Viny Neckwarmer Pattern

This neckwarmer really isn't for Zoey, she's just modeling it for the picture. But who'd have guessed that she and my brother would have the same size neck?! Or that his colors would look so good on her--really I wasn't planning it that way! (grin)


The pattern is free for personal use.

Vine-y Neck Warmer
By Diane Sidener
Color choices are critical to the effectiveness of this otherwise
straightforward design. This pattern relies on lively combinations of
colors with an interesting, subtle series of modulations. Each round
until the last two is comprised of two yarns, changing one at a time
on five of the first six rounds.
You’ll need several complementary colors of soft yarn (you won’t be needing
more than about 35 yards of each, probably less, depending on your gauge)
One big button (1 3/8 or so)
I used
KnitPicks Memories (fingering) in Smores
KnitPicks Andean Treasure in Woods Heather
KnitPicks Andean Silk in Cinnamon
Kiddy Prints in mossy greens
a gossamer laceweight in browns, a bit of green and maroon
Ch 80 in your first color/combo, the center; I started with the Woods and my
lace and left a long tail of about 10 inches of the lace for later sewing on the
button. SC to the end, ch 1, turn.
Row 2: sc 10, ch 6 for buttonhole or adjust to fit your button, finish rnd in sc
(80 sts), ch 3, turn.
Rnd 3: Still in first color dc all the way around, with 2 dc in each stitch of the
4 corners (164 sts).
Rnd 4: Change to second color/combo. For the next 2 rnds I used the Kiddy
Prints, first with the lace then switching after rnd 4 to the Smores. Ch2, then
hdc around, again doubling your stitches in each corner. (Here’s where I
dropped the lace and switched in the Smores. I also changed up a size hook, to
H.)
Rnd 5: Hdc around, doubling corner stitches as needed--probably twice for
each corner, depending on whether you prefer a more rounded or squared look.
Rnd 6: Change to your third combo. Dc around, doubling corner stitches, 2 or
3 times in each corner--but be consistent throughout the round!
Rnd 7: Beginning from the corner where you finished the round *ch 20, angle
about 45 degrees across, adding or subtracting stitches to give you a good fit
at an interesting angle--fit should be not quite snug, but without a lot of slack
either. Sc 1 onto the edge; flip to other side*. Repeat, continuing in the same
linear direction but alternating front and back, for a total of 7 (or as many as
needed).
Rnd 8: Back to first color/combo. (I wanted a soft edge so I didn’t bring the
lace back, but work with the characteristics of your yarn.) Sc around, just
doubling once at each corner. One stitch before you meet up with your
chained "vine" pick up a loop from the chain as well as your next double
crochet and make your sc in both to strengthen that join. In your next sc pick
up a loop from the other side of the chain and the next dc, pulling your new
stitch firmly across so that you don’t end up with a lump sticking out from
your nice neat edge: no extra stitches, just a bit of insurance. Continue to sc
around, repeating this method of securing the vine at each join.
Finish and weave in ends. Determine your button placement. If your first color
combo is very soft yarn like alpaca, you can use that long tail of lace to
strengthen the area where you’ll be attaching your button, weaving it in (and
hiding it, of course!) for several stitches in each direction paying special
attention to the midline in the direction of the buttonhole, since that’s where
most of the strain will be coming from. Use the last 5 or 6 inches to sew the
button on and finish by weaving the end in, rather than knotting.
Block.
This pattern is provided here for the personal use of individuals only. NOT for commercial
use or to be copied without my written permission. You may link to it with my written
permission.
© Diane Sidener, 2008
(Link to the pattern PDF is coming soon--technical difficulties)