By Ingrid Murnane and the #plateaknitters
Design Story
For five days in February 2010 I devised and led a knitting performance on Twitter called #plateaknit. Instructions were tweeted by the @platea online performance collective for others to interpret to the best of their ability in knitting, crochet or any other medium of their choice. Some of the performers were knitters, some were not, so you will see that while there are a number of typical knitting abbreviations, there are plenty of others that are a little different. This scarf is made up from the entire instruction feed of the performance. I feel that it is more of a recipe than a pattern because you, as the original performers will all interpret the instructions in your own way. Everybody will come out with something different at the end.
This pattern uses aran weight yarn and 5mm needles. Tension is not overly important as it is a scarf. I used Rowan aran yarn for the main green colour with some Cascade 220 for the other stripes. Some I even used two strands of sock weight yarn held together for some parts. Just use whatever scraps you have to make it interesting, but try to make it all tone together well overall.
My version was made for the #plateaknit Twitter performance and gets exhibited from time to time, so is kept on the needles as a hanging art piece.
These instructions make a scarf about 34cm wide. As a rough guide, the full recipe makes a scarf about 92cm long (depending on how many times you repeat some of the instructions). You will need to repeat them twice to make it about 185 long.
If you’d like to see the pattern notes on Ravelry and other people’s projects as and when they’re added, you can visit them by clicking here.
Top Tips
For each new instruction set, change colour (these are denoted by the asterisk at the start of the line). If an instruction is too difficult to interpret, leave it out and move on. Some instructions will ask you to do Twitter-specific things. If you’re on Twitter and able to do this: great! If not, then just interpret to the best of your ability, perhaps from the TV instead. As you’ll see, some of the tweets were topical (iPad and Iraq Inquiry). Be creative and enjoy it!
The Recipe
Cast on 60 stitches in main colour.
*Knit the next five rows in k2, p2 rib
*This lace pattern works out over 49 stitches: if using 60 stitches, work 6 before the pattern and 5 after on each row
Row 1
p3 *k6, k3tog, yo,k1, yo, p1, k6, k3tog, yo,k1, yo, p1, yo, k1, yo sl2 k1 psso, k6, p1,yo, k1, yo sl2 k1 psso, k6, p3
Row 2,4,6,8
k3 *p10, k1, p10, k1, p10, k1, p10, k3
Row 3
p3, k4,k3tog,k1,yo,k1,yo,k1,p1,k4, k3tog, k1,yo,k1,yo,k1,p1,k1,yo,k1,yo,k1,sl2 k1 psso,k4,p1k1,yo,k1,yo,k1,sl2 k1 psso,k4*p3
Row 5
p3*k2,k3tog,k2,yo,k1,yo,k2,p1,k2, k3tog, k2,yo,k1,yo,k2,p1,k2,yo,k1,yo,k2,sl2 k1 psso,k2,p1k2,yo,k1,yo,k2,sl2 k1 psso,k2*p3
Row 7
p3*k3tog,k3,yo,k1,yo,k3,p1, k3tog,k3,yo,k1,yo,k3,p1,k3,yo,k1,yo,k3,sl2 k1 psso,p1k3,yo,k1,yo,k3,sl2 k1 psso,k3*p3
Repeat as many times as you like
*Change to a new colour for the next five rows
*For the next 10 rows, make an eyelet (yo, k2tog) everytime you see a RT
*For the next 8 rows, knit moss (seed) stitch (*k1,p1* to end on first row, *p1, k1* to end on second row)
* yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, k3 to the end of the row. Repeat for 6 rows
*kfb every time someone tweets about the Apple Tablet
*Make the next 3 rows either pink or yellow then change back to your original colour
*Weave an 8” bit of yarn into the next 9 stitches. Let leftover tails dangle on RS of piece
*Weave an 8” bit of yarn into the next 9 stitches. Let leftover tails dangle on RS of piece
*Do a row in green to match my hula-hoop
*For the next row only: close your eyes and trust your inner-knitter
*If you’re playing music, every time the song changes, reverse the direction of your stitches, i.e. knit becomes purl, purl becomes knit
*Twist your next two stitches over each other for every rude word tweeted or heard
*For the next row pretend you’re in the knitlympics and focus on speed, not accuracy
*Make the next two rows sparkle, the three after that dull and the two after that sparkle again
*Change from knit to purl for three stitches each time there is a tweet mentioning food or drink
*Every time a non-knitter tweets, yo, k3, k2tog
*For every tweet that mentions a pop culture celebrity, slip a stitch
*Change lobsters and dance! By which I mean, time to change colors! And make it a sharp contrast change
*Weave an 8″ bit of yarn into the next 9 stitches. Let leftover tails dangle on RS of piece.
*Weave an 8″ bit of yarn into the next 9 stitches. Let leftover tails dangle on RS of piece.
