How to Knit an Ascot
The very word "ascot" conjures up a past era, where gentlemen lounged in their smoking jackets and ascot neckties in their women-free clubs, while women wore frocks and had tea with their friends. These days, though, everything old is new again, and a key-hole ascot is the perfect accessory for the modern woman.
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Things You'll Need
- Two balls worsted weight yarn
- Pair size US 7 or 8 knitting needles
- Darning needle
Instructions
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1
Check your gauge. Knit a 20 stitch by 20 row swatch. Your gauge should be five stitches for 1 inch. Adjust either your tension or the needle size if your swatch is the wrong size.
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2
Cast on 26 stitches.
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3
Make the pattern by knitting two stitches, knit into the back of the next stitch, purl one stitch, and repeat this to the last two stitches. Knit the last two stitches. Repeat this pattern until your scarf is 23 inches long.
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4
Start the key-hole. Knit 13 stitches in the pattern from Step 3. Join a second ball of yarn and work the next 13 stitches, continuing in the pattern, with the new ball.
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5
Complete the key-hole by working the next 14 rows in the following pattern. With the ball you have at the beginning of the row, knit two stitches, knit into the back of the next stitch, purl the next stitch. Repeat this three times, then knit one stitch. Drop that ball and pick up the other ball, knit one stitch, knit into the back of the next stitch, purl the next stitch. Then in pattern knit two stitches, knit into the back of the next stitch, purl the next stitch twice, and knit the last two stitches.
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6
Knit the next row in the pattern from Step 3 all the way across with the first ball of yarn to close the keyhole. Cut off the other ball of yarn, and leave a long tail to weave in. Continue to knit in the Step 3 pattern for 7 inches.
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7
Finish the key-hole ascot by binding off all stitches. Use a blunt-tipped, large-eyed darning needle to weave in all the loose ends, and strengthen the keyhole with the long tail left from the second ball.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If the size 7 needles don't knit to the gauge, try a different size.
A self-striping or variegated yarn with a fuzzy texture makes this pattern more eye-catching.
You can vary this pattern by knitting a slightly longer scarf, omitting the key-hole, and making the first and last 6 inches of the scarf in your favorite lace or wave stitch pattern. If you choose that option, you may want to narrow the section of the scarf that wraps around the neck and ties (about 20 inches) and do it in garter stitch or stockinette stitch.
