Day 365 AND THE END

I made it I made it I MADE IT I MADE IT!!

The final scarf of the year. All posted and made and shared with anyone who happens by. This one took me longer than any other scarf. I used the smallest needles that I've used on any scarf. I did tiny cables and by a long shot there were more cable crossings than any of my other cables scarves put together. It only seems right that the final scarf should be the biggest effort as a way of finishing my year with a bang.

This one is a free pattern available on Ravelry called the Celtic Cable Scarf. The pattern was very well written, but it was all written and no chart, so be ready to either chart it out yourself or just pay close attention on the first repeat so you can refer to the scarf itself for the rest of the scarf instead.

If I'm being totally honest with myself, instead of being excited for completing my challenge, I'm actually disappointed that it's over. It feels a little bit like a gradation. I feel very accomplished, but on the other hand I feel like I've come to an end.

When it all comes down to it, I think the positives outweigh the postpartum depression. I'm very happy that I made my goal. I'm very happy that I had so many scarves to give as gifts for Christmas and still have many more to give to someone who needs them. I certainly did devastate my stash (though it remains quite overwhelming). I even managed to learn a few new techniques and new ways to use old techniques. I learned a little bit more about most people's likes and dislikes when it comes to outerwear. Finally I think the most important thing I learned was quite a lot about time management! I'll never be late for another gift giving situation and I recognize the importance of planning ahead. If I can use these lessons to my advantage in the future, I'll have used this year to great advantage.

It's been a great year and I'm looking forward to 2012!! Be on the lookout for more posts from Kevin. He has a blogging project about Disney feature length animated movies. Watch for me and my hopefully many finished objects. Most of all have a safe and Happy New Year.

Day 364 and Memories

As we draw to a close, I found myself with lots of small scraps and with a clear idea on what type of texture and feel each bit of yarn was best. Not only that, I often had a clear memory of the original scarf. In the end I decided not to break apart the memory and the scrap but bring them together. I repeated some of the exact textures from the original scarves and I used one or two new textures as well.

I have to be honest: I didn't keep track of sizes, numbers or designs. I figured they were all a bunch of rectangles and one way or another, I would find a way to get the puzzle pieces to fit.

Day 363 and Protection

It's about stinkin' time it started getting cold around these parts! It's making me worry about global warming all over again. It makes me glad I've become adept at making neck protection. Yet, with all this neck protection, I often overlook the other parts of the head that need protecting. Oh sure, I've got a hood and a ninja mask and a couple of snug cowls that could double as headbands, but this time around, I made a cowl that could really stand up on its own. In fact, I begrudgingly added a pucker when I realized I probably couldn't see over the top of it. At least I'll be warm!

Day 362 and Stretch

Had another ball of this crazy colored yarn. I think that yarn with a lot of short color changes lends itself really well to novelty stitches. Anything where the yarn sits on top of the fabric heading either in a different direction or extending over more than one row really highlights the complexity of the yarn and makes what are usually very simple patterns seem complex as well.

This was an easy garter stitch scarf, but certain columns of stitches were slipped and elongated with a very fancy result.

Day 361 and the Popped Collar

Evenly spaced increases make this scarf fan out around the shoulder area allowing it to stand up straight and stay around the neck without tying or wrapping. This is particularly good for people who don't like a lot of bulk or tightness around the neck and yet still want full wind and cold protection.

Size L hook
Heavy worsted weight yarn
Tapestry needle

Chain 100.
Base row: SC into the second chain and the next 38 chains. 2 SC into the next chain. SC into the next 21 chains. 2 SC into the next chain. SC into the next 39 chains.
From here on, the pattern recipe relies on your ability to recognize the increase from the previous row. Take a moment to look at your stitches and identify the double V going into 1 stitch.
Row 1: Chain 3, turn. Work DC into the second and every following stitch to the increase from the previous row. Work DC into the first and 2 DC into the second of the two increase stitches. DC into the next 21 sts. Work 2 DC into the next stitch (this should line up with the first of the increase stitches from the previous row) DC into every stitch to the end.
Row 2: Chain 1, turn. Work SC into every stitch to the increase from the previous row. SC into the first and 2SC into the second stitch. SC into the next 21 sts. 2 SC into the next stitch (which should be the first part of the increase from the previous row). SC into every stitch to the end including the top of the turning chain.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until the scarf is as wide as you'd like. I choose to make a stripe near the end for interest, but this could just as easily be done anywhere and on every row if you so chose.

