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The problem began on the provisional cast on, which I executed as the pattern suggested, with a crocheted loop out of cotton. I didn't look at that again as I knit and purled for ever. During the process the stitches caught on my jewelry (is my gauge too loose?), and I became bored out of my mind.
Months later, when I got to the part where I was supposed to undo the crocheted chain and put the live stitches onto another knitting needle I met with more disaster. My lace weight yarn had embedded itself into the cotton, and the lace weight stitches were nearly impossible to disengage from that crocheted chain. I wasn't about to forfeit all that knitting, so I persevered and in about two hours, and with the aid of scissors, I managed to get live stitches onto a needle. After that I wasn't about to try the Kitchener to merge 84 stitches with 84 stitches. So, I did the 3 needle bind off. In spite of my efforts to keep the cast off loose, the resulting seam is tight and bunchy. With the fine yarn, there is no way I would try to undo anything. So much for my "Twice Knit" philosophy. By now, I wanted this Loop off the needles and out of my sight.
After blocking and a photo shoot I put it in the mail for Maren. She reports that she loves it.The story isn't over. I couldn't get this Bias Loop out of my mind. The fact that it's bias makes it drape beautifully, and if I had managed to execute the Kitchener there would be no seam. What could I do?
I rummaged in my left over yarn bin and came up with some sport weight merino/wool yarn and decided that I would try again, only on a smaller scale. But first, I knew there should be a better way to do the provisional cast on. Looking through my books, I found instructions for making a cable cast on using waste yarn in a different manner. This time I crocheted stitches directly onto a knitting needle, and then knit into those stitches with my loop yarn. Much easier than knitting into a crocheted chain. Yes!
Using this method I caste on 24 stitches. In less than a week I had knit almost to the end of my ball of yarn. I was very easily able to undo the provisional cast on this time. Yes, again!!! I brewed a cup of tea, and managed to do the Kitchener to merge those 2 sets of 24 stitches all in one sitting. The result? Here it is. A pretty close to flawless Bias Loop. And even though I knit this as a sample, just to see if I could do it, I think I'll be wearing it.
As a matter of fact, I can see making lots of these to wear. I used less than 175 yards and I can wear it long and draped, or double it around the neck. I may like this better than a regular scarf. And, with less yarn and less time, why not? It's too bad I didn't' make this before attempting the lace weight version, but in all honesty, I don't think I'll make another one of that magnitude. I like the short and sweet one better.