DIY Network

It's a Bloomin' Holiday: Felted Wave Scarf and Poinsettia Brooch The perfect gift idea for every woman who loves chic accessories. From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-513

Maggie Pace, the owner of Pick Up Sticks!, demonstrates a wave scarf accented with a felted pink poinsettia brooch -- the perfect gift idea for every fashionista on your holiday gift list.

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Felted Wave Scarf and Poinsettia Brooch

Materials:

yarn: 300-400 yd. main color (MC), 50 yd. flower color (FC), several yd. contrasting color (CC)
straight knitting needles, US size 10
yarn needle

Note: Use a 100 percent worsted-weight wool or a wool blend that will felt. We used Cascade 220 for our sample project.

Tension : When knitting items to be felted, you do not need to pay strict attention to gauge, since you'll control the size of the finished product during gathering, tying and felting.

Note: Please note, these instructions are based on the height of the wearer and are not specific on purpose. The gathering stitch/tying technique changes the final length of the piece, so the finished size will depend on how you apply the gathering stitch and where you place your ties. The wearer should be present when you do the tying portion; if this is not possible, estimate based on your own measurements. The gathering stitch/tying portion isn't going to be precise, and that's okay because the scarf will still turn out. Remember that the fabric will shrink quite a bit, so when it's gathered and tied but not yet felted, the proportions will seem bizarre.

1. Co 30 stitches in MC. Work in St st until both ends of the scarf land in the middle of the calf when the scarf is wrapped around the wearer's neck. Depending on the height of the wearer, the scarf will be around 9', give or take a few inches. Bo and weave in all ends.

2. Place the scarf around the wearer's neck. Adjust the scarf until the ends are even. Place a marker slightly below the bustline in the center of the knitted material (widthwise) on both sides of the scarf.

Figure A

Gathering stitch along the center of the scarf:
Remove the scarf from the wearer. Thread a 10' strand of MC yarn onto a yarn needle and slide the needle to the center of the yarn; you now have a 5' doubled length. Find the center point of the scarf widthwise. Starting at this stitch and working lengthwise, place a continuous gathering stitch all the way up to the first marke (figure A); stop and tie off yarn securely. Make sure the yarn will not budge from this spot, even when agitated in a washing machine. You may want to sew down the yarn rather than simply tie it for an extra security measure. Remember: Your stitches will disappear when felted, so don't worry if they show up now.

With a new 10' length of yarn doubled over, repeat the process on the other side of the scarf.

Place the scarf back on the wearer. Find the MC tail from the gathering stitch at the end of the scarf. Push the scarf up so that the material gathers. Push the material all the way up to middle of the wearer's thigh. Stop and tie it off; sew it down to make sure the tie doesn't come out during felting. Repeat the process on the other side. Trim the tails and weave in the excess.

Figure B

Remove the scarf from the wearer and lay it on the ground. Choose a side to start. Push and pull the fabric until the gathers are distributed evenly between the bottom and bustline ties (figureB). Repeat the process on the other side.

The gathers will move somewhat during felting, but that movement will only add to the waving effect once the piece is felted.

Felting and drying:
Set washer to hot, on a heavy-duty cycle with low water. Add the scarf after the water begins agitating. When you check the scarf's progress, turn off the washer, reach your hand into the basin and pull a small section out of the water. Have the stitches disappeared? Is the fabric noticeably stiff to the touch? Has the gathering string completely melded into the fabric so it is no longer possible to identify it? Does it look like the picture at the top of this pattern? If so, your scarf is done. If you are unsure, it probably isn't done. Put it back in the water and felt it some more.

Once you've determined the scarf is finished, pull it out of the washer and wring it dry. Lay it in a towel and squeeze out any excess water. Accentuate the waves in the fabric and let air-dry. The scarf is heavy now, but when it's dry it will be light and comfortable to wear. The area where you skipped the gathering stitch will fit comfortably around the neck and form a natural "collar."

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