Crochet With Knitting

Crocheted Sleeves w/ Knitted Cuffs

I'm in the process of crocheting a top-down cardigan with black Bernat Lana wool. I'm done with the body of the sweater and working on the finishing touches. I crocheted a cable up the front of the cardigan, near the opening. I just LOVE cables! HOWEVER, I really do think that knitted cables look better than crocheted cables. So, for the cuffs and collar of this sweater I've decided to knit cables. I'm using the basic pattern from the Twisted Sisters' Boyfriend Scarf from a few years ago, which makes a reversible, two-sided cable. If I turn the cuffs up on the sweater, the cable will still be visible...same thing for the collar.

Knitted Reversible Cable Strip

This type of cable is bordered by garter stitch. Then, the cable is knit in a 1 x 1 rib, thereby making it reversible. Brilliant! I've finished the cuffs and sewed them to the sleeves. I like the look sooooo much, that I'm thinking of knitting new borders for the cardigan opening in the same pattern and just stitching them to the existing opening.

I was cruising the blogs the other day and came across a knitter/crocheter who knits cables in long strips and then joins them with crochet. Of course, I can't find the post again, but the image is burned in my brain of a green chunky knit cable with double crochet stitches running up one side as the beginning of a sweater. LOVE this idea, because then the crochet stitches are vertical instead of horizontal, giving the sweater a slimmer look!

Cardigan in Process w/ Crocheted Cable Border

Red Scarf Progress

I'm finished with one of my Red Scarf Project donations. I knitted it on our recent trip to and from Taos, New Mexico. It's a simple mistake rib pattern, size 10 needles, Lana Grossa Bingo Mouline Yarn.

I've abandoned my previous reversible cable red scarf. I just didn't like how it was turning out. Instead, I'm whipping up a quick crocheted scarf with Berroco Sox in a multi, red, orange, burgundy and brown colorway. I really like how this looks. I might make a few of these in different colors for holiday gifts.

The deadline to turn in your red scarves is December 15th. Scroll down for pattern ideas here. Have you finished your scarf yet?

Commendable Cause

My friend, Gale, told me about this worthy cause. This year I'm prepared to contribute! It's called The Red Scarf Project.

From the Orphan Foundation of America site: In 2005, OFA launched a unique initiative to warm the hearts (and necks) of college-bound foster youth. We began taking donations of handmade red scarves to put into our Valentine's Day Care Packages. Here are the particulars:

Scarf Size: Approximately 60" long and 5" to 8" wide. Scarves should be long enough to be wrapped around the neck, with tails long enough to be tied in the front.
Style: Think unisex collegiate. Ask yourself if your son, brother, and/or husband would enjoy receiving the scarf. Fringes are optional. Your scarf should drape and tie easily.
Yarn: Preferably DK, double fingering-weight, worsted weight, or light bully yarns. No laceweight, super-chunky, or mohair yarns as there are many people who find mohair too itchy. The yarn should be soft.
Color: Red! However, this could mean burgundy, cherry, russet, red stripes with other colors, or multicolor hues including red. Other unisex colors, including black, navy, teal, olive or gold are also welcome.
Finished and tagged: Yarn ends should be securely sewn in. For a personal touch, attach a tag saying "Handmade for You" with your first name, city, and group affiliation, if any. Donors have also included washing instructions, messages of encouragement, gift cards, burger bucks, books of stamps, etc.

Deadline is December 15, 2009. Check out the site for pattern ideas. My scarf is a modified version of this one. Using size 10 needles, I cast on 28 stitches using Lana Grossa Bingo. Garter stitch first 10 stitches, rib (K1, P1) next 8 stitches, garter stitch remaining 10 stitches. I continued this for about 7 rows, then cabled (in ribbing) the center 8 stitches. By ribbing the cable, it is reversible, so the scarf looks good on both sides. Brilliant!

Come on! I know you've got some red, burgundy or russet yarn in your stash. Whip out a few of these scarves and send them to The Orphan Foundation of America, The Red Scarf Project, 21351 Gentry Drive, Sterling, VA 20166. Thank you!