Block you

The Grape Diamonds scarf is fiunished, blocked and has successfully adorned my neck against cold. 

The curling on the edges didn't completly disappear with blocking, but that is not obvious when the scarf encircles a neck.  Not sure if that is the fault of the pattern or the yarn. 

I know the curling is there, but no one else does, so I am not obsessing worrying about it too much.

It did give me a chance to use my blocking wires for the first time.  :-)  My sweetie only gave them to me as a birthday present two years ago.    The wires worked beautifully, and I couldn't imagine pinning out the whole bloody length of the scarf. 

I have also been working recently on the aphgan for my mother-in-law.  Even in bulky yarn on Size 8 needles, it seems like this is dragging along.  Of course, it probably helps to take it out of the knitting bag once in a while.  Apparently, knitting fairies don't sneak into the bag at night and finish my projects. 

And last but not by any means least, the newly named Black Rose shawl.

2 inches completed, 49 inches to go.  With teeny tiny black alpaca.  On teeny tiny needles.  Of ever-increasing rows that end at 990 stitches.  Oh, dear me, what have I done?

Meanwhile, I did some housekeeping yesterday, of my Ravelry account.  I created projects (some of which are already completed--I really am behind on this), and added pictures.  Lots of pictures!  And updated other projects.  And linked yarns and patterns in progress. 

Today, it is all about the housekeeping.       

A Lesson in Lifelines

Grape Diamonds is finished, or nearly so.  I just have to attach the edge, and block it.  This is the scarf equivalent of Kitchnering a sock, and subject to the same level of procrastination. 

However, it is winter, and my chilly neck gives me incentive to finish sooner rather than later. 

I have enjoyed this scarf, though it apparently made me a bit cocky about lace.  (More on that later.)  The mistakes were relatively easy to idenitfy and repair.  I didn't even use lifelines beyond the first couple inches. 

Which leads me right into the pride that led-eth to my fall. 

I started the shawl.  Teeny tiny black yarn.  Teeny tiny size 2 needles.  Complicated lace pattern.  And yet, fresh from my recent lace triumph, I decided not to bother with a lifeline.  [Insert maniacal laughter here.]

After ten rows or garter and eight rows of lace, I made a mistake.  When I took a break for a day, before trying to find it, a bunch of stitches fell off the needles.  I looked at the inch of completed rows, and decided  it would take less time to rip out completely and start over, rather than tink back stitch by stitch, recover the lost stitches and locate the mistake. 

I have learned my lesson.  I am humbled by the lace.  I have finished the garter neck border, and dutifully put in the first lifeline. 

Today, it is all about the humility.

Did you fondle it?

You know how it is when you are expecting yarn.  You check the tracking info, multiple times a day.  You look at pictures of it online.  You dream of future projects.  And at long last, you hear the news:

My sweetie: a package arrived for you today. 

Me:  My yarn!  Did you open it?  Is it pretty?  Did you fondle it?  Is it soft?

My sweetie:  Um, I didn't open it.

Personally, I don't see how he can resist opening my yarn for me, but I would feel the same way if it was hunting-related. 

So without further ado. . . .

Six gorgeous skeins of black Misti Alpaca Canada Lace.    All purchased off Ravelry for $24 (including shipping).

2,600 yards of alpaca softness! 

And it is SOFT.  Baby cheeks soft.  Angel wings soft. 

I am seriously fighting the urge to spread it on the floor and roll around naked on it. 

Today, it is all about the softness. 

Loving the Lace

Lace.  Lace.  Oh, where have you been all my knitting life? 

Needless to say, I am loving the lace.

This little puppy is flying off my needles.  Relatively speaking.  I mean, this isn't a garter scarf on double-stranded worsted, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how fast I see progress. 

At this rate, I will have another pretty lace scarf in no time. 

The scarf is curling badly in the middle.   Is that doesn't block out, my love affair may be coming to a swift end. 

Meanwhile, I am already plotting my next lace masterpiece.  The pattern is selected, and I am scoping out yarn.

In the meantime, I have a scarf on the needles, and a stole ready to cast on

Today, it is all about the love.    

I have been cruising along nicely on the Grape Diamonds scarf.  I am enchanted.  The pattern is not memorizable, but the chart is logical, and the mistakes are (relatively) easy to spot. 

At first, I was concerned that the color shift would be too short to work well with lace.  Now I am concerned that the shift will be too long to work with a scarf.

I thought the dark purple would never end, but yesterday the lavender and sage started peeking through.

The edges are curling badly, but I assuming that will block out. 

Lace requires a lot of blind faith.  You have to have faith that the chart is correct.  You have to have faith that each yarn over and decrease is correctly placed in the overall scheme, even if you can't see the general pattern.  And you have to have faith that the crumpled mess of lace will block out into something pretty. 

Today, it is all about the faith. 

One step forward, three steps back

Having finished a WIP recently (the second Gryffindor scarf for my baby boys) I now felt free to start something new. Having recently noticed a dearth of scarves in my wardrobe, a scarf seemed appropriate. But I went a little overboard.

I have three things, in various starting stages.

  

One is White Diamonds Lace Scarf, in Patons Lace, in "sachet".  This one is in the pre-swatch stage, hence the multiple needles. 

This is the Print O' the Wave  Shawl, in a fucshia yarn I bought in Poland ages ago.  The swatch is completed, the size is selected, and I am ready to cast on. 






The third is the Laughingbird scarf, in Yarn Bee's Diva (sequin), in Scottish Heather. 

So, I finished one project, and started three more. Three LACE projects.  This is getting out of control.  Someone stop me.  Please.

Today, it is all about the backward motion. 

Feeling Scarfy

It is official, except for the calendar.  Winter is here.  No more sandals and capris.  The weather has turned cold, and will not be warm again for months.  But winter has a knitted lining.  Time to break out all those snuggly socks, cozy cardigans and soft scarves. 

That was the plan this morning, at least.  I bundled up my baby boys in their winter coats, hats and one recently-completed Gryffindor scarf (Bugaboo refused his, said it was only for Halloween).  I then turned to swath my own chilly neck and realized how few scarves I own. 

How can a knitter have so few scarves? Two old cheap store-bought scarves from my pre-knitting days, two warm weather drama scarves, two novelty boa scarf, and one lace scarf that is presently missing in action.  (I know that I put it "somewhere safe" for the summer, and now I can't remember where.  I hate that.) 

Really, how is this even possible?  How could I have neglected myself like this?  I live in a place that is wicked cold for months on end. 

I am going to have to do something about that. 

So, really, this is just an excuse to start something new.  I did finish one scarf, so that brings it down to only six active projects right now.  I am allowed.

Excuse me, I think I have to go shopping. 

Today, it is all about the neglect.