scarf love

Lace Leaf Scarf

pattern: Lace leaf scarf #35, Vogue Knitting magazine, Spring/Summer 2005
yarn: Noro Cash Iroha
color: natural
amount: most of 4 skeins, somewhat less than 396 yds.
needles: US 4/3.5 mm*
finished measurements: 7x76"

I made this scarf for a friend. I wanted something that complemented her personality and life; this earthy, textured yarn and leaf pattern are good reflections of both. I couldn't be happier with it -- the pattern was fun and easy to knit. The yarn is perfect, nubby and thick and thin and very natural looking. The fabric is soft and supple with a wonderful drape. And I love the pattern, down to the leaf design and wavy edges.

I made a few small modifications to the pattern. First, I slipped the first stitch of each row (knitwise on the WS row and purlwise on the RS row) to make a smoother edge. Second, because I used a heavier yarn than was called for, I made the scarf narrower than written -- I used two columns of leaves instead of three. And I did twelve pattern repeats for each half, instead of the suggest ten. Ten probably would have been enough but until I blocked it I wasn't sure, and I wasn't going back at that point.






I had test-blocked it (see post here) so I knew the yarn would respond well. After a good dunk in cool water and gentle squeezing and blocking, it's very soft, and the pattern shows up well.




I used a Kitchener stitch (the tutorial I used is here) to join the two halves of the scarf. It was my first time putting two pieces together and I was nervous about it but I couldn't be happier. It made a smooth, seamless join that's almost invisible. It did require concentration while I was doing it but the stitch was quick and easy to learn and I loved doing it -- I was having so much fun I could have gone on for hours! The stitch is pure genius and pulled the two halves together perfectly.

The join, above, and below. Trying to trace the exact line almost makes me dizzy.

I'm in love. Scarf love.






*I knit loosely so my needle size is usually down one or two sizes from what others might use.

something to be grateful for

I finally finished my Noro striped scarf!

Noro Striped Scarf
pattern: by Jared Flood of brooklyntweed fame, here
yarn: Noro Silk Garden. silk, mohair, wool
colors: 243 (two skeins), 226, 241 (one skein each)
amount: 2 of one colorway, one each of the other two
finished measurements: about 6" by 65"
needles: US 5 (3.75 mm)*

I started on this way back in April, I think. Went great guns for awhile and then slacked off knitting for a few months. I loved watching the colorways change as it went along. I like the scarf, and after blocking, it's fairly soft. But I have to admit I'm kind of tired of it from working on it so long, so although I'm wearing it, I'll be switching it off with other scarves.

One thing I wish I had done differently. I used one colorway, 2 skeins, throughout the entire scarf. For the other two skeins I ended up using 2 different colorways. I wish I hadn't. I generally prefer casual and asymmetrical over formal and symmetrical, but in this case I don't like that one side of the scarf is more purples and the other side is more blues. That's because of the 4th skein I used for the second half. I do like the blues in it -- I just wish I had either waited and found 2 with similar blues to go throughout, rather than only on one half, or had used mainly purples throughout.

Either way, the pattern is great fun and I'm enjoying my scarf. And I'm very grateful it's done!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hug someone you love, and count your blessings!


*I always have to put this disclaimer in: I knit loosely, so most people would be using a size or two larger than I used.

Benefits of Blocking

I tried to come up with a clever title for this post -- you can see where that got me. I'll probably come up with something incredibly witty and brilliant next time I can't sleep.

On with the post:

In case you're like me and haven't had tons of experience, and wonder if blocking is really worth all the fuss... here's a good example of when it is.


As is obvious to most, I'm sure, the part nearer the needles is unblocked; the section furthest from the needles was blocked and dried about a week ago.

What a difference a little water, some pins, and a few days make.

I blocked this still on the needles because I wanted to make sure the yarn would block well -- otherwise I was going to have to find a different pattern and/or yarn, which I've already been through a few times. The scarf is for a friend and I want it to be as special as she is so I'm not taking any chances. Full story in another post, but for today I just wanted to show the benefits of blocking. You can see the difference it makes in appearance; what you can't get from the photo is the feel -- the yarn became softer and much more supple after blocking. I'm extremely happy with it.

Special thanks to Laura and Nora; they both encouraged blocking in comments to one of my earlier posts. That was part of what inspired me to block the scarf at this point; I probably wouldn't have thought of it otherwise. As it turns out, the scarf would have been fine, but I'm glad I did this, and I'm a convert to the benefits of blocking!

Unravelled!

Yes, that means exactly what you think it means: I finally got my invitation to Ravelry.com! If you've been invited, you can find me as naturegirl... if you haven't been invited yet, you'll have to wait until you are, or until they open up the site to the public. At that point you won't have to be a member to browse, so it will give you a chance to look around before joining if you aren't sure it's for you.

I don't have much posted yet but I've been looking around and generally am pleased with what I'm seeing. I especially like the way you can catalog your projects, yarns, patterns, etc., and see them all easily.

If you're on Ravelry, I'd love to know your user name so I can check out your projects.

In knitting news, I'm slow, slow, slow to make much progress on much of anything. My socks have been set aside while I work on things for other people: a set of dishcloths as a "Happy Remodeled Kitchen!" gift for a friend (completed and given); a scarf for a Christmas present; a shawl for my mom.

gift dishrags

The scarf that's a present has gone through several changes. I decided I didn't like the first pattern I picked for that particular present (multiple reasons, but I still love the pattern, from The Knitter's Bible: Knitted Accessories, the mighty mitred squares scarf). I tried a couple of other patterns and wasn't happy with them, either... finally decided the yarn was all wrong (Noro Kureyon in a colorway that just isn't hitting me right now that I'm working with it -- probably the only colorway they make that I don't like!). Found a pattern I thought would be perfect for my friend and bought new yarn at one of my favorite LYS, Knitting on the Square in Chardon, Ohio (hi, Kate!). Knitted several swatches and got into the scarf several inches before I decided the pattern wasn't working for me -- but I still wanted something with a strong nature theme. Poked around the internet and found Vogue Knitting's Lace Leaf Scarf (photo here) in the Spring-Summer 2005 issue; tracked down an issue on ebay... just got it Tuesday so now I'm ready to swatch and knit. I think I'm finally on track... but does anyone else go through so many changes for one gift? Sheez.

I'll spare you more stories that don't amount to any real knitting. I hope to be knitting more now so maybe there'll be more to show and tell soon.

See you at Ravelry!