for showing the different ways to wear your shawls. Your boomerang design, however, is nearly perfect. You cannot go wrong when wearing it and it fits the human body so comfortably.

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  4. I just bought the pattern. Can't wait to start !!!

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  5. Just bought this to try with my handspun. Looks like a great pattern and I love how you have posted up pictures of how to wear it.

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  6. I was gifted some Souk, and this handily fits the bill. Have worked first 14 rows and can tell that this will be great for stash busting and gift scarves as well! Great pattern, thanks!

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  7. I can't purchase the pattern! PayPal won't let me!

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  8. Someone sent me a picture of a baby wrapped in something that looks a lot like your pattern. Do you think it could work that way?

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    Replies
    1. I think it would work well - could be shared by mother and baby. ☻

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  9. Question - I have 1.9 oz of thick and thin "mystery yarn" that appears overall to be an average of DK weight - is this enough, do yu think, to make the Quaker yarn stretcher?

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  10. I am a VERY new knitter and trying this pattern but confused. At the end of the setup row and setup row 2 how many stitches should each row have? When I do the math for setup row 2 I think 5 but I consistently get 9???

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  11. I just don't get how to sl1wyif on either a purl or knit row!!~

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