Slip stitch and the double bed...

I know you're dying to see what the next red scarf is going to be and because I'm that committed to this challenge and very conscious of deadlines, even self-imposed ones, I'm working on it now (also going to visit family in Toronto for a week so I'll be away until the 15th) and I hate to think you were waiting for this and I didn't deliver - so here we are, early!



side facing top portion
is correct

side away

If done properly, side facing is right side, but no worries, even done wrong it still looks fine! My swatch (20-0-20 ns) in gold Yeoman Yarns Brittany - would be T2 stockinette on the single bed, so I've used T2/4 for the double bed. Is there a reason that the ribber is 2 full numbers higher, you ask? Yes. It goes back to that circular knitting thing where on the Silver Reed the ribber needs to be 2 full numbers higher than the main bed to have the stitch size match, so if you did the circular thing ('are you up for a challenge?' Jan 18/16)  you can gauge this to what your circular tension difference was. If you use the same number on both beds, the fabric will be too tight on one side and will curl inward. If your swatch is laying flat without having to press or steam, you're good.

use double length

Set main bed to slip, the white squares are knit, the grey squares slip and the rib bed stitches knit every row (with DAK, main is on the grey square). This creates little pockets of raised areas on the ribber side and the pattern still shows up on the knit side/side away so it makes an interesting two-sided fabric. Slip stitch makes a narrow, non-stretchy fabric so  a plain circular hem will match the width just fine and we don't need to worry about a stretchy cast-on (or off) - see below for MAO-approved method.
Notice the difference in length in the swatch - the bottom side is the 'wrong' way, and the row gauge is 57 rows to 10 cm/4 in. - the top portion is the way I really wanted it to be, therefore the correct method, and the row gauge is 75 rows to 4 in/10 cm. FYI, the stitch gauge is exactly the same in both, 35 sts to 10 cm/4 in.
Oh, and use that close knit bar again...and you know, if you want the DAK stitch file, email me at knitwords@shaw.ca
Machine: 4.5mm standard gauge with ribber. Knit on Silver Reed 580/SRP60N
Yarn: red 2 ply (3/14) cotton,  2900m/350g (would be T2-3 stockinette) or any light weight yarn that knits a full needle rib comfortably.
SLIP DIAGONALS Red Scarf  for Aids Awareness.
30-0-30 ns, arrange for Full Needle Rib/ZigZag (all needles working, extra one on rib bed so both end ns are on non-patterning rib/front bed.
Swing H5 (centre, half pitch). Cast on waste yarn, hang comb and weights, knit several rows, ending CAR. Set to circular, ravel cord, K2R. Place carriages on left side. Bring ns out - this cancels the circular setting just for this row, MC, T1/1, K1R. RC000. CAR. You should be still set to circular.
T1/3, K2R.
Grade tension up by one dot per row on each carriage to T2/4. Knit to RC010.
Download your pattern, set to slip on MB. Knit 1125 rows. Change to circular. K2R. Grade tension down by one dot to match beginning hem. RC010. Cancel circular. Zigzag, T4/4, K1R.
With WY, T5/5, K20R circular knitting. FNR, K2R. Remove from machine. Steam WY to set stitches.  Remove last two rows to open the end.  Fold waste yarn out. Using latch tool, start at side opposite to yarn end and chain cast off by picking up end stitch, put behind latch. Pick up next stitch from other side of WY and pull through. Continue going back and forth across row. At end, pull yarn end through to anchor. Remove waste yarn.
You know I'll post a photo of my finished red one next week!
TTYL!