Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Cashmere Cuff [PATTERN]


Cashmere Cuff by Finny
Yarn: 1/3 skein Lana Grossa Pashmina
Needles: 1 #5 10" Circular, Tapestry needle
Notions: 3 buttons

Clearly, I've been taking issue with the imperfection of scarves lately. Specifically, with their inability to properly snug my neck and fend off wind and cold.

Two things that immediately disappear the moment I go to model the inventions I've designed to ward them off.

Perhaps my inventing strength is too powerful! Perhaps just the sight of one of my neck warming type creations and the wind and cold pack up shop and run off, screaming, Oh no! That bitch has been knitting again! I won't be made a fool of! Peace out!

Or perhaps I live in Northern California where it can be 70 degrees one day right after being 30 degrees a few days before. Yes, that's probably it. Even though - boo! - I want to have super hero powers. Also, it's nice to think that the weather has the ability to reason.

Anyway, I knit a new thing to ward the evil chilliness off the necks of people who, like me, don't find satisfaction in a scarf that's needlessly long and dangly when all it really needs to be is warm and snug. And also stylish and soft with wooden buttons and a new (to me) stitch pattern. And most definitely NOT WOOL. Because, you know, me + wool = BLECH.

And so enters the Cashmere Cuff.

I have found a new use for the weeds in our yard: Photo props.

This cuff for the neck was created to serve multiple purposes, the most prominent of which being the soft cozy protecting of your neck parts, the least prominent of which being the addition of texture to one's otherwise dimensionless outfit.

Then there's the unique purpose that this one will serve as it ships off to a SF-dwelling friend as a birthday gift. Because you know it's all cold and foggy in The City and we need multipurpose items like this for city living.

And if you're this friend of mine, you also want accessorizing options. Which explains why there are three buttons instead of, say, one or zero. I thought three buttons were necessary to improve the accessorizing options. Like, for example, you could undo one or two of the buttons so that it would slouch down on one's neck for added, um, drama or somethinglikethat.

I'll let her figure out the WHY in the buttons, as she's very style-y and fashion-y and what not so will know better than I.

It became 70 degrees as soon as I walked outside.

Not necessary, you say? Pffft - just try not to unbutton one of those buttons for effect. Impossible. It's way too cute.

Anyway, you can decide which way you want to go with that. I won't pressure you anymore.

For now, here's the pattern. Also on Ravelry, in case you want to do something RAD like queue it. Just saying! Whatever.

This stitch is called the Broken 2x2 Rib, in case you are curious what, specifically, I'm ripping off here.

Finny's Cashmere Cuff
Yarn: 1/3 skein Lana Grossa Pashmina
Needles: 1 #5 10" Circular, Tapestry needle
Notions: 3 buttons

Cast on 32 stitches (or in a mulitple 4 stitches to fit the length of your neck.)

Row 1 (RS): *K2, p2; rep from* to end
Rows 2-6: Rep row 1
Rows 7-12: *P2, k2; rep from * to end
Rep rows 1-12 until piece wraps snugly (and comfortably) around your neck with about 1" overlap.

Knit buttonholes:
Starting with the next K2,p2 section (Row 1), follow the pattern for 2 rows
Row 3 (RS):*K2, p2, k1, yo, k1,p2, k2, p2, k1, yo, k1, p2, k2, k1, yo, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2
Row 4-6: follow the pattern
Row 7-12: *P2, k2; rep from * to end

Cast off. Weave in ends.

Attach buttons:
Place buttonhole end over other end to fit snugly around your neck when buttoned. Use your tapestry needle to poke through buttonhole and mark spot to sew the button on the other side. Using cuff yarn, sew on three buttons to fit through buttonholes when worn.

You're done!

10 comments:

  1. Too cute! I just finished a neck warmer myself for the exact same reasons. Scarfs are too bulky and don't do a good job of keeping out the cold wind.

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  2. Yeah . . . all that knitting stuff may as well be Swahili for all the comprehension I manage.

    However, I will say this. It is going to be zero degrees here soon. ZERO. Outside. Best not to imagine what the temperature may be inside my stupid house. If you were here, you would need this cozy thing. And also a full-on snowsuit, but whatever. So, be very, very thankful you live where you live.

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  3. I have some of this *very* yarn leftover from a pair of gloves I made for Christmas, so clearly I must knit this.

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  4. It looks great!! and I love the broken rib stitch... very nice.

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  5. Very nice Finny. And I like how your "weeds" (which look more like flowers to me) are like faux snow. Excellent job!

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  6. That's great, Finny. GREAT. You keep giving me reasons to want to start knitting. Darn you.

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  7. Thanks for using your superpowers for good. I'm loving the 70 degree weather. Though I have to admit, a nice rainstorm would be a good thing.

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  8. What an awesome project and I love the yarn choice. Thanks so much for sharing your pattern; I'm going to give it a try as it actually gets cold here in Tucson now and then. My crafting endeavors have not been a go lately as I just haven't felt like it, but your project and my bandage knitting charity project are things I really want to do. So, off to the store I go. Thanks!

    P.S. I can't tell if my comment went through, so I'm trying again and apologize if it duplicates iteself.

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  9. Just wanted to pop back over to this post and tell you I did indeed make the cashmere cuff. I posted about it on my blog today. Thank you again for the lovely pattern; it is a delightful knitting project.

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  10. Wow! I'm very flattered that Ms. Junie would try one of *my* patterns. And it came out beautifully - your stitching is perfect!

    I may try your eBay source for yarn. While that Pashmina is my favorite, it's a little pricey, and I've almost worked through my stash of it.

    Thanks for the resource!

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[2013 update: You can't comment as an anonymous person anymore. Too many douchebags were leaving bullshit SPAM comments and my inbox was getting flooded, but if you're here to comment in a real way like a real person, go to it.]

Look at you commenting, that's fun.

So, here's the thing with commenting, unless you have an email address associated with your own profile, your comment will still post, but I won't have an email address with which to reply to you personally.

Sucks, right?

Anyway, to remedy this, I usually come back to my posts and post replies in the comment field with you.

But, if you ever want to email me directly to talk about pumpkins or shoes or what it's like to spend a good part of your day Swiffering - shoot me an email to finnyknitsATgmailDOTcom.

Cheers.