I’ve got a pretty full week coming up here, so there won’t be a post on Wednesday. However, Chatters is scheduled as always, same time - same place!
First off, a couple of scarves.
I’m finally doing the One Row Handspun Scarf in the harvested, dyed, chunky weight yarn. It’s going to be nice and long, nice and soft and certainly bright enough to see in the dark :)
And, here’s another take…
...same stitch pattern, but worked lengthwise over 204 stitches rather than widthwise over 20. Because this stitch is a modified rib, the lengthwise scarf has an unexpected springiness to it that’s very appealing.
And, while the rows are very long indeed, there will only be 24 of them plus the cast on and bind off rows. It’s fairly fast and it’s also a nice way to do long stripes on a scarf without having to resort to (shudder) intarsia :)
I went out this weekend and found some 7” US size 5 (3.75 mm) bamboo double pointed needles. Also some point protectors. I use these to create very short straight needles to work panels and scarves on. This time, the target was the lace scarf. I had started it on 12” Crystal Palace bamboos because they were the only things I had in the right needle size that weren’t metal. I felt metal needles would be entirely too risky for a novice lace-knitter on her first project! I then knitted the work onto the new needles and proceeded to finish one pattern repeat and start another. The shorter needles also helped me a bit with speed just because they’re easier for me to handle though I will probably never be a speed demon with the lace work.
I’m cautiously thrilled at how things are coming out so far :) I don’t have quite the length of yarn the pattern recommends, nor am I using the recommended needle size so my scarf isn’t going to have quite the suggested scarf measurements. I don’t see this as an issue as even if my version is 10” shorter than theirs, it will still be a lovely accessory and that’s all I want from it. Well - that and the practice!
I have also lucked into another sweater to disassemble for a good quantity of nice, chunky, wool/angora yarn. The label in this one is Eddie Bauer but I’d bet the wool came from the same source as the last sweater as it’s exactly the same weight and is composed of the same materials in exactly the same proportions.
It’s a red and cream marl type yarn and I’m not really thinking I’ll over dye this. However, if I get either really bored or really ambitious someday, I might see if I can separate the red from the cream - just to see if it can be done and if it’s practical to do so. I’ll probably go to work on this later this week.
I’ve got my first Dulaan box ready to go and am more than halfway to my personal goal of at least 52 items this year.
I hadn’t realized there were so many hats, compared to other things. Maybe I’ll try and shift my focus a little for the second half of the year. Then again maybe not :) The two scarves mentioned at the beginning of this post will also go with this lot.
One last thing…
Of late, I have seen - what is to me - a mildly frightening tendency amongst knit-bloggers to distinguish themselves from non-knitters by the use of pejorative terms. The particular words don’t matter because any term can be derisive depending on how it’s used. There are two things about this that trouble me.
1. The law of averages (as well as human nature itself!) precludes any possibility that all knitters are saintly, selfless, angelic people. Certainly some knitters are. Some aren’t. The converse is also true. Non-knitters are not automatically evil morons. Those firefighters that rushed into the twin towers on 9/11 - the ones who could have stayed outside and remained safe - think many of them knitted?
2. There is enough divisiveness in our lives already. We were once convinced that a person’s skin color, religious background, sexual orientation or condition of financial solvency defined something essential about their characters. We know better now and are learning that these lines do not define what is worthy and what is not. The very last thing we need is to create another arbitrary and meaningless division, however limited.
See you at Chatters on Thursday night, and back here at the blog on Friday!
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well, today is certainly an appropriate day for your little reminder that diversity is the spice of life- there are *many* things i am incapable of doing, so i hope that behind my back no one is whispering that i am any less of a person because i don’t scrapbook, paint, lay bricks, etc-
my dulaan box is more than a little ‘hat heavy’ too- i had all good intentions of including more socks and sweaters this year, but *someone* thought of a clever hat construction and i seem to be ‘the mad hatter’ lately-
your lace is looking good- i don’t mind using long straight needles (in fact, i just might get some perverse pleasure from ‘poking’ anyone sitting too close by when using them) but i am glad you found a way to feel more comfortable by finding a way to use ‘shorter sticks’-
stay happy-
Very apt for this holiday. That lace is looking great!
Well done on getting such an impressive box together. Hats are especially useful against the cold as you lose so much heat through the head.
good point well made :)
What a wonderful collection for your Dulaan box. I like the scarves. Your lace scarf is looking good. I admire your patience in taking apart a sweater. That should yield a good amount of yarn.
Barb - I know longer straights are pretty standard but they hit the arms of my chair and - graceful being that I am - I keep snagging the ends in my sleeves! Give me circulars or short straights :)
I’m glad to have contributed to your pleasure in hat-making. I think this technique is beyond fun!
Laura - Trust me, I’am as blue as the yarn by the end of a row - from holding my breath! But so far, so good!
Anne - You’re right, of course :) I didn’t realize this myself until a few years ago and have gone from never wearing a hat to wearing one quite often in the cold weather. And, of course, the funkier, the better!
Nat - You are getting some rest, aren’t you? The tea was most excellent :)
Maureen - I’m learning that if you pick the sweater carefully, it’s not a tremendous job to take it apart. I got four hats and a scarf out of the last one. This sweater’s a little smaller so it won’t yield quite as much yarn.
Hey!! The lace is looking good!! And (picture a sheepish grin inserted here) I did start a lace project… two, as a matter of fact. You and the rest of the Chatters are a baaaaaaaaad influence! *grin*
Ev - I guess that depends on what you consider a bad influence to be :)
Evily rubbing hands together 
MWA-HAHAHAHAHA!
Ahem…
Beautiful lace and well made point.
Opal - Well, it’s not a shawl, but I suppose with enough yarn and increased pattern width - it could be! Thanks :)
What an exciting day for me to poke a nose in! The yarn is lovely and strong. I was worried it would all fall apart when I blocked it and that awful day I tripped over it but everything was good (apart from tripping over it and having to unknit many rows). The dulaan bag is looking very healthy. Love as always xxx
Hi Abi -
Thanks - it’s good to kmnow the yarn is strong enough that I’m not boing to break it too easily. That knowledge will help me to stop worrying about it!
It sure is working up beautifully!
