Beowulf: For Your KNitting Pleasure

So as I said, I'd write up my Beowulf pattern. I'd just like to say that this IS my first written pattern, and I misplaced a few of my notes (for the Tapered End Caps), so I'm sure there are a number of errors. I fear there are also mistakes in the Cable Repeats B and C, but I THINK I did it right... Oh whatever, if you can udnerstand my pattern at all, you're smart enough to figure out any mistake I may have made. That being said, if you find any errors, from typing to gross pattern, do let me know? I wish I had photos to illustrate some things, but it's been raining nearly non-stop for the last three days, I have no idea when it will stop, and I don't want to wait to put this up. Please only use this for personal use, yadda yadda and... Happy knitting! As an(other) aside, if anything needs clarification, further explanation or anything, leave a comment either here or e-mail me, and I'll try to help. Lemme know what you think!

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PATTERN
Beowulf

SIZE
Just the one, assuming you follow all directions. It is very easy to make longer or shorter. Width is tricky to change.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: Looks like somewhere in the 6’6” range.
Width: ~6” (but it stretches out really wide, I am a highly inexperienced blocker)

MATERIALS
2+ balls of Van Dyck in red. There wasn’t much used of the 3rd ball. (Gosh, I hope it wasn’t one more than I remember…)
I think… 6mm needles?

GAUGE
About 4sts/1.25” But honestly, it’s a scarf, the dimension are large enough that even it shrinks by a foot, or maybe even 2, it’s not a disaster.

PATTERN NOTES
-The whole project was fairly made up as I went, so the directions I’ll give with result is (hopefully) a nicer looking scarf.
-This might not be the best pattern to learn how to cable on, but I did, so who knows.
-You will need to use a provisional cast-on of some sort, be it knit or crochet. Well, I’m sure some clever person out there can figure out how to do it without, but I tacked on my tapered end caps as an afterthought, so this is how I did it.
- On my scarf, I was a moron. I worked those 3 outside stitches in stockinette. I realized my error too late, so continued with the “design element”, and at the end “flattened” the sides by flipping the stockinette over onto itself and seaming it down. In the end, I really like the extra weight added by the “rolled edge”. In this pattern, I’ve written them do knitted in garter stitch, which will give you a wider scarf (by about an inch I imagine), though you can be like me and choose to alter it after.
- The cable is really meant to be repeated. The result of this is that the ass-end of the cable will be left uncabled unless you adjust the design (which I have included). Again, I noticed this too late and it became a “design element”, as such I will include 2 different designs: my scarf, and what I actually had in mind. Although I sort of prefer mine.
-The alternate (correct) version only differs in the End sections (1 and 5), and is marked by the “correct” repeat bolded and in parenthesis.
-Cable Repeats are written out at end of pattern.

DIRECTIONS
Cast on 32 stitches using any manner of provisional cast-on. (Optionally, just cast on flat if you do not want any sort of ends)

Section 1 (End)
Work Cable Repeat A (B)
Work 8 rows of ribbing (knit the knits and purl the purls as you see them)
Work Cable Repeat A (B)



Section 2 (Long boring ribbed section)
Work 80 rows of ribbing, cabling each 8th (RS) row. Here I flipped a coin for some “chaos theory”. I flipped for each of the 3 cables to decide whether to cable then, and if so, then again to decide which direction left or right). This gives a result of certain cables being snaked, some cabled, some going for long straight stretches, etc… Yes I fudged it now and then. It would look excellent with a more structured system as well, although I would not suggest cabling more often than every 8th row, as the design is structured around 8-row repeats. But then again, it might look amazing.

Section 3 (Neckband) (the same for both patterns)
Work Cable Repeat A
Work Cable Repeat B
Work 8 rows of ribbing
Work Cable Repeat B
Work 8 rows of ribbing
Work Cable Repeat A
Work Cable Repeat B

Section 4 (Long boring ribbed section #2)
Same as Section 2

Section 5 (End #2)
Work Cable Repeat C (B)
Work 8 rows of ribbing
Work Cable Repeat C (B)

Section 6a (Tapered End Cap)
*note* C4B every 4th (RS) row (3 times) on the knit portions (there are 3, they are the cables)
Work in ribbing as set, K2tog at the start of each row for 8 rows
Work in ribbing as set, K2tog at the start and end of each row for 6 rows
BO fairly loosely, as the scarf has a lot of stretch, might as well try to keep it uniform

Section 6b
Pick up 32 stitches from provisional CO
*note* C4B every 4th (RS) row (3 times) on the knit portions (there are 3, they are the cables)
Work in ribbing as set, K2tog at the start of each row for 8 rows
Work in ribbing as set, K2tog at the start and end of each row for 6 rows
BO fairly loosely, as the scarf has a lot of stretch, might as well try to keep it uniform


FINISHING
Weave in your ends.
Optional: Pull a me and seam the edges over. Not at all necessary.

