Wednesday, December 05, 2007

The Chevron Scarf: Some Preliminary Observations

Perhaps like me you were under the mistaken impression that the single greatest predictor of Chevron success (i.e. no pooling, striking yet not-hideous color admixture, a pleasing outcome) would be the look of Color a and Color b when next to one another in the their pre-knit, still in a lovely little ball, state. In point of fact the likelihood that the Chevron will turn into a scarf that you will love and cherish and not one that you use a noose to hang yourself in shame is inverse proportion to the initial going-togetherness of Color a and Color b. I offer the following exhibits as proof:

Exhibit A: Socks that Rock Silkie Jade and Walk on the Wild Side. Two stunning yarns that by all accounts should produce a Chevron to shake you to your foundation and bring you to your knees.

Pretty Chevron, maybe...

Cute, right?
Chevron Ick...

Wrong. It's all wrong. Hells bells, how could two positives make such an anemic negative? It's just weak, people, weak. Just look at that pooling...Next!

Exhibit B: Koigu p133 and Koigu p429 :

Potential Koigu Chevron Hideousness...

Puke-o-rama! Gag me already. But in their knitted state?
It worked!

Yowza! How could yarns that look like vomit together produce such a appealing garment? Chalk it up to the mystery of the Chevron, a counter-intuitive phenomenon which defies rational explanation...also, a little FYI: The Winter Knitty is out and the mighty Romi has another pattern on the cover (woo-hoo!). Her Ice Queen is luscious. The only other pattern that is strongly calling my name is--shocker--the Matrix mittens, because a. I love the color orange and b. well, you know, they're mittens for Chrissakes!

28 comments:

YawnOver said...

Pretty scarf! Like you I have been to the land of Knitty today. I am lovin' that Tudora neckwarmer. Also, the cheater-pants tams. So many projects....

Sarah said...

You know, I thought of you immediately when I saw those mittens!

Jodi said...

Love that second color combo! I'm thinking that the fact that orange and blue are complementary colors may be what makes it work.

Oh, those marvelous Matrix mittens. :-)

Laura said...

Tis indeed the mystery of the chevron... I think it looks great!

Anonymous said...

You're a genius!

Nora

Anonymous said...

That is completely amazing?! Of course, I continue to be amazed by the Chevron scarves out there anyway.

Ice Queen is so, so pretty. And the mittens? I'm with you. I just love making mittens...

a friend to knit with said...

i adore both chevrons.......something happens about half way through those things. as they grow, they grow on you!

mittens. i really must make mittens!

tiennieknits said...

I actually like the first one and the 2nd one isn't that bad. I think if you keep going - they'll grow on you!

Alison said...

Love the bits of orange in that second color duo! Never cared for orange growing up, but now that I'm grown up (he he) I can't seem to get enough of it!

Happy knitting-
ali

Courtney said...

I've completed one chevron scarf (STR G-rocks and Love in Idleness) and I'm at work on another (Pebble Beach and Flower Power). You just never know. I think my second chevron is hideous, but every time I bring it to S 'n B, the ladies tell me they love it. Personally, I really like your silkie chevron. The Koigu one is nice too, but I'm quite smitten with the Walk on the Wild Tide/Jade combo.

Lolly said...

Am I crazy because I like both? the orange and blue is quite nice - I love that combo - but I do think the STRs are nice too.

Kirsten said...

I had many false starts with my chevron too. Then again, mine only ended up being a pair of mitts. In the end, guess I just sort of copped out. Less time comittment=more willingness to take a chance! I agree with many of the others who think that both combos look good!

Lone Knitter said...

Yes, the mystery of the chevron scarf is very deep and complex. I used two very different yarns and loved how mine turned out. I like both of your combos, actually.

The Knit Nook said...

That's it! Too many beautiful Chevron scarves lately, I gotta make one! Also, we're gonna set up a Knit Nook Pay Pal account to accept Heifer donations. I'll post when it's up!

Lazuli said...

That's really interesting! I guess the first two were just too similar for this particular application. I love the second set of colors, though.

Kim said...

I may be alone in this, but I love pooling. Although I have to admit that the puke-o-rama skeins make a fantastic Chevron. My Chevron is dormant for now, but in choosing skeins I picked wildly contrasting and awful-next-to-each-other yarns. It really makes for a grogeous Chevron.

nova said...

It took me two stabs (two Chevrons) to get what I was looking for. At least you realized your dislike of the first before knitting the entire scarf.

Vicki said...

It's really sad, cause those first two do look really good together.

Dove Knits said...

Really? I like the first scarf. It's more subtle than the bottom, sure, but I like how it looks anyway. I think the problem is, though, that the lighter shades of both balls intercept at all the same places, so it just looks pale.

I sure do like the second one.

Anonymous said...

Oh, elementary, my dear Watson! Actually, I don't even think the balls look bad side by side.

Dipsy Doodle said...

Oh my gosh, all these gorgeous colors are a feast for the eyes!

Jessica said...

Wow! Interesting observations. Who knew that expectations could be thwarted so well by the chevron!

Janet said...

It's true about the secret of the Chevron... the key is to get the most contrasting and non-matching combo possible. Your second one is beautiful. I think the first one is just fine, but you're right, it just doesn't have that same "Yowza!" effect.

Hrmph. You're making me want to do another one... stop that!

sophanne said...

No place for comments on the destash post? Are you teasing? I've never used that site so if there's a place I should go if I want something, please help.

Otherwise, I'll take Online supersocke 100 color 839 and 843. (the ones with the black in them.)

Let me know what I need to do.

blts (at) alltel (dot) net

Jadielady said...

Oooh I love the first one!! Pooling you say? Nay! A clever border of pretty purples with beautiful JADE! In the middle.
You can never go wrong with Jade and purple :)

Romi said...

I love both color combos, but then I am quite partial to both green and orange. :)

I'm so glad you like Ice Queen!

Faith said...

That you use "vomit" and "appealing" in the same sentence makes my day a little brighter! That scarf is going to be sweet!

~Kristie said...

Am I the only knitter who hasn't made that scarf yet? (probably). I suppose I should find 2 skeins of yarn that look horrible together and cast on, That scarf is magic!