Free Pattern: Aaron's Hitchhiker Necktie

Aaron is my bank teller.  Last summer when he found out I had a yarn store he asked me whether I could knit a necktie?  I said yes but did not commit to the project until his coworkers asked me if I would make it for his birthday.  Aaron's Colleagues at the Orenco Umqua bank picked out the Lilliput sock yarn in the color Puppy love (He did really ask for pink). I did the pattern and knitting.  The result is this necktie that you too can make for a special guy.  In addition I put in a little Homage to the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy as the cast on number is 42 .  You can get the pattern on the Blacksheep Woolshed Blog.

Needles: size 1 (2.25mm), 40” circ. For magic loop Yarn: 1 skein (approx. 300 yds) fingering weight.  Cast on: 42 stitches

  

This tie was knit in a seed stitch pattern It is important however to create a row of knit stitches on either side of your tie so it will lay flat.

Set up Round : k 1, p 1 10 times (total 20 stitches), pm, k1, k1, p1 10 times (total 20 stitches), pm, k1.

Position your knitting so that each pair of markers is in the middle of each needles (10 stitches, m, 10 stitches (this saves lost markers and forgotten knit stitches).

Round 1:  p1, k1 repeat to marker, sm, k1. Return to p1, k 1 until end of needle. Needle 2:  P1, k1 to marker, sm,  k1. Return to p1, k1 until end of needle.

Round 2: Needle 1: k1, p1 repeat 5 times, sm, k1, k1, p 1 until end of needle. Needle 2: k1, p1 repeat five times, sm, p1 k1 repeat 5 times. Repeat rows 2 and 3 until the tie measures approx.  18 inches. 

Decreases rounds:  Needle 1: k1, p1 repeat to marker, sm k2tog, p1, k1 until end of needle. Needle 2:  K1, p1 repeat to marker sm, k2tog, p1, k1 until end of needle.

This is a list of the total number of stitches remaining needle after each decrease round. (40, 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20 st remain).

*Repeat rounds 1-2  5 times (total 10 rounds),

Repeat Decrease Round.  **

Repeat from * to ** until 20 stitches remain on your needles.

With these remaining 20 stitches knit rounds 1 and 2 until entire necktie measures approx.  82 inches. Block and wear.