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.

Admitting defeat

The whole yarn diet thing? Yeah, it was just not gonna work. So.


Left to right; BC Garn Jaipur Silk Fino #36 (the most amazing shade ever; it doesn't photograph well but it's like it SHINES FROM WITHIN ♥), Malabrigo Lace (shut up) in Emerald (shut up) and new Drops Lace in 7120, a nice pale green, which is sooooo soft and will make a BIG shawl (800m/100g), yay.

So. Um. Yes.

I recently learnt to do the twisted German cast-on (for a Jayne Hat, which I won't be posting pics of until it's modelled by its owner) which means I have already reached my goal of learning three new techniques this year. Yay!

Also, my mother had a birthday, and while the surprise element somewhat failed, I'm still pretty pleased with the result.


Peacock Shawlette in Malabrigo Lace Purple Mystery.

2011 update 1

Since we're two months into 2011, I thought an update as to how my knitting goals are going so far was in order.

Successful

• The two hours a week thing has actually worked quite well. Usually due to me spending half of Sunday knitting whilst marathon-watching Supernatural, but hey, whatever works.
  
  
• New things learnt: Two out of three! The stretchy knitted cast-on, and... crochet!

Okay, so it' very simple crochet, limited to amigurumi, I've only done two items, and it makes my thumbs hurt for days afterwards, but LOOK MA, I'M BISTITCHUAL!

• Annnnnd finally, the Heartland is DONE!

I'm very pleased with it. Malabrigo is amaaazing.

Not-quite-as-successful


PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE YARN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!

So, yeah. The goal was no more sock or lace yarn until I finish what I have, and, er, well. The whole buying yarn at all is a problem due to this:


THE STASH BOXES ARE BURSTING!!

I am a fail. And a junkie. But in my defense, I have projects (which are all on the to do list!) in mind for each and every of those skeins, with the following exceptions:


Chromaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. I couldn't resist. Besides, it's fingering weight, not sock or lace. There's a difference. A very subtle one, but still. There IS. Shut up.


Malabrigo is like mescaline or something, I don't even know. Besides, everyone knows that sock yarn doesn't count as stash anyway.

Anyway, I totally solved the problem.


IKEA and their boxes are enablers.

Oopsie daisy, hi.

Wow, I am terrible at blogging...! And what's worse, lately I'm kind of terrible at knitting, too.

Some finished objects:

Peacock socks are done!

I need to work on my sock modelling skillz.

Pescovegetarian beanie in Sulka – this yarn just does not photograph well. It's so very very beautiful in real life and in pictures it just looks... flat. Really pleased with the beanie though, think I'll get a lot of wear out of it this winter.

Went yarn shopping at Marias garn on Saturday and got some goodies:

Left picture is without flash, which gives a better idea of the colour, and right is with flash, which gives a better idea of the lustre. Pretty pretty pretty; am turning it into one of these.

... I am only human.

What's not to love?

So my mother and sister have been making fun of me for "making one and then starting something else"; meaning that I made one sock, then started... well, something else that was also part of a pair; finished it, and... moved on to something else.

SSS, says I. And also that they're being a bit unfair, because

a) I am well into that second sock, thank you, it's just that I knit it while travelling to and from work (hurrah for patterns that are easy to remember!) and not necessarily at home in front of the TV, and

b) the "something else" was a stranded colourwork thing and I kind of HATED how it turned out and now I don't even want to LOOK at it, never mind starting on its mate.

I'm really not very good at colourwork. At all. I don't have much experience and I always think it's going to be more fun than it is and then I end up tangling stuff and pulling some floats way too tight so it ends up looking weird and just... ick. Needs more practice. I probably will rescue the one I finished, and make the other one as well... some day. Not now. Now? Now I'm doing this:

It's green. It's lace. It's Malabrigo.