Monday, October 24, 2011

The scarf issue

The lace ribbon scarf is off the needles, as of a few weeks ago:



I feel like I was working on that thing FOREVER. I cast on at the end of June and it was close to three months from that to actually wearing it. I'm not entirely sure why this seems so long for a 400m fingering weight lace (even if it's super easy lace) project, but I have a feeling it has to do with the "scarf" part.

I don't like knitting scarves. Never have. I DO like knitting shawls. Spending three months on a similar project that's shawl-shaped would probably have made a lot more sense to me. I think it's the short repetitive rows that get to me. Give me a 300 stitch row over ten 30 stitch rows any day.

I have made a few scarves over the years:

I don't even know where this thing is. I do know that it's ugly, though.


I do really like the way this one looks, but man, I'm pretty sure it's bullet proof.


This one isn't half bad. Both this one and the bullet proof one were gifted to my mother.


Making stuff for kids is GREAT. They're so ickle and quick!


I do quite love this one. As does the recipient, which makes how annoying it was to make totally worth it. ♥

Most of these are either a) not for me and/or b) chunk-ayy. I have a feeling the chunky is my subconscious at work; a chunky scarf knits up in just a few hours and thus I don't end up wanting to stab myself in the eye with my needles halfway through. Unfortunately, I'm not a big fan of WEARING chunky scarves. In fact, I think the ribbon lace one is the first scarf I've ever made and then worn regularly, and its completion came with A LOT of whining.

So what was my next knit after this thing was finally done?





Bainbridge scarf in Manos del Uruguay (which is so pretty and shiny and also softer than a baby's bottom and just feels heavenly wrapped around one's neck).

Whilst this spent quite some time as five rows wide and living in my bag, once I actually sat down and applied myself, it was finished in a couple of hours. And sure, the yarn is heavier and there was only 150m of it, but I think the main difference is that it's knit in the round. No short repetitive rows. I like.

Having said that, I have to say I'm incredibly fond of my lace ribbon scarf. It's seen all these places (and then some) with me:








Not only that, it looks awesome:


And it FEELS awesome, because it's Malabrigo. I wish everything was Malabrigo.