Day 360 take 3 and Finally

After all of these days and all of these scarves and all of these experiments, I think I've finally come up with my absolute favorite go to scarf for last minute gift giving. It's unisex in design (though colors could sway it one way or the other. It's thick enough to be warm but not so thick that it's uncomfortable. It's incredibly easy and fast, but has just a little bit of interest, yet isn't so very interesting that someone with very conservative fashion sense would be turned off. It also can be as inexpensive or as lush as you choose depending on the yarn. I think this would be a winner for anyone.

I went with acrylic for mine. I like the easy care and the low price point. Wool would be excellent and cotton would work great too. I think I would probably avoid nylon/rayon shimmery things as I think there would be so much drape as to look limp and unappealing.

2 or more colors of worsted weight or aran weight yarn Choose something lofty for best effect.
Size L crochet hook
Tapestry needle

Base: Chain any number you want. Mine had 145 chains.
Working into only the back loop (not the back bump) DC into the 4th and every following chain.
Cut the yarn and pick up a new color.
First round: Make a slip knot and place it on the hook. Yarn over the hook, pull up a loop through any random stitch on the first color. Complete a DC as normal. DC into every stitch. *Now you make a corner by making 2 more DC into the final stitch, DC once around the post, DC 3 times into the underside of the same stitch. DC once into the underside of every following stitch.* Repeat from * Cut the yarn and use your needle to heal the single stitch seam.
Every following round: Make a slip knot with the next color and place it on the hook. Yarn over the hook, pull up a loop through any random stitch on the previous round. Complete a DC as normal. *DC into every stitch until the corner stitch. 3DC into the corner stitch.* Repeat from * Cut the yarn and use your needle to heal the single stitch seam.

Use completely different colors for every round if you wish. The base row will need about 28 yards. Each following round will use up about 50-55 yards. You can even do this with just one color. The pictured scarf is only 3 rounds and almost 4 inches wide coming in at just under 6 feet in length. Every round will increase both the width and the length by 2 rows.

You could also use this concept for a very nice throw blanket. Change the beginning chain to 30 and go to it. It will naturally take many more yards and many many more rounds, but you'll be able to follow the pattern recipe exactly as written.

Day 360 take 2 and Christmas!!

Yes, Christmas day. The day and indeed the season when it becomes okkay, nay, necessary to wear horrifying sweaters, silly hats, tacky jewelry and green and red together and in equal portions. I think nearly everyone has encountered this colorful weirdness that seems to only pop up during this time of year. I of course had some variegated Christmas colored yarn that had been languishing in my stash and now seems the best time to finally use it up.

Nothing too spectacular here.

1 skein worsted weight yarn in Christmas colors (held double throughout)
Scrap amount of white worsted weight yarn (held double throughout)
Size N (10 mm) hook
Blunt tapestry needle

Chain 101.
Begin with Xmas yarn:
Row 1: Single crochet into the second and every following chain.
Row 2: Chain 3, turn. Double crochet into the second and every following SC
Switch to White:
Row 3: Chain 4, turn, Treble crochet into the second and every following DC as well as the top of the turning chain.
Xmas colors again:
Row 4: Chain 3, turn. Double crochet into the second and every following TC as well as the top of the turning chain.
Row 5: Chain 1, turn. Single crochet into every DC as well as the top of the turning chain.

Weave in and cut all the hanging ends of yarn and wear proudly on Christmas and for much of the month of December.

