Candy cane

We've had some excitement around here lately. Remember the big storm that knocked out power to much of the DC area? We had power, fortunately, but we were without internet until this morning. Ah, sweet, sweet internet, how I have missed you.

And I have things to share. Among them, the candy cane scarf is finished!

Yarn is Venezia Worsted (70/30 merino/silk) in colorways 101 (white) and 104. This yarn is just a dream to work with (although somewhat splitty, especially if used with pointy needles.)


Pattern: my own, based on the Fleck Stitch from Knit and Purl.

Remember how I was going for 60"? Uh, try about 75. This is me, demonstrating the finished product. I may have overshot the mark a ~tad~. But no worries--I think it's very nice anyway, and it will keep someone nice and warm. (Isn't my pineapple shirt cute?)

Now on to scarf number four, and I'm not sure what I'll do. I'll have to go stash-diving and see what's appropriate. And I don't know if I'll just do my thing or seek out a pattern that someone, y'know, actually wrote down. So many options . . .

Also, it is the Irishman's birthday. Happy birthday to my main squeeze!

Old Navy scarf

See, it's blue, and I've had it for so long . . .

No?

Anyway, this is the second scarf for the Red Scarf KAL.


Yarn is one skein of good old Cascade 220, colorway absolutely unknown. The cable is the Large Woven Cable from Cables & Arans.

And yes, the coffee table IS sitting on the loveseat in that picture. It says something about my house that when I asked a housemate why this was so, he replied "jumping jacks." Of course, I then decided to use the table to model knitwear . . .

Those of you keeping count may have noticed that while I pledged 12 scarves for the effort, I'm only done with two and a half. I think I may try for six, which is more reasonable given my schedule.

Really, that long?

Yeah, I know. But moving is haaaaaaaaaaaaaard. First, you have to pack up all your yarn. And then move it. And then unpack it. And you never know where you've put anything.

Well, at least, I never know. Maybe it's different for those of you who are "organized." Do let me know what it's like sometime.

Anyway, on the knitting front I have managed to accomplish a few things. Thus, it is time for a (*announcer voice*)

Work in Progress: Update (update update)

First and foremost, Irtfa'a. When last seen, it looked like this:


(Incidentally, why do so many knitters describe their knitting--particularly shawls and sweaters--as she? My knitting is genderqueer.)

Now it looks like this:


Yes indeed, Big Black Blob status has been achieved. I'm 2/3 done with the quill and feathers section, allllllllmost ready to start the edging. So close, and yet so far!


Next is the (sadly misnamed) March scarf. When last seen, it looked like this:


Now, it looks like this:


I estimate that it's about half-done. I have an issue with scarves where I stop knitting when I get bored, not when the scarf should actually be stopped. So they tend to be kind of short. I myself like a short scarf, but apparently other people don't? Or something crazy like that, anyway. So this time I am going with the POWER of MATHEMATICS to achieve a 60" scarf.

Also, maybe I'll change the name so it's less depressing. My friend Stephanie from knit night calls it my "candy cane." Much more friendly, eh?

So you see, lots of progress on the primary WIPs. Ravelry informs me that I have several FOs and new WIPs to discuss, but I think I'll leave those for next time. Au revoir, mes amies!*

*I don't actually speak French. I just think it's classy.

Still stitching

I'm still working away on both the cross-stitch and my Irtfa'a--I swear I'll get updated pictures of the latter sometime soon. Maybe after this weekend--I'm headed to the Midwest for a wedding, and the cross-stitch isn't very portable, so Irtfa'a will be my traveling companion. (And no, it's not the wedding for which the cross-stitch is intended, thank heavens. That's not for a few more weeks. It's just wedding season, I guess!)

Meanwhile, I've been making progress on a few other things. This is the latest scarf for the Red Scarf Project KAL:The yarn is Cascade Venezia Worsted (70/30 merino/silk) in colorways 101 (white) and 104. Venezia is one of my favorite yarns--I designed the Manly Scarf out of it, and it's wonderful to work with. The pattern is my own--it's the Fleck Stitch from Knit and Purl. I like the look, and it's simple to knit.

I've also started another pair of Mindless Socks, once again in my beloved Regia Silk. This is the last I have(/cry), so I'm making the most of it.


That's all for the moment--stay tuned for book reviews and Malabrigo pictures. (Now you're intrigued, eh?)

Olympics, Day 4

Well, I got off to a blazing start by . . . forgetting the needles I needed to cast on and therefore not casting on until Saturday.

Whoops!

But Irtfa'a is safely on the needles now. The provisional cast-on gave me a bit of trouble, as I'd never done one before, but I think i figured it out . . . Anyway, I finished the opening edging section, and I'm now working on the shoulder shaping. I only have 15 rows of that knit, but it's been getting faster all the time. My hope is that I can really fly once the increases are finished!

Meanwhile, here's something I finished a while ago:


This is a plain scarf for the Red Scarf Project, which, basically, gives care packages to young people with no families. These kids (I say kids, but they're not much younger than I am) are making their way with virtually no support networks. My family has been very supportive of me, especially in the past year, financially, emotionally, spiritually, and in generally making my life easier, and I can't imagine living without them. So this is definitely a very, very worthy project, and I encourage any of you reading to check it out.

I'm part of a 2010 KAL for the Red Scarf Project running through the #1 Knitspot Fan group on Ravelry, so I hope to knit 12 scarves to donate this year. As well as being lots of fun, it's a good way to give back with my knitting.