Japanese Flower Scarf :: Ta-dah!

Looking at the above picture I suddenly feel quite sad! Sad because that beautiful pale blue flower in progress there was the very last flower I made...I was at that delicious point where I was about to witness a WiP becoming a FO. That's a Work-in-Progress becoming a Finished Object. Delicious yes, but sad too :: awwwwwww no more flowers to make!! The most delectable of projects is over and done with, boohoo!!! I can see now why many of these scarves have gone on to become large wraps or blankets. The urge to keep making more and more flowers is quite hard to resist. I am already planning my next flower scarf in a light weight yarn of some sorts for spring/summer wear.

Anyhow, gosh, there I go, off on quite a ramble in my very first paragraph, I do apologise! What I should be saying is Hello, and Welcome to my Japanese Flower Scarf Ta-dah!!!!!! Very glad to have you here to share this with me, I am unbelievably excited about this particular ta-dah moment.

I have totally LOVED working on this project (can you tell?!). It's been a wonderful experience and everything about it has been wowsy. If you've not already seen it, you can read my post here which details the beginning of this project including yarn info and links to the inspiration, pattern etc.

The yarn (Debbie Bliss "Andes") has proven a total dream to work with, I can't rate it highly enough. Everyone who has seen me working this scarf has involuntarily reached out to touch and stroke the yarn, it's absolutely beautiful and completely irresistible. You can't look at it without wanting to touch it.

I used 9 colours/skeins in total and as you can see I only have a teeny handful left. I was working the colours totally at random and joining-on-the-go, so I did have to pay very careful attention to the placement of them. I managed pretty well I think, spacing them all out fairly evenly and using roughly the same amount of each colour throughout.

The above photo was taken before I blocked the scarf out. The flowers did end up a little bit scrunched, with curly-up petals and tight middles and although they probably would have been fine just as they were, I knew that blocking would improve them a lot.

I get asked a lot of questions about the process of blocking actually. Is it necessary? Does it work? How do I do it? Do I block individual motifs/shapes or block the finished article? The answers vary, depending on the yarn used (you can only block natural fibres), the type of project and the size of the project. Generally speaking, if I'm making something that employs the join-as-you-go method, it's not actually possible to block individual motifs/shapes and often I won't bother to block the finished article either. But sometimes I finish making something and it looks so disappointingly wobbly/scrunched/dreadful that I know it will have to go through the blocking treatment. But believe me, it is SO worth the effort and the extra day's wait for the finished article.

My blocking method is very simple and involves a towel, some pins, a spray bottle (this kind of thing), and the attic floor. I pin directly through the towel and into the carpet as you can see above. Starting in the middle, working outwards to the edge. Gently stretching and easing the crochet into shape. With this scarf, I started pinning outwards from the middle flowers, then pinned every petal around the edge. Once the edge was pinned thoroughly though, I found I could remove all the pins in the middle, I only needed them to start out. Tepid water in the mister, and a generous spray all over. The article needs to be evenly wet but not drenched. Then you stand back and force yourself to leave well alone for at least 24hours, and believe me, that last bit's not at all easy! But it does need to be completely, thoroughly dry before you remove the pins.

Then comes a  most magical moment.

I've removed all the pins, and there it lays, all dry and perfectly shaped and stretched and taught.

 I really want to scoop it up and check out it's perfectly beautiful new drape and shape, yet at the same time I am happy to sit and admire it all laid out.

I hold my breath.

I ease a little bit of it up off the towel.

It sits all taut and shaped and stretched in my hand.

And I think phhheewwwweeeee, the blocking has worked as I knew it would, it's safe to lift up the rest.

I breathe out.

And inwardly my heart is singing and I'm thinking "It's finished! I did it! It's finished!! And I LOVE it!!!!"

Magical.

With this scarf, I spent rather a long time prancing about with it in front of the mirror before I decided to lay it out again and photograph it. It's not often I create wearable hooky and it was quite an experience! I mean, I do always kind of "wear" my blankets about my shoulders when I've first finished them, but the Trying On Of The Scarf was extra special.

