Nothing like a classic stitch pattern combined with a glorious yarn to fully rejuvenate the mojo!
On my birthday a little over a month ago, N gifted me with this special skein of yarn:
Schaefer Helene in the colorway Margo Jones, 218 yards of an incredible 50/50 merino-silk blend with a plump single-ply construction.
I knew right away I would make a scarf. A luxury to warm the neck and keep the gift close to my heart. I fretted about stitch patterns. I knew something simple, refined, would be the way to go. The yarn itself had so much going on.
With fall finally arrived in SoCal, such as it is, I felt immensely drawn to this skein of yarn, waiting patiently with it’s firey fall colors after being wound into a cake. Just waiting. Thursday night I began to pore over my handful of stitch pattern books. I tried a few things, including the herringbone stitch from Summer Breeze. But nothing was quite right.
I finally settled on the simplest of the simple, almost. Double seed stitch. It shows the subtle colorations to best advantage, it provides texture, it is flat, and it is reversible.
This scarf makes me think of molten lava, hence the name, Molten!
Molten
Schaefer Helene, 1 skein
US9 needles (a size larger than called for to ensure a nice drape)
Size – 3.5 inches by about 6 feet
CO 20 sts (any even number)
Rows 1 and 2 – k1, p1 across
Rows 3 and 4 – p1, k1 across
Repeat these 4 rows until desired length, bind off in pattern. Steam or block as desired.
I was so enamored of this I finished it in about 2.5 days! The insane wonderfulness of the yarn kept the basic stitch interesting. Some close-ups? Sure!
Other than this, I’ve been reorganizing my queue for the fall, trying to pair stash yarns, and swatching a few. I’ve got my shorter list of holiday knits for this year mostly worked out and some yarns selected. I actually only have a few true WIPs at the moment, so I will casting on a handful of new projects soon! It’s so great to be excited about all this again.
Very nice pairing of yarn to stitch pattern. I hear you on the lack of knitting mojo… Sometimes it takes a quickie and some stash diving to get you back in the right frame of mind.
I like you with the bangs and new-found hair color by the way!
Stunning!
That is so so so beautiful. Great stitch choice for that yarn! I love schaefer yarns – they are high quality and have fantastic colorways. It’s a winner 🙂
Oh, yes! perfect combination — that’s a beautiful scarf.
Gorgeous. The simple stitch really lets the yarn do its magic.
Looks great Jillian!
wow. that really shows off that stitch pattern! I love reversible scarves….can’t wait to see how many and what you’ve cast on next!
Very stunning! I love the colors (and the vinegar smell) of Scheaffer yarns.
Quite possibly my favorite stitch of all time. It looks gorgeous in almost anything–and particularly in those colors. (they’re my favorites. I’m horribly biased.)
Beautiful scarf! I really really love it. The colors are amazing and the double moss stitch is perfect. Glad the mojo is back!
What a gorgeous colorway – It really does look like lava. great stitch pattern.
Damn, I sometimes forget that simple stitch patterns can be the most striking! Your scarf looks wonderful 🙂
So pretty! And how funny- I’m knitting something right now, a large portion of which was in double seed stitch. 🙂 Glad to hear you’re casting on again!
What a perfect gift! The shades are my favorites. I love it–a LOT!! The colors will be great on you!
very lovely!
Gorgeous! I love a luscious yarn with a simple stitch pattern too!
Gorgeous scarf. I find the simplest knits are often the most satisfying.
Your fab scarf inspired me to start a scarf with some Zara yarn i bought last year that I loved it multi coloured and so I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it when I bought it… I just had to have it. Anyways I got it out… and got out my BSA rectangular shawl pattern and becasue I only have three skeins of it… I decided to make it a scarf size instead…. it’s moving along and am very happy with it. Thanks for the inspiration.
So glad you are back on the knitting game again!! Nothing like a simple scarf to rejuvenate, and that one is so pretty and autumnal. Can’t wait to see what else you’ve got planned!
Nothing like a beautiful yarn to get your knit happy back. Love the fall color and the finshed look.
Glad to hear your knitting mojo has returned. Molten is autumnal and lovely in its simplicity. Rev your engines – fall knitting in 5,4,3,2,1, go!
Gorgeous! I love the colors. It looks so soft and comfy.
What a great scarf! The double moss looks fabulous on it.
Re older posts – I realised a while ago that anything that involves babydoll shaping and ends around the waist (eg Juliette) is not going to cut it with me cos it makes me look pregnant, or wanting to be pregnant…
Love the bangs and the hair colour. I always have a fringe (as we call it, not bangs) cos otherwise I look like a horse!
Oh, yum — that Helene is totally luscious. And this is just a perfect, simple scarf. Love it.
Also, I’m going to be at UCLA for a conference this weekend! Wanna meet up on Sunday?
Lovely!! I’m totally into these colors right now 🙂
Very Very Pretty! The stitch pattern complements the colorway perfectly.
Oh this is so pretty!!