Checks on Loomed Scarves What to Do

Someone emailed me asking how to do a checked scarf. I had to think a bit on how the best way to do this would be, and came out that you could do it in the round the easiest but it could be done flat. The following is the email I returned to the person who asked the question:

The problem with doing checks for scarves comes in when you want to do those scarves flat.

If you noticed on the checkered hats there are long strands across the inside of the hat. The same thing will happen with scarves. So the stranding looks terrible on a scarf.

You could do the scarf flat and then do another piece or a cloth to back it with to hide the strands, but the best way would be to do a tube scarf in checks.

When you do a tube those strands would be on the inside of the scarf and after the scarf is done you would simply sew the ends to each other to prevent exposure to the inside, or do a fringe.

To do a scarf flat in checks with out strands would mean using multiple skeins of yarns or bobbins.

For each section of color change you would need another bobbin to work that section.

For example with two colors of yarn on a loom that has 24 pegs, using four pegs per color, you would need either three skeins or bobbins or cakes of color A and then three of B.

You would knit four pegs in color 1A (first bobbin/skein), then you would need to drop 1A and pick up 1B knit four drop, pick up 2A knit four drop, Pick up 2B knit four drop, Pick up 3A knit four drop, Pick up 3B knit the last four drop.

You see what is happening. You have multiple strands to work with so that you do not have the stranded section across the back.

You do have to take care when switching colors as there is a way to pick up the next color so there is no gaping at the color changes sections. They have to twist around each other to join the color change points.

Add on: Here is a case of where those permanent rods for bobbin use would come in really handy.