Day 360 and Tuck

Hmmm... I don't think my math is right. I thought for sure I've been very clear with my day numbering, but today is the day before Christmas and if I keep counting until New Year's Eve, that puts me at 366.... which would be fine if this was a leap year. Oh well. I guess I'll make tomorrow Day 360 as well and call it a wash. I know I managed every day so I can't be upset about something small like that, can I?

ANYWAY! I've always thought that scarves should be further categorized. If not always then at least since I started making scarves every single day. I like to think of this one as a "tuck" scarf. It's short enough that you can tuck it into your coat to keep your neck and chest warm but not so long that you end up extremely bulked up from the extra fabric. A small bit of texture gives it some extra interest.

Day 359 and Function

It's always funny to me when I wear something that happens to have a lot of holes in it because there is inevitably someone who is convinced that there is no way something with holes can keep you warm. It's always very hard to explain the physics of it, but holes really can keep you warm.

Have you ever seen insulation before it's put into the walls? It's very lightweight and very squishy and not at all dense. If you were to shrink yourself down a little bit you would see that it's layers and layers of fiberglass with lots of air in between. The air holds onto heat (the heat that comes from your own skin) and keeps it close to you. While solid fiber would keep you warm, the air held in place does the same thing without the bulk.

I also find that a thick scarf can be pretty stiff so the big holes I've added to the center (a filet crochet hole worked over 2 rows) serves as a very comfortable place to fold over a shawl collar.

Day 358 and Twizzles

The cutest little not pompoms you ever saw dangle at each end of this skinny scarf. Whenever I make a skinny scarf I try to make it longer than usual so that it can be wrapped around the neck at least twice unless it's just for decoration. This one is definitely fluffy and deserves to face the storms.

It's a simple length wise scarf in double crochet except for the twizzles which are super easy to add as you go. For each twizzle chain an additional 10 stitches at the end of the row. Double crochet 3 times into the 4th stitch and 3 double crochet into each of the following 6 chains. At this point you should be lined back up to continue the plain double crochet section of the scarf.

Mine is only 2 thick rows wide, but yours could be as big as you want it to be! There's plenty of room to add a twizzle at the end of every single row if you wanted to. I only had about one third of a skein of Homespun by Lion Brand held double on a size P hook. I didn't count the chains but I stopped at the 5 foot mark. Go crazy with yours! :D

Day 357 and Whiskers

This is a cute little stitch pattern that always reminds me of a kitty's face. If you were so inclined, you could add a pair of button eyes above each set of whiskers.

It's a very easy stitch to create. Work the surrounding stitches in anyway you'd like and just insert the motif wherever you feel the need. The motif is as follows:

Row 1, 3, 5: With yarn in front, slip 5 stitches purl wise
Row 2, 4, 6, 8: Purl back
Row 7: Knit 2, pass your needle below the loose yarn in front of the work Knit the center stitch such that the loos yarn is caught behind the stitch you just made, Knit 2.

I think they look best when surrounded by stockinette. Just make sure you hold your yarn loosely when you slip the 5 stitches or when it comes time to catch them all again, you may pucker your fabric enough that the hardest blocking won't get it to lie flat.

Day 356 and Grout

If the garter stitches are bricks then the stockinette stitch is the very very wide grout. Now that I'm winding down and now that I've had the chance to give away a great many of the scarves that I've made, a very real trend emerges (at least among the people that I know and the people that I'm related to).

1) The general public seems to prefer scarves over cowls.
2) The general public prefers very very neutral colors (everything black, brown and grey was the first to go)
3) The general public prefer either extremely simple texture or glitzy furry stuff.

The first and the second might be easily explained as my family and the folks I know take very few fashion risks. The third surprises me very much. I really thought that lush cables and entrelac and lace would be more popular than plain ribbing and garter stitch, but those very plain items were most certainly the first to go followed quickly by the fancy fur novelty things.

I suppose that this is a response to what I've learned. I most certainly want people to enjoy my scarves and if giving them something a little more conservative will give them joy, then that is what I will create. It also makes me appreciate much more the people that I know with more adventurous taste. I feel like I've bonded with them that much more.

