Crochet Spiral Scarf revisited

I have just had crochet on the brain for the past week, literally. Dreams and all. So I have been doing a lot of "swatching" regarding this scarf and came up with some of good parameters:

Single Crochet (SC) makes a more spirally effect than Double Crochet (DC), even if you start off the first set of rows with SC and then switch the next set of rows to DC.
If you end on an increase row it will give a lacier effect to your scarf. This is especially true with DC if you are using a fine mohair. If your mohair is weightier you still get a nice lacy effect, but it's a little heavier.
The edge will get more ruffly (not spirally) if you 5 Shell into every other stitch (SC, 5 Shell repeat) for the final row. This is not really the case with a 3 Shell, though. It's a lot more work for a little effect. The 5 Shell will make the edge of the scarf heavier looking and you will lose some of the lacy effect mentioned above. (see picture)
If you want double the ruffle, then pick up more stitches on the "caston" side of the scarf and Slip Stitch into every chain. Then just work like the other side. If you want to do a two color ruffled scarf, then here's your chance. Although I think this is a little excessive.

So there was another scarf similar to the Spiral Scarf, but I didn't realize it at the time since I was a non-crocheter when I first saw it. This scarf was designed by Kim Hargreaves and called Flourish from her Winter Blooms Collection. Anyway I had been drooling over it, but pretty much forgot about it since I didn't know how to crochet. Plus the kit was expensive. Well, I think I can replicate something like it now. I think I understand the edging she used, even with the beads. I'll be working on that this week and may have something to share sometime soon if anyone is interested.

Update: Last night at my Stitch and Bitch I think came up with a close match to Flourish. I swatched with a chain of 21 using some soft acrylic that someone gave me a while ago. Use your imagination and pretend that it is kidsilk haze in blushes. ;-)

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Pattern: Ice Princess Panta

For a long time now I have been wanting for make something to match the fingerless mitts I made with Cayli's gorgeous home-grown, hand-dyed, handspun that she gifted me with the holiday season before last . I had some left over still but wasn't sure about the yardage. However, I had a vision of making a head band, as I find them cute and convenient for a gal that wears her hair up in the winter. And they hardly take any yarn. Originally I wanted to make a headband like the cabled panta I made before, but the gauge was all wrong. So I improvised something late the Saturday night. And here it is: I love the subtle blue striping and the feel is OMG soft. Cayli's yarn is truly amazing and was such a pleasure to knit up. Ice Princess Panta Yarn: Heavy worsted Handspun <50g Needles: US 8 and a cable needle or DPN Gauge: not critical, but a row gauge of 5 rows/inch with make a nice fitting panta 18 inches in circumfrence. Special Stitches: FC (front cross) = Slip 2 stitch

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Golden Gloves

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