This Tie Had Me in Knots

A few months ago I was looking for a knitted tie pattern. I found a few ties that were being sold, but not a pattern. After a while of going down the internet rabbit hole of knitting websites and blogs I finally found a pattern, but I didn't love it. There was nothing wrong with it, but it wasn't the image that I had in my head.

However, I went ahead and started on this pattern. I assumed that it would grow on me and maybe it would look better in person than it did online. But, I was wrong. I still didn't like it. This tie pattern was a rectangle and did not look enough like a tie to me. Personally I think that ties should always come to that point at the bottom. Without that point can I even call it a tie? It looks more like a very narrow scarf. As a hand knitted scarf it would have the tendency to look more like a scarf, so I wanted to move away from that.

Snake Tie

I decided at this point that I would use this pattern, but I would make it my own and start it as a point. This was an utter disaster. In the end it looked like neither a tie or a narrow scarf. It most closely resembled a snake or an extremely narrow tube sock. It just ended up being a funny looking puffed up tube that had a pointed end. My husband had pointed out while I was knitting that it needed to be flatter, but I had stubbornly pressed on. 

Back to the drawing board for me and my tie idea. My husband was right I needed a flatter design. But, how to accomplish this was the problem. I didn't want to do it in straight stockinette because then the edges would roll and that would be just as bad as the snake tube.

I wanted the tie to not only look good, but to also be recognizable. I don't often wear ties, so obviously this would be a gift for someone else. There is nothing worse than to gift a handmade item and to have the receiver be confused about what it is or how to use it.

I started brainstorming some ideas, but nothing was working out the way that I was planning. It was then that I took a step back and decided to take a break. Sometimes ideas come to me the quickest when I am not thinking about them.

This is exactly what happened this time. It was during this break that an idea hit me and all the pieces seemed to fall into place. I had made some pot holders a few years ago using a technique called Double Knitting. Basically with this technique you knit both sides the project at the same time. Often with two contrasting colors. In the end both sides are stockinette, but the item lays flat.

As soon as I thought of this technique I realized that I could adapt it to be pointed at the start and widen out to whatever width I wanted (I made my first one a little too wide and have corrected this in the pattern). After several attempts I finally got the look that I was desiring.

One of the best part of using Double Knitting is that I was able to easily add color. All the color changes are done in the middle, so they will never see the light of day. This is how the Reversible Men's Tie pattern was created. Look for this and other patterns on the pattern page of this blog. You can also find this pattern by following this link Reversible Men's Tie.

It works with variegated or striping yarn too.

In this pattern I have included the charts for making the same design. Adding a little bit of color to each side. However, I have also included written instructions without any color changes. This would produce a tie that is solid on either side, but has a border of both colors.

The main reason for including the written instructions is that I hope others adapt it and use what ever design they want. I want these instructions to be used as a blank canvas because that is how I view most patterns. They are a guide and not the law. I like to make my own changes and adapt them whenever I feel like it.

I am excited to finally put this pattern out there for others to see. Let me know if you have any questions or comments. If you try it put a picture in the comments or post to my Facebook page  Joy with Yarn.

Also if you do try this please check your gauge. Don't be like me and end up with a tie that is too thick and unwearable. The knot on one of the ties that I made is just ridiculously large.

Now I'm off to knit some more. I'm thinking that in the future I'll make a tie and sock set. Maybe I'll even see about adding some texture. We shall see. My list of project ideas and things I should make keeps getting longer and longer.                     

Something New

Creating an original pattern and sharing it with others is new to me. I have been adapting, changing, and making my own knitting patterns for years. I write ideas in the margins of other patterns and will use sticky notes or a note app on my phone. However, these adaptions or patterns were always just for me. Even when making a pattern I wasn't expecting anyone to look at it.

However, recently I realized that if I was looking for a pattern to make something and didn't find it then maybe others might have this same problem. Maybe others are getting frustrated over not finding exactly what they want. This is actually the reason I started this blog in the first place (that is a story for a different day).

A week to two ago, it happened to me again. I wanted to make a quick knit hat with some chunky yarn that I had. However, I had a very specific idea of what I needed this hat to look like. I wanted this hat for my blog post about The Big Comfy Couch and I wanted to look as much as Loonette as possible. Click here if you missed that post.

I found a few patterns, but they were not exactly what I wanted. They didn't look enough like Loonette's hat. So, I decided that I needed to make my own hat. This was never anything that I was planing to keep or wear more than just for that photo. But I fell in love with it. I loved how the hat looked so much that I had to make a matching scarf.

For once I let the yarn do it's thing when it came to the color. I used Caron® Tea Cakes™ color Oolong and for once in my life I did not try to manipulate it. I didn't worry about the color changes. Even when I was adding a new cake. Usually when joining more yarn I will unravel it to the point where it matches the pattern created with the color work. This time I joined the new cake when it was needed without any thought about the colors. This yarn allows these patterns be knit up quickly and beautifully without any stress.       

Below I have included the instructions for the hat and scarf. This pattern is also available for download or to be saved at this link: Easy Chunky Hat and Infinity Scarf. I hope that it will be the quick and easy hat and scarf set that someone out there is looking for. I enjoyed this quick knit. I was able to finish the set in about a week.

If you are looking for a hat and scarf set that knits up quickly than this pattern is for you.

One of my favorite parts of the set is the doubled over band on the hat. Because it is knitted folded over then it will not roll. I can not stand it when the band on a hat rolls down when I am wearing it. I want the band to cover stay put and do its job which is to keep my ears nice and toasty.

Scarf is wrapped three times. 

I also love the length of the scarf. I made it extra long, so that it can be wrapped around several times. My favorite winter scarfs are always infinity scarfs. Personally I think they are easier to wear and less likely to slip off. Even if I get warm I can just loosen it and keep it still around my neck. I might be known for losing a scarf or two or many many more. But all of those were traditional. Hopefully I can keep track of this one, at least for a winter or two.   

Now all I need is some colder weather to wear my latest creations. Not that I am asking for winter. I'm patient and can wait. Winter can take its time and come when it feels like it.