Mrs. Whatsit's Neckerfuffle by Jordynn Jack

In Madeleine L’Engle’s famous children’s book, A Wrinkle in Time, Mrs. Whatsit is one of the three supernatural sisters (the other two are Mrs. Which and Mrs. Who) who transport Meg Murry to the fifth-dimensional land of Camazotz. In the novel, Mrs. Whatsit is described as wearing many layers of clothing, including several scarves. I think she would have loved this “neckerfuffle” for its warmth, softness, and its “wrinkles”—which remind me of the “wrinkles in time” she used to travel between dimensions.

I call this a “neckerfuffle” not only because of its wrinkly, ruffly pattern, but because it is somewhere between a neckwarmer and a scarf. By sewing two buttons to the end, you can adjust the length, and the long tail tucks into your jacket to prevent the chilly gap caused by most neckwarmers. Maybe if she had worn one of these, Mrs. Whatsit wouldn’t have needed so many scarves after all.

Sizes

One size
Finished measurements: Approximately 4” X 32”

Yarn

Malabrigo Chunky (100% merino wool; 104 yards [95 meters]/100 g): #204 Velvet Grapes (MC), 1 ball.

Needles

US#10 (6 mm): straight or circular

Gauge

18 sts and 24 rows = 4” in St st

Notions

Tapestry needle; two 1” buttons

About the Designer: Jordynn Jack

Jordynn Jack knits and designs patterns in North Carolina, where she is also professor of Rhetoric at the University of North Carolina. Her designs are inspired by all things nerdy, from literary references to microscopic images of plants. She is one half of the Knitty Professors, who blog at knittyprofessors.blogspot.com. You can find her on Ravelry under the user name canadianbacon.

Pattern and images © 2008 Jordynn Jack. Contact .