So.

You know what's coming, right?

Are you ready?

Ready for the reveal??

Here

it

is

....................................................................................................................................................

 

Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh isn't it just????????? Just????? Well, just deeeeelightful!!!!! In every way.

I am of course totally thrilled with it.

Worked in four long rows, I made 46 flowers altogether.

It's quite a substantial and generous wrap.

It's soft and drapey and luxurious and colourful and joyous. Warm too, oh my goodness me, it is soooooooo warm. The alpaca/silk combo makes this an exceptional bit of heat-retaining kit to wear around ones neck.

The colours are such a success I think. The soft/rich/subtle/vibrant mixture is very appealing.

It was in fact incredibly hard to take pictures of the scarf on myself by myself. I wanted to show you the scale of this beauty, how generous it is, how long and wrappable and easy to wear it is. I teetered on a small wooden childs chair to catch my reflection in the bathroom cabinet in order to show you. Not terribly successful, but hoping you get the gist.

I can't tell you how incredible it feels to walk out and about wearing this creation of mine :: in the few days that I've been wearing it, it's given me such a lot of pleasure already. SO HAPPY!!!

And then when I'm not wearing it, I have the pleasure of seeing it hanging around in the hallway looking all casual and at home.

I only took a few pics outside in the back yard and most of them were rubbish (I tried to hang the scarf on the washing line which didn't work out). But this turned out to be my favourite picture of all, I just love it for it's simplicity.

Sigh. So lovely, if I do say so myself.

By the way, I really hope you don't find my enthusiasm too gushy or braggy, I certainly don't mean it to be. I just get a tremendous kick out of creating and sharing, such fun!

Anyhow....I think I may have finally run out of steam here, so I will end with my usual Riveting Facts....

Pattern :: taken from the Japnese book "Motif Book Vol 4".

Yarn :: Debbie Bliss Andes, a DK weight baby alpaca/mulberry silk mix

Flowers :: 46, each measuring approx 10cm across

Measures :: 143 cm along the long side, 105cm along the shorter side, and 36cm width

Balls :: 9 x 50g in 9 different colours

Weight :: 400g

Cost :: £53.55 and so so so worth it.

Time :: started mid January, finished early March.

Photo :: sitting in the Big Chair, casually wrapped

Scarf :: soft and gorgeous and luxurious and blissful and...(I could go on and on here)

Me :: happy and happy and happy and.................happy!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ps I know many of you have been inspired by these flowers and have embarked on your own wraps/scarfs/throws/blankets, it's been really incredible seeing so many pop up all over the world in recent weeks. If you'd like to share yours with everyone I'd be so happy :: please leave a blog/flickr link for us to go see! Thank you! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

Comments

[ken]

nice article

[Albena drunina]

Great,my scarf is still in process

[irene h chesnutt]

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
For crotchers in particular, this is true. Thanks for a peak into your world.

[faith kemunto]

wow.so creative

[lavender]

i love it

[Alexandria]

I do believe I have finally found THE PATTERN I have been looking for to make a shawl with my Bamboo yarn.
I have blue,cream,pink,and tan which I think will do very very nicely. There isn't any yarn that is any softer than bamboo I do believe.

[Suzanne M Lewis]

Looking at all the pictures on your blog & can I say I just love, love, love your colour choices?!? I particularly love your green corduroy jacket with the flower pin. I feel like a magpie - I just can't look away! Every time I settle on a project I change my mind because I am lured away by another lovely one. I have made the yarn bag & the sweet pea blanket & am in the middle of the ripple blanket. I never even considered changing your colour schemes. They are so inspiring. Thanks for sharing it all.

[Jasmine]

Hi there can I Order but I want it to be biigger and what is the price.
My email address [email protected]

[Debra Swancutt]

I have recently made this scarf, I used the left over yarn from the cottage blanket. I gave to a friend as a Christmas gift and she was thrilled to receive it.

