On The Lily Pad...

On my scarfing adventures, its been a challenging time.  First was massive swatching to figure out what pattern I wanted to use.  I want to use something rather lacy because I only have two balls of the yarn.  I also want something that will be nice looking on the reverse side.  So I finally figured out the stitch pattern & received Daughter approval, although she said it was a little boring on the back side.  So I threw in a small 2 stitch twist on the back side.  Looks nice & easy to do.  I figure out my calculations, putting a seed stitch border on the bottom & the sides.  And we begin...

But, I got caught in one of the oldest problems in the history of knitting.  My seed stitch border spread out more than my main stitch pattern.  This resulted in the border making a nice little "wave".  Ugh...I know better!  So I frogged.  I re-evaluated my number of cast on stitches, starting with less at the beginning & increasing right before starting the main pattern.  Yahoo!  It worked great, looks good & things are moving right along.  Until...

I get almost to the end of the first ball of yarn.  I am NOT going to have enough to make a nice long scarf like my daughter wants.  ARGH!  It is coming out just lovely, she really likes it, I have fun doing it, even both sides, but it won't work.  So now, off to the Lily Pad for a little more frogging.  I took some pictures to preserve my work for all eternity...before I rip it!

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Scarfing It

My teenaged daughter doesn't ask me to knit much for her.  Last week, she came home wearing her friend's scarf.  It was a simple cable scarf, store bought, done in a very soft but inexpensive yarn.  Therefore, it was pilled beyond repair.  But she really liked it.  I was checking it out myself & of course, I said I could make that.  She then asked me to make her a scarf!  Yahoo! 

So off to the yarn stash to see what we've got.  I found a lovely cream wool leftover from a previous project.  I just loved the yarn (still do!) because it is so soft & creamy.  It makes my hands softer as I work with it too!  Then to the stitch library for a nice reversible pattern.  I'm a bit afraid I may not have enough (only 2 balls), so I think a lacy pattern will be best, since it won't use as much.  A-swatching we will go!

After much searching, swatching & deliberation, we settled on a very simple yarn-over rib-type stitch pattern.  The back is rather plain, so I may try to experiment with it to see if I can add some interest without altering the effect on the front side.  Of course, I will post my trials & tribulations here.  I haven't started it yet because I was working out the details of the scarf, but I hope to start it today.  I'm really looking forward to it, but I hope I don't become too bored with 5 feet or so of the same thing back & forth!  Hopefully it will go quickly! 

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

Just when I thought it was safe to go to the mailbox, it strikes.  Not one, but TWO yarn catalogs.  Sigh.  So, while dinner is simmering, I kick back in the recliner, put on the light & flip open the page.  ARGH!  Scattered across the pages are lovely tote bags, some felted, some not, some large, some small.  Then the yarns...wonderful colors & the lovely lace scarves they show featuring each yarn.  It all looks so delicious, my mouth starts to water...& its not because of dinner.  The trouble is...I want to make them...I want to make them ALL.

The torture continues as I continue through the catalog.  I finally reach the end, only to continue the pain & suffering by opening the next catalog.  Oh, the agony!  I can only tolerate flipping two pages before I'm overwhelmed from the glossy colors.  I must shield my eyes from its glory.  It is not till after dinner that I'm able to return to the second catalog.  However, the pain returns immediately, I'm amazed how quickly.  I continue to punish myself by completing the journey through the pages. 

Thus continues the torture of a yarn fast.  Sadly, I'm coveting the yarns, the projects & money I don't have right now for any of it.  In its wake, all I'm left is wanting.  Sigh. 

Such drama!  LOL!

Hats Off!

Hats off...to the Cancer Center that is!  Shown above are the latest in the hat saga.  Some of these were very much fun to do.  I think I got a little more creative with these because I was getting bored doing hats. 

Some have the same color stitch pattern, but in different colorways.  It makes them look totally different.  One hat used a different gauge yarn, which made the pattern almost unrecognizable, but I liked it anyways!  I made a few of the usual spiral helix hats, so great for using up those small balls of yarn.  Also a multi-colored hat that used up some small amounts of yarn.  It also made for a fun, cheery hat!

I also played with a little more texture this time.  One hat (a lilac one) is deep textured arrows, simple, fun, but it looks complicated.  Another (burgundy & pink) used both a color pattern & a little texture.  This is one of my favorite hats!  I liked the color pattern, it was something I experimented with on my own.  I had a time trying to recreate the upper "scallops" to match the lower ones.  I just love the way it looks!

Also shown is a cabled hat (done in a cream heather yarn).  This is my own creation...I've looked around on the internet & haven't seen any hat quite like it.  I'm waiting to hear from my "test knitters" & I will post the pattern once I'm sure it works for others...besides me! 

Hope you enjoy the pictures!