June 28, 2010: The Love Bites Neckwarmer pattern is up. Thanks for your patience!

Difficulty: Intermediate

Inspired by the vampire movies and television series that have sprung up with the persistence of the Undead in popular culture, this snug, buttoned-up neckwarmer offers stylish protection to the delicate, tempting necks of your loved ones.

It is the perfect accessory to let you laugh at the weather (and at the local vampire population) when autumn and winter come knocking. Requiring in many cases a single skein of perfect yarn, Love Bites is the quintessential stash-buster.

With X~O~X~O cables winding around the center, its wearer can’t help but feel the love that went into knitting it. A traditional sawtooth lace edging and bright buttons add special finishing details.

SIZE
Women’s One Size Fits Most

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
20 inches long x 9 inches wide to the points of the sawtooth edging.

MATERIALS
Sundara Yarns Aran Silky Merino 50% silk, 50% merino wool; 200 yds/190 mm per 100 gram skein; Color: Salvos of Applause, 1 skein.

US Size 7/ 4.5 mm straight needles (9-10” long are ideal)
Size 6/G crochet hook

Appropriate yarn substitutions include Malabrigo “Silky Merino,”, Classic Elite “Lush,” and Noro “Cash Iroha.”