Free Pattern: Fluffbox Neck Warmer

Here's that pattern I was talking about, for the neck warmer I made for the man a while ago. This is the only thing that I've made him that he wears on a regular basis and this yarn is apparently nice and soft against his neck and "doesn't itch". I listened to an interview with Debbie Stoller the other day and she was discussing her new book of patterns for men and what men like in a hand-knitted item. The best thing she said was that we shouldn't approach knitting for men from a knitter's point of view. If we do, they end up with jumpers covered in a million cables or bobbles or whatever, and then we wonder why they don't wear it! Hehe, I'm guilty of this too. ;-) But this neck warmer, like I said, is the only thing that he wears on a regular basis and it was the least complicated of all of the things I've made for him.

Please let me know if you find any mistakes in the pattern, or if you have any ideas on how to improve it. I really just made this up on the needles as I went along, so it's really easy but also not the most elegant pattern ever conceived.

Yarn details:

• Novita 'Teddy'
• 45% wool/30% polyamid/25% acrylic
• 100gr = 110 metres (bulky weight)
  
• colour 567 (cherry red)
  
• about 50 grams needed

Needles: 6mm double-pointed

Finished measurements: (when flat)

• length from top to bottom: 17cm
• width at botton: 35cm
• width at top: 19cm
  

A few notes before we begin. I am a loose knitter, which I have only discovered since I started swatching recently (shame on me). So, you might find that it's best to go up a needle size if you think you're on the tight side.

Kathy asked if this is 'stretchy' - yes indeed! It fits over the head with no trouble at all and will be fine for those with larger or smaller necks. My neck is smaller than the man's, and it fits no worries. Perhaps there could be some problems with the chest part being too small on those with more meat on their bones and there would need to be more material on the lower half of the item.

The yarn used in this pattern is really only available in Finland, and then sparsely over some other parts of the Nordic countries (so I'm told). Kathy also asked for some substitute yarns that can be purchased in the US. Before I give you my list, I have to warn you that I don't have any of these yarns here in front of me, so I've judged based on the stats and the pictures.

Tahki 'Dakota' - this one has just the right amount of fuzz on it to match the novita and a similar blend of fibers. This would be my top choice.
Drops 'Inka' - this has the same kind of 'bumpy' texture, but is not available in solid colours, and I'm also not sure how easy it is to get a hold of in the US.
Berroco 'Duo' - this also has the 'bumpy' texture, but without the fuzz, but it was discontinued a couple of years ago. It might be slightly bigger than the novita.
Cascade 'Leisure' - this has a different fiber content but looks to be in the same ballpark as the novita.

Without further ado, cast on!


Cast on 81 stitches.

Round 1: K2, P1 around.

Rounds 2 and 3: repeat round 1.

Round 4: *K2tog, P1, (K2, P1)x2, repeat from *around. [72 stitches]

Round 5: *K1, P1, K2tog, P1, K2, P1, repeat from * around. [63 stitches]

Round 6: *(K1, P1)x2, K2tog, P1, repeat from * around. [54 stitches]

Round 7: K1, P1 around.

Round 8: *slip 1, K2tog, psso, (P1, K1)x2, P1, repeat from * around. [40 stitches] (the last repeat will be cut short)

Rounds 9, 10 and 11: K1, P1 around.

Round 12: *K1, P1, slip 1, K2tog, psso, P1, repeat from *around. [28 stitches] (last repeat will be *K1, P1, slip 1, K2tog, psso, P1, (K1, P1)x2 )

Continue in K1, P1 for 15 more rounds.

Cast off loosely (you want to be able to pull it over your head).