Knitting Notes: The Schaefer Criss Cross

This piece is conceived for 2 hanks of Laurel, worsted weight mercerized cotton yarn, on size 8 needles. The cast-on happens along the length of the piece, which, if using the original yarn, really does require a circular needle of length. I'm currently working up the Criss Cross as a custom knit, but I'm not using Laurel. I'm using Audrey, a fingering weight yarn (50/50 silk/merino) on size 6's. The original Laurel version has a complex bank of interlocking fringe on each end, but because of the nature and personality of the Audrey, I've opted out of the fringing and have changed the knitting orientation completely, working the piece from end to end on fewer stitches, instead of casting on the length and working side to side. The pattern operates on multiples of 6, so it's simply a matter of working out the gauge to equal the appropriate dimensions. The wrap can be simplified as well into a scarf with one hank of Laurel the same way, working a number about a quarter of the original cast on and knitting from end to end. It's a versatile pattern, and knitting orientation really makes no difference. Now, needles. In order to make the criss cross row, there is a set-up row before involving multiple yo's. I started out this piece as indicated, using a circular needle. With this thinner yarn, the circular just didn't cut it, although it splayed out my stitches nicely at the end of each row and I could see the whole piece lying flat. What I've found is that in such profusion (with a lighter yarn), the yo's don't behave well as they come up onto the needle join (no, stop right there: I know what you're thinking: "well, if you'd use a Blah Blah Zingaling Needle with a rainbow cable and ultra sharp surgical Doodledee and invisible signatorial Blitzerang, you'd have no troubles with that." It makes no difference. I tried the Blitzerangs and the Zeedlzotts as well as the Chickaleeta Rainbow Zippitydobs. These yo's just don't like needle joins, regardless who made the needles, what continent they're from, or how well they slice, dice, speak foreign languages, or make pesto). So, if you're working on smaller weight yarn and knitting from end to end, I suggest this (gasp!): use a good old fashioned 14" Brittany Birch straight needle. Yo's are happy, and they don't get all twisted up with the knits, and stitch drops are much less frequent. If you haven't tried the Criss Cross, you're going to love it. You get fabric pretty quickly because of the dropped yo's, and the design is interesting. The weight of the yarn varies the look of the piece, and you can accomodate different yarn weights simply by taking a different approach to the knitting orientation. The pattern is available here for purchase alone, or it's free with the purchase of a yarn supply. This project is worry free, really, and quite makeable by knitters of all levels of experience. The row cycle is memorizable, which makes the project mobile. Make a Criss Cross Wrap!