Sunday, October 21, 2012

Scarves for All

Seriously.  I finished yet another holiday gift in just a week:

Not quite the true color, but close
I bought this yarn last year thinking it would make a lovely scarf.  Very true.  I chose a pattern by Margaret Radcliff called "Winter Windows Silk Scarf."  The original pattern calls for a very silky, sequined yarn which I am sure is lovely but my aim with creating a scarf was to make something pretty but warm & practical for New England, especially since this year is supposed to be very cold and snowy.

The pattern is a basic basketweave, interspersed with yarn-overs to make lacy openings.


It's pretty hard to see them in either photograph, but trust me, they're there.  (Third row up, 2nd & 4th block in, then 6th row up 3rd block in.)  I wanted something with a little detail but again, not so lacy that it was going to let in the bitter New England winter wind.

I am now fully a believer in scarves for all instead of socks.  A holiday gift that takes a week?  I could be completely finished by Thanksgiving.  Sadly, the cousins' children and the Sock Monster would be sorely disappointed.  I will, however, be making myself a scarf and hat set after the holiday knitting is finished.  Just for the delight in finishing a project so quickly.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Checking Off My List

It is a great week when I finish more than one knitting project.  In fact, I can't think of another time when it has happened so quickly, and for two very different and very challenging projects.  Of course, I am conscious of how much more knitting I need to do for the holidays, so perhaps that's encouraging my current speed.

Back in August I started another pair of socks using Alice Yu's Voricity pattern.  Once I figured out the tricks to getting past the challenges in the pattern, the socks go much faster:



I love the color combination but it does make the pattern less visible than the simpler colors in the socks I made myself this summer.  I couldn't figure out a way to get it to come out in the photograph this morning.  That might have to do with having only had one cup of coffee.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Coming Along

So I finally finished the baby blanket mentioned in the last post:


It's a very simple four-row repeating pattern for both the border and the main part of the blanket.  I did choose to shorten the blanket by several repeats for the main pattern, mainly because this blanket is over 2 1/2 feet long, which is plenty long enough for a baby.  Also, she is now 3 months old, and at some point, I would have to keep knitting to keep up with her continuing to get bigger.



And my cousin J is having a boy in Februrary, so I need to cast on the next blanket.