knitting a picture into a scarf

Hi guys,
I'm in the midst of making Christmas presents. After one pretty not-so-
great attempt at stitching a tractor design on a hat, I am faced with
the same problem for a scarf and finally am crying "UNCLE!", as we
say. I have been saving images off the web (Mario and Sonic the
Hedgehog), then simplifying the colors greatly in Photoshop. Then I
print it life size. When I printed it on graph paper I had printed out
to my gauge, it was too intricate for the size, so I ended up top-
stitching it.

Now that I'm making a scarf with a picture at each end (UGH!), I have
decided to work in worsted on a size 4 needle. How can I switch to
smaller needles while maintaining the width of the scarf so that I can
reproduce the pictures more prettily? Or any other ideas? HELP!

Thanks guys!

Wendy
A Knitting Fool in CT

On Dec 11, 10:31 am, myswendy wrote:
Hi guys,
I'm in the midst of making Christmas presents. After one pretty not-so-
great attempt at stitching a tractor design on a hat, I am faced with
the same problem for a scarf and finally am crying "UNCLE!", as we
say. I have been saving images off the web (Mario and Sonic the
Hedgehog), then simplifying the colors greatly in Photoshop. Then I
print it life size. When I printed it on graph paper I had printed out
to my gauge, it was too intricate for the size, so I ended up top-
stitching it.

Now that I'm making a scarf with a picture at each end (UGH!), I have
decided to work in worsted on a size 4 needle. How can I switch to
smaller needles while maintaining the width of the scarf so that I can
reproduce the pictures more prettily? Or any other ideas? HELP!

Thanks guys!

Wendy
A Knitting Fool in CT

Size 4 US or 4 mm metric? Either way, I think you'll end up with a
very stiff scarf at this gauge (assuming you don't knit VERY loosely).
I often knit scarves on a larger needle than I would use for a garment
because I want the scarf to feel as soft as possible against the skin.
My suggestion is to reduce the complexity of the charted design or use
a finer yarn. Or embroider the design on the finished scarf. If you
still want to use smaller needles, make a swatch to determine your
gauge and to see whether you like the knitted fabric. Then figure out
how many stitches you'll need for the width you want. Conversely, you
can figure out how many stitches you need for the chart, then work out
the gauge you would need for that many stitches for the width you want
(total number of stitches divided by scarf width = gauge in stitches
per inch).

HTH!

Alan

On Dec 11, 2:53 pm, Alan wrote:
On Dec 11, 10:31 am, myswendy wrote:





Hi guys,
I'm in the midst of making Christmas presents. After one pretty not-so-
great attempt at stitching a tractor design on a hat, I am faced with
the same problem for a scarf and finally am crying "UNCLE!", as we
say. I have been saving images off the web (Mario and Sonic the
Hedgehog), then simplifying the colors greatly in Photoshop. Then I
print it life size. When I printed it on graph paper I had printed out
to my gauge, it was too intricate for the size, so I ended up top-
stitching it.

Now that I'm making a scarf with a picture at each end (UGH!), I have
decided to work in worsted on a size 4 needle. How can I switch to
smaller needles while maintaining the width of the scarf so that I can
reproduce the pictures more prettily? Or any other ideas? HELP!

Thanks guys!

Wendy
A Knitting Fool in CT

Size 4 US or 4 mm metric? Either way, I think you'll end up with a
very stiff scarf at this gauge (assuming you don't knit VERY loosely).
I often knit scarves on a larger needle than I would use for a garment
because I want the scarf to feel as soft as possible against the skin.
My suggestion is to reduce the complexity of the charted design or use
a finer yarn. Or embroider the design on the finished scarf. If you
still want to use smaller needles, make a swatch to determine your
gauge and to see whether you like the knitted fabric. Then figure out
how many stitches you'll need for the width you want. Conversely, you
can figure out how many stitches you need for the chart, then work out
the gauge you would need for that many stitches for the width you want
(total number of stitches divided by scarf width = gauge in stitches
per inch).

HTH!

Alan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sounds like a plan. Thanks! But what the heck is HTH!

Wendy

On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:31:56 -0800 (PST), myswendy
wrote:

Now that I'm making a scarf with a picture at each end (UGH!), I have
decided to work in worsted on a size 4 needle. How can I switch to
smaller needles while maintaining the width of the scarf so that I can
reproduce the pictures more prettily? Or any other ideas? HELP!

Wendy

What picture/s are you trying to put on the scarf? Oh, and how many
sts or inches wide are we talking about?

Leah

On Dec 11, 3:01�pm, myswendy wrote:
On Dec 11, 2:53 pm, Alan wrote:





On Dec 11, 10:31 am, myswendy wrote:

Hi guys,
I'm in the midst of making Christmas presents. After one pretty not-so-
great attempt at stitching a tractor design on a hat, I am faced with
the same problem for a scarf and finally am crying "UNCLE!", as we
say. I have been saving images off the web (Mario and Sonic the
Hedgehog), then simplifying the colors greatly in Photoshop. Then I
print it life size. When I printed it on graph paper I had printed out
to my gauge, it was too intricate for the size, so I ended up top-
stitching it.

