3 days until xmas

This is the LAST handknit xmas gift for 2014. It is blocking as I write. I need to give the xmas socks a good soak to plump up the stitches, but otherwise I am DONE (unless I decide to whip up something extra for the g'daughter, like a hat, as she lost one).

Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf, by Jared Flood
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, colorway 357
Needles: US9
Modifications: I used only one colorway but knit from two skeins at a time, staggering the color shifts. Also, I used a provisional cast on and joined the ends to make it a moebius. Grafting instructions for ribbing may be found at Techknitting.

I draped this around my neck while preparing to soak it - MMM! Very soft and warm and cuddly. I may have to make one of these for myself. When I am done with my fiber diet. Which right now appears to be NEVER. Many stash-busting projects are lined up for 2015.

Scarf x cowl

I wanted a simple project on which to practice Irish cottage (lever) knitting using straights and involving both knitting and purling. There is not much of anything simpler than a scarf, so I grabbed some bits and bobs of Noro left over from another project and knit me a mistake rib scarf.

Since I was using bits and bobs, the color shifts are a bit abrupt, and since I was using left overs, the inevitable happened: I ran out of yarn before I ran out of scarf. So I decided to graft the two ends together, creating a loose cowl. I had not planned to do this in the first place, which meant I had to pick out the cast on. And then I realized I had no idea of how to graft ribbing, let alone mistake ribbing.

I did a little online research, which gave me some ideas, but after the scarf/cowl (scowl?) lay on the coffee table for a couple of weeks, I wound up grafting the ends like they were garter. Another thing I did not plan was beginning and ending with the same color, so that was just dumb luck.

Good enough.

Pattern: None. Cast on 39 stitches, knit mistake rib until you run out of yarn. Join the ends.
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, in colorway 284
Needles: US7

Greens and browns are not colors I usually wear, but after blocking the scarf, I spontaneously tried it on.

It's the perfect accompaniment to my green sweatshirt, especially since it is still ridiculously winterlike around here.

Still alive and knitting

The Honey Cowl is done, has been done for a while, I'm just slow to blog these days.

Pattern: Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, colorway 282
Needles: US9
Modifications: None

I used four skeins of yarn, and yet the width is not up to pattern specifications. That's okay. When I loop the cowl around my neck once, it drapes over my shoulders a bit. Or I can loop it around my head as well, babushka style. I see getting a lot of use out of this item this winter.

I have other knitting projects going on, like a pair of socks and a GAP-tastic cowl, but it is summertime and the gardening is not-so-easy.

Don't buy this yarn

If memory serves me right, I bought this Noro sock yarn on sale, the caveat being I had to take the colorway that was sent. That was okay. But I am really, really glad I am not knitting socks with this stuff. For one thing, the wool content is not superwash. For another, the yarn is spun too tightly; it twists when pulled from the skein, then sticks to itself. The thickness varies, from thick to thin (see below), in places almost thread thin - I can't imagine the fabric holding up underfoot (very punny). And it is scratchy and unyielding and stiff.

Having never used this yarn before, I made some knitting decisions based on my ignorance. Now I fear the fingerless gloves will be too small for my man hands, even though I knit the large size. I know - I should have swatched.

I can't even decide if I like the colorway. What do you think?