Chevron Scarf

I had a nice relaxing holiday weekend; and now I have a finished object to share. I have finally finished my Chevron Scarf and it has only been about two months since I started knitting the darn thing.I am so glad to have this off the needles. I think this is the longest I have ever worked on one scarf. It felt really good to bind this sucker off and get it finished.

The model in the picture that accompanied the original pattern has the scarf wrapped around her head holding back her hair and draped around her neck. I tried it out that way but it looked goofy on me. Maybe I'm missing the cool hair do. I know I need to work on my own modeling - but this is about as good as it gets without a tripod. I think my scarf is a little wider than the original pattern specs. It is a little too wide for a head wrap so if I make another one for me - I might try to make the next one a little more narrow.

The photo above really shows off the edge that the yarn was carried up during the knitting. Not bad at all. Hopefully I can avoid snagging it when I wear the scarf - but at least I didn't have to weave in a bunch of yarn ends. The photo below is a shot of the front and back of the scarf side by side. The back really isn't that special and I usually don't like the reverse side all that much., but for some reason I really like the back of this scarf.


I'm hoping to knit another Chevron Scarf; I even have some Koigu in my stashed all picked out. I think I'll just wait a little bit before casting on another two month scarf project.

Project Info
Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Socks That Rock (medium weight); colors: Watermelon Tourmaline and Farmhouse; each skein 5.5 oz/380 yards 40 grams and approximately 133 meters
leftovers: Watermelon Tourmaline - 1.05 oz / 28g; Farmhouse - 1.20 oz / 34 g
Needles: addi TURBO -US# 5 (3.75mm)
Finished Dimensions: 6 inches wide/ 87 inches long
Pattern Modifications: 2 stitch garter stitch boarder added to each edge
Start Date: March 22, 2007
Finish Date: May 17, 2007

Fiber Friday - Rio De La Plata

This is Rio De La Plata it is 100% wool and the color is a red brick and emerald green. I own five skeins of this and each skein is 140yard. It is from Uruguay and isn't too terribly soft; but it is nice. I don't think it is nearly as soft as Malabrigo.

I bought this yarn with an intent to felt. I was thinking it would make a nice felted bowl or maybe I could knit some type of textured panel that I could hang on the wall. But this yarn has been in my stash so long, I'm not sure what to do with it anymore. So, for now I've stuck it back in a plastic bin in the closet to await some inspiration.

Now, On To Blocking!

I can't believe it! I've knit a total of twenty four of these little squares. The square in the photo above is Kureyon color # 163. The color appears fairly accurate on my monitor but there seems to be a depth to the color that is missing. I think this is one of my favorite squares. The colors remind me of deep ocean waters and algae.

When I started this project, I had in mind that I would knit an extra row across so that the finished blanket would be a little bit wider. But you know, with all my moaning about no finished objects, I've decided it is time to move onto the next step.

The square to the left was the last to be finished! It is in Kureyon color # 183.

Now I've got to block twenty four of these squares. I know I don't have a place to lay them all out at once. So I'll have to do it in stages. I want to make sure that they all end up the same size. I think that will make the seaming go a little bit easier.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to make a little grid that will be reusable so I can block them all the same. Maybe I can find something cheap in the Wal-Mart craft section.

I've still got to get some yarn for seaming and the border. I'm thinking that I'll use cascade 220 like the pattern call for - but I've still got to pick a color. I'll pick a color once I get all the squares blocked and laid out.

It's not finished - but I'm still giving myself a little hooray for getting this far.

Fiber Friday - Apricot Blush

This is another new sock yarn that is waiting patiently in the stash for me to try. It is from Black Bunny Fibers and is 70% merino/30% silk and the color is apricot blush. The skein weighs 100 grams and is approximately 440 yards.

This skein points back to the sock yarn collector thing I was talking about last week's Fiber Friday post. I've been kind of fixated on obtaining sock yarn that is somehow unique or new for me. This skein meets the criteria in two ways - the yarn has silk content and is from an independent dyer I've never tried before.

I'm really looking forward to trying this yarn out. It is so soft. I haven't decided on a pattern yet. But of course it will end up as socks at some point in the future. I just can't say when. I've decided something else too. You've heard of a ghostwriter? Well, if I ever win the lottery I might just have to hire a ghostknitter to help keep up with my sock yarn stash!

Focus, I Need Focus

For some reason, I can't seem to get a knitting project finished. I have several projects started and almost all of them are things that I would like to have finished. I don't really have any projects that I've completely given up hope on finishing.

Several of the projects that I have started are laying out by my chair in the living room. I would label these as active projects because I have done some knitting on them recently. A couple of them are even close to completion. My chevron scarf, for example, should be done any day now. If only I would sit down and finish it.

I also have 2-3 projects that haven't seen fresh air or the light of day in at least a year. These projects all have been started, but have been bagged up and stuck in a closet. I want them finished too. I still like the idea of having the finished object the project represents, but for some reason I put them aside.

Instead of working on any of these projects , I end up hunting through my stash and pulling out some miscellaneous skein of yarn and start something completely different (see above photo; I'll post more on this little project later). Or worse yet, I spend time searching for a new project that I want to knit that usually requires a yarn purchase.

I do like the whole process of knitting. I guess I just need to accept the fact that I'm not a knitting machine and finished objects are only part of the goal. Are you able to stay focused on one project at a time? What is your secret?

Two Down; Two To Go

I'm getting closer to having all my Lizard Ridge squares complete. Then it will be on to blocking out all the squares and seeming them together. I'm looking forward to seeing this blanket finished.

