Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Little Herringbone Scarf - WIP

It's official. I am only creative in the colder months. I have finally picked up my needles recently after nearly a year of not knitting anything! Yikes! It is very clear to me that the quietness and isolative (is that a word? it should be) qualities of winter are highly conducive to crafting and knitting.

Here goes:



I saw this scarf and its pattern at a LYS and just had to give it a try. One side is all purls, the other is this little herringbone pattern which is just lovely to look at. But allow me to say - this one has been a BEAR so far! I've started it and frogged it several times, ranting and cursing, and finally seeking help from aforementioned LYS ("Knitting Treasures" on Court Street in Plymouth, MA and they are wonderful there!) Now I think I've got the hang of it. Phew!

Made with Manos Del Uruguay yarn- one of my fav's- 2 skeins, size 11 needles (but I don't have size 11 so I am using my 10 1/2's). I love the uneven-ness of the yarn, so you will see a slight variance in my stitches as the yarn randomly gets fatter and thinner.


Now I'm a "tight knitter", and with this pattern I have had to be very aware of keeping my stitches loose. Just FYI if this might apply to you.


Here is the pattern:

Cast on 30 stitches.

Row 1: K1, *sl 1, K1, psso, but before dropping the slipped stitch from the left needle, knit into the back of it*, until you have one stitch left, K1.

Row 2: P2tog, do not slip the stitches off the left needle, purl the first stitch (the one closest to the tip of the needle) again, slip both stitches off the needle*.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you run out of yarn.

Bind off. Weave in ends.


And here is the sweet little bear mobile I bought from the very excellent ememem on etsy. I could not resist purchasing him, and he brings me joy. Amongst the treasures he is carrying, there is a little prism which sends sparkles across my kitchen. It's the little things, you know....



Happy Holidays to All...

Moved!

I nearly thought I'd never post anything again, and it still will be some time before I have any creations to share, but I have moved recently, and the long chore of unpacking has begun. I will try to get back to regular postings, but I really don't know when that will start at this point! Wish me luck! (Mr. Biddles is doing very, very well in his new home!)

Ruffle Scarf - Done

Yay! It's done!


Oh it's so pretty! And warm!


I love the contrasting strip of stitches down the middle for the length of the scarf.


And it rolls up into a neat woolie cinnamon bun!



The pattern again is:

Ruffle Scarf
Materials 350 yards of yarn
Needles: size depends on yarn of choice. Choose one size larger than what the yarn calls for.
Directions: Cast on 20 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 8 stitches, turn.
Row 2: Knit 8 stitches, turn.
Row 3: Knit 6 stitches, turn.
Row 4: Knit 6 stitches, turn.
Row 5: Knit 4 stitches, turn.
Row 6: Knit 4 stitches, turn.
Row 7: Knit all 20 stitches.
Repeat rows 1-7.
Save enough yarn at the end to bind off.

Current WIP - Ruffle Scarf Pattern

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It's so undulating!

I found this lovely wool, hand-painted yarn and got a free pattern for the scarf at a LYS after I saw their sample scarf. I thought it was such a lovely pattern, very organic, and in colors of blue and green would be very aquatic. It's a hard scarf to 'model' so please excuse the pics.


I'm probably going to use the whole skein, which I believe is over 400 yards. I just think it looks nicer the more that can be left draped across the torso. The pattern uses a lot of yarn, of course, with all the ruffles. What I had not known until I got this pattern is that you could make ruffles so easily while knitting. I always thought of ruffles as a crocheting possibility but not with knitting.


Here is the pattern.

Ruffle Scarf
Materials 350 yards of yarn
Needles: size depends on yarn of choice. Choose one size larger than what the yarn calls for.
Directions: Cast on 20 stitches.
Row 1: Knit 8 stitches, turn.
Row 2: Knit 8 stitches, turn.
Row 3: Knit 6 stitches, turn.
Row 4: Knit 6 stitches, turn.
Row 5: Knit 4 stitches, turn.
Row 6: Knit 4 stitches, turn.
Row 7: Knit all 20 stitches.
Repeat rows 1-7.
Save enough yarn at the end to bind off.


That's it! Easy peasy.

And here is Mr. Biddles on the computer. Literally.


And my latest favorite pic of him. Ehhhn.

Just in case...

I had fun taking the "Is your cat plotting to kill you?" quiz.