Now that I'm making a scarf with a picture at each end (UGH!), I have
decided to work in worsted on a size 4 needle. How can I switch to
smaller needles while maintaining the width of the scarf so that I can
reproduce the pictures more prettily? Or any other ideas? HELP!

Thanks guys!

Wendy
A Knitting Fool in CT

Size 4 US or 4 mm metric? Either way, I think you'll end up with a
very stiff scarf at this gauge (assuming you don't knit VERY loosely).
I often knit scarves on a larger needle than I would use for a garment
because I want the scarf to feel as soft as possible against the skin.
My suggestion is to reduce the complexity of the charted design or use
a finer yarn. Or embroider the design on the finished scarf. If you
still want to use smaller needles, make a swatch to determine your
gauge and to see whether you like the knitted fabric. Then figure out
how many stitches you'll need for the width you want. Conversely, you
can figure out how many stitches you need for the chart, then work out
the gauge you would need for that many stitches for the width you want
(total number of stitches divided by scarf width = gauge in stitches
per inch).

HTH!

Alan- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Sounds like a plan. Thanks! But what the heck is HTH!

Wendy- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


Hi Wendy,

HTH is Hope that Helps.

Hugs,

Nora

On Dec 11, 3:09 pm, Leah wrote:
On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:31:56 -0800 (PST), myswendy

wrote:
Now that I'm making a scarf with a picture at each end (UGH!), I have
decided to work in worsted on a size 4 needle. How can I switch to
smaller needles while maintaining the width of the scarf so that I can
reproduce the pictures more prettily? Or any other ideas? HELP!

Wendy

What picture/s are you trying to put on the scarf? Oh, and how many
sts or inches wide are we talking about?

Leah

I'm trying to put Sonic the Hedgehog and/or Mario on either ends of a
scarf. The scarf will be 8-10 inches wide. I have been thinking about
this this morning....Is it possible to make the end of the scarf in,
say, size 4 or 5 USA needle and then maybe like switch to size 8's,
doing a k2tog across the row so the width doesnt go haywacky? I was
alternatively thinking about embroidering it on a patch and sewing it
on, but I'm not that good and don't have that kind of time to spend on
it.

My courage is faltering for this project. Oh dear....

Wendy

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:11:55 -0800 (PST), myswendy
wrote:

I'm trying to put Sonic the Hedgehog and/or Mario on either ends of a
scarf. The scarf will be 8-10 inches wide. I have been thinking about
this this morning....Is it possible to make the end of the scarf in,
say, size 4 or 5 USA needle and then maybe like switch to size 8's,
doing a k2tog across the row so the width doesnt go haywacky? I was
alternatively thinking about embroidering it on a patch and sewing it
on, but I'm not that good and don't have that kind of time to spend on
it.

Wendy

I found this felted bag pattern with Mario on it. The Mario chart is
duplicate stitched on afterwards and is only 11 sts wide. From a
distance I think it looks pretty good.

http://wikiknitting.com/wiki/Super_Mario_Felted_Bag

I didn't find anything on Sonic, though.

Leah

On Dec 12, 2:14 pm, Leah wrote:
On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:11:55 -0800 (PST), myswendy

wrote:
I'm trying to put Sonic the Hedgehog and/or Mario on either ends of a
scarf. The scarf will be 8-10 inches wide. I have been thinking about
this this morning....Is it possible to make the end of the scarf in,
say, size 4 or 5 USA needle and then maybe like switch to size 8's,
doing a k2tog across the row so the width doesnt go haywacky? I was
alternatively thinking about embroidering it on a patch and sewing it
on, but I'm not that good and don't have that kind of time to spend on
it.

Wendy

I found this felted bag pattern with Mario on it. The Mario chart is
duplicate stitched on afterwards and is only 11 sts wide. From a
distance I think it looks pretty good.

http://wikiknitting.com/wiki/Super_Mario_Felted_Bag

I didn't find anything on Sonic, though.

Leah

WOWWWWWWWW!!! That's perfect! You're a lifesaver, Leah! THANK YOU SO
MUCH!

Wendy

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:13:08 -0800 (PST), myswendy
wrote:

WOWWWWWWWW!!! That's perfect! You're a lifesaver, Leah! THANK YOU SO
MUCH!

You're welcome, Wendy. I hope you get your scarf done in time.

Leah

On Dec 13, 8:01 am, Leah wrote:
On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:13:08 -0800 (PST), myswendy

wrote:
WOWWWWWWWW!!! That's perfect! You're a lifesaver, Leah! THANK YOU SO
MUCH!

You're welcome, Wendy. I hope you get your scarf done in time.

Leah

GOOD GRIEF! What an awful time I'm having. I love that pattern, Leah,
but I can't seem to save it, copy it, download it, NOTHING. It seems
to be there for public use--it even has a "printable version"---but
every time I try to print it, the graphs come out completely empty.
Blank. Nothing. (Yes, I do have ink in the printer! LOL). There seems
to be no way to contact the creator of that pattern. I'm at a loss.
Any ideas out there?