Not Just a Neck Warmer

The beauty of this neck gaiter is its simplicity and versatility.



Worn as designed, it's long enough to pull up over your mouth and nose if needed. You can, of course, knit it to any length you want. The pattern suggests 8". Mine is 8.5".



Fold it in half for an extra thick neck warmer. I wore it this way for fishing on Friday night and it kept me toasty warm.



Doubled up like this, it can also be a headband/ear warmer. Two layers of wool did a excellent job of blocking the cool breeze on Saturday.



If you want more coverage, wear it as an open-topped hat.


I may have to knit another one, so I can wear two at once.

Free Pattern: Ribbed Neck Gaiter
Yarn: Araucanaia Nature Wool
Color: Am 0320
Needles: US 7, 16" circular

Something for Sue

I couldn't send Mark hand-knit mittens without making something for Sue, also.

Free Pattern: Keyhole Scarf
Yarn: Ballybrae Knitting Worsted by Brunswick (discontinued)
Color: Sky Blue Tweed
Needles: US 10

I'm modeling the scarf before it was washed. After washing it, the stitches straightened out nicely, which was good. But as I was laying it out to dry, I noticed a big mistake. It seems when making the keyhole, I bound off 12 stitches, but only cast on 10 on the next row. I was two ribs short of the right number on the bottom six inches of the scarf.

I don't know if Sue would have ever noticed this mistake, but I couldn't live with it. After the scarf was dry, I ripped back to the keyhole and fixed it.


This rustic tweed yarn is some I inherited from my mother-in-law. I think she would like the fact that one daughter-in-law knit with her yarn for another daughter-in-law.


It's almost like she's giving this gift too and that makes it extra special.

PS. Received word from Mark that the mittens fit.

Fisherman's Neck Gaiter

For my favorite fisherman.



Fisherman's Rib Stitch in the Round
Free Pattern with Photo Tutorial
Project Details

Stay Warm; Wear Wool

Days like this call for wool.

It was damp and windy with feels-like temperatures in the low 20s...and it snowed! Can you see the perfectly formed snowflakes on my coat?

When I pulled out My So Called Scarf (details here) to wear yesterday morning, I decided I didn't like the looks of the cast-on and the bind-off edges, so I added fringe. Much better.

My wool/silk scarf, wool hat & mittens, wool socks and wool coat came in handy. I really felt sorry for all those people wearing acrylic.

Before & After

Before Blocking: A lace scarf that looks anything but lacy. A curling jumble of stitches that masks the potential hidden within. Doubts and hope all mixed together.


After Blocking: Light, airy, beautiful lace! Chaos put in order. Doubts erased. Hope fulfilled.


Pattern: Road Not Taken
Source: A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd
Yarn: Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud (held double)
Color: Horizon
Needles: US 6 (4mm)

I have nothing but praise for this pattern and the book, A Fine Fleece, Knitting with Handspun Yarns. The book contains a wonderful collection of patterns: many sweaters and vests, scarves (one with a matching hat) and several pairs of socks. Each pattern is shown knitted in handspun and commercial yarn, so you really don't need to spin your own yarn to enjoy this book.

Road Not Taken features a pretty zig-zag lace stitch that is easy enough for beginning lace knitters. The stitches are charted, which I like. The pattern is written to be knitted as a 10-row repeat or a 20-row repeat--it's your choice. I went with 20 rows.

This is a scarf that I will knit again.

Special Olympics Scarf

I'm joining Jennifer and many other knitters and crocheters across the country in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project.

The purpose of this project is to present each athlete that competes in Idaho this winter with a handmade scarf (knit or crochet) as a show of support from the maker of the scarf to the athlete. 5000 scarves will be needed and I'm very happy to be donating this one.


Pattern (CO 21 sts.)
Yarn: Red Heart Worsted Weight
Colors: Delft Blue (0885) and White (0311)
Needles: US 10
Size: 6" x 56"

Anyone can participate, but there are some guidelines that need to be followed. The most important one is that you must use Red Heart Super Saver yarn in two very specific colors--Delft Blue (0885) and White (0311). Did I sense a collective cringe from all the natural fiber lovers out there? Yes, this acrylic yarn is a bit crunchy right from the skein, but it does soften up considerably after it's washed and dried.


Coats and Clark, manufacturers of Red Heart yarn and sponsors of this project, have provided two free patterns for use, but any scarf pattern is fine as long as it uses both colors of yarn. Size recommendation is 4 1/2" x 50", but there is some leeway here it seems. You will find guidelines and mailing instructions here and here. There is also helpful information and discussion on the Raverly group.

There is still plenty of time to get involved in this project. Scarves must be received by January 15, 2009.

Montego Bay Scarf

Photographed at Turtle Bay, Jensen Point, Texas.


