This pattern will be released as an MKaL (mystery knit-a-long), which will be hosted via my Instagram account and the hashtag #PracticeMakesPerfectMKAL. You can find more details of the MKaL there and on my site. It is available from my site and my Payhip store. The Warm Up and all of the Steps are ready for download now.

Practice Makes Perfect is a knit scarf using various knit & purl patterns normally seen in gansey sweaters. It is suitable for everyone in your life, although it might be a bit long for those under 12.

What do ganseys, and knit & purl patterns have to do with Irish dance, you may be asking. Great question! Knits and purls are to knitting what trebles and treble-hop-backs are to Irish hardshoe or 3s and 7s are to Irish dance in general. They’re the building blocks that we lay a foundation of to continue learning. And like any skill, practice makes perfect!

Skills & Techniques used in this pattern:

• slipknot
• knit and purl (K and P)
• yarnovers (yo)
• decreases: K2tog (knit 2 together), SSK (Sl 1 knitwise, sl 1 purlwise, yo, pass both slipped sts over), P2tog (purl 2 together) and Sl 2, K1, P2SSO (slip 2 sts together knitwise, knit 1, pass both slipped sts over the knit st and off the needle)
• twisted sts: K tbl (knit through the back loop) and P tbl (purl through the back loop)

You have your choice of knitting this scarf from two separate pdfs each week. The first will contain written (line by line) instructions and a chart. Use one, or both, it’s completely up to you and how you work best. Or you can work from the second pdf which is Low Vision and Screen Reader Accessible. This contains the same written line by line instructions as the first pdf but presented in a 24 point sans serif font (Verdana) in all black type with no italics, and has been left justified. I’ve also eliminated most abbreviations so screen readers can best relay the information to those knitters that use one. Each pdf is complete and gives you the option to work how you’re most comfortable to knit your scarf.

Yarn Notes:
Look for a smooth yarn in a solid, heathered, or semi solid colorway so the patterns show up nicely. Overly busy variegated yarns will definitely obscure them. This pattern is suitable for any fiber and/or blend as long as you’re fairly close to the gauge given above. I have listed a few different yarns above that are suitable but there are many more alternatives, perhaps in your own stash.

The Steps will be released on the following schedule:
Step 1: August 30th ✔️
Step 2: September 6th ✔️
Step 3: September 13th ✔️
Step 4: September 20th ✔️
Step 5: September 27th ✔️
Step 6: October 4th ✔️
Step 7: October 11th ✔️
Step 8: October 18th ✔️
Step 9: October 25th ✔️
Step 10: November 1st ✔️

Won’t you dance with me?