I’m doing a little happy dance now that I finally share the Twisted Roots MAL with you! I’ve been looking forward to this for quite a while now and I think it’s a great way for us all to kick off the new year!
When Scheepjes asked if I’d be interested in having a MAL for this project, I was all for it, because I thought it would be the perfect way for us all to wind down after the crazy year we’ve had. I also know that many of the Scheepjes fans out there are either new to knitting and want a nice project to practice on or already have the knitting experience and are eager for an engaging project to relax with. Either way, this scarf fits the bill, as it’s easy enough for a beginner to knit confidently and still fun for the long time knitters.
About the Twisted Roots Scarf and MAL
DATES: January 6 – 27, 2021
Pattern available in Scheepjes Yarn 10 Bookazine: The Colour Issue
Pattern languages: English (UK terms) and Dutch
Skill level: Adventurous Beginner
Yarn: 3 x balls Scheepjes Our Tribe
Photo example colours: Red 968 Happy in Red, Blue 975 Canadutch
Needle Size: 4mm (may differ depending on personal tension).
Needle Note: Straight or circular needles work. I used interchangeable circular needles with a 40cm cable.
Measurements: 235 x 30cm (92.5 x 12in) after blocking
Additional Supplies: Cable needle, blocking materials, stitch markers (optional)
For more info on the MAL, keep reading below!
The Design
The Twisted Roots Scarf is a design that I made for Scheepjes’ special 10th edition of their popular YARN Bookazine: The Colour Issue. This special issue was also a part of the celebration of Scheepjes’ 165th anniversary, featuring 16 knit colourful and crochet patterns spanning the whole spectrum of the rainbow.
I have always found knitted cables somewhat mesmerising with the way they move and intertwine and that is what I had in mind with this design, for everything about it to create a feeling of calm. I wanted the flow of the lines to be as soft and fluid as the fabric itself and for the experience of making it to be relaxing and meditative. To keep the feel I wanted in the finished scarf, I knew I wanted to use fewer large cables rather than a lot of smaller, more complicated cable patterns, so it wouldn’t feel too busy.
After my first swatch, I quickly realised that I needed to change two things to get it just the way I wanted. If I wanted to achieve the desired drape, I had to use a slightly larger needle size than I normally would and I also needed to add something to kick things up a notch and keep it interesting, which is where the dual textures came in. I felt like having a different texture in each part of the cable changed the look entirely and add an extra dimension to the work. Once I made those few tweaks, it all fell into place and it was exactly what I wanted.
The Yarn and Colourways
Scheepjes Our Tribe was the perfect choice for this project for several reasons. It had the warmth and softness I was looking for, as well as having a lot of lovely colourways available. I also knew from previous experience with my Big Sister Shawl that it blocked beautifully, which would be essential for this design and would give me the final results I was after.
FUN FACT! Did you know that the original colourways of Scheepjes Our Tribe were designed by the Scheepjes Bloggers? We each got to choose our own combination of colours which were turned into some of the colourways you know today. Mine, of course, is the Canadutch colourway! In this photo, you can see the original colours that I chose, together with the final results. Cool, huh?!I love having my own yarn colourway named after me!
There are now 38 beautiful shades available to choose from, which you can see below. If you’d like to see a swatch of each, have a look here on the Scheepjes website or here on my blog post where I shared some quick swatches of the original 15 shades. No matter which colourway you choose, I’m sure it will be great, as they are all really beautiful… it’s just a matter of deciding which you like best!
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase your yarn or other materials via the links in this post, I will receive a small percentage of the sale! This is no extra cost to you but is a big help to me as a designer. Thank you for your support!
When ordering your Yarn Bookazine, be sure to check the language as it is available in both Dutch and English.
UK and International: Woolwarehouse, Deramores, Black Sheep Wools.
Benelux: Caro’s Atelier
Bookazine subscriptions are also available: English | Dutch
You can also ask your preferred Scheepjes retailer or find a shop near you!
To give you an idea of how the pattern worked out in some of the Our Tribe colourways, you can see some examples below, which were knitted by myself and a few of my wonderful testers. I may be incredibly biased because this is my design and I love my testers, but I think they all look amazing!
