I might be slightly obsessed...

because I've been working on the plaid scarf ALL DAY and have no plans to stop despite the bruise on my palm from nail-dig and my massively cramped fingers. This is a little out of control... but so, so very fun.

The photo only shows the first part-- the horizontal grids. After I finish I will chain the rest and weave it through vertically, thus the plaid. I actually don't mind it as is though.

It's hot as balls. Let's make scarves!!!

Yeah, I'm working on five (count em) five scarves. Why? The important question is why not? Two of these scarves are crochet projects using Noro. One with gross cheap yarn which I am knitting-- mostly to practice knitting & purling. The last two are for Jules with some yarn she provided. Everything is in progress, nothing finished but I expect to complete 3 this week, possibly even this weekend.

Of course it's the Noro scarves that are really flipping my switch. I've named one the "Caribbean Sunset Scarf" because it has lots of coral and pink in it and is from a pattern for a fan-bookmark on Ravelry.

The second is called a Noro plaid scarf. This particular one is done in Kureyon Sock (only 1 skein required so... gravy) and is done as horizontal open-work then chained and woven back through vertically... It will make more sense when I can post a photo. Now that I think about it, the fact that I can do the whole thing with one skein of sock yarn makes me wonder if this isn't going to be another 15,000 stitch headache. Maybe I should save that one for last.

Cascade Scarf

The finished item from the frogged Boyfriend Basketweave Scarf.

I am satisfied... for now. Mwah-ha-ha!!!

screw knitting!!!

Okay, just kidding. Just, screw knitting with such fabulous yarn. I can't bear to unravel the alpaca one more time. It's abuse and it's sick and twisted and I can't do it anymore. I'll do crappy knitting with crappy yarn. This stuff has to be made into something worthy and I can't do that with freaking needles. It's time to do what I do best... hookin!

and, yes, this ball of yarn is as big as my head.

3 weeks and over 15,000 stitches later...

{exhale}

alpaca management

I still haven't finished my Boyfriend Basketweave Scarf and can't bring myself to just do it. I've invested a lot in the materials-- and a lot of time and it's just not as great as it should/could/would be. The scarf is too bulky, I guess because the yarn is so bulky, and posted stitches almost make it a double-thickness. I just don't see myself wrapping this puppy around my neck.

But the yarn is so fabulous... This is the alpaca that you just want to stick your face in. I can't waste it! So now I'm thinking about unraveling the scarf and making something else more fitting and worthy. Maybe this would be a good knitting project. It's chunky and should knit up fast. And even if I crochet it again, anything but a posted stitch would have to be better.

I guess I need to determine first if this scarf will allow me to unravel it-- sometimes really fiber-y yarns like to cling together and you practically have to razor it apart. There's no way I'm going there. We'll see...

5 month ruffle scarf {but only if you're lazy like me}

When I'm not whipping projects out in hours, it's taking me months (or years.) I completely crocheted another bag today (a duplicate of Emma's Bag of Horses for Jules so she won't steal said bag from Emma.) Then tonight I finished another project I started sometime last February or March-- can't remember exactly. This was an improvised project I just call a ruffle scarf. I did 75% of it back when I first started and freaking ran out of yarn. I'm terrible about underestimating my needs then making multiple trips for replenishment. Sheesh.

Anyway, I went through a lot of ridiculous crap to replenish this puppy... I used Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton in #206 and could only get it in Murfreesboro. I had them mail me a skein only to get the wrong color. So I made a random trip down there to exchange it... total hassle. Then after all that, I just put it away.

I saw it in my ridiculous supply stash as I was searching for potential lining fabric for Jules' bag and ended up working on and finally completing it. I totally love this scarf! It needs to get cold so I can wear it!

Patagonia is really luxurious considering it's just plain ole cotton. The colors are incredible-- the photo doesn't accurately show the color (looks too pink.) It's mostly lavender with some rose, red and rust thrown in. The yarn has varied thicknesses also and it gives it a rustic look. The ruffles and colors make it decidedly feminine. I'm way too excited for my own good right now and can't stop manhandling the thing.

and one more thing (bear with me)

I ordered the Noro online and was totally disappointed when I got it. The pukey green was on the outside and I'm pretty sure I made a big frowny-face when I took it out of the package. As it turns out, I'm much more talented at choosing yarn when I can't physically see it first. The good stuff was on the inside (think of fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt and the green was the watery crap that sits on the top) and now that's it's all mixed together, I even like the pukey green. So I'm giving myself a big fat high-five as if my own skill brought this to pass.

wavelength scarf

I broke down and started a Noro project. This pattern is called a Wavelength Scarf. I decided to do it because it only requires one skein of Noro sock yarn and I figured this would be a good way to get the most bang for my buck.

Um, so I love this yarn. The colors are really incredible and I find myself staring at it when I'm working on it.

The only drawback:

You know those projects you whip out over a weekend? This isn't one of them. The picture shows about 16 hours of work and I'm only a third of the way done. Very labor intensive. The yarn is so fine, it takes a billion little stitches and two passes to complete one wavy little row. Maybe I'll finish by fall.

noro

Why do ravelers go so crazy over Noro yarn? The colors are obviously beautiful but there must be something else that I just can't seem to see. It's not soft. Maybe I should try it out and see what all the fuss is about. Whatever I attempt is going to have to be small though... it's a little expensive.