*Change lobsters and dance! By which I mean, time to change colors! And make it a sharp contrast change
*k1, p2, k1, p3, k2, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1, k1, p3, k1, p3, k1, p2, k3, p2, k1, p3, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p3, k2, p1, k2, p2, k4, p1, k1, p3, k1, p1, k3, p2, k1, p4, k1, p3, k2, p1,k1
*using morse code (as shown here http://bit.ly/7ov2VA) translated as purl for dash and knit for dot, knit your name
*using morse code (as shown here http://bit.ly/7ov2VA) translated as purl for dash and knit for dot, knit your latest tweet
*Change to the colour that the next tweet you see mentioning a colour says
*0=k 1=p: 01101011011011100110100101110100
*0=k 1=p: 01101011011011100110100101110100
*What would Beethoven’s 5th look like if it were a knit pattern? http://bit.ly/1a80Xz Put your interpretation in the next 5 rows
*Hooped! Do a row of green to match my hula hoop
*Change colour to reflect the current weather. Sun yellow, Rain blue, Snow white, Clouds grey etc
*Change your color to reflect what you ate for lunch and knit 2 rows of moss stitch. If you ate too much switch to a larger needle
*k 2/3rds of sts, wrap & turn, k across middle 3rd, w&t, k to 2 st past last wrap, w&t, continue to w&t back and forth full row
*Purl full row, repeat wrap row, purl full row
*Hooped! Do a row of green to match my hula hoop
*Do the next two rows in stocking stitch and the two after that in one by one rib
*Weave an 8″ bit of yarn into the next 9 stitches. Let leftover tails dangle on RS of piece
*Twist your next two stitches over each other for every rude word tweeted or heard
*k 2/3rds of sts, wrap & turn, k across middle 3rd, w&t, k to 2 st past last wrap, w&t, continue to w&t back and forth full row
*Whatever you are doing now, wrap and turn
*If you prefer pale ales to darker stouts, avoid weaving in ends at all costs
*Sings *knit, knit, knit, knit, purl, purl, purl, knit*
*Make it (more) orange now
*Yeah, let’s wrap and turn again, ok?
*Sew on a button, sequin or trinket please
*make some lace… whatever you are doing, add yarn overs to every third k stitch. then k2tog
*Over the next row, decrease by 10 stitches, knit the next three rows and add increase by 10 on the fifth row
*For all Twitter feed references to Apple or iTablet today add an eyelet: yo k2tog
*Starting here, and counting the stitches as you go,knit all normal numbers and purl all prime numbers up to 100
*Make the next ten rows with your favourite stitch pattern
**kfb1 yo2 yf3* to end of row
*It’s opposites time: swap colours to the opposite on the colour wheel of whatever you’re using
*Revert to the previous pattern you were using each time someone comments on their commute
*Easy 2 row pattern. Row1: knit 1, slip 1, repeat to end. Row2: slip 1, knit 1 to end. Repeat rows to suit
*For the next five rows, change one of your needles up three sizes and the other down by two
*Knit along with the song – any stitches of your choice (especially for the hat knitters!) 🙂 ♫ http://blip.fm/~jwxjl
*Make random buttonholes in the next row by casting off seven in that row and casting on seven in the corresponding place in next
*RIBS! Yummy yummy RIBS! Give me 10 sweet rows of k2p2 RIBS! Mmmmmm
*Of all th languages, it’s Knitten for which I’m smitten: k4, p3, k2, p8, k to end of row. Repeat as you like
*Purl twice each time you see a ReTweet for the next three rows
*Make yourself a cuppa. On return, change colours to the darkest u own for 7 rows. Then change back as you were
*I think everyone should lose some stitches. Decrease next row by five stitches
*For the next three rows make it sparkle again!
*Weave an 8″ bit of yarn into the next 9 stitches. Let leftover tails dangle on RS of piece
*Wrap & turn (a short row) when anyone in your twitter stream mentions #Blair or the #IraqInquiry
*Use black and white thread for every black and white statement made on TV today
*For each #FollowFriday in your Twitterstream: p1, k1 (through back loop), p1 to end of row, then follow 2nd row with knit (rice st)
*Stop knitting if Tony Blair apologises, admits he was wrong or is actually sincere during Chilcott Inquiry today
*Knit 3 secrets about you – spell them out in morsecode or use interpretive stitchery & color. Secrets are safe with yarn
*Make a nupp/bobble: Knit 4 times into next stitch and in the next row, Knit these same 4 sts together. Do many/few
*Row 1: knit, Row 2: purl, Rows 3&4: k1, p1 rib (Roman Rib stitch pattern). In something suitably Roman, of course…
*Every time #Blair says “look” do an eyelet/loophole: Yo K2 tog. http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/
*Stop knitting if Tony Blair apologises, admits he was wrong ir is actually sincere during Chilcott Inquiry today
*Repeat the first instruction that you interpreted today, but in a different colour
*O=K 1=P: 011100000110110001100001011101000110010101100001
*yo k2tog (eyelet) every time you see someone use the word “love” in their tweet
*Be jubilant for you’ve created great work! Knit the next bit in your fave colour 🙂 Then have a nice cup of tea
*Whatever you are making, you know it needs a tassle. Add a finishing additive element of your choosing.
Finishing
Weave in the ends (apart from the ones in the instructions), or leave them hanging if it is an art piece. Block the scarf. Enjoy wearing a unique piece of art. Thank you for taking part in the #plateaknit performance. Email me at ingrid[at]ingridmurnane.com with your pics!
The original Twitter #plateaknit performers were:
Bungy32
Brendadada
Chrisineilsen
Clockity
ElselineT
Grrlshapedyarns
Itsokadascat
Jenniferwyng
Joanie_s_c
InnyM
InnBrooklyn
Newcurator
Platea
_Randomthoughts
Runefox
Sortingtrolley
Thatwaszen
Yberryfurrealz
All images copyright Ingrid Murnane and Giles Babbidge
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