Team Color Tie Designed by: Catherine Hoben

Designer’s email: choben@yahoo.com

This Team Color Tie is the prefect clothing accessory to celebrate a person’s love for any sport. Make one to show your love and dedication to your favorite teams regardless if it’s a professional team or a local one. This pattern can also be used as a ladies belt, scarf or headband too. If you’re knitting it at the game, just make sure to knit while the other team is up to bat!

(This particular Team Color Tie was created for the annual Stitch N Pitch game in Phoenix, Arizona. It was even worn by Mark McCune from Fox Sports News as he interviewed the designer at the game.)

This pattern is a: Knit AND Crochet Pattern

Skill Level: Easy

Credits: Photos taken by Catherine Hoben

Materials:

Yarn:

Color #A: Paton Yarn, “Grace” 136 yards/ 125 m; 1.75 oz/50 g. Color #60008 Natural.
 
Color #B: Paton Yarn, “Grace” 136 yards/ 125 m; 1.75 oz/50 g. Color #60705 Cardinal
 
Color #C: Paton Yarn, “Grace” 136 yards/ 125 m; 1.75 oz/50 g. Color #60040 Night

Yarn Substitute:

Yarn Weight 3 – Light, DK, and Light Worsted weight 100% mercerized cotton yarn may be substituted.  Be sure to check your gauge if using a different weight or type of yarn.

Knitting Needles:

Straight or Circular Needles - US# 10 / 6 mm

Crochet Hooks:

US # 6 / 4.25mm

Notions and Accessories:

Tape measure, scissors, water bottle, towel and pins for blocking

Size:

Men Sizes: 1 size fits most

Finished Product Measurements:

Tie length:  60 inches for Regular, 70 inches for XL
Tie width:   2 inches

Pattern Stitch:

The Team Color Tie is knit in seed stitch, and finished with two rounds of a single crochet stitch for the border.

Gauge: 9 stitches = 1 inch in seed stitch / 22 rows = 4 inch (10 cm) in pattern stitch

Design Notes:

If your team has three colors, purchase a skein of each color, and make three ties, rotating Colors A, B, and C.  This is an excellent project for a beginning knitter to practice moving the yarn back and forth for the knit and purl stitches.  It is also easy to learn the single crochet stitch to finish off the tie. 
 
Please measure your progress on the Team Color Tie against a tie that is a suitable length for the wearer.  Be sure to block the Team Color Tie before wearing.  It looks quite professional when it is blocked and dried.

Pattern:

Tie:
With Main Color A, cast on 9 stitches.  Work in seed stitch: K1, *P1, K1; repeat from * to end of row.  Repeat this row for pattern.  Work flat on circular needles, or back and forth on straight needles.  When desired length is reached, bind off loosely in pattern.
 
Border:
With Contrast Color B and crochet hook, single crochet (sc) around tie.  Begin on a long edge about 3 inches from the corner to allow for weaving in ends.  At each corner, sc in last stitch, chain 1, single crochet in the same stitch, and continue, allowing enough ease for tie to stay flat.
 
With Contrast Color C, repeat sc border as above.

Finishing:

Weave in loose ends of yarn and clip.  To block: On a long flat surface, place a beach towel.  Stretch out tie to desired length and pin evenly to towel.  Spray with water.  Let dry overnight.  Remove pins.

Meet the Designer:

Cathy has been taking a break from knitting for her grandchildren, and is combining her love of knitting with baseball. She is an avid baseball fan and follows the Arizona Diamondbacks. Just recently she was one of the knitting instructors at the Arizona Diamondback Stitch N Pitch game. Cathy has also organized a knitting and needle arts group at the community center where she lives. She finds that between teaching others how to knit and working on some easy projects she can keep herself quite busy.