Laura's Loop: Father and Son Knit Ties

When it comes to gifts for my dad and brothers, I often find myself stumped. Thanks to Page's Rolled Hem Handkercheifs, their pockets are chock-full of squares; and thanks to years of knitting, their heads and feet are warmed by piles of hats and socks. In need of a new go-to gift, the Father Son Knit Ties were born! 

Now, my dad and brothers aren't fancy men, but they are gentlemen of the southern variety. They don't flinch at dressing up, and somehow even their "casual" is always quite pulled together. I think these chic and simple hand knit ties will be right at home with their refined style, dressing up jeans and a sweater or adding a kick to slacks and a blazer.

I made these ties with two gorgeous yarns, Koigu's Premium Merino and Anzula's Sebastian: one matte and one shiny for  textural complexity and both with a sophisticated polish that makes these ties special!  The Father's Tie is in reverse stockinette with a handsome stripe, and the Son's Tie is a sweet and easy Fair Isle pattern. Both are delightful to make, for dads and brothers or yourself! And, just in time for Valentine's Day!

The Materials

• 1 skein of Anzula's Sebastian (70% superwash merino, 30% sea cell, 395 yards; color Seaside).
• 2 skeins of Koigu's Premium Merino (100% merino, 175 yards; color 2400). 
• Five US #2 double pointed needles

This is enough yarn for one Father's Tie and one Son's Tie. If you are making just one of the Son's Ties, you will only need 1 skein of each yarn, if you are making one of the Father's Ties, you will need 2 Koigu and 1 Sebastian.. The Father's Tie takes approximately 245 yards, and the Son's Tie takes approximately 150 yards. 

The Pattern: Son's Tie

Gauge

10 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Dimensions

1 1/4-inches wide by 42-inches long

Notes

MC: Main Color; for this pattern it is the Sebastian Seaside

CC: Contrast Color; for this pattern it is the Koigu Black

Begin

Using a Cable Cast On, cast on 13 stitches with MC.

Set up Row: K1, *k1 but do not remove it from the left needle, bring the yarn to the front and purl stitch, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. (24 stitches)

Rearranging the Stitches

Do not turn your work. Slide the stitches to the right end of the double pointed needle. 

Holding two empty double pointed needles parallel to one another in your right hand, slip the first stitch onto the back needle, slip the second stitch onto the front, third onto the back, fourth onto the front, fifth onto the back. Continue in this fashion, slipping every even stitch onto the front needle and every odd stitch onto the back, until you have slipped all 24 stitches and there are 12 stitches on each needle.

Do not turn your work. Slide all the stitches to the right ends of the needles. Slip 6 stitches from the front needle onto a third double pointed needle, and slip 6 stitches from the back needle onto a fourth double pointed needle. With 6 stitches on each of four needles, use a fifth needle to begin working in the round. (After a few rounds when the work loosens up a bit, you may want to redistribute the stitches onto three needles.)

Work in the Round

* [K11, p1] 2 times, for 6 rounds.

Next Round: [K1, (k1 with CC, k3) 2 times, k1 with CC, k1, p1] 2 times.

[K11, p1] 2 times, for 6 rounds.

Next Round: [(K3, k1 with CC) two times, k3, p1] 2 times.

Repeat pattern from * until piece measures approximately 41 1/2 inches from cast on edge. Before you've knit too many inches, make sure to turn your tie inside out and weave in the tail of the contrast yarn. 

After your last row using the CC, cut yarn and weave in end.

[K11, p1] 2 times, for 6 rounds.

Rearranging the Stitches, Again

Slip the next 12 stitches onto one double pointed needle, and slip the remaining 12 stitches onto a second double pointed needle.

Hold the two needles parallel to one another in your left hand with the working yarn coming from the back needle. 

With a third needle, K1 off the back needle, k11 through both the next stitch on the front and the back needle, p1 off the front needle. (13 stitches)

Bind off purlwise.

Block, weave in your ends and you are finished!

The Pattern: Father's Tie

Gauge

10 stitches = 1 inch in reverse stockinette stitch

Finished Dimensions

1 3/8-inches wide by 56-inches long

Notes

MC: Main Color; for this pattern it is the Koigu Black

CC: Contrast Color; for this pattern it is the Sebastian Seaside

Begin

Using a Cable Cast On, cast on 16 stitches with MC.

Set up Row: K1, *k1 but do not remove it from the left needle, bring the yarn to the front and purl stitch, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. (30 stitches)

Rearranging the Stitches 

Do not turn your work. Slide the stitches to the right end of the double pointed needle. 

Holding two empty double pointed needles parallel to one another in your right hand, slip the first stitch onto the front needle, slip the second stitch onto the back, third onto the front, fourth onto the back, fifth onto the front. Continue in this fashion, slipping every even stitch onto the back needle and every odd stitch onto the front, until you have slipped all 30 stitches and there are 15 stitches on each needle. 

Do not turn your work. Slide all the stitches to the right ends of the needles. Slip 7 stitches from the front needle onto a third double pointed needle, and slip 7 stitches from the back needle onto a fourth double pointed needle. With 7 stitches on each of two needles and 8 stitches on each of the other two needles, use a fifth needle to begin working in the round. (After a few rounds when the work loosens up a bit, you may want to redistribute the stitches onto three needles.)

Work in the Round

*[K1, p14] 2 times, for 11 rounds.

Next Round: [With CC, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back, p14] 2 times.

Repeat from * until piece measures approximately 54 1/2 inches from cast on edge.

[K1, p14] 2 times, for 11 rounds.

Rearranging the Stitches, Again

Slip the next 15 stitches onto one double pointed needle, and slip the remaining 15 stitches onto a second double pointed needle.

Hold the two needles parallel to one another in your left hand with the working yarn coming from the back needle. 

With a third needle, K1 off the back needle, p14 through both the next stitch on the back and the front needle, k1 off the front needle. (16 stitches)

Bind off knitwise.

Block, weave in your ends and you are finished!