Sinful Ribbed Scarf: The Story of a Young Woman

 Back in 2009, a young woman chose to teach herself to knit.  She picked out a few books at the store and brought them home.  She quickly discovered her new love would take her many places.  And once her world was opened up to Raverly…well, down the rabbit hole as they say.

After a fun and surprising Christmas, with handknit gifts for the whole family, this woman decided she needed to make something for herself.  She started a scarf… (anyone know where this story is going?) 

And although the yarn was pretty and squooshy and soft, the pattern easy to follow and memorize, and even with a brand-new love for the art of knitting, she just could not finish this scarf. 

Eventually, the project shifted to the bottom of the pile, forgotten and neglected, with only the occasional glimpse of sunlight and soothing but sporadic click of the  needles…

The scarf grew.  It grew and it grew and it grew.  And then one day…it was finished.  Three soft, snuggly skeins later and the scarf was complete.  The young woman, so excited,  threw that scarf around her neck, forgetting yarn tails and all, and proudly pranced around the house. 

The young woman knew that part of her exultation was not that the scarf was so very intricate and impressive, but instead because she stuck with it and made it to the end.  Persistence and patience can sometimes pay off.

I started this project a looooooong time ago.  Cast on the last day in January, 2010, I was so very excited to be making something for myself.  I enjoyed gifting my new found talent, but wanted something just for me.  Almost two years later, I bound off that edge…January 23, 2012, I believe. 

For such a simple scarf, it really should have been finished a long while ago.

But I take immense pleasure in the unique ribbing the stitch pattern highlights.  Perhaps it’s similar to the mistake stitch ribbing? I like to fold it up like an accordion and let it gradually relax again.

Made from Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in the colorway Marlin, Sinful Ribbed Scarf was my go-to project when I really had no idea what to knit next.  It wasn’t until the Shawl KAL (knit-a-long) was happening with the Itty Bitties that I really felt the need to get this off the needles. 

The original pattern calls for a bulky weight yarn…but when I first started knitting, I didn’t really understand what that meant.  So I just picked a yarn out I thought looked pretty, and got 4 skeins.  Two for a scarf, two for a hat.  As I started to learn more about this craft, I realized I’d need more than the 2 skeins, and so added the third.  It’s a lengthy scarf, which I love.  I’ve never completed a hat to match, although I am working on a pattern at the moment.  I’ve had a set-back or two, but I’ll get there eventually. 

I don’t know when I’ll actually knit another scarf again.  They are time consuming and monotonous.  Even lacework if not varied enough will lose my interest.  It’s a bit silly that something to so simple took so long. 

I’m glad to see it done, I love to wear it (it’s so very cozy and warm!), but man was it a labor of love!

(I also want to give a shout-out to Mom for modeling the scarf for me.  I made her stand in the cold, tying and re-tying that silly thing!  Thanks, Mom!)

In the Works

I’m sorry to say I don’t really have anything new to share at the moment (okay, that’s not entirely true…I have a few things, I just haven’t had the time to tell you about them…). 

So instead of showing you a finished object, I thought I’d share some of what I’ve had in the works for a little while. 

I finished a scarf a little bit ago and love it to pieces, although it hasn’t been cold enough to wear it much lately (it’s very warm).  The stitch pattern intrigued me enough I wanted to make a matching hat.  So I set out to design a pattern around it.

This is what I have so far…wha’d’ya think?  The sample is knit from some of my own handdyed, variegated yarn.  If it works like I want it to, and I have enough yarn, I’ll make it in the same yarn as the scarf. 

p.s. I’m so glad tomorrow is Friday!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I don't have anything extremely exciting to share at the moment, but just wanted to stop and say Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday Favorites: TV Shows

Today is the day I put myself out there a bit and admit that perhaps we watch too much tv in our house.  Although, it's not as simple as to say we sit down and watch anything and everything.  Instead, we have a group of shows we regularly stay caught up on.  I thought it'd be fun to share a few.

Glee 

Yes, we watch Glee.  Who doesn't love a good musical number sung in the  middle of a show?  I've always enjoyed musicals and singing.  Music has been a big part of my life for a long time.  Makes sense I would enjoy Glee.  Even Mr. man enjoys it.  "High Schoolers" singing and dancing every day?  Yes, please!

Leverage 

I don't know what got us hooked on this show, but we love it.  Funny with some drama and romance thrown in, there's something for everyone.  My favorite characters are Hardison and Parker, Elliot coming in at a close third.  You can find this group of grifters and theives on TNT.

Bones 

What's not to love about Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz?  I've followed Boreanaz's career since his days as Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  He's what originally drew me in to the series.  Now I can't enough of Deschanel.  She's beautiful and clever and quirky.  As partners in solving crime, I think these two have great dynamics on screen.

New Girl 

Which brings me to Emily's sister, Zooey Deschanel.  This lovely lady always plays a role that's a bit different.  And I love that.  The role she plays as the awkward new roommate to three men is fun and fresh.

So...there are lots more than that...Gold Rush is strangely addictive...and don't even get me started on the addictive properties of Storage Wars!   What shows do you like to keep up with?

Just Because I Can

 (Uptown Babe hat I designed awhile back.)

(And if I share one, I must share a picture of the other! :) )