I started this scarf to try to get rid of some of my scraps. I don't know if it is the fact that it is white, or whatever, but I started and all of a sudden it was all light and pastel colors. Which is fine, but I don't have quite enough of them. The good thing is that I really only need about 3-4 yards of each color. The bad part is that it means I am running out of colors. I'm also not wild about the fact that it means that there will be all of these ends for me to weave in when I'm done.



And now I'm going to have to start begging my friends for worsted weight pastel colors so I can finish it. Or maybe I should just stick to the larger blanket I'm making in the same concept...

Two finished projects

This is Lisa's scarf. Her husband calls it "red head blue." I tend to agree. All in all, I was very happy with the way it came out. There is another picture of it down at the end of this post because I can't figure out how to get them next to one another.

The only problem with this scarf is that it was quite portable, being an easy pattern, a smallish piece and one skein of yarn. Now that it's done, I feel like I'm floundering just a little bit. I know I want to make something, and I want to make something more than a scarf or a blanket. I feel like I need to be able to make something more substantial. But sweaters kind of scare me, especially the sleeves, and I don't really have anyone to knit sweaters for right now, anyway. I also am still on this kick where I have vowed not to buy any more yarn until I make a significant dent in the yarn that I have, so I am trying to find projects that use something like 8 ounces of dark purple worsted weight acrylic yarn. Someday, I will have money and will be able to afford to buy real yarn. Until then...


This is Shannon's scarf. It was mostly done in 2007, but I did technically finish it in 2008 not only because I was working on it during my flight home from California on January 1st, but also because the fringe came in a few weeks later. I despise finishing pieces, and that includes sewing things in, lining up sleeves or adding fringe. I'm just not a fan. One of my favorite things about Robin's new blanket is that when it is done, it will be simply *done*. No ends to weave in, no borders, nothing. Just DONE.

Here's the pattern up close. I've had varying opinions on whether it is better blocked or unblocked. This is unblocked. I like the texture of it. And I think this pattern would look so pretty as a sweater. I'm just not sure how to make it one.

Appreciation

This weekend, my cousin became a bat mitzvah and one of the things they put together was a cute little video. It starts with her getting out of bed one morning, and on her bed as she turns down the covers is the afghan that I made her a few years ago. She always says how much she loves it and how she uses it all the time, but it's so nice to see that even in a video, there it is. I felt very much appreciated.

And another cousin shared this picture of Ari under the new blanket I made them -- she said that everyone in the family (including the Corgi!) loved it and shared it. It feels good when people like what you make for them.

The right amount of patience

I had taught my friend how to crochet some years ago, mostly because her boyfriend at the time told her that she wouldn't have the patience and the only thing stronger than her lack of patience is her desire to prove someone wrong. She has since said that crochet requires just the right amount of patience. Which I like about it, too. It and knitting, both. Though I do find that there are certain patterns that I can make when I am talking to other people or watching tv, and certain ones that I can't. The only downside is that I have practically gotten to the point where I can almost just *not* work on something when I'm sitting somewhere. And forget about the subway. I need something to knit, crochet or read or I am SUNK.

While talking with my friend's family, though, I made good progress on my cousin's shell blanket. I am hoping that I will have it finished by the end of next weekend when I see her, but I am not counting on it.

I tried to put together a knitting blog some time ago, but never kept up with it. Now, I can't even remember the password for it. This will probably be much the same, but I will try. I don't frequently remember to take pictures of things while I am knitting them, or before I give the finished product to someone as a gift.

The goal for this year is to get through as much of my stash as possible before buying any more yarn.

Right now, I'm working on this: http://knitswellwithothers.blogspot.com/2002/02/alpaca-furry-goodness-scarf.html for my friend L in what her husband calls "Red Head Blue." Which is that kind of royal blue that looks fabulous on red heads. I did it on much smaller needles -- fives as opposed to the tens that the pattern calls for. I still like it, but it looks very different from Kathleen's version. I also wanted to e-mail Kathleen to thank her for posting this pattern, but I can't seem to find a way to e-mail her through her blog.