French Braid

As the holidays approached, I was panicked and overcome with the need to finish all of the gifts, but when I noticed that this was the November KAL pattern on the Ravelry Mega-KAL group, I could not pass the opportunity up. I was even able to use stash yarn from my Brantingham Tree Rings blanket!

I was not that difficult of a knit, and I even managed to get through most of the body before we left. After taking a break from it to finish up my brother's Christmas socks, which I had put on hold to do a heel-sizing test on the first one, I got right back on it, and I managed to finish on Christmas itself.

It wasn't blocked, of course, but I still wore it the next day, and while we were grass-sledding, it came in handy for my cousin Anna (very front - and yes, those are sleds being pulled by an ATV). I blocked it the minute we got home, and I've been wearing it ever since.

Song of the Sahara

After running out of yarn on the Chad Lake Shawl, I picked up the third and final set of yarn from the Article Pract closing sale - a beautiful Alchemy Silk Purse that I fell in love with the moment I saw it.  I had never seen anything that I couldn't resist buying no matter how hard I tried, but this just swept me off my feet.  I bought two hanks, thinking it would be enough for a cowl, and stroked it preciously for a few months.

I finally set to work knitting it up into Louise Zass-Bangham's Song of the Sea Cowl, even though the yarn was thicker than called for, and absolutely adore the results.  The pattern was a breeze to follow, and I loved the variety.

I did, however, run out of yarn, so I ordered a third hank (again, rule one!) around the same time that I ordered my extra yarn for the Chad Lake Shawl, and set it aside to work on my Swiffer Cover and my Car Cup Holders until it arrived.

When it did come, I fell in love all over again, and had the end result of one of the most beautiful pieces of clothing I have ever knit myself.  I'm in love.  I call it Song of the Sahara and wear it proudly.

Ravelry Project

Chad Lake Scarf

Starting as soon as my Christmas Skirt was done, I dove in to the other yarns that I purchased at the Article Pract closing sale, including some great lace-weight yarn that I used to whip up the Rock Island Shawl.

And I ran out.

This, as you can surmise, was the reason for the first rule of going Cold Sheep - purchasing yarn to finish a project is acceptable.  So I did, and it took a while to come in, but luckily it came in just in time for Stitches (more on that later).

I absolutely love it!  Love love love!  The pattern was confusing at first, but really quickly became something I could conceptually follow without really even having to look at it.  It's great as a scarf hanging off the neck, and as a shawl, it will be amazing in the summer on the beach, with my family.

Ravelry Project

Rob's Cowl

Shortly after my decision to go Cold Sheep, I received a message from a close friend of mine named Rob.

Let's just get to the point; he's tall.

He wanted an infinity scarf, something he could wear like other people wear them.  He wanted one that was Rob sized.

So much for cold turkey.

Well, he bought the yarn, so I'm all good there, and since I was using it up for a request, it wouldn't be a problem...right?

Using some KnitPicks yarn, I whipped up the softest most delightful scarf with the best drape I think I have ever knit.  It ended up being 5.5' in circumference and 7" wide.  I LOVE it, and thankfully, he does, too!



Ravelry Project

Summer Airplane Scarf/Shawl

I was walking down College Ave in Oakland, heading to my regular Knitting Group meetup, when I head the women behind me talking.

"I just love your scarf!"  One of them said.

"Thanks!  Hey, watch this!"

We had stopped at a crosswalk waiting for the flashing man to shine, and they walked in line with me.  The woman wearing the scarf pulled it off her neck and spread it out, and before me, I saw a beautiful, delicate shawl.

"Wow!" Cooed the admirer, "That's beautiful."

"Yeah," she responded, scrunching the scarf/shawl up and placing it around her neck again, "I love it.  I take it with me all the time when I'll be out for a while and weather might change.  It's thin, so it scrunches nicely into a bag, too, and I just love taking it on airplanes.  It can be a blanket or a pillow in flight."

And then I was hooked.  As a recent migrant to this country's Western shores, I knew that in the next few years, I would be flying back East many times to see my loved ones, and, hopefully, to move back.  And I'm a temperature sensitive woman.  A match made in heaven.  It was the fates.

Immediately, I knew the yarn I would use.  At a recent going-out-of-business sale, I had secured a cone of beautiful forest green yarn by ArtFibers called "Moss Beach."  It contained a variety of colors that I wore with just about everything, was thin enough to create the perfect weave, and was moderately adhesive, but only with itself, so it was perfect for shawl-wearing made easy.

It didn't take long to find the perfect pattern, either.  My wonderful husband got me all four Jane Austen Knits magazines for Christmas, and I quickly came across Georgiana Darcy's Fancy Shawl.

The result?  I love it, but I'd love to see what you think.  I can't wait to wear it on my upcoming trip to my family reunion!
 Ravelry Pattern | Ravelry Project

Bartering: A Scarf with Pockets for WiFi (PATTERN)

As I previously mentioned, I recently completed a hat and mittens project for a wonderful neighbor.  Now, here's the scarf that goes with it, and, as promised, here is the pattern!