Day 355 and Pinch

Oh gosh... 10 days to go... oh geez.... Oh... oh...

Is it strange to feel like a habit has formed? I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself when New Year's rolls around and I don't require myself to have a finished project every single day. How will I cope??

Here I was trying to use up a small bit of leftover yarn. I wasn't sure how long the yarn would last and had to frog the entire scarf twice before I came up with this one. I left some spaces of just chain stitch and on the final row double crocheted over the chains in to the very first row of stitching which pinched the fabric into pretty little puffs. The scallops are rather pretty and face framing. I'll draft this quickie pattern out sometime soon, but for now, I need to head to the workplace.

Day 354 and Addition

I'm getting way down to the end of my stash, the end of my project and if we're being completely honest, the end of my ideas. I'm sure they're in there and there are plenty of them, but pulling them out rapid fire is getting to be a problem.

I think I like many are sometimes folly to the idea that inspiration comes out of thin air. While this is certainly true once in a while, it's much more common to be inspired by an outside source. I've made plenty of items inspired by nature, cities, sports teams, the yarn itself, my geeky interests, other people's patterns (always credited! :D), and goodness knows what else. This time, I thought I'd let experience inspire me.

It's nearing Christmas the traditional gift giving season for Christians and secularists alike and it's a perfect time to unload my stash. As I was organizing my giant pile, I start coming across scarves that I don't even remember making, but surely I mist have because I stored them all together.

Quite a long time ago I made a scarf using rings of T-shirt and used a rectangle of crochet sewed into a tube to hold them all together and prevent them from tangling. Quite a long time later, I made a scarf that was all chained loops and the loops were each attached to the next by one single crochet stitch. By coincidence, I happened to come across them at almost the same time and thought OH! This... plus this.... equals.... THAT! It just goes to show that sometimes you can be your own inspiration and there's nothing wrong with that at all.

oh stuffnfluff, that picture is stinky....

Day 353 and Felt

Are you kidding me?? It took me nearly the entire year to get around to felting some wool? I must be out of my mind. There are so many awesome things that can be done with felt depending on the level of feltitude not actually a word you achieve!

Not being graced with a top loading washer that can be stopped at any time during the wash cycle, I had to felt this one by hand and so the level of feltitude is very mild here, but some of the benefits are already clear.

What was once a very scratchy and quite stiff wool is now draping and much softer. The stitches have lost some of their definition, so a simple stitch like stockinette or garter is fine to use and makes even something very large into a speedy project. Waiting for your item to dry can be agony, but take advantage of a drying rack and a fan (and even a hairdrier if you really want to move things along), and you'll see much faster results.

Day 352 and Travels

I wonder where my stash comes from sometimes. I know some of it has been gifted to me from very generous people who just want to see their unloved yarn find a good home where it will be used and made into interesting things (and that's very flattering in and of itself). I know some of it comes from garage sales, thrift stores and recycled yarn. I've even been known to buy it new once in a while!

What I'm wondering is where all the rest of it comes from? Every sometimes, I'll be digging through the stash and find a scrap ball of yarn that I have never ever seen before. I'm not saying my memory is perfect, but when I find something distinct, one would think I'd have a memory of it.

This scarf was made from just such a scrap ball of yarn. It was slightly glittery, slightly variegated, slightly fuzzy, and felt like wool. I paired it with a couple of creamy colored yarns and made a traveling filet stitch in the center to make sure it lasted as long as I could get it to last. I wish so very much that I knew what the brand of yarn was because I would certainly buy some if it. Alas, I believe it will be a mystery forever.

Day 351 and Starburst

There is a particular stitch that I particularly love and it looks particularly nice in this particular yarn. But enough of that nonsense.

The fact is, this stitch is so crazy hard to find in stitch dictionaries because it has so many different names. If you don't have it memorized, you'd be forced to go through each dictionary page by page to look at every photo to find it. Luckily, I'm going to go ahead and copy it down for you right here. It has one tricky stitch that isn't really too hard to master and the results are stunning most especially when used with a heavily colored yarn as here or a greatly contrasting monochromatic yarn such as a tonal hand dyed yarn.

