yo yo scarf

The past few days I've been working on a scarf using a different sort of yo-yo stitch from the pattern book Learn to Yo-Yo Crochet by Wendy Harbaugh.

Wendy used to have these instructions online so if you saved them off at that time, you have the basic instructions already, but not the specific patterns. The instructions are no longer online.

Why did I choose to make a scarf? Well, that is what I've been making lately and it is the most useful for the charity efforts I've been concentrating on this year. The caveat of making a scarf in this method is that it requires long foundation chains. In this case 216, for each strip. So I worked three foundation chains of 216, but the strips are joined as you go. I had no problem with the long chains. It came out perfectly each time. I did mark my chains with a safety pin as I went and made sure I had a block of time where I could count without interruption.

If you don't have a problem with long foundation chains, I don't think you'll have much of a problem with this method. It really is not difficult at all once you get the hang of it. Really it's like making shells one way and then upside down the other side. There's more to it than that, of course, but you can picture it thataway. The pattern gives the skill level as Intermediate. 

There are a couple of other patterns in the 34 page book I might try also. One is a ripple afghan and I am curious about that one particularly.

What I like about this book is that there are a lot of photos. A LOT of photos. Just about every step of the basic method is shown pictorially. This is very helpful if you've never done this stitch before. Then there is a photo of each project

Why this join as you go method rather than just making yo-yos and joining them? I don't see myself joining that many yo-yos, but some do and enjoy it too. I think it is just what you like to do. There's no reason you couldn't work and enjoy both methods. They are just different and give a different look. When joining the regular yo-yos you would have a border around each yo-yo. In this method you would not.

The yarn used in the pattern is thinner though she uses a larger hook (I) and gave a smaller scarf - 5 3/4" x 47". I used worsted weight Red Heart Super Saver and an H hook. The finished size of my scarf is 7" x 71", one of the longest I have made lately. That is made exactly to pattern, except that instead of going into the space between shells, I went into the sc. 

If you would like to make regular yo-yos (not the kind in the pattern book), double yo-yos, saltines and granny's daughters, I have a tutorial on each of those methods at Crochet Cabana. There are a couple gals who accept these for charity. Holler out if you need that information. They are with Crafting for a Cause and Bev's Charity Challenge. At the Corral, I have a photo of one afghan made with some of my double yo-yos.

Happy crocheting!