weekend update

Finally, after very slow progress, a scarf from Kidsilk Night is finished. Never again. I clenched the needles so tightly the entire time that I was knitting this lovely little cloud that I ended up needing a stick-on magnetic heating pad on each shoulder. However, the recipient is special and I do not begrudge the time or discomfort. Instead I thought of her the entire time that I was knitting and sent many good thoughts her way. Today I will block, but right now it is all puffy:

This morning I cast off a ripple stitch scarf for myself. Still needs to be blocked, but here’s a shot from yesterday, when I was close to finishing:

It is made with alternating strands of a semi-solid, Oasis Yarn Seduction Silk,

and a two-plied sock yarn from Rio De La Plata.

Knitting a scarf with sock yarn takes a little more time than knitting with worsted! My last three scarves have been with very lightweight yarns, all very enjoyable to knit.

I have some Big Kureyon drying - I soaked it yesterday because I plan to knit something with it that does not like to be blocked. That’s right, I am so in love with my first Clapotis that I have to make another one. Every time I wear it I get comments. Casual, but elegant and drapey. It looks great with a denim jacket and still works at the office.

Meanwhile, I will be swatching for a jacket or sweater. I would like to knit one more big winter project before thoughts of spring take over. I think I have knit thirteen scarves this season. Seems like a nice round number.

In the backyard, a sharp-shinned hawk has taken to perching on top of one of the bird feeders every morning. A broad-shouldered hawk and a Northern harrier have also been frequent visitors. I will be trying for some good photos.

If you would, please leave a comment with your favorite podcast. Somehow I wound up with an iPhone. : - )

 

scarves con’t.

I am still in scarf mode. Last night I finished the knitting on a holey-bias scarf for one of my girls. Claudia’s handpainted sock yarn is very very squishy. I used US 7’s and after blocking, the scarf will be barely 60 inches. It’s lacy and delicate. I’ve also been ribbing away on a Kureyon stripey scarf in 150 and 164. This scarf has lots of blues and greens, all slightly grayed and subdued. It will be great with a denim jacket. Rich has his eye on it. Scarves will be shoved out the way now until I make some fingerless mitts and a Calorimetry for my mom. I’m driving over the mountain on Friday morning to visit her for most of the weekend.

Yesterday morning I spent 4 hours with some very smart and fun women staffing the Hillary Clinton booth at the DNC meeting. We had lots of lively conversation and gave out good swag. It was definitely worth getting up early on a Saturday.

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Live Models!

Last night I finished the collar on Rich’s sweater. He modeled it for me today:

I think he likes it! I used 7 skeins of Plymouth’s Galway worsted.

Right after I took Rich’s photo, I headed south to meet up with Pam. We landed in the middle of a suburban shopping paradise. We ate lunch and caught up on all of the news. She modeled her new scarf for me:

The leaves are at peak color so driving was unusually delightful.

In the weird department, I saw a dead bear on the side of the highway heading south on I-95. I have seen live bears in the woods back home, but this was a first.

 

Hole-y Bias Scarf

Hole-y Bias Scarf

I wrote out some detailed instructions for the bias scarf in the previous post. It’s just a setup with increases on each end of the right side rows, a straight section, and a decrease section.

Using some sock yarn, I swatched another version:

It is knit on US 7s. When finished, I plan to wet block it to make it lace-like.

I finished the neon version and sent it off to my sister. I also finished a feather and fan scarf knit in Silk Garden Lite. I plan to give it to my friend Pam on Sunday when we have our quarterly artist’s date.

 

Just call me the Scarf Lady

Somehow I have become the Scarf Lady. My sister requested scarves for her crew, and my daughter requested one - a first for her. My friend Mel’s son is on the list, and a couple of seekrit scarves are in the queue as well.

I double-stranded some Opal solid sock yarn with hand-dyed that my sister unearthed from her basket to make an off-center Feather and Fan scarf. Status - FO. Enough yarn is left to make some fingerless mitts - just right for someone who has a cell phone duct taped to her head.

This scarf is knit on the bias with a row of yarn overs and k2tog’s every 8th row. It is wide for a scarf - ten inches - and can be used as an emergency hat since I know this person leaves the house without one all too often. The colors are a little neon for my taste but the recipient picked the yarn. The repeats are flowing nicely without pooling. I’m more than halfway finished.

Meanwhile, my own projects are languishing, but all of this scarfing will be finished up soon enough. The other recent scarves are over at flickr.

In other news, we are headed to the Birchmere this evening. We will be seeing the Carolina Chocolate Drops and the Austin Lounge Lizards, eating the B-mere’s mediocre food, and most likely meeting up with lots of local music friends.

 

diversion via color

While we were visiting last weekend, my sister gifted me with some yarn from her stash. Some of it came with knitting requests. One skein of Lorna’s Laces is to be used in a scarf for my niece. Two more skeins will become something scarf-ish or wrap-ish for my sister. I get to use the remaining skein of Autumn House Farms sportweight however I chose.

I decided that the skein of Bittersweet Shepherd Sport would be interesting to combine with some Kureyon. I had two skeins of 102 in my stash. I am using the simple mistake rib pattern. So far, I like it - but more important - Katie will like it.

I will be riding my bike and beach knitting for the next several days.