Stitchy Gifts

For Christmas this year, I made my sister-in-law a scarf. My niece and nephew are on ski race teams and they spend every weekend on Mount Hood racing and skiing. I figured a scarf would be a good gift for her – something to keep her warm and cozy while the kids were zooming down the mountain.

I had bought some Deborah Norville chunky weight yarn that was so soft and just crying out to be made into something like a cozy scarf.

I did a take on a pattern I’d found on the Fiber Flux blog.

I have to admit, it was a little challenging for the first couple rows. Once I saw the pattern emerge, though, it was a very quick crochet project. I think I finished in about 2-3 days.

I love that it looks a little lacey even though it is a substantial scarf and very warm and cozy feeling.

I used two skeins and then about a half skein for the fringe at the end. I have a skein and a half left from my original purchase and I’m thinking I may make another, narrower, scarf for myself.

I think my sister-in-law liked it. She wore it one day while she was here. It was cute on her with jeans and a sweater. I should’ve gotten a picture, but I forgot. Sorry!

I have to tell you, I LOVE this yarn. I think I may go back and pick up another color to make an afghan. It’s so soft and cozy I think it would be great to snuggle under on a cold night. The scarf is made in the Amparo Blue color, just in case you’re wondering.

** UPDATED **

My sister-in-law saw my post and had my nephew take a picture of her with the scarf. I think it looks MUCH better on her! (Isn’t she beautiful!?!)

On the Needles

Well, off, actually.

I finally finished the carpool scarf!

You might remember that I had started it the first week of school… well, it sat in my car and got worked on a little at a time for weeks and weeks and weeks and… well, you get the idea. You don’t get very far when you only work on something for 30 minutes a day, that is for sure.

Anyway, FINALLY I finished it.

And I have to say, I love it. (don’t you love my model?)

Just a very basic knit row/purl row.

I thought the gold thread and variegated yarn didn’t need anything but a way to shine. I love how it turned out.

And thankfully, Big Girl decided it was too scratchy (thank you gold thread!) and that she wouldn’t be stealing it after all. So, I get to keep it.

Yippee!

Now, I just need some cold weather to enjoy it!!

And this is on my needles now…

I’ll share more when I finish.

What are you working on?

Stitchy Twitchy (thoughtsalonglifeshighway.com)
On the Needles (sticksandpins.com)
The Needles Came Out (seriouslysassymama.com)

Stitchy Twitchy

I’ve got the yarn bug again –

I’ve been working on a shawl the past couple weeks. I was hoping to finish it over the weekend but may need to put another couple hours into it to finish. It’s going to be so cozy to cuddle in when the weather gets cool, I think.

I’m also working on a “carpool scarf” with some yarn that was given to me by a friend. It’s only two skeins, so I’m hoping I get it to the right length before I run out of yarn because it is discontinued and I’ve not found any online anywhere. Big Girl has claimed it for her own, but I have made her promise she will share with me.

I call it the “Carpool Scarf” because I keep it in the car and work on it while I’m sitting in the carpool line each day. It is coming along nicely and I’m loving the gold threads that are in the yarn – it makes for a pretty sparkle amid the browns and greens.

I have some yarn for my next project ready to go – it’s a very colorful variegated yarn that Little Bit wants me to use to make a scarf and hat for her. I’m thinking I’ll try this hat pattern and maybe something simple like this scarf pattern.

This is the yarn –

Kisses First Love Yarn

Right up her alley in terms of color, don’t you think? Now, I’ll have to find a new winter coat for her to match! I’m thinking a dark purple one maybe.

And, of course, I have all sorts of other projects brewing in my head – I just need to find the time to get to them all!

How about you? Any craftiness at your house lately?

Is it cold out yet? (dishranawaywiththespoon.com)
10 Things | Fall & Winter Yarn Projects (francineclouden.typepad.com)

Hello, my name is Lois and I’m an ADD Knitter

I admit it.

I may have a problem.

Just like I did when I first started scrapbooking, I am finding that, with my knitting, I want to do and buy every project I see.

My stash of yarn and needles is growing daily – and my stack of finished projects is not growing proportionately.

I think this is a common problem, though, and that I am not alone. (I hope!)

My knitting friends talk about converted walk-in closets with yarn organizers and secret stashes of yarn and unfinished projects. It’s almost like it’s an unspoken commonality that we share – this plethora of yarn and plans for beautifully knitted goods that are currently only patterns, yarn, and daydreams.

I started this new hobby thinking I would only buy materials for a new project when I finished whatever current one I’m working on. But, that hasn’t been the case.

Between my ADD tendencies and the weekly knitting class I’m taking (where I sit in a yarn shop surrounded by beautiful projects and gorgeous yarns every week) I am finding it challenging to stay focused on one single project.

My fellow knitting junkies assure me that this is OK. That everyone needs one “mindless” knitting project you can do while sitting in a crowd or watching TV or your child’s extracurricular activities… and then you need one more challenging project to stretch your skills and learn new things. (and maybe a few more projects besides these)

So, maybe I’m not alone in this.

Right now, I have three, or maybe four, started projects.

A rotini scarf – this is my “mindless” project. It’s easy – knit 8/8 back, knit 6/6back, etc. I don’t think much while I’m doing it and it has been great to unwind with at the end of a hectic day.

Then there is the eyelash-yarn-from-hell project. I started a scarf for Big Girl with this hot pink eyelash yarn. I got about halfway finished and realized I was making a TRIANGLE, not a RECTANGLE.

Something was awry and I was annoyed and ripped the whole thing out. Now, I must start again. Except that I really want to just throw the darn eyelash yarn in the woods for the birds to line their nests. So not making much progress there.

Then, there’s the cream cotton that is so soft and snuggly. I’m working on another scarf although that project was really just practice for a pattern I wanted to learn. If I don’t finish it I won’t be upset, but it may haunt me if I don’t.And then this Saturday I’m hoping to start a new shawl pattern when I go to my class. Either that or I may ask to be taught how to make some socks. I like little projects – scarves, washcloths, things like that. Things I know I can finish quickly before my attention is derailed by some new project or pattern or yarn I see.