Top left – 881 Blackberry Black knitted by Vicky Michiels
Center – 975 Canadutch knitted by Niamh Holcroft (also seen below)
Top right – 989 Optimism knitted by Ruth Coleman
Bottom left – 968 Happy in Red (my original)
Bottom right – 984 Old Bewick knitted by Femke van der Poll
Since my original sample is still hanging out at Scheepjes HQ, I will be making a new scarf for myself using the colour 965 Felted Button. I’ve always liked this colourway and have a feeling it’s going to look really gorgeous. I can’t wait to see what colourways you all choose!
“Can it be made with Whirl” is always one of the first questions asked at the start of any project and to be honest, I have been curious what a Whirl Twisted Roots would look like too! SO, there is currently one scarf being tested using 1 x Scheepjes Whirl (a good option for those who are allergic to wool) and another using 1 x Scheepjes Whirligig (for those who want a thicker scarf with even more smoosh-factor). There will be more info on both at the start of the MAL, but they are looking fab and, based on the current calculations, will finish at just a slightly shorter length than the original Our Tribe version.
The MAL: What You Need to Know
WHEN AND WHERE
The Twisted Roots MAL will be hosted by Scheepjes from Jan 6 – 27, 2021 in their Dutch and International Facebook groups.
THE PATTERN
MAL participants will find the Twisted Roots pattern in English (UK terms) and Dutch in the Scheepjes Yarn 10 Bookazine: The Colour Issue, together with 15 other beautiful knit and crochet patterns to explore!
Please note: Separate or digital copies of the pattern are not available.
MATERIALS
Yarn: 3 x ballsScheepjes Our Tribe in whatever colour strikes your fancy!
Photo example colours: Red 968 Happy in Red, Blue 975 Canadutch
Needle Size: 4mm (may differ depending on personal tension)
This scarf is purposely knitted at a looser tension with a larger needle, to provide drape and ensure that the cables are soft enough to not bunch up too tightly. For other projects I use a 3mm needle with this yarn, for the Twisted Roots Scarf, I purposely went up to 4mm to create a looser tension.
To get the best results in your cables, please be mindful and do a gauge swatch to check your own personal tension against the gauge info given in the pattern.
Straight or circular needles work fine for this project, so use whichever you are most comfortable with. I used interchangeable circular needles with a 40cm cord to knit the original sample. If you are a new knitter and have little to no knitting experience, my personal opinion is that circular needles are easier to learn on and more enjoyable to use in the long run.
Cable Needle: There are many different types of cable needles and they all work fine, any choice is a personal preference that comes from use. I often just use a double-pointed needle of the same size.
Stitch Markers – optional but they can be very handy for putting in place between the columns of your cables, to help remind you when to change stitch pattern. This is especially helpful if you are like me and like to watch TV while knitting.
Blocking Materials – Essential for this project, as the cables have a tendency to ‘noodle up’ a bit. Blocking the scarf is needed to flatten it out, show off the cables properly and give it the desired size and shape. My go-to blocking materials are foam mats, blocking wires and KnitPro knit blockers.
SKILL LEVEL
Everyone is welcome to take part, and all that is needed are the supplies, a basic knowledge of knitting (cast-on, knit, purl) and an adventurous spirit! If you are a newer knitter, this pattern may look intimidating with the different textures and to and fro of it all with the cables, but I promise you it is so much easier than it looks. This is the perfect project to hone those knitting skills! For the more experienced knitters, you’ll have no trouble finding your groove with this pattern, making it a great on the go or binge-watching project!
PATTERN SUPPORT
At the start of the MAL, I will be posting handy tips and tutorials here on my blog to make sure you have all the info you need to be able to knit your scarf. You will also have additional support in the Scheepjes Dutch and International Facebook groups where you can find me and my fellow mods and admins, as well as some of my testers, so there will be no shortage of advice and help to get you through! You’ll also find an active community (over 110,000 knitters and crocheters between the two groups) who are always eager to help out, chat and share their love of crafting with you.
The official hashtags for the MAL are #ScheepjesMAL #TwistedRootsMAL #YARNTheColourIssue #YARN10, don’t forget to use them when sharing your project on social media!
You can also click here to add the Twisted Roots Scarf to your favourites or cast-on on Ravelry.
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for fun news about the Twisted Roots MAL and be the first to know about future designs!
Ok, that’s all the info I have for now, so be sure to check back in on January 6th, 2021 for the MAL kick-off!
Until then, stay safe and have a wonderful holiday!
Will there be any video tutorials as well?