I'm going to start this section with what's current and build the background and or short rows 101 later.
But first, a quick quiz. Can you tell which of the eight knitted objects visible in this picture did not involve the use of short rows?
In the Spring/Summer of 2003, an out of left field X-post to several email lists with a photo, a challenge and a look how clever I am tone started a few rather different flurries.
Several snarky (self included) types did a quick perusal, yawned and said short rows. Others went for entrelac or other modular techniques to either do what was done or, in the best spirit of knitting, do something similar using a comfortable to individual knitter technique.
I, like others, remained in yawn mode over the original shameless self promotion. As the flurries and my writer's block continued, I took another look and decided that, while it couldn't be done soley with short rows you could get a no pickup, no decrease, no increase, just change directions and knit variant with short rows and sent Pithy directions and other twaddle and typos to the knitlist (typos & twaddle removed for you lovely knitters).
Here are the supporting pictures to show how the short rows are formed, my version, unlike the original, has each of the three foundation triangles in a different colour to show the technique 1st triangle formed . 2nd triangle formed . 3rd triangle formed . Experiment complete -- pinned out
Another take on how to get something similar to the original combines diagonal increasing (ala dishcloth), short rows and bias knitting, courtesy of the lovely Karen, can be found here.
But as the Queen of short rows suffering from writer's block I couldn't resist playing further and thus was born a scarf bound for the 2003 DAE auction/bazaar. I did suggest that the lovely lady who issued the challenge might do well to promote herself by doing a mitzvah and offering a raffle gift or auction item but apparently that wasn't part of the marketing/business or karma plan.
I was very excited when experimenting gave me the look of the modular shell/scallop pick up stitches motifs without needing to increase, decrease or pick up stitches initial three short rowed segments.
Next I went to 2 x 2 ribbing in alpaca & merino. Having started with a single partial skein of Naturespun stash I needed to find something to augment the original. Close up of transition from short rows to ribbing. 1st side triangle created after 2 x 2 ribbing. 2nd side triangle created after 2 x 2 ribbing and work turned back to show symmerty.
The 2 x 2 ribbing experiment got me wondering if I could simply work straight through and form a non-directional or symmetrical scarf. My original miniature test suggested that I could so I picked up honking huge needles and some gorgeous mohair that was originally going to be part of a scribble lace piece. First pass the honking huge needles were too honking huge and and the centre shift was not quite what I expected. Second pass was more acceptable Folded in half and up against the blocking board but on balance I decided to sacrifice the rounded shapes and eliminate that sort of bump out at the centre by doing some serious blocking.
Closeup of centre as it was being blocked.
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