My tips for knitting Iris Schreier's Multidirectional Scarf in 2 colors

After finishing the Multidirectional Scarf OSS, a few people asked how I carried and switched the 2 yarns to get neat edges and transitions. In this post I describe what I did. It's not necessarily what Iris had in mind when she wrote the pattern, but it worked for me.

You can get the pattern for free if you join Iris' Multidirectional Knitting Yahoo!Group and introduce yourself on the message board.

Also, I'd suggest trying out these tips while you're knitting the scarf or a swatch, as they won't make much sense out of context.

Right side triangles
Here's a right side triangle. The hypotenuse forms the right edge of the scarf. Note the edge detail and the transition between the right side and left side triangles.


When working a right side triangle, switching from one yarn to the other occurs on the right edge of the scarf. When you finish a row on the right edge, it will look something like this. Notice that I just finished a blue row so the next row will be a white row. See how the white st on the end is loose and loopy?


Just pull the white yarn and the st will tighten up. Notice how the white yarn is in back of the blue yarn.


Drop the blue yarn (it's still in front of the white yarn).


Then continue with the pattern.


When you get to the edge of the left side triangle, the pattern calls for a SSK. After the SSK, bring the yarn to the front.


Turn and proceed as instructed.


One important note regarding right side triangles:
As you're working the last row in a right side triangle, carry the unused yarn down that last row so both yarns end up on the left edge of the scarf. Do this for all right side triangles.

Left side triangles
Here is a left side triangle--the hypotenuse of the triangle forms the left side of the scarf.


When working a left side triangle, switching from one yarn to the other occurs on the edge that is adjacent to the previously worked right side triangle (after the SSK).

Here's the backside of the scarf right after I did a SSK. I completed the blue row and will start knitting with the white yarn after turning. Notice how the white st is large and loopy.


Just pull the white yarn to tighten the stitch. Bring the blue yarn to the front. Turn.


Now the public side is facing me. If I turn the top of the work down and peek at the back side, here is what I see. The blue yarn is on the right and the white yarn is on the left, and the yarns are not crossed.


Now proceed as instructed.


There's nothing special about the kfb on the left edge of the scarf. No slipping of sts or anything like that.


Here's what the left edge will look like.


And here's the transition between the bottom of a left side triangle and the top of a right side triangle.