Cable Repeats
Cable Repeat A
Row 1: k3, (p4, k4) 2 times, p4, k3
Row 2: p3, (c4b, p4) 2 times, c4b, p3
Row 3: Same as row 1
Row 4: p2, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, (sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 form cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn) 2 times, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p2
Row 5: k2, p2, k3, p4, k4, p4, k3, p2, k2
Row 6: p1, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p3, c4f, p4, c4b, p3, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p1
Row 7: k1, p2, (k4, p4) 2 times, k4, p2, k1
Row 8: p1, k2, p3, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 form cn, p3, k2, p1
Row 9: k1, (p2, k3) 2 times, p4, (k3, p2) 2 times, k1
Row 10: p1, (k2, p3) 2 times, c4b, (p3, k2) 2 times, p1
Row 11: Same as row 9
Row 12: p1, k2, p3, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from sn, p3, k2, p1
Row 13: Same as row 7
Row 14: p1, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p3, c4f, p4, c4b, p3, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p1
Row 15: Same as row 5
Row 16: p2, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, (sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn) 2 times, sl 1 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p2

Cable Repeat B (note, this is just Cable repeat A, with Rows 1&2 added onto the end)
Row 1: k3, (p4, k4) 2 times, p4, k3
Row 2: p3, (c4b, p4) 2 times, c4b, p3
Row 3: Same as row 1
Row 4: p2, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, (sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 form cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn) 2 times, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p2
Row 5: k2, p2, k3, p4, k4, p4, k3, p2, k2
Row 6: p1, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p3, c4f, p4, c4b, p3, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p1
Row 7: k1, p2, (k4, p4) 2 times, k4, p2, k1
Row 8: p1, k2, p3, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 form cn, p3, k2, p1
Row 9: k1, (p2, k3) 2 times, p4, (k3, p2) 2 times, k1
Row 10: p1, (k2, p3) 2 times, c4b, (p3, k2) 2 times, p1
Row 11: Same as row 9
Row 12: p1, k2, p3, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from sn, p3, k2, p1
Row 13: Same as row 7
Row 14: p1, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p3, c4f, p4, c4b, p3, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p1
Row 15: Same as row 5
Row 16: p2, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, (sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn) 2 times, sl 1 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p2
Row 17: k3, (p4, k4) 2 times, p4, k3
Row 18: p3, (c4b, p4) 2 times, c4b, p3

Cable Repeat C (note, this is just Cable Repeat A, with Rows 1&2 moved to the end)
Row 1: k3, (p4, k4) 2 times, p4, k3
Row 2: p2, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, (sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 form cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn) 2 times, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p2
Row 3: k2, p2, k3, p4, k4, p4, k3, p2, k2
Row 4: p1, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p3, c4f, p4, c4b, p3, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p1
Row 5: k1, p2, (k4, p4) 2 times, k4, p2, k1
Row 6: p1, k2, p3, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 form cn, p3, k2, p1
Row 7: k1, (p2, k3) 2 times, p4, (k3, p2) 2 times, k1
Row 8: p1, (k2, p3) 2 times, c4b, (p3, k2) 2 times, p1
Row 9: Same as row 7
Row 10: p1, k2, p3, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from sn, p3, k2, p1
Row 11: Same as row 5
Row 12: p1, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, p3, c4f, p4, c4b, p3, sl 1 st onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p1
Row 13: Same as row 3
Row 14: p2, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p1, k2 from cn, (sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p2 from cn, sl 2 sts onto cn and hold at front, p2, k2 from cn) 2 times, sl 1 sts onto cn and hold at back, k2, p1 from cn, p2
Row 15: k3, (p4, k4) 2 times, p4, k3
Row 16: p3, (c4b, p4) 2 times, c4b, p3

A Single Manly Tear

Fecthing: Done. No photos, save some on a friends computer, will try to acquire. They were immensely well received and are now in Vancouver before a 6:30 flight to Australia tomorrow, layover in Fiji (possibly Hawaii as well), etc... Man, those gloves will have travelled farther than I have come their touchdown on Sunday... Also, I lied, not a single manly tear but rather some near-blubbering. A very dear friend of mine (Ms. L.) of the last five years is moving back down under, and I'm taking it much harder than I initially anicipated.

Ok, enough sap. *sniffle*

Secret project Orange And Black: Er, now back on the needles following the Fetching-induced hiatus. Progress is being made. Colourwork skills are advancing (can now manipulate both colours with one hand simultaneously. Ace.), but I have a hunch I botched something a few rows back, might scrap the design, make them into gloves. Yes, this would be version 3.0 of this project.

