Easy Flame Lace (and Things You Don't Want to Know About a Guy in a Blue Corvette)

I feel sorta cheap in a way. Not in the sense you might think, because honestly, there was only one time that I got stuck paying for a date (at a Bob's Big Boy; he "forgot" his wallet), but in the sense that scarves, as wonderful as they are, that many are really just stitch patterns with simple borders so the scarf doesn't roll, and I'm offering you one of these patterns. (Hopefully, one that will NOT roll.)

Now that I think about it, out of the handful of scarves I have knit, at least a few of them have rolled.  I mean, they rolled so bad that the only thing I can compare their rolling to is that random guy sporting a mullet who pulls up to the gas station in his 80's-somethin' sparkly blue Corvette (and 19-year old daughter in tow texting on her phone) all hooked up to his BlueTooth Head Set while blasting "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood louder than you can imagine, and perhaps jumping into a pile of buffalo wings with extra dipping sauce, and then leaping up, doing the twist and winking at you just like he knew you would wink back. Oy oy oy oy. (Or worse, he catches your eye and tells you how he was rolling last time he watched Deuce Bigalow.)

Anyway. Scarves: As far as I'm concerned, never listen to the knitter folk who promise their pattern won't roll after blocking; most of them do, unless they have plenty of garter stitch or a steam roller and at the ready. They roll.

You guys said you wanted the pattern, so here's the Beta version. Once I finish my own sample, I'll update the "Official" pattern with all the facts and fancy pictures. Meantime, if you happen to have some lace weight merino and want to work a simple lace pattern, here it is.

Enjoy. (And note that the bottom portion of the scarf pictured has been lightly blocked. The rest of it, not.)

Easy Flame Lace Scarf

Finished Length: Don’t know yet!

Gauge: Approximately 7 stitches = 1 inch in Flickering Flame Stitch Pattern. It isn’t that crucial to obtain gauge, but you will want your stitches to lay close together and not be too loose.

Materials: Approximately 1 hank of Malabrigo Laceweight (100% Meino Wool / 470 yards) or 1 hank of Lanas Puras Lace weight (it comes in affordable 900-yard hanks—see OnePlanetYarnandFiber.com)

Yarn Used and Pictured Here: Malabrigo Lace Weight in Holly Hock Color 148

Needles: US Size 4 (3.5mm) circular or straight

Notions
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Note, the picture you see here is of the unfinished/unblocked scarf. I’ll complete it soon, so stay tuned and in the meantime, start one of your own!

Flickering Flames Stitch Pattern
Multiple of 10 sts +1
Row 1 (RS): K1, *yo, k3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 2: Purl
Repeat the last 2 rows 3 times more (or a total of four times).
Row 9: K2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, *sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3; rep from * to last 2 sts, sl 1, k1, psso.
Row 10: Purl
Repeat the last 2 rows 3 times more (or a total of four times).

Repeat these 16 rows.

The Pattern

This scarf is worked with a five-stitch edge of garter stitch on each side so it doesn’t roll.

CO 51 stitches.

Knit 4 rows to form garter stitch bottom edge.

Begin Lace Pattern: Knit 5 sts, pm, work Row 1 of Flickering Flames Stitch Pattern to last 5 sts, pm, knit to end.

Next Row: Knit 5 stitches, sm, work next row of Flickering Flames Stitch Pattern, sm, knit to end.

Continue working Flickering Flames Stitch Pattern with first and last 5 stitches in garter stitch (knit each row) until you run out of yarn or your scarf is as long as you want it to be. End with three garter stitch rows (knit each row) then, BO.

Weave in ends.

Note: This pattern is the Beta version! Once I complete my sample, I’ll spruce it up with photos and any corrections, although I think this is pretty accurate.

ETA: I was tagged by my pal over at Sknitty.com as a Rockin' Grrl Blogger. For some reason, I couldn't upload the button to my site here, but I wanted to say thanks! Pop over to her blog and say hi to Jillian. She just completed a Chikami, and it looks great!

Comments

[BoomBoom]

I've been enjoying your blog for quite sometime now. Just thought I'd post a comment and let you know I'm out here in cyberspace enjoying my view from here. Lots of love, Lori

[Tammy]

It's nice to see you enjoying some pleasure knitting. The scarf is lovely.

[Sally Villarreal]

I know what you mean about little garter stitch edges not doing a whole heck of a lot to prevent rolling. I think the yarn you use has a lot to do with how it blocks.

[michele]

Thanks for sharing! That malabrigo is stunning....I feel the same way about scarves rolling and such. Have a great week.

[becky]

Thanks Wendy-la! After taking in the corvette guy, I relax in knowing that there are a few good reasons not to always be jealous of the California lifestyle. : )

[DK]

Thanks for the great pattern. I'm thinking "nice Christmas gifts". DK

[sara l]

yippee
thank you very much, you're a doll!
:)
S

[Debbie]

The mullet guy sounds dreadful!

Um, that statue looks like it is eating your scarf.

[susan]

Thanks Wendy. This will go on the needles as soon as I complete my dishrag for dishrag tag!

[Christy]

Beautiful!

What do 'pm' and 'sm' stand for?

Thanks!
Christy

[WiscJennyAnn]

Fab! I need more lace in my life! Oh, and re: "Random guy sporting a mullet ... Frankie... Deuce Bigalow" etc, HAHAA! You're KILLING me here!

[Kathy]

Christy-
"pm" is place marker and "sm" is slip marker. Hope that helps!

[villalena]

wow! i am embarrassed to say that i have never blocked anything i have knitted and that photo really demonstrates the difference it makes! fascinating.

[Wendy]

Once I complete my scarf, I will make the instructions into a PDF and it will have abbreviations and terms.

[Carol]

Very nice pattern! Thank you for sharing!

[Lisa]

As busy as you have been and you are still coming up with freebies for us - we are so spoiled! Thank you!

[Jodee]

Just happened to have some Malabrigo on hand and cast on right away - loving the pattern
thanks!

[Cognitive Crafter]

Your scarf is pretty! I see it in my future...

I had a hard time copying the Rockin' Grrl Blogger tag, too. I had to right click on it, save it as a jpeg, and insert it as a pic.

[Kaity]

Ooh that is so pretty, I'm going to have to bookmark this.

We have to hang out soon, since you missed our excursion with Tammy!

[marycatharine]

Every since you first posted on your scarf I've been waiting. It is so pretty without being intimidating. I have some real lace issues so maybe this will ease me in.

[Wendy]

MaryCatherine, it'll be pretty easy. There are only two rows to "memorize"!

[Cathy]

Mullets, Frankie goes to Hollywood, the 80s . . . what a great decade. I'm not sure I'd want to do all that over!!!

[empress]

Thank you for taking the time to post this! I think I'll make one in red :)

[Willa Jean]

Eeeeuuuwwww. Guy in mullet. What makes you think she was his daughter?
I think you generally need to add a lace border to get the thing to stay flat.
OTOH, did you see that gorgeous green scarf that Miranda was wearing at the end of Sex in the City? It was probably made with $600 worth of bulky cashmere, but still....It was straight stockinette, curled from both sides toward the middle, and worn curled sides out, like two tubes. I've since seen other versions of the same thing on other shows with high-end wardrobes. Are you and the lace starting to have fun?

[Linda]

My scarf is coming out very 'puckery'. But I really like it that way. BUT... I'm just wondering what I'm doing that its doing that.