[haider]

nice i like it

[angar]

i like this

[noor]

nice

[Paula Harvey]

Why do you say you can't Block Acrylic? Using the same method as you Lucy, only on camping blocks not on the floor, I and thousands of my " friends" Block Stylecraft Acrylic all the time.
Camping Blocks, or the children's Play Mats are available in Dept Stores, Camping and Toy Stores. Also, Hardware Stores. So useful because you can join in any shape you want, then pickup and store in small packs.

I'd like to think this helps.

[Evelyn]

Cannot find the pattern for the flower. Is it available?

[ROSELINE]

The shawl looks like a flower garden.very beautiful.

[Lisa Lingrell]

Hi there, I"m desperately wanting to make this but the motif pattern is stating no longer available. Any ideas on where I could get one?

[Sally Wells]

Absolutely beautiful creation. Love it!

[Georgie]

I tried to locate the motif for the Japanese flower and when connecting to the link, it said that this item is no longer available. Any suggestions. Thanks

[lily]

Hi

we supply all kind of scarf, we are the sacrf manufacture,very interest in your products ,want to cooperation with you

Email: [email protected]
Skype:tang572332565
Mobile:(0086)15914156399

[lily]

hello
i'm interest in your flower scarf

[Elizabeth]

Not sure if this helps, Carol, but before I saw Lucy's gorgeous scarf I found a Japanese flower shawl in Simply Crochet (32) made in cotton. Like you I had plenty of Stylecraft special dk from making Lucy's blankets and didn't really want a shawl in cotton. So I studied the colours and found equivalents in the stylecraft yarn. I made it last year and it has worked brilliantly. Like Lucy's scarf no-one believes there are only 9 colours as the colours look different depending on which colour they are against. It drapes beautifully - I have inadvertently blocked it a bit by draping it on the back of the sofa where people lean on it. (I know you can't block acrylic - but warm people leaning against it have had an effect.) Everyone who sees it comments on how gorgeous it is and my baby granddaughter loves sleeping under it when she naps here She clutches it and studies the colours which she really seems to like. I used matador, bright pink, meadow, khaki, cream, saffron, burgundy, bluebell and royal blue.

I've recommended Attic24 to so many people who I've talked to about crochet - you know how it is when you're in a yarn shop - people talk to each other. It's a brilliant site and has been responsible for my taking up crochet again (I just had to make that Elmer blanket and the Coast blanket and the Summer Garden blanket ....) after many years. I continued to knit but somehow left crochet behind - so this is a good opportunity to say thank you Lucy.

[Carol D]

It's been so long since you posted this, I don't know if you'll even see my question - but I must ask anyhow.
I've so admired this since the very first time I saw this lovely, flowery scarf. Though I put it on "the back burner" for a while, I think I'd finally like to make one for myself.
But my question is this: Do you think that Stylecraft Special DK yarn would work for this scarf? I realize it will be lighter - but perhaps better for summer/early fall. I am 'armed' with lots of this colorful yarn right now and thought about making this Japanese Flower Scarf with the Stylecraft Special DK.
What do you think? would the flowers have enough body - and hold their shape?
I know you've worked with the Stylecraft Special DK a lot and thought you'd know how this would work.
Thank you so much for your continued inspiration! You were the first blogger I found when I picked up crochet again a few years ago - after over 20 years without picking up a hook. Because of you - I was HOOKED! you colors and your designs caught my eye and inspired me to keep going.
I made your Blooming Pillow - it was the first project I completed! It remains a colorful reminder of you and your inspiration.
Thank you, Lucy!

[Catherine]

How do you subscribe to your newsletter. When I hit subscribe there is a very large error

message. Help

[Catherine Loret]

Congratulations.... very very pretty!
I like very much your colors... I look for in France but i don't find... I like the colors "fanées ou passées in french" ...
What kind of yarn did you use for this scarf?
I follow you on Facebook since a long time...
Congratulations again

Sorry for my english!

[Melinda Daniel]

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!!!!! What an accomplishment! Thanks for sharing, you inspire me!