Secret project Green and... More Green: In the design process. Yes, design. All I'm saying for now is two-toned green cables. Need to review/recheck colourwork gauge for textured knitting, as I am not knitting for a baby... Also, if anyone knows any excellent glove patterns (ladies sized) in the 26-32 stitches per 10cm/4" range, I would appreciate it greatly. Oh man, do I love cables.

Not so secret project Beowulf: Due to interest on the Lime & Violet messageboards (you are all a bunch of liars and flatterers I'm convinced) I will be writing up my Beowulf pattern for use! Ideally I will include directions for modification of any "simple" cable design into a themed scarf/other project maybe. I said I would do it today, but as mentioned in the fetching announcement, I am beat. And I have a Russian test tomorrow. And Hebrew lessons tonight. Ahh! Any info on legality pertaining to knitting designs (I'm slightly concerned about copywright as I pulled the main cable design from a sitch dictionary, although I have seen it in multiple ones, and various projects across the web and such. I just do not want to mess that up) would be so very much appreciated!

Photos: No, no and no. I'm tired, it's been raining for a few days, and I don't want to jinx the secret projects (though they seem to do that fine all on their own).

Podcast: Am toying with it. Not too seriously so far, but I like the idea, I'm very much into spoken word and such lately. We shall see.

A side note: I'm getting sick I think. Shoot.

As always: I love feedback, opinions and commentary, have at me!

Knit, Knit, Knitting away.

So I was up on campus, as I tend to do be during the day, and I had hunkered down into a corner bench, bundled in my scarf to keep out the biting wind. There were a few other people scattered around, most listening to music or eating or talking casually amongst themselves. And I was knitting. Clickity clacking with my metal needles. Nobody seemed to mind, I really wasn't very intrusive.

Then a young lady (I presume another student) meanders into the little ring of benches, talking quite loudly on her cellphone: "So, he was like totally into me? And I was all, we should get together? And he was, oh, so, totally?" I'm sure you know the type. Now I didn't mind this, everything in the vicinity gave everyone else the same "just ignore her, she'll leave on her own" grin, and I keep knit, knit, knitting away.

But then, she turns to me, and I shudder, anticipating the "Oh, like, that looks SO totally complicated, I've always loved knitted things? And like..." As I said, you probably know the type. But no, something much more surprising comes out of her mouth: "Ummmmm, excuse me? You are like, being SO totally rude? I am trying to have a conversation here?" I give her my patented skeptical over-the-glasses-query look. No effect. "Ummmm, excuse me? Did you like, not hear me?" Oh yes, yes I heard her, and all about her, and how she like 'totally wanted to jump his bone?' (My apologies for the indecency, but my life is not censored, neither is my blog). And you know what, everyone else in the ring heard her, and, at this point, most of them were paying attention to our interaction. I look up, flash a grin, then keep on knit, knit, knitting away.

"Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm, exCUSE mE? Did you like, not hear me? I am trying to talk to someone?" Funny, I thought she was doing, well, I have no idea what. "Can you like, just stop that, or like, ummm, go away or something dude?" This time, I give the over-the-glasses-query look, followed by a knowing grin. And I speed up my knitting, which, for me at least, results in noticeably louder clickity clacking, and I keep on knit, knit, knitting away.

"Like, oh-em-gee, some people are so rude? I can't believe this guy? Like, ugh?" ANd she hustles off on her merry way in quite a tizzy. I once again reduce my knitting to a comfortable pace, smile at everyone in the ring, everyone grins at everyone else, and I keep on knit, knit, knitting away.

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Photos in a day or two, I have a big Latin test and a large Art Education assignment due tomorrow, as well as a farewell party for a very dear friend.
I'll just include a link to a post I made on the Lime & Violet message boards about another rant of mine, something that happened to me the other day, which put me in a much fouler mood that my exchange with the young lady this afternoon.
http://limenviolet.com/mb/viewtopic.php?t=944
Happy Hallowe'en.

Hahahahahaha....

I have your time, and now you will never get it back!

Ahem, moving on.

So I finished one half of something with that red wool. That something is another pair of Fetching (no photos right now). They are for a dear friend of mine who is moving back to Australia. On the 3rd. Her farewell bash is the 1st.

Anyway. I finished one of the "gloves", and was elated, wow, only three days! But something felt amiss... I sat and stared at it for, quite literally, fifteen minutes. Did I miss a cable? No. Laddering? Nope. Poor finishing? Yes.... I mean, no, I just don't like the thumb directions. Oh. There we go. I only have ONE. I sh-kn-it you not, I spent fifTEEN minutes figuring this out. There is a reason I do not take maths courses. I'ma go knit, I mean, write my Psychology paper. I mean knit. Yea, knit.