Daisy stitch/Trinity stitch/Blackberry stitch/bramble stitch/Star stitch/ all those other names for it. Sheesh!!

Special stitch- PYP3: P3tog, do not slide stitches off the left needle, YO, P3tog through the same stitches and then slide them off. You have decreased 2 and increased 2 all in the same stitch.

Cast on in multiples of 4 +5.
Row 1: *K1, PYP3* Repeat to last stitch, K1 (wrong side)
Row 2: Knit across
Row 3: K1, P1, *K1 PYP3* Repeat to last 3 stitches, K1, P1, K1.
Row 4: Knit across

If you have trouble working this stitch pattern, I suggest using a larger needle. The special stitch requires a lot of room for maneuvering. Ordinarily the yarn pictured would have required a size 10 needle, but this scarf was done on a size 15. I could possibly have gone up to 17 and still had nice results. Another tip, use needles with very long points. Short blunt needles won't have as much room for you to maneuver and long slender tips will help you get through those 3 stitches without stressing out your hands.

Day 350 and Taupes

Some colors names are just too darned vague to pin down. I gathered up a bunch of my taupes and made a nice spongy cowl with bobble bits. It's soft and it's comfy so if they taupes don't match, I'm not bothered even a little bit. Let the mismatched things match, says I!

Day 349 and Shimmer

Novelty yarns have their place, but some yarns sit on the very border of novelty land. Anything with a thread of metallic bits often balance carefully here. This scarf uses Vanna's Choice Glimmer and definitely earns my seal of approval. Granted, I'm a really laid back and easy to please knitter. Some of the yarns I've worked with in the past year and what most folks would consider pretty darn gross. (We're talking 30 year old Orlon gross) I always assume that there's a way I can make a yarn work. If it was as heinous as all that then it wouldn't be on the market.

Vanna'a Choice (And keep in mind I haven't worked with any of Vanna's yarns just yet) doesn't come close to the heinous scale. The metallic bits aren't intrusive and aren't sticky and tinsely feeling as some tend to be and really does show quite a lot of shine despite the lack of it in my less-than-professional picture. I used a couple of baby yarns which happen to be the same weight to lessen the sparkle, but if I had had 3 skeins of Glimmer I feel confident in using it!

Here's the recipe:

3 skeins of Vanna's Choice Glimmer (They can all be the same color or you can use different colors. I think this would look pretty amazing with silver, gold, and platinum)
Size N Crochet hook
Tapestry needle.
Chain 111 and use the pattern "Hardy Edge" from Crochet Edges and Trims: 150 Stitches. Cut the yarn.
When you've finished the edge, turn the scarf so the chain edge is at the top. Start a new yarn and slip stitch into the available chain bump working rows 2-4 of the pattern. Cut the yarn.

Weave in all ends.

Don't be alarmed by the gigantic open lace! The hook and yarn combination makes a soft fabric that easily squishes up around your neck to provide nice warm layers.

Day 348 and Growing

Sometimes I have an idea that's more of a concept than anything else. This is definitely one of those times.

If you're an organized person, this is a really fast 15 to 30 minute project. If you're disorganized this will send you into a wrath of frustration for weeks. Here's what I did. I made a slip knot and put it on a hook. I chained one stitch. I grabbed another yarn, made a slip knot, put it on the hook and made one chain stitch using both yarns. I grabbed another yarn and did the same with the third stitch. Et cetera Etc etera Et cetera. By the end I really don't know how many yarns I had all together. I kept having to switch to a larger hook far earlier than I was expecting. Barely a third of the way through I was already just using fingers only. Had I continued much farther, I expect I'd have been able to put my whole arm through the loops.

Most interesting to me is the way it looks like a real lock of braided hair (not in the color but in the texture. I've always noticed how a braid of hair got so small so very quickly and this scarf did basically the same thing but backwards.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've made a mess of my yarn stash and will be untangling for a few days. XP