Welcome to December! If there ever was a month that screamed Martha Stewart, it’s December. I have lots of Martha projects planned for this month, so I thought I would dive right in with a craft!

I don’t know how to knit (although I can crochet a little) so I was intrigued with the no-knit scarf, page 73 of the Handmade Holidays special issue. You make the scarf with bulky yarn and tie knots instead of knitting. This, I thought, I could actually do.

My first task was the yarn. I ended up with yarn that may not be as bulky as it is supposed to be, but I liked the color and texture. I got the yarn for about $2.60 at Joann’s, using a 40% off coupon, so that was a deal.

First, you cut 12 lengths of yarn that are about 140 inches long. I made my a little longer in case of mistake. Then you divide the yarn into 4 groups with three strands in each. I recommend setting yourself up at a dining room table for this since they are very long.

I had to look up how to tie a square knot, since I had no idea what that meant. Basically it’s just a double knot.

If you want to use yarn that is not giant and bulky, then I would say to add more strands to each of your four groups. If I did this again with the yarn I used I would have doubled it I think.

Once you’ve got it all ready to go, you tie two bunches together then tie the other two bunches together. Imagine your yarn groups are labelled ABCD. Tie A and B together and C and D togther. Then you tie the inside groups together – B and C. Then you start over and do the outside groups, then the inside, over and over.

Not difficult to do, but it takes a little concentration. It also really helps to

have someone else helping you pull the yarn through and straightening it out. The instructions say to pin the end to a piece of foam board. I didn’t have any foam board, but I tried to pin it to a towel. It kept coming off. Instead, I recommend putting something heavy, like a book on the end of it.

I did fine until I got close to the end. Here’s the problem. Because you’re tying the inside B and C strands to each and also to the outside A and D strands, the B and C strands get shorter faster, since you’re using them more. I ended up with those strands done and two feet left on the other ones. I think there must be a way to flip the strands over at some point while tying so that you distribute them more evenly. If I ever do this again, I will try that.

Because of this, my scarf is a lot shorter than I would have liked, so I’m pretty disappointed with it.

Welcome to December! If there ever was a month that screamed Martha Stewart, it’s December. I have lots of Martha projects planned for this month, so I thought I would dive right in with a craft! I don’t know how to knit (although I can crochet a little) so I was intrigued with the no-knit … Read more →