Time Warp

It's just a jump to the left
And then a step to the right
With your hands on your hips
You bring your knees in tight
But it's the pelvic thrust
that really drives you insane,
Let's do the Time Warp again!

- Rocky Horror Picture Show

Again I must apologize for being an indifferent blogger. I have also been a sporadic plurker and a casual Ravelry ignorer - embarrassed look - sheesh!

But it is really not my fault, you see...

I have been ambushed by a time warp.

I returned from North Carolina at the end of September, rested, ready to begin my fall knitting projects, eager to get Argonath out, and with an additional skein of yarn I had Unique Sheep dye for Lothlorien.

And I realized that, while Argonath only needs one repeat and the end panel test knit (piece of cake) Lothlorien was going to require knitting the entire kit & caboodle. Cuz just the kit without the caboodle wouldn't test all of the pattern. besides, who wants a kit without a caboodle. It just wouldn't be proper...

So I cast on for Lothlorien and along the way, she morphed from a stole to a shawl to her final form as a cape.

TA-DA!

I finished her up last week and she is into the test knitting process. Now I can time warp back to Argonath, which is the next release in the Fellowship Series. Argonath heads into testing this week, but, because of its repetitive nature, will be out in a couple weeks.

My test knitter for Galadriel's Mirror was also caught in a time warp, as work demands, home renovation, & illness set her back on her heels temporarily. But I remain hopeful, GM will see market by the end of the month.

Another thing adding to the time warp factor, is the fast approaching holidays with their attendant knitting. I try to get a few free patterns out in November as my gift to y'all. Things that aren't too complicated or knit in a looser gauge so you can make gifts.

Today, in the spirit of this post, because it jumps to the left, & looks like the warp of a woven object, I present...

TIME WARP

This little 4 st, 4 row slip stitch pattern has become my favorite discovery this autumn. The yarn is Berroco Jasper in Mohica Blue, a very affordable and widely available self striping single ply worsted. It gives a closely knit fabric that feels and looks woven. No need to block. No curling. No fancy stitches, beyond knitting, purling, & slipping. Just perfection.

I was going to make a cowl with 2 skeins, but loved it so much I went back and purchased 12 more skeins for a large wrap. I think it looks like the colors of the sea & shore (I call it my "Surf N Turf - giggle)

I am letting the yarn do all the work, not even bothering to match up the skeins' differing start places on the color run.

I'm making mine 24 inches wide by 72 inches long - that takes 14 skeins. If you want, you can easily make it shorter or narrower. Just think in multiples of 4 plus 2 for the stitch count and multiples of 4 for the rows.

The pattern results in the slipped stitches migrating to the left on a diagonal line. So easy & cool.

It's just a jump to the left...

So... here are the directions:

Using size 11 needles, cast on 126 st (or any multiple of 4 plus 2 st).

Row 1: *k2, slip 2 w/ yarn in front; rep from * to last 2 st, k2
Row 2: p1, *slip 2 w/ yarn in back, p2; rep from * to last st, p1
Row 3: *slip 2 w/ yarn in front, k2; rep from * to last 2 st, slip 2 w/ yarn in front
Row 4: p3, *slip 2 w/ yarn in back, p2; rep from * to last 3 st, slip 2 w/ yarn in back, p1

Repeat these four rows until desired length & bind off.

That's all there is to it - easy, huh?

If you want to make a cowl, simply join after cast on & work in the round. In this case, your 2nd & 4th rows will be:

Row 2: k3, slip 2 w/ yarn in front; rep from * to last st, k1
Row 4: k1, *slip 2 w/ yarn in front, k2; rep from * to last 3 st, k3

Make a scarf, make a cowl, make place mats or a table runner. Whatever you make, you won;t be disappointed.

Let's do the Time Warp again....

and again...

and again...

and again...

You know you want to...