Spots

Before we went away on honeymoon I knitted a scarf. (I realise that was 4 months ago, but I've only just gotten round to writing about it.)  It's not that remarkable, I'm sure most people who are learning to knit have made a scarf at some point.  The idea of my scarf was to learn how to add a different coloured wool to a project.  This involved a little bit of 'design' work and some stitch markers.

Out came the handy sketch pad and I started by working out the stitches I would need to make a spot.  A little bit of research was needed here, and I finally came up with the design below.

At this point I also purchased myself some stitch markers from Crafty Cat Knitty Bits to help me keep my spots in the correct place throughout.  (I used them to mark the first and last stitch of each spot for the first row - so 3 stitches apart.)

If you want to have a go yourself, just follow the pattern below.  My scarf was quite thin so you might want to double the pattern or make it even bigger so you can make it into a snood - then you won't have to worry about tidying up the back.

Cast on 33 stitches, then stocking stitch 4 rows starting with a knit row.
On the fifth row knit 5 stitches then swap colour.  Knit 3 stitches in your new colour then swap back to the main colour.  Knit 17 stitches and swap again for 3 stitches.  Finish the row with 5 stitches in the main colour.
On the next row purl 4 stitches then swap colour.  Purl 5 stitches in your new colour then swap back to the main colour.  Purl 15 stitches and swap again for 5 stitches.  Finish the row with 4 stitches in the main colour.
Repeat the last row as a knit row and again as a purl row.
Then repeat the fifth row.
Stocking stitch 3 rows in the main colour.
Now knit 15 stitches in the main colour.  Swap colour and knit 3 stitches.  Swap back to the main colour and finish the row.
Next row purl 14 stitches and swap colour.  Purl 5 stitches then swap back to the main colour and finish the row.
Repeat the last row as a knit row and again as a purl row.
Then repeat the first row of this spot - knit 15 stitches ...
Stocking stitch 3 rows in the main colour and continue until it reaches the desired length.

Good luck and happy knitting.