I heart this scarf!

So I started this chevron scarf a loooong time ago, maybe in April? I can’t remember, that’s how long it’s been. I was slipping the first stitch, as I usually do to make a nice edge, but when switching yarns, it was getting to be weird and tight. So I just left it and put it in a bag and kinda forgot about it.

Then, Shannon from the SSK podcast tells me about how she found the perfect yarns to knit the scarf with and she already started and got lots done. Well, being the competitor that I am, I have to re-do mine too! Since I talk to her almost every day, sometimes for HOURS, she has a lot of influence in what I knit. She is even nice enough to send me some beads so that I can start my Hanami stole. I’ll tell you that story when I actually start the stole.

Soooo…the old work got ripped an started the new one. I am liking this one a lot better. Not slipping the first stitch and it’s fine. I don’t know what it is – maybe you have to be in the right frame of mind to knit something so boring and repetitive? I’ve been in a sock knitting slump lately, I think because I have too many singles and feel like I get nothing done. And do I knit the 2nds for them? Of course not. I already have about 8 inches done. I don’t know if I’m going to keep this one for myself or if I’m going to give it as a christmas gift. I don’t know if I know anyone who would wear such crazy colors besides myself!

I DID finish a pair but can’t post about it because it’s for my Sock-it-to-me pal and I know she reads my blog. Sucks! Stop reading! :) I think she knows that it’s me anyways…

Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Socks that Rock Farmhouse and Watermelon Tourmaline
Needles: Knit Picks US5 options needles
Started: September 10, 2007

I FINALLY got my answer letter today from Jenn. It took freaking forever, and it’s not Jenn’s fault. Nicely stamped on the front of the envelope was “MISSENT TO MALAYSIA”. WTF? How in the world does a letter that clearly says “Germany” on it get sent to Malaysia? In any case, I guess I should just be happy that I got it. You know how crazy those Malasians are. So Jenn, your letter has really “travelled the world” and finally arrived today. Thanks so much, I really enjoyed reading it and I love the fish paper – must take a picture of the book that it was used in!

In other news, I frogged my entire Vinnland sock because it was a tad too small, not that big of a deal, but couple that with a tight short row heel and that pushed me over the edge. I guess I have a too large instep that I don’t fit short row heels very well? So I started another one, and this time I made it 4sts bigger and am doing a gusset heel instead. It fits much, much better. I’m on the cuff part now.

I also started a chevron scarf with STR, and I was excited about it and now I’m very blah about it. I think it has to do with my edges. I like to slip the first stitch of the beginnings of rows because when I don’t, my stitches are very uneven, but it doesn’t look that great and the side that I’m carrying the yarn on is kinda too tight. I think it might end up frogged. Anyone have any tips? To carry the yarn, they say put the yarn “in front” what does that mean??? Put it in front (closest to the needles)?

MSCS done!

I finished my 2nd My So Called Scarf in Wollmeise worsted weight in Dani colorway. I made it with 36 stitches, sl1k every 1st stitch on the RS, and I added 5 tassels of 10 yarn strands on each end. After blocking, it became a lot longer than I expected, but it’s not gynormously long. It is actually a good length. At first I wasn’t too pleased with the pooling, but now I’m pretty happy with it, although there is a section on the end that changes. When I compared it to the one I did in the Lorna’s Laces, they both do that, which is weird, right?

1/2 way there!

Today I finished 1 side of the Gothic Spire socks that I’m knitting for my secret pal. It was a long road. But I’m pretty happy with it. Since my calves don’t fit in these socks, I had my neighbor Riki model them for me. The pattern isn’t that complicated, it’s just reeeeaaaallllly slow.

My So Called Scarf #2

I needed a break before knitting the other side, so I cast on my 2nd My So Called Scarf using Wollmeise worsted weight yarn in Dani colorway (medium). It is fun to knit something that goes so fast! I decided to cast on 36 stitches (instead of 30) and this one is going to be a regular scarf length. Because I only had 1 skein of the Lorna’s Laces yarn, the other scarf ended up being a little short. Enough to use, of course, but usually you want it to be a little longer. I got 2 skeins so we’ll see how it goes.

I have been on a yarn buying binge. Yep. That’s all I gotta say. Blue Moon Fiber got in more mediumweight yarns and I didn’t go too crazy. I’ve been wanting to make one of those chevron scarves that everyone is making. And I also picked up the fair isle book that they publish. I can’t wait to get their yarns!!!

My downstream pal received her package and she loved it. It makes me so happy when someone really treasures the gift that you give them. I think I get more enjoyment out of hearing that someone really liked something I gave them, than me receiving something myself. Unless of course it’s Socks that Rock! Just kidding… I don’t know if I told you but she is also in Germany so I’m trying to make the packages as un-German as possible. And also I save a lot on shipping! DPD delivers to her overnight – that’s really good to know. I thought the package wasn’t going to make it until after her birthday (being the Easter holiday and all), but it arrived today!

In serious need of blocking

The Tiger Eyes lace scarf is done but is in need of blocking. This is using Scout’s Swag superwash merino sock yarn in Snowbunny colorway. I enjoyed making this scarf, mainly because I liked it enough to not frog it and also that it knits REALLY fast as compared to a sock. I need to get some blocking wires in order to finish it and I was also thinking of adding fringes.

I think I will now do a “My So Called Scarf” using some Lorna’s Laces worsted in Goldhill colorway that I got from my London trip. I was also thinking of doing it using my left over sock yarn either doubling it or casting on a lot of stitches to see what the pattern looks like on a small scale.