Last spring some friends turned me on to the new book “Sequence Knitting” (subtitled “Simple Methods for Creating Complex Reversible Fabrics”) by Cecilia Campochiaro. This is more of a methods and ideas book than a pattern book, although there are directions for some of the sample projects. It is also self-published and beautifully done – she created all the charts and I believe did all the photography herself. The section at the end on working with variegated yarns, dyeing methods to get successful variegated yarns, and understanding color mixing and contrast, is excellent.
I started two projects back in June. The first was a 2-color parallelogram similar to her Robson scarf but using a different sequence. I have been stalled at about the halfway point for months and finally decided I just wasn’t happy with the edge where the colors are carried up, and that I probably wouldn’t wear it much. So I ripped it out yesterday – so freeing!
The other project was a cowl using the Spiral method (knit in the round). I chose the sequence (K4,P4,K2,P2) on a multiple of 12 plus 2. This means the sequence pattern shifts by 2 stitches on every round, thus forming the spiral. This particular sequence and stitch count yields a row repeat of 6. Since I wanted to use 2 colors, I did knit an in-the-round test swatch to see how often I wanted to change colors within the 6-row repeat. I wound up changing colors every 3 rounds.
Here it is laid out flat:
and as worn:
I used 80% merino/20% silk fingering weight yarn dyed by Heidi Dascher at The Artful Ewe in Port Gamble, WA (she calls this yarn “Clackamas”). 302 sts CO on a US 5 needle.
I am so happy with this I am starting another one. I also find cowls more easily wearable than knitted scarves that need to be draped or tied somehow to stay on. There are variations of the same sequence with a shift of 1,2,3 or 4 stitches and it is AMAZING how different the fabrics look. This time I am going to do the same sequence on a multiple of 12 + 1. Stay tuned!
Twisp of Fate 
Leave a Reply