Add a Necktie!

You can easily add some class to your neckwarmer by adding a tie.  This is the Wizard Warmers pattern  neckwarmer, made in Gryffindor house colors, with a garter stitch necktie tied round and secured with a Windsor knot.

The great thing about this tie is that once you get it around your neck and tied, it's stretchy enough to just pull it off and on over your head without untying the Windsor knot.

Here's how to make the tie:

1. Use size US 4 or 5 (3.5 or 3.75mm) and sportweight yarn, to get a gauge of about 20 st x 35 rows=3.5" x 3.5" (9mm x 9mm) for a garter stitch--all knit--flat swatch.

2. Cable cast-on 6 sts.

3. Work rows in garter stitch until the tie length, unstretched, equals your neck circumference plus 22" (56cm).  The tie will be about 1" (2.5cm) wide.

4. Bind off and work-in ends.

5. For a good-looking knot, use a full Windsor knot.  Four-in-hand gives a knot that's too small.

Windsor knot-tying instructions can be found here.

For more FO posts on other blogs, check here.

FO Friday: Hogwarts Neckwarmers

It's FO Friday, and I've been cooking all day. So tonight, after a late Thanksgiving dinner, I'm getting off my feet and posting this group of neckwarmers I made in Hogwarts house colors. They were made during the test of the Wizard Warmers pattern, one in each size.

For more FO Friday posts on other blogs, check here.

WIP Wednesday: A Necktie

It's Work-In-Progress Wednesday again! This is a necktie I'm making as an add-on to the neckwarmer in the Wizard Warmers pattern. It just got published on Ravelry.

The plan is to add a tie to the Gryffindor neckwarmer... hope it works out. This one is knitted with the linen stitch, and I don't know which side, bumpy or smooth, will look best.

For more WIP Wednesday posts on other blogs, check here.

Wizard Warmers

Striped and cuffed, this set of armwarmers, legwarmers, and a neckwarmer is a men's version of the knitted Witch Warmers pattern. The armwarmers have French cuffs and easy-to-make cuff links. The buttoned neckwarmer opens with a wingtip effect at the top, and the legwarmers feature front and back extensions for a spats-look. They're fast and fun to make: no seaming or blocking.

U.S. knitting terms

Sizes
Neckwarmer: Men's X-Small (Small, Medium, Large)
Armwarmers: Men's one size
Legwarmers: Men's one size

Skill Level  Intermediate

Yarn  434 yds /397m
for complete set

Plymouth Encore DK wool blend
2 skeins #217 black: main color (MC)
1 skein #678 gray: contrast color (CC)
Photo shows discontinued Lion Brand Wool-Ease sportweight, #152 Oxford Gray and #153 Black.

Substitute Yarns: any wool, wool blend, or acrylic sportweight / DK yarn that knits to pattern gauge

Additional Materials
US 5 /3.75mm circ. needle, 40" /102cm cable
4 shank buttons, 3/4" /2cm for armwarmer
2 buttons, 1/2" /1.5cm for neckwarmer
1 large-eyed needle, size 18

Gauge 20 st x 17 rows = 2.75" x 2.75" /7cm x 7cm in K1P1 rib (unstretched flat swatch)

3 Schematic Diagrams: Armwarmer, Legwarmer, Neckwarmer

The Wizard Warmers pattern is available for purchase as a download here and on Ravelry. $3.00 USD



I owe a debt of gratitude to the brilliant Swedish knitter and crocheter, Absinthia, who improved the buttonhole on this pattern.

You can find tips and variations for this pattern in the following posts:
Add a Necktie!
Slytherin Neckwarmer
Swatch Wars
I Love Cable Cast-On
Cast-Ons: Keeping Count
Black Attack: Working with Dark Yarn
Magic Loop Rocks!
Straightening and Joining in the Round
Preventing Ladders
Preventing Uneven Ribs and Moss
Adding a Color in the Round
Quick and Dirty Striping in the Round
Exquisite Striping in the Round

WIP Wednesday: Ravenclaw Neckwarmer

It's Work-In-Progress Wednesday! Today I'm almost finished with my fourth neckwarmer, using the Wizard Warmers pattern, which is about to be published on Ravelry. This one just needs the buttons and the ends worked-in.

For more WIP Wednesday posts on other blogs, check here.

Slytherin Neckwarmer

It's FO Friday again, and here is the finished neckwarmer I started a few days ago (see WIP Wednessday). As part of the test for my new Wizard Warmers pattern, I made this one in the extra-small size, to fit me even though it's a men's pattern. I also chose Slytherin colors, which I think look awesome here.

The yarn is Plymouth Encore DK #678 gray and I Love This Yarn sportweight #185 green.  I Love This Yarn knits up a smaller gauge swatch, but since it's striped with the Encore, which does knit to gauge, it works out to the right size.  I wouldn't use I Love This Yarn as the main color (bottom stripe), though, because it would throw off the dimensions pretty badly.

For more FO Friday posts on other blogs, check here.

WIP Wednesday: Wizard Neckwarmer

It's Work-In-Progress Wednesday! Today I'm working on my third neckwarmer, using the Wizard Warmers pattern, which is still in the test phase. There are four size options for the neckwarmer, so I'm trying to make one in each size during the test phase. I have already made one in Gryffindor house colors, and this one will be for Slytherin.

You can still be a tester for this pattern, if you're interested, so let me know and I'll send you a free copy... plus updates.

For more WIP Wednesday blog posts, check here.

Sneak Peek... Wizard Warmers

I've got a new pattern that's ready to be tested, and it will be offered for sale here and on Ravelry after the test. It's a men's version of Witch Warmers, which is a set of armwarmers, legwarmers, and a neckwarmer.

If you'd like to be a tester, please let me know and I'll email you the pattern for free. When I've got enough testers, the freebies will no longer be available. It's a fun project, and it takes up to 500 yds / 456 meters of sportweight yarn for the full set. If you prefer, you can test just one of the items. I used Wool-Ease sportweight in the pictures, but Plymouth Encore DK is a fine substitute.

Today is FO Friday (Finshed Object Friday). For more FO Friday posts on other blogs, check here.