Flamenco, like ChaCha, also looks great when paired with another yarn:

These two scarves are from Trendsetter and

Barry Klein, and I’m sure you recognize his style.

I also thought of trying a diagonal type scarf, but I get tired of beginning and ending the ruffles, so here’s my solution, partially done:

You can see that I’m taking the ruffles up first one side and then up the other side after the next horizontal ruffles.  In order to get it to look right to my eye, the side ruffles are doubled up.

This scarf is done with one ball of Flamenco and one ball of Vigna, both in the “Watercolor” colorway.  Whenever you are working with the Flamenco horizontal sections, work straight.   When using the Vigna, you will be knitting every row (garter stitch) in a diagonal block; that is, every other row increase on one end of the row and decrease on the other.

You begin with 15 stitches  of Flamenco, being sure to hem the tail as mentioned earlier.  Work at least 6 rows straight (3 on each side), personally I like 4.

Drop the Flamenco and pick up the Vigna or whatever yarn you’re using.  K 1 row, turn.  K1, Make 1, k across to last two st.  Insert needle into last 2 stitches as if to K2tog, then hang 2 mesh holes of Flamenco on the needle and complete the stitch through all 4 loops.  This has the combined effect of placing a little ruffle on the edge and carrying the Flamenco up the side.  Repeat these 2 rows 14 times for a total of 15 ridges.

Now you’re ready to drop the Vigna and pick up the Flamenco again.  While working the Flamenco, every other row, you need to bring the Vigna up the side in whatever method you like (I like to work 1 st, bring the ball over the top and between the needles so that the Vigna yarn is just laying there, not worked into a stitch).  If you forget to bring it up, you’ll find it stuck under the ruffles when you want to change back!

Work 6 or 8 rows of Flamenco, depending on how many tiers of ruffles you want (3 or 4).  On the next row, you’ll take both yarns across the piece, so insert as if to knit, add Flamenco mesh square to needle, yo with Vigna and pull through.  Continue this across the row.

You’ve now completed the bottom ruffle, one segment of diagonal in the alternate yarn, and the second ruffle.   Continue in this way, taking the yarns across and bringing the ruffles up one side and then the other.  I stopped when I ran out of Vigna.

Here’s the finished scarf:

There was plenty of Flamenco left for a ruffle section at the end.

It’s really pretty, plus no matter how you tie it or wear it, there

are ruffles everywhere.

The finished scarf at left is 54 inches long.  For less than $30, this

makes a huge fashion statement!

If the instructions are unclear to you, just post your question

here, or email me at laurel@handknitting.com.

Next post:  some great color combos for this scarf from the store.

For the mulberry scarf pictured in the last post, I wanted a little more variation in the thickness and ruffles.  I worked with 12 stitches, and “cast on” as described in the last post. After working 3 rows straight through every mesh hole, I changed the pattern just a bit to add more fullness.  Next two rows, work every other mesh hole, thus adding more flounces.  Third row, switch back to every hole.

Another effect that I like about this is that it stretches a bit more lengthwise, so the ruffles don’t overlap as closely.  Just continue on with 2 rows every other mesh hole, 1 row every mesh hole.  Very nice.

When you get near the end of your ball, plan for your bind off with the triangle fold end the way you started.  Now if you think about it, you’ll bind off just as usual, but what to do with that last stitch??  Oops!  There’s no tail to pull through.   What I finally did was just to tack it securely to the previous row with a needle & thread.

Next post, working with Flamenco and a second yarn….