Tuesday, November 10, 2009

NEW PATTERN POSTED: SMALL INVESTMENTS

The Sultan's Investment

Every November I like to offer one new pattern that's quick and easy to knit, uses little yarn yet serves as a lovely gift for either a lucky friend/relative or the knitter. Last year, the Ornamental Gift Bags lead the way and this year it's Small Investments, a scarf that serves as stunning holiday acessory over a jacket or blouse but seconds as a buttoned vest under a jacket. Small quantities of yarn + little time = small investment. never found a pun I couldn't resist.

If you think they're quick knits, you'd be right and each takes only 50 yards or so of (preferably) hand-dyed yarn with a few bits for contrast. Consider adding a button to the front or not but these babies are crying out for embellishment either way. Find a bead that wants to get to the point or maybe the i-cord.

The Pasha's Investment, back view

Of course, by the names you can tell I took my inspiration from both Morocco and Turkey where pashas and sultans often wore vests layered pattern-on-pattern, color-on-color, under long robes. Layering these is half the fun after knitting and embellishing them.  And, consider the wearability options:

The Pasha's Investment worn as scarf

My Ravelry group is launching a knitalong on this one so join in! The pattern is available for purchase here: http://www.janethornley.com/patterns_scarfs.html