Habu Textiles Kusha Kusha Scarf
Habu Textiles creates ethereal patterns to compliment their incredible yarns. The Kusha Kusha scarf showcases Silk Stainless and Superfine Merino. Silk, merino wool, and stainless steel? That's no typo, that is a one-of-a-kind combination! After knitting, the Kusha Kusha scarf is washed, which felts the merino wool and renders the fabric as light as a feather.
Our friends at Habu were kind enough to share the Kusha Kusha Scarf pattern with The Purl Bee!
The photo above is from Bay Area blog, Coloursknits. We always look to Coloursknits for inspiration in our knitting! Thank you Vanessa!
- Habu Textiles Super Fine Merino Wool - 1 cone, Yarn A
- Habu Textiles Silk Stainless Yarn - 2 cones, Yarn B
- Knitting Needles - US size 8, US size 6, US size 4, US size 3
- Tapestry Needle - For finishing
We would like to give special thanks to our friends at Habu Textiles, who have allowed us to share this pattern with you!
Habu Textiles patterns rely on diagrams, which are a visual way to represent a knitting pattern. We know that for some of you this diagram looks less like knitting and more like a mysterious geometry lesson! Standard American directions follow below, but if you are curious about learning to read Japanese knitting diagrams, here is how you do it.
Read the diagram from the bottom up. This pattern is worked in Stockinette Stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side).
The diagram is telling us that the bottom width of the scarf is 8 inches wide and consists of 68 stitches. For this part of the scarf you will work with both yarns, A+B and US size 8 needles. Slightly up the diagram are two grey boxes with some numbers in them:
6-1-10
(-10)
This means, work 6 rows, decreasing one stitch on each end of the 6th row 10 times. This will leave you with 48 stitches. This section will be 60 rows long, and will measure approximately 9.2 inches in length, and when you are through, 5.6 inches wide. Continue on the 48 stitches with your size 8 needles for 200 rows, or 30.2 inches more (for a total of 40 inches).
At 40 inches, you will drop yarn A and continue on with only Yarn B. Switch to US size 6 needles and work 12 rows. Then switch to US size 4 needles and work 24 rows. Switch to US size 3 needles to work 94 rows (or 22 inches more) to complete the scarf. Bind off and felt scarf.
Mystery solved!
Kusha Kusha Scarf
Work enitre pattern in Stockinette Stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side) beginning with a knit row.
Yarn A: Habu Textiles, Super Fine Merino
Yarn B: Habu Textiles, Silk Stainless
With US size 8 needles and yarns A + B, cast on 68 stitches.
*Work 5 rows, on the 6th row:
Purl 2 together, purl to last 2 stitches, purl 2 together.
Repeat from * 9 more times.
You will have 48 stitches.
Continue in Stockinette Stitch with US size 8 needles for 200 more rows or until piece measures approximately 40 inches long.
Switch to US size 6 needles, and drop Yarn A.
Work in Stockinette Stitch with Yarn B only for 12 rows.
Switch to US size 4 needles.
Work in Stockinette Stitch for 24 rows.
Switch to US size 3 needles.
Work in Stockinette Stitch for 94 rows, or for 22 more inches.
Scarf should measure approximately 62 inches long.
Cast off loosely.
Sew in ends and felt piece in soapy water by hand. Block and allow to dry.
Beautiful!
July 27, 2007
Reader Comments (21)
Yes, in the pattern we've featured here, you knit with both strands (one merino and one stainless) for part and then switch to just one strand of the stainless all the way to the end.
It is soft, and it is wearable. Its not necessarily warm or cozy, but it is delicate and light, perfect for spring.
Yes we will continue to stock this lovely yarn. If you'd like to be notified when we receive a shipment, just send an email with your request to our customer service email address (below). They'll let you know as soon as it arrives.
customerservice@purlsoho.com
Please send an email with your request to our customer service email address (below). They'll let you know as soon as it arrives.
customerservice@purlsoho.com
Thank you
Both yarns in the photo are the off white, but it looks like we're out of the off white stainless at the moment. If you'd like, you can email our customer service address and they will let you know when we get it back in.
You can find our customer service email form at this link:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/contact
Hope this helps!
Mary Kay
Warm water and handwash soap. Fill the basin and submerge the scarf. Then rub the scarf in your hands. You'll see it begin to felt after a moment or two. Keep doing it until it is as felted as you would like. Then rinse it by soaking it in several changes of warm clear water. Block and allow to dry.
The wool stainless does not felt. For this pattern the merino does felt, but the stainless does not, creating two different textures. If you wanted the entire scarf to felt you should use just the wool rather than the stainless. Hope this answers your question, but if not please let us know. Thanks! PB
Thank you!!
The silk stainless is white-1 available here:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/2979-Habu-Textiles-Silk-Stainless
The fine merino is color 20 available here: http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/2980-Habu-Textiles-Fine-Merino
Thanks for your question!
thanks
You can definitely use it but I believe that yarn is quite a bit thicker than the merino so it will be different.
You can felt it or not- it just depends what it looks like when you're done knitting.
Good luck with the project and please keep us posted!
Molly