Making a spring scarf

Even though I packed up most of my winter clothes last weekend, I still found myself knitting a scarf on Sunday. And so I called it a spring scarf.


Think I can get away with wearing it for another month or so?

Making another scarf

This is the second scarf that I made over the holidays. It's a lace pattern that I'm particularly fond of, and it makes for very quick knitting.

The wool: Magnum Cascade Yarns, colour 9452 (I used the same in the first scarf - check it out to see a better rendition of the colour).

The pattern: Make sure the number of stitches you start with is divisible by three (I think I used nine stitches with this one) and then knit one, yarn over, knit two together on every row.

You can see another version of this scarf (with very different wool) here and here.

This scarf went to my mom. She's given me many amazing homemade gifts over the years, so it's only fair.

Making a scarf

There were no homemade Christmas gifts this year. That said, I did give away the two scarves that I knit over the holidays. Let's call them New Year gifts. The knitting was a therapeutic exercise for me, and while I had planned to keep one of the scarves for myself, they were drawn to other people. This one went to Raissa, who ooo'd and ahh'd about the pretty wool so effusively that I couldn't deny her.

I used one skein of Magnum Cascade Yarns, colour 9452 for each scarf. Raissa's scarf is 14 stitches on 12 mm needles with the following pattern: Row 1: K2, P2; Row 2: Purl.

Making a scarf for myself

Remember that scarf I started a while back (i.e. in October)? I finished it! I'm taking a hint from Robyn and keeping it for myself.

It was nice having an easy, no-pressure project on the go for a few months. I just picked it up whenever I had time and took a break whenever I got annoyed with the fact that a scarf can take so long to knit.


I've never blocked a knitting project before, but it was necessary this time. Usually one doesn't need to block a simple scarf, but in this case the lacy pattern looked a little wonky, and I wanted to even it out. I laid the scarf on my futon, got it damp with a spray bottle, pinned it into shape and let it dry overnight. It worked! If you don't want to pin a project into your upholstry, I hear other people pin their projects onto a towel.

It's warming up around here, so I might put the knitting needles away for another year. At least I made it through one project, as planned. Next winter I might focus on neck warmers and big needles, to save myself some angst.

Knitting a scarf

I've been knitting. I didn't finish a single knitting project last year, so I bought beautiful wool to help myself succeed this time around.

This is what my scarf looks like so far:


It'll be a lacy scarf, like one I made for my mom two years ago (knit one, yarn over, knit two together). I'm not going to try anything new until I get through a simple scarf. In fact, I may stick to scarves for the rest of my life. I figure I can wrap scarves around my body if I ever have to clothe myself with my knitting skills. Right?

Are you wondering about that pink piece of yarn, threaded through my project? It's a place holder, just in case I screw up the simple pattern and don't want to start from square one. It has already come in handy, friends. Do you remember teaching me that trick, Sarah? Thanks!

Guest post: Making myself a sweater

So, here's that sweater I was taking about! After a little break from knitting, I picked this back up last night, and we seem to be back on track! I'm making this sweater, which I think I discovered in Ravelry. It's such a blur when I go there, but I'm pretty sure that's right!

This is the second sweater-for-myself attempt I have made. The first round, armed with enthusiasm and a gift certificate, began with neglect (I didn't check my gauge) and ended with disappointment (a hilariously small sweater). Not so this time! I learned my lesson, did a pretty huge gauge swatch, and this is shaping up to actually fit!

So far I've knit the back, and one of the fronts. The picture is the second front. I'd say that puts me about halfway!

Updates to follow!

Guest post: Making socks II

This socks business is not going anywhere. This is the beginning of a new pair, with wool my sister Susie got me for my birthday. It's softer than the wool I used for pair #1, and I'll keep you posted as to whether this yields a significantly different experience when I wear/slide around the house in them.

Also, welcome back Erin and Michael!

Guest post: Making socks - an update!

Tonight I finished my first pair of socks! These will not be the last. These are really fun to make, and VERY satisfying. Also, they make a great distraction from the Republican National Convention. Handy!

Guest post: Making socks

Last night I embarked on what I suspect will be a very satisfying quest: knitting my own socks! And maybe your own socks! Keep your eyes on the Christmas tree friends, because so far, with Robin's excellent guidance, this has been a really fun tube knitting time. It's light, small, and the sock yarn! So many colours! They make their own stripes! Hard to resist, so I resist no longer.

I will keep you posted as I approach the hard part...turning the heel!