Let's give credit where it's due.  This idea is based primarily on Stephanie from Yarn Harlot's "Unoriginal Hat" (Ravelry) and Darcie's Subsequent "Completely Unoriginal Unoriginal Mittens" (Ravelry).  I shall, of course, call my Scarf Pattern...

Totally Completely Unoriginal Unoriginal Scarf (with Pockets!)

If you'll notice, this scarf has pockets at the ends!  Basically, we're going to do six things:

1. knit the first pocket
2. knit the start of the scarf
3. knit the bulk of the scarf
4. knit the second pocket
5. knit the end of the scarf
6. attach everything

Before we get started, let me explain three unique acronyms:

C2R: Slip 1 to Cable Needle and hold in back, knit 2, purl 1 from Cable Needle
C2L: Slip 2 to Cable Needle and hold in front, purl 1, knit 2 from Cable Needle
C4: Slip 2 to Cable Needle and hold in back, knit 2, knit 2 from Cable Needle

You Will Need:

• 320-424 yards of Super Bulky Yarn (I used Lion Brand Wool Ease Think & Quick Solids)
• Size 10 Needles
• Darning Needle
• Needles for Cables and Holding Set-Aside Stitches

Step 1: The First Pocket

• Use a provisional cast-on to cast on 18 stitches
• knit these stitches in stockinette stitch for 28 rows
• set aside

Step 2: The Start of the Scarf

• Use a provisional cast-on to cast on 24 stitches
• Work rows 1-16, either by following the chart or the written instructions below

1. Row 1: k7, p2, C2R, C2L, p2, k7
2. Row 2: k3, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k3
3. Row 3: k7, p1, C2R, p2, C2L, p1, k7
4. Row 4: k3, p4, k1, p2, k4, p2, k1, p4, k3
5. Row 5: k7, p1, k2, p4, k2, p1, k7
6. Row 6: Same as Row 4
7. Row 7: k3, C4, p1, k2, p4, k2, p1, C4, k3
8. Row 8: Same as Row 4
9. Row 9: Same as Row 5
10. Row 10: Same as Row 4
11. Row 11: k7, p1, C2L, p2, C2R, p1, k7
12. Row 12: Same as Row 2
13. Row 13: k7, p2, C2L, C2R, p2, k7
14. Row 14: k3, p4, k3, p4, k3, p4, k3
15. Row 15: k3, C4, p3, C4, p3, C4, k3
16. Row 16: Same as Row 14

• Work rows 1-15 again
• On the next row, k3, bind off 18, k3

Step 3: The Bulk of the Scarf

Chart.  Please remember this is as viewed from the right side.

• Turn your work as if you were going to start the next row.  Start Row 16 by knitting the three stitches still on your needle.  Then, bring your pocket square that you set aside up to your work.  You're going to line it up so the knit side of the pocket square lays against the wrong side of the scarf.  Then, continue working Row 16 across the 18 pocket square stitches and the three border stitches still on your needle
• Repeat Rows 1-16 as many times as you choose, ending with row 14

Step 4: The Second Pocket

• On the next row, you will set aside the three outermost stitches on each side of your work (the ones that compose the border), and simply work in stockinette stitch for 28 rows on the central 18 stitches, making the second pocket square.  Do not cast off.

Step 5: The End of the Scarf

• Return the the six set-aside border stitches.  Between the two sides, cast on 18 stitches.
• Work the next row with the right side facing you, starting with Row 15
• Work Row 16
• Work Rows 1-16
• Work Rows 1-13

Step 6: Attach Everything

• The pocket you just finished will have live stitches on both the pocket square and the scarf.  Graft them together.
• Undo the provisional cast-ons at the other end of the scarf and graft the pocket sides together.
• Starting at the pocket opening, stitch the pocket lining to the inner edge of the border on both sides of both pockets.  If you start at the bottom of the scarf, then your pockets will be lopsided.
• Weave in all ends and enjoy!

Ravelry Pattern | Ravelry Project

Hat Ravelry Pattern | Hat Ravelry Project

Mittens Ravelry Pattern | Mittens Ravelry Project

What do you think?  Let me know how it turns out of if you catch anything in this pattern I should change!

Dye Lot

One of the projects that has been on my to-do list for a long time (but that I've never gotten around to) is a dye batch.

Well, long story short, I tried it.  It was a nice warm day, I set up the clothesline, and lo and behold...one of five things worked.  Two skirts came out a nice baby-puke, a hat shrunk about three sizes, and the gloves stayed exactly the same color.  But the scarf worked!

I dyes the whole thing, but for some reason, the lace didn't dye.  So, when I went back and forth between a dark green and a tan, this is what I got!  It's the one in the center with the white edgesand the nice forest-y green color.

I'll probably try the other dyes some time soon, but until then, I'll just check one off my list!