Kathryn Ivy

October 22, 2007 - Posted by Alice Schnebly

New Project, New Technique

Entrelace Scarf--WIP

I’ve started on another gift! This time I’m trying out a technique I’ve never used before—entrelac. So far I think it’s going pretty well, though I haven’t gotten comfortable enough to work without the pattern. I’m using the Entrelac Scarf Pattern written by Allison at Freckles and Purls. It’s a well written pattern and easy to understand, so I’m glad I chose to use it for my first attempt at entrelac!

Debbie Mumm Traditions yarn, available at Jo-Ann Crafts.The yarn I’m still not quite sure about. It’s Traditions by Debbie Mumm for Jo-Ann. It’s a new yarn that is available from Jo-Ann stores, and has coloring very similar to Noro yarns (though the colors available are much more tonal, and not as many different colors in one skein). The make up is 75% acrylic, 23% wool and 2% “other,” and from just feeling it at the store it seemed much softer and squishier than Noro.

After I started knitting with it there was a bit of a problem, and I’m not sure if this will be any different with the next skein I knit—the yarn that is wrapped around the “core” part of the yarn is a bit loose and now I’ve developed quite a bit of slack where I’ve had to keep pushing the outer layer of yarn down as I knit. I can just see this getting worse and worse as I go along, but I’m hesitant to cut it and interrupt the colors and I think it would just start up again anyways.

The colors are looking very pretty, so I’m going to keep chugging along. I really hope I start to like this yarn more, because I think it is great that there’s an alternative to Noro that’s available in a big craft store. I actually purchased a few more skeins of this yarn for another gift already, though I’ll have to decide whether or not I want to keep it after I finish up this scarf! I really really want to like this yarn—there are already some pretty projects popping up that have used this yarn, so I hope my feelings about it change!

 

Comments

  • October 29, 2007, 6:42 pm - KelInCal (http://www.hypknitized.com)

    The scarf looks great! I had the same problem with that yarn, but ended up stopping the project due to gauge issues. I've been hesitant to restart it with this yarn. It's very disappointing, because it's so soft and the colors are great.

  • October 28, 2007, 10:30 pm - DesertLily

    I just saw that yarn on the Joann website today. But they don't give the info about weight, of a skein, yardage, gauge, or needle size. Would you mind posting that information? Thanks!

  • October 24, 2007, 6:27 am - whitney (http://whitknits.wordpress.com)

    Oooh, I like it! I'll be very curious to see how it turns out. I've been wanting to try entrelac for awhile, and I love the way Noro stripes but don't like the feel (nor the cost!) of it.

  • October 24, 2007, 1:25 am - Peggy eichenlaub

    I just bought some of this exact yarn at Joann's and I love what you did with this.. (excuse what may be a dumb question), but did you figure out how big to make your triangles (and consequently the squares) so that the color change happens so perfectly? If so, How? Is there way to test it so you know when the color repeats and then for you can figure how many stiches to each color before the change.. I know entrelac, but unless the yarn specifies the entrelac pattern, I have know idea how to figure out how big or small I should make my squares so that the color change doesn't happen in the middle of the square..
    please email me at
    peggye@frontiernet.net if you can point me to that info, or can figure out what I am asking and please send me an answer.
    thank you so much!!

  • October 22, 2007, 11:19 pm - Vicki (http://knit.vickilicious.com)

    Oh wow that yarn is beautiful, and your entrelac looks fantastic!

  • October 22, 2007, 7:01 pm - Julia (http://moontea.typepad.com)

    It's looking very good!! I love the colors, it will be a really beautiful scarf. Maybe if you hold the yarn gently it wouldn't scrunch so much?

  • October 22, 2007, 6:59 pm - Suzanne (foofanagle.wordpress.com)

    Ooohh. I haven't seen that yarn before. Very pretty colors. Are you turning your work as you go or are you knitting backwards?

  • October 22, 2007, 6:32 pm - Shannon (http://minervaturkey.blogspot.com)

    ohhhhh entrelac! Yeah for you. I think it looks great so far, and you can always crochet a simple edging. That will help to even out the weirdness. :)

  • October 22, 2007, 4:28 pm - Jessica (http://www.sugarsticks.org)

    Oh, I just love entrelac. My favorite scarf is my entrelac scarf that I made last year (all of the purl stitches are twisted because I wasn't purling "properly" as I learned after the fact). It will be a great gift, especially in that color! Awesome!

  • October 22, 2007, 4:05 pm - Stella (coldbrightday.blogspot.com)

    I've been looking for a yarn that will work well for entrelac (long color changes) but is cheaper and softer than noro. This looks great!

  • October 22, 2007, 3:38 pm - S t a c i (http://www.verypink.com)

    That is so pretty! The long-strand-dyed (how else can I say it?) yarns work so very well in entralac. It ends up looking like you changed yarn color for each diamond. Very nice.

  • October 22, 2007, 3:34 pm - Susan G (http://pickupandknit.blogspot.com/)

    Love the colorway, and it looks great in entrelac! I hope you can sort out the "wierdness."

  • October 22, 2007, 3:17 pm - tracey in mi (http://traceysolomon.wprdpress.com)

    Same thing happening in my mitered squares- I love the colors- love the feel- but not sure how I'd feel about it if I wanted to use it for large pieces.

    I just slip my hand over it and smooth it as I go.

    The entrelac looks beautiful though---yarn weird-ness or not- i may have to use some more of this for a lady- eleanor!

  • October 22, 2007, 2:40 pm - Margie (www.bluepoppy.wordpress.com)

    That yarn is pretty... I'll have to look for it. I would love to try entrelac... the results are SO pretty!

  • October 22, 2007, 1:50 pm - Connie (www.knitknotpurlcurl.com)

    I love the colors of that yarn. I have never heard of it before and when I checked online at Joann's they don't have it. I heard it's new, so maybe they will have it soon.

    I love entrelac and I am knitting the Lady Eleanor Wrap using SWS that you can get at Michaels. It is also very soft and a cheaper alternative to Noro.

    I have also purchased Boku and Karaoke from WEBS online and those colorways are also great for entrelac. The Boku is much like Noro Kureyon in its feel and Karaoke is very soft but more of a sport weight.

  • October 22, 2007, 1:42 pm - Kim U (http://kimtimnashville.typepad.com/craftykim/)

    Ooo, interesting yarn. It looks really pretty in entrelac. Definitely keep us posted on how it goes - I'm always in the market for a Noro substitute :)


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