We were up early on Friday morning to say goodbye to Matt and Carly. We decided to take advantage of that fact and drive to Turtle Bay for kayak fishing. We arrived right at sunrise and hurriedly took some pictures of my new scarf before putting the boats in the water.

Montego Bay Scarf
Pattern Source: Interweave Knits Summer 2007 and Ravelry
Yarn: Hand Maiden Sea Silk (70% silk, 30% Seacell)
Color: Rose Garden
Needles: US 8


Project Notes:

This scarf was a breeze to knit and the yarn is a perfect match to the pattern. The only challenge I can see with this scarf is that some knitters may find simple fishnet lace monotonous. I didn't, but I enjoy easy repetitive knitting.

One of my favorite parts of the scarf is the braided fringe. Two hundred strands of yarn, each 12" long are cut before any knitting is started. This sounds tedious, as does the process of braiding each section, but I think it's worth the effort and it's not as much work as it sounds.


After the photo shoot we launched the kayaks and fished. We didn't catch anything we could bring home, but we felt blessed anyway to be spend time together in such a beautiful place.

Beautiful Yarn, Simple Stitches

Remember this yarn?

Hand Maiden Sea Silk
Color: Rose Garden

I won it in a random drawing a few months ago. Originally I thought it would become a Swallowtail Shawl, but I wasn't confident there would be enough yardage, though several people on Ravelry seem to have gotten by with one skein. Instead, I've decided to turn it into Montego Bay Scarf.

The fishnet lace pattern is very simple--mindless, even. It's so simple that you wouldn't think there would be any way to mess it up. I suppose that's the pitfall of mindless knitting. See all the yarn wrapped around the ball?


That's the amount I had to rip back when I realized I had zigged when I should have zagged. I was about three inches away from my mistake when I noticed it. It wasn't a big deal, but I'm paying better attention now--reading my stitches instead of letting my mind wander too much.

This scarf is growing at a steady pace and I'm enjoying it. Right now it's the only thing I'm working on, though that's always subject to change.

One Skein is Enough

One skein of yarn (220 yards) and four days is all it took to knit Morning Surf Scarf.


I'm sure you'll forgive me for not modeling it properly at the beach. It's just a bit too warm for wool around the neck right now.


Pattern: Morning Surf Scarf
Cast On Stitches: 36
Yarn: Cascade 220 Paints
Color: 9843 Paradise Beach
Needles: US 8


Aggressive blocking resulted in a scarf that measures 7" x 51". Just right!

SSK wanted to know if the stitch pattern is reversible, so I'm adding a picture to show both sides of the scarf.

Left-Front

Right-Back

Sea Scarf

My new project is Morning Surf Scarf. I'm using Cascade 220 Paints in a pretty color called Paradise Beach (#9843).


My original intention was to knit this scarf from my own handspun, but I couldn't resist casting on with this yarn. Working on 36 stiches, I will knit until the yarn runs out. I'm crossing my fingers that 220 yards will be enough for a short scarf. I think it will.


Later when the spinning bug bites, I'll spin up a lighter weight yarn for a second Morning Surf Scarf. This is a pattern that I can see myself making multiple times. It lends itself well to all types of yarn and is easy and enjoyable to knit. I especially like dropping the yarn-over stitches and tugging to neaten the loops. I'm not sure why that is so entertaining, but it is.

There are likely to be other sea scarves in my knitting future as well, as I just purchased Ocean Breezes by Sheryl Thies. Included in this book are patterns for 25 knitted scarves, all inspired by the sea.

Her scarf called Sea Foam is very similar to the one I'm knitting now--the same drop stitch design, minus the reverse stockinette "waves" and the addition of a garter stitch edge along the sides. There are several other designs that I like including Starfish on the Beach, Fish Net and Cockleshell Lace. Many are featured on Ravelry.

Tomorrow is Saturday, so you know what that means: we're heading to Matagorda. Some of you expressed concern about the impact of Hurricane Dolly on Matagorda Beach. Fortunately, all is well in our area. We received only a little bit of rain at my house and I expect to find that Matagorda fared about the same.

Have a nice weekend!

G is for Garter Stitch

Knit every row. What could be simpler? Garter stitch was the first stitch pattern I learned as a new knitter.

My Very First Stitches

Five years ago I taught myself to knit and like many beginners, my first project was a garter stitch scarf.


I still remember being unsure of what I was doing and hoping I didn't mess up, because I had no idea how to fix my mistakes.


I think it took me about a week to finish this scarf and by the end, I had perfected the knit stitch and learned how to cast on, bind off and change yarn colors. But more importantly, I learned something about myself: I love to knit!

It all began with garter stitch.

Applause for Clapotis

Worn as a scarf, Clapotis is thick and warm.



Worn as a wrap, Clapotis is light and airy.



Love the yarn and the drop stitches.



Dresses up a t-shirt, fishing pants and purple Crocs nicely, don't you think?



