Rumply Ruffly Scarf Therapy - and pattern.

(this is a longish intro - if you want the "pattern" go to the pictures)

This post is weeks in the making. Like, this time last week, I had all this stuff done. And it feels like lifetimes have passed since then.

Apparently it's only been a week since my dad's emergency quadruple bypass.

I brought a sewing machine with me to my parent's house during the time my dad was in the hospital, but I brought it to do some maintenance and then sew.  And then, well, things went nuts.

Luckily, I had stashed in my purse one of the crochet hooks from my late grandma. And I was incredibly blessed to have a very nice friend bring me yarn (soft fluffy delicious yarn) and a giant (!) peppermint mocha to the hospital. Seriously, favorite person.  She is the most sweet in the whole world. No doubt.

A magical thing happens when you crochet.

The yarn soaks up the memories of what is going on around you.  It takes in the essence of the activity, the place, the people. It holds the life around you, and remembers it for every time you see and use the finished product. I swear it's true.

I looked for patterns to use in the hospital, but I was so stressed out that I couldn't count anything.  Literally. I made 4 things before I realized I was incapable of a symmetrical shapely item. Oh well. So while Dad was in surgery, I made a scarf.

Because a scarf is a straight line. You can use whatever stitches you want. You can make it simple, difficult, intricate, bold, light, anything. It's a project that hands can do without the brain needing to be involved.

Here is the result - you may have seen it on Instagram (I post every now and then at least! - tupelocreative).

A ruffly, rumply, soft and cozy scarf. A scarf for cozy warmness.

I can tell you roughly how I made it. I'm a little sketchy on the details, please forgive me - I wasn't there when I made it. :/

I just chained 130. That's the center of the scarf in beige.

Then I ran ribs down the middle of the scarf.  Just remember what side is the "right" side of the scarf if you want the ribs on the same side.  I worked down the original chain, around the end, and back down the single loop of the foundation chain. I used double crochet, using the back loops only to make the ribs.

Then for the ruffled rumple edge, I ran two DC per edge stitch, all the way around.  I maybe put a line of regular DC under that, but my brain wasn't there to remember. Sorry. :)

It used two skeins of yarn - One Lion Brand Wool Ease and one Lion Brand Thick N Quick.
Sorry I can't tell you the colors!  I think I used an I hook with it.

I made it probably in 2 hours or so.

Is it perfect? I doubt it. But it was a comfort to me to have fluffy yarn in hand, my grandma's crochet hook, and a repetitive motion to keep me occupied. And the finished product is soft and cozy too.

This scarf is infused with hope, fear, hospital waiting rooms, family and friends. It remembers the smell of sterile hospitals, quickly eaten fast food, and shampooing my dad's hair.

Yarn is good therapy. You should try it - it's a hobby like none other.

I hope you have a fabulous day.

PS - Prize opportunity!

I need help figuring out the origins of this pattern- can anyone point me in the right direction?

I know it was gifted in 1947-1948, and possibly has Dutch origins.  It's made with crochet thread.  I need to not just have the pattern, but to find where/if it was published in a book or magazine in that era or before.

If you find it, please email me using the button on the sidebar.

I'm offering a prize for it!