Thursday 2 June 2011

Princess Royal's Scarf



This is easy and quick to knit. The pattern is from Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, March, 1856, page 264 (http://books.google.com/books?id=R8dMAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA264&dq=godey%27s+princess+royal%27s+scarf+1856&hl=en&ei=njzoTZHOBYbZgQfql7SoAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false)

The technique is similar to the Sortie Cap in that it is striped and stitches are dropped and pulled to create the lacy effect. I did a swatch to estimate the length based on the image in Godey's and one that would fit me, ultimately adding 64 to the original 130 stitches.

The original pattern did not specify the weight of the wool but did state "No. 15" sized needles (modern equivalent is 1.75mm/00US. After experimenting with the smaller needles and working my way up to a size which gave me that lacy effect in the image, I ended up with 4.50mm/7US needles - quite a difference. I also did not like the "tassels" in the original image, which looked like fuzzy plants of some sort and opted, instead, for the stranded style.

The wool is Knit Picks Palette in Blush and Silver, using one skein of each, with about a third of both left over.

7 comments:

Mette said...

It is so cute. I like the tassels very much.

LynnS said...

That actually looks quite contemporary! I'm contemplating casting on--no, no, I have that interminable tapestry bag I'm knitting! I shall go blind by the end of it, and never knit this at all...

One More Stitch said...

Thanks for compliment, Mette!

Lynn - lose not a minute and cast on!!!

This is so simple to knit, you could do it in your sleep. It is an excellent alternative to complicated knitting and you could stretch your eyes out in the distance to far shores and not even look at it as you work! It is also a terrific portable project as it takes up hardly any room at all, at all (especially on foldable circulars) so it can be squished into the smallest of knitting bags!

Kate/Massachusetts said...

This is really lovely! Is the Godey pattern available on the Web somewhere or do I have to buy a book? I would like to make this scarf! Thanks

Unraveling Sophia said...

I love this and would love to try my hand at it! The colours you chose were so perfectly vintage, too. :)

One More Stitch said...

Kate - The pattern for this scarf is available in Google books:
http://books.google.com/books?id=R8dMAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA203&dq=Godey%27s+march+1856&hl=en&ei=eDUFTpT_CNPegQfFja3EDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Godey%27s%20march%201856&f=false

Godey's March 1856 issue, page 264.

It is very easy and I have a second one on the needles already!

Thanks, Unraveling Sophia, for your kind words. Do try it - it is very easy to knit and then the dropped stitches turn it all into lace!

Kate/Massachusetts said...

Thanks for the link! I was into my lys today and bought some of her hand-dyed merino-cashmere fingering weight in burgundy and silver to make this scarf as a gift. Initially I thought I would use my handspun for it but I didn't have two colors all spun that would work. In time I will spin a dark and a light natural but I don't have enough time right now to spin and knit to deadline! Birthdays creep up sometimes! Thanks again!