Protected me from the mosquitoes when the sun went down.



From start to finish, Clapotis is a good knit. I give it a standing ovation!

Clapotis
Yarn: Brooks Farm Yarn Duet (1+ skeins)
Fiber Content: 55% Kid Mohair, 45% Fine Wool
Color: Cinnamon Spice
Needles: US 8 (5 mm)
Notes: I purled the drop stitch instead of using stitch markers, but otherwise, followed the pattern as written.

Nearing the Finish

I'm making good progress on Clapotis this week.


Brooks Farm Yarn Duet
55% Kid Mohair, 45% Fine Wool
Cinnamon Spice

I just completed the straight section, which consists of thirteen repeats of twelve rows, 107 stitches per row. Each repeat took me about an hour to knit, plus another ten minutes to completely unravel the dropped stitch ladder.

I thought the dropped stitches would unzip easily, but that's not the case with the yarn I'm using. It is necessary to pick the stitches apart one at a time, due to the fuzzy nature of mohair. I'm glad I decided to unravel as I go. It's a built in break between repeats, which gives my hands a rest. And, I don't have hours of unraveling hanging over my head at the end.

Now that I'm moving on the the decrease section, things should speed up a bit. Shorter rows and shorter ladders means I might even be finished by the end of the week!

Weekend in Oklahoma

We left early Friday morning for Oklahoma Christian University to visit our son and attend Spring Sing. I brought along some knitting for the road.


Between Houston and Dallas

This is my first time to knit Clapotis. I'm using Brooks Farm Yarn Duet in Cinnamon Spice. Anyone thinking of knitting one of these might want to join us in the Fashionably Late in '08 Knit Along.

Several hours of knitting in the car yielded three repeats to the straight row section. This scarf/shawl is easy to knit, but I'm not breaking any speed records with it.

It's been a good visit with Matt and his girlfriend, Carly, though our time together has been brief and squeezed in between Spring Sing shows and clean-up. Matt was the stage manager this year and Carly was performing with her club. Carly's club theme was Shrek and Donkey, hence the green face makeup.


Shrek and Tech

For the uninitiated, Spring Sing is an entertainment event and competition between campus clubs. Each club chooses a theme and performs parodies of popular songs, accompanied by choreography and costumes. Student hosts also entertain the crowd with musical performances.

All too soon it is time to go home. The upside is I'll get a few more rows of Clapotis finished on the nine hour drive back. Though if I had a choice, I'd trade knitting those rows for staying a little longer.


Dropped Stitches

Magically Simple Scarf

I first saw a scarf like this one knitted as a store sample in Ogden, Utah. If you purchased the yarn, the store threw the pattern in for free. This sales tactic worked. I bought the two hanks of Inca Alpaca it required for $8.00 each--a bargain, in my opinion, for such a luxuriously soft yarn.


Photo Styled

Two Color Inca Scarf
Yarn: 2 hanks Classic Elite Inca Alpaca (100% Alpaca)
Colors: 1124 (Blue), 1103 (Gray)
Needles: US 7
Size: 7" wide x 43.5" long
Started: 2/7/08
Finished: 2/19/08


Scarf In Action

This was a very quick and easy scarf to knit. It utilizes a stitch pattern that I call the prayer shawl stitch. If it has an official name, I couldn't find it, but it's the same stitch used in this pattern. Simply k3, p3 on the first row and then purl the knits and knit the purls on the second row. Change colors every two rows and an intricate design of stripes, blocks and columns fall into place like magic. You will notice (first picture) the scarf begins and ends with three rows of regular 3 x 3 rib.


Full Length View

This scarf is extremely soft with a nice drape; stretchy, but with plenty of memory to hold its shape; and completely reversible. All these qualities make it extremely versatile and will likely become one of my favorites to wear.

In fact, I will probably make it again. I think it would look good as a stash buster scarf, using lots of colors of whatever is on hand.

Two Days

Saturday was a washout weather-wise (threatening storms and tornado watches), so we stayed home for a change. I spent most of the day with a pair of knitting needles in my hand. The result: my scarf grew several inches and the second sock of a pair I haven't even blogged about yet is well underway.

Sunday was the complete of opposite of Saturday. It was a glorious day of sunshine and mild temperatures. So after church, I packed up my knitting, John grabbed his fishing gear and we headed out for our favorite place--Matagorda Beach.



See how much the scarf has grown from last week?



This is my mindless knitting project. It's super simple: K3, P3 one row, then knit the purls and purl the knits on the other row. It's the alternating colors that give this stitch pattern interest.


Classic Elite Inca Alpaca
Blue and Gray

And the socks I'm working on?



The ever popular Monkeys.


Pagewood Farm Hand Dyed Sock Yarn
Butterfly

I'll have more to say about these when they're finished, which should be soon.



John didn't catch any fish, but he had fun trying.