"Bethtingalw"

Is it a cowl?
Is it a scarf?
Is it a collar?
Nope...it's what we in Wales would call a "Bethtingalw" - a "whatdyoucallit".



Basically it's a bit of simple knitting and a snazzy technique.

Materials:

Chunky yarn - although you could use any yarn really, just work out your measurements.
A Large button.
Size 9mm needles.
Tapestry needle.

Tension: 12sts x 8 rows in 10cm working in garter stitch.

To Make:

Cast on 24 sts
Continue to garter stitch (knit on every row) until your work measures around
42cm.

Button hole row: k7, k2tog, yf, k to end of row.

Knit 6 more rows.

Cast off 15 sts and fasten off and you are left with 9 live sts:




Here comes the fun bit. Start unravelling the live sts that are left.




Place the scarfy-thing around your neck and decide where you want the button, add one and off you go!

Transformed

My son who is 5 years old is naturally a big fan of Transformers and after knitting one hat and didn't like the way it turned out, decided to have a go at my own.

Materials.

*2 balls of DK yarn in 2 contrasting colours, (eg I have used orange and green.)
One will be known as MC (main colour) and the other as CC (contrast colour).
* 5, 3.75mm DPN needles or if you prefer a short circular needle, but you'll probably need the DPNs anyway when it comes to decreasing.
*Stitch marker
*Tapestry or wool needle.

Off we go!

Cast on 132 sts, and share them out evenly between 4 needles.
Being careful not to twist the sts, join in a round. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round and cont knitting for 6 rounds in MC.
Join CC and knit 2 rounds.
2 rounds in CC
2 rounds in MC

Commence "Transformer" chart with both colours being careful not to pull the yarns too tight.

Knit 2 rounds in MC
2 rounds in CC
2 rounds in MC
2 rounds in CC
Continue in CC as the main colour and MC as the contrast colour and work "Autobot" chart.

Knit 2 rounds in CC
2 rounds in MC
2rounds in CC and at the same time begin decreases as follows.

1st: K12, K2tog, rep til end
2nd and all alt rows: K all sts
(change to MC)
3rd: K11, K2tog, rep til end
5th: K10, K2tog, rep til end.

Continue in this way until you have 7 sts remaining.
Using a wool needle, gather these sts together and fasten tightly.

Weave in all ends.