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.

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.

Witch Warmers in Crochet

Witchy-striped, ruffled armwarmers, legwarmers, and a neckwarmer are crocheted with sportweight yarn and fitted for a feminine look. This is a crochet re-design of my knit pattern, Witch Warmers. Fast and fun to make: no seaming or blocking. These warmers are great for Halloween, and they can be made in other holiday, piratey, or school colors… or to complement your everyday witch wear.

The legwarmers are kneesock-length and can be made in a short sock length. The armwarmers cover most of the forearm and can be made in a short wristwarmer length.

An innovative ruffling technique is included, which produces a uniform ruffle that keeps its shape. In addition, a smooth striping method is provided for sharp-edged, toothless stripes that are practically jogless.

U.S. crochet terms

Sizes Women’s X-Small (Small, Medium, Large)
Size X-Small is shown in photos.

Skill Level Intermediate

Yarn 600-700 yds /550-650m for complete set

Plymouth Encore DK wool blend
3 skeins #217 black: main color (MC)
3 skeins #1317 turquoise: contrast color (CC)
Photo shows discontinued Lion Brand Wool-Ease sportweight, #130 Green Heather. Pattern includes specific yarn amounts for the neckwarmer, armwarmers, and legwarmers as well as for the full set in all sizes.

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

Gauge 16 sts x 14 rows = 4”/10cm x 4”/10cm flat swatch, single crochet in front loop only.

3 Schematic Diagrams: Armwarmer, Legwarmer, Neckwarmer

You can find crochet tips and variations for this pattern in the following posts:
Evening-Length Winter Warmers
Short Version: Wristwarmers
Peppermint Warmers: Uneven Stripes
Fingering Weight Vartiation: Halloween Treat-Warmers
Smooth Chain Finish
Forming a Base Chain Circle
Avoiding Stiff Crochet
Swatch Wars
Pumpkin Warmers

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



I owe a debt of gratitude to the talented Swedish crocheter, Absinthia, who figured out how to make the stripes jogless for these warmers.

Many thanks also to Erssie Major, a most-admired pattern designer and contributor to well-known knit magazines and websites, who provided a bang-up tech edit for this pattern, and made it way, way, way, way better!

Witch Warmers

Witchy-striped, ruffled armwarmers, legwarmers, and a neckwarmer are knitted in the round and fitted for a feminine look. Fast and fun to knit: no seaming or blocking. These warmers are great for Halloween, and they can be made in other holiday, piratey, or school colors… or to complement your everyday witch wear.

The legwarmers are kneesock-length and can be made in a short sock length, if desired. The armwarmers cover most of the forearm and can be made in a short wristwarmer or gauntlet length. Another variation would be evening length, going past the elbow.

Materials: uses US 4/3.5 mm circular needles with 30” - 40” cable; larger size needles are recommended for neckwarmer bindoff; you’ll need 2 stitch markers.

Yarn: the pictures show Wool-Ease Sportweight, which has been discontinued. Plymouth Encore DK was swatched and tested with this pattern (see picture below), and it works fine.

Gauge: 20 st x 26 rows = 4" x 4" (flat swatch) in stockinette

Difficulty: medium

3 Schematic Diagrams: Armwarmer, Legwarmer, Neckwarmer

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



You can find knitting tips and variations on this pattern in the following posts:
Evening Length: I'd Open a Vein for You Armwarmers
Yule Warmers
Halloween Legwarmers
Fingering Weight Variation: Halloween Treat-Warmers
Preventing Uneven Ribs
Big Magic Loop
Closing the Bind-Off Gap
Preventing Ladders
Exquisite Striping in the Round
Quick and Dirty Striping
Adding a Color in the Round
Straightening and Joining in the Round
Magic Loop Rocks!
Short Witch Warmers
Black Attack: Working with Dark Yarn
Cast-Ons: Keeping Count
I Love Cable Cast-On
Swatch Wars