The square on the left is out of color number 153 and the square on the right is color number 40. I previously used color 40 to make a felted bag for my mother in law. I love all the blues and one of the remaining squares will be out of a mostly blue color. The last square is still undecided. I have a total of two squares left to make but three skeins of Kureyon from which to choose. I'm not yet sure who'll make the cut yet.

I do love all the bright vivid colors of the random Kureyon skeins I've used, but I still feel a little bit bad because I have absolutely no intention of ever using this blanket. Don't get me wrong, it isn't because I think it will be too special to use or anything like that. I'm not the type to have towels hanging in the bathroom that aren't meant to be used. If I have it, you can use it.

I think this will be more decorative because the feel of the yarn. I picked the yarn knowing this in advance. But now I think as I'm getting close to having it finished, I realize I'm not going to be curling up with this blanket and it is a little sad.

On another note, I want to thank everyone for posting a random fact in the comment section of the previous post. You guys make for some interesting reading!

Seven Random Facts

I've been tagged by Sue to post seven random facts about myself. I'm going to play along and post, but don't worry I'm not going to tag anyone back. I was never any good at tag chasing games when I was little either. If you want to play along - leave a random fact about you or anything you think is interesting in the comments. for this post.

Here are seven facts about me:

1. I've never been to Las Vegas. I don't think I'd like gambling very much, but I'd like to go just to see everything once. Catch a show and see all the lights.

2. I tutored algebra in high school.

3. The monkeys in The Wizard of Oz use to scare me when I was little.

4. I planted tomato plants in my front yard this year. It's good we don't live in a subdivision or I'd be paying daily fines for doing something like that. It isn't something I'd normally do - we don't have a car up on blocks out there or anything. It just seemed like the best place for them. They are mixed in with some perennial flowers though.

5. My husband and I like to fantasize what we'd do if we won the lottery. It's best to be prepared!

6. I have bachelor degrees are in Economics and East Asian Studies. I don't use any of that knowledge for my job.

7. My father-in-law is a lawyer and was able to get the right to officiate our wedding. It was special to have someone close to us perform the ceremony.

Okay, now it's your turn. Leave me a comment with a random fact.

Fiber Friday - Hello Yarn

This lovely skein of yarn is hand-dyed sock from Hello Yarn. It is 100% superwash merino wool. The skein weighs in at 4 oz and is 395 yards. The color is called sour. This is my first skein of Hello Yarn and I'm really looking forward to giving it a try.

It really does feel like wonderful yarn, but I've had a heck of a time trying to get any of the stuff to try out. As soon as the online store for Hello Yarn is updated; it is emptied almost as quickly. I'm eager to try her fat sock yarn too.

This acquisition was spurred on by Znitter. I am by no means blaming anyone for my purchasing new yarns, but she always seems to post some fabulous sock yarn that I've never tried.

I was able to convince myself that one little skein of sock yarn couldn't hurt anyone. So - hello sock yarn. (ha)

As I was putting this yarn in the rest of my sock yarn stash, I started to think that I am quickly becoming a sock yarn collector and maybe not the sock knitter I'd like to be.

I guess there is nothing wrong with collecting. I have several collections of things around the house. Although I always prefer to have collections that can be used. The good thing is that I do intend to use the yarn. That is a mitigating circumstance - right?

But for now, I'll back off buying and try to do more knitting. Don't worry though - I have enough stashed sock yarn I haven't yet shared to keep my Fiber Fridays alive for awhile.

I like how the photos for this Friday's post came out. Sometimes when I look at the photos, the individual strands in the skein almost stand out in 3D in certain areas of the pictures. I'll have to figure out what created that effect and see if I can repeat it in more photos.

I realized yesterday that I have now taken a week long hiatus from updating my blog. It was actually not my intention to do so, but it was a nice break. I am now going to resume more regularly scheduled blogging.

Fiber Friday - Diakeito Diamusee

Something besides sock yarn! This yarn is another souvenir from my recent trip. This yarn is Diakeito Diamusee Fine. The yarn is from Japan and is 100% wool. Each skein is 40g / 239 yards. The color is listed as # 120 and is supposed to be self striping. I have four skeins to play with.

When I originally bought the yarn I thought I would be using it to make a scarf; but since I've gotten the yarn home, I've come across another idea. Now I am considering using two skeins to make the Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl by Susan Lawrence. It is a pretty little shoulder shawl that is supposed to be an easy pattern to follow. It's actually the stitch pattern that I like.

But I kind of think I might not really use a triangular shawl very much. I think I'd prefer a rectangular shawl in use. I have several shawls and they are all rectangles. I've never had a triangle shaped shawl. When I actually think it through, I can't see what I'd want one either.

Who needs something pointing down to their behind? Trust me, you'd see mine without directional signs. If the point is actually long enough, I think I'd end up sitting on it most of the time. I think something rectangular in nature would be much more compatible with my nature.

Maybe I'm thinking about this all wrong. Maybe triangle shawls are really meant just to be pretty decorative item and not to be curled up with. Or maybe the intended wearer is just more elegant than me and doesn't curl up in a fluffy chair. Maybe it is for the actual knitting process that these shawls are created. Do you have a triangle shaped shawl? Do you wear the triangle shaw?

Now, in response to the comments on my dream swatch - I will be taking a picture of me wearing it and post it to the blog. I'll have to get out my tripod and set it up to take the picture. I've also been knitting on my chevron scarf during the week. Hopefully I'll have something to post soon.