I am pulled to handpainted yarn with an attraction as strong as a rare earth magnet. In a yarn shop it gloms onto me, the only thing able to separate us being pair of knitting needles. I like patterns that highlight the colourplay of variegated or self striping yarn, hence my affinity for the Herringbone Rib scarf. When I put that pattern together, it was with Manos del Uruguay yarn in mind. the colour distribution worked well with 34 stitches.
Enter Fiesta Chinchilla, the silk chenille mentioned in a previous post. Once again, a painted yarn leeched itself onto me only this one felt soft as velvet and the colours had a depth and sparkle like none other. The deciding factor, as if a decision was possible, was another full Marilyn’s punchcard reducing the price by 30%.
At home I calculated gauge and cast on. Following my own pattern I was disappointed with the lack colour patterning AKA pooling and flashing. To some extent, I like those effects, the interplay of colours across the rows. I wish I had taken a photo as it wasn’t happening; I was getting an even distribution of colours the yellows speckled regularly throughout the scarf.
Round two – I experimented with the number and width of columns. A cast on of 32 stitches was similar to the Pooling Colors scarf that was published a few years back; stripes of like colours down the length of the scarf.
Round three, a cast on of 30 stitches, produced a different effect – zigs and zags of colours criss crossing width and lengthwise. It’s amazing how two additional or fewer stitches makes such a difference. Here they are, round two on top – front and back, round three on the bottom:
I’m not sure which I like better or if I’ll even continue, the combination of chenille and the diagonal rib stitch might be too dense. Any pattern suggestions that would provide flexibility using chenille?
As for the Chinchilla – I probably wouldn’t buy it again. It knits just like cotton chenille and despite what you’re told by knitting shop staff, it worms. I’m hoping it will soften up with a damp blocking, as it is impossible to increase the needle size past ten (the label recommended a six) as the worms would multiply producing a scarf reminiscent of a cup of colourful fishing bait.
Life's a Stitch 
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