New year scarf

I wanted to make a black and white striped scarf. Why? I am not entirely sure. There is something very classic and appealing about the football-y look of a stripey scarf. Makes me nostalgic for my brother's Roy of the Rovers comics. Didn't Hotshot Hamish's team play in black and white?

But the thought of endless rows of double or treble crochet filled me with boredom. How to make clean stripes with enough for me to stay interested? I needed to learn a new stitch.

So I went to my magical compendium of stitches: this old kitting and crochet magazine, another fantastic aunt Sue find of course.

Palm leaves was just right: it would still hold the stripe, but with a bit of syncopation in the rhythm to keep it fun. It worked up very quickly and soon I was flying through the rows.

In a few evenings and a motorway trip or two over the holidays, it was done.

I was going to add some bright colourful tassels, but when it was done it felt, well, done.

To complete the look all this needs is a wooden rattle and a cup of steaming Bovril. I think Roy would approve, as he effortlessly chips the ball in a smooth arc into the back of the away team's net.