Cleaning House

Many Americans are familiar with the idea of Spring Cleaning. Spring is a time for new growth and new ideas and fresh activity. However, New Year's is a time for resolution and it is my opinion that Spring Cleaning ought to have a New Year's sister cleaning as well.

While it's true that in the northern hemisphere, it's an inconvenient time to have a garage sale, it still is a convenient time to set up for a garage sale. Search out the tchotchkes and have them ready when the last flake finally melts.

For me, it's less about getting rid of junk (we live in a very small apartment after all so efficiency is the name of the game) but about finishing what we started and reorganizing what we have.

Among my 2012 goals is the resolution to finish or frog all my UnFinished Objects and Works In Progress. To start this, I really do need to figure out what they are, where they are, and where I stopped. Here's one:

I just started this project a few days ago. I'm quite positive I can finish this shawlette this month as it's going faster than I could have hoped for. I'm really thrilled to be working with this yarn from BlackSheep Dyeworks. It's amazingly soft, but it has so much stitch definition (clearly not evidenced by my whack photography skills) and I have yet to split the yarn even once. The pattern is Pleiades and is quite well written so far.

Now let's move on to, oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear. This was supposed to be finished back in 2010. Can you really blame me though? Look at all those ends! It's a nightmare! What was I thinking? I hate weaving in ends and seaming. This one will be a chore, but even though the little girl is a little bit bigger, I still think it's large enough and will eventually be nice enough that she'll still get some joy from it.
And this? I don't even know WHAT it was originally supposed to be! It's pointy at one end, and it's clearly some sort of stuffed item. A mouse's head? A rotten turnip? An armadillo? I don't think it was originally supposed to be an acorn, but I think the shape and color fits, so that's what I intend to finish it into.
What other sad lonely little projects will I find while tidying up?

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 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 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 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 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 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 347 and Festivity

The closer you get to the holidays the more you want to dress up in the spirit of the holiday. I came from a Christmas family and to me nothing says Christmas like the three classic colors: red, green and white. I made this scarf with the basic diagonal garter stitch method.
(Row 1: Kfb, k across to last 2 stitches, K2tog. Row 2: Knit across)
Just doing my part to spread holiday cheer (but I won't dis you for being a humbug if that's your thing!).

Day 346 and Sick Day (formerly Snowballs)

I knew I wouldn't be able to get through the entire year without a scarf made of this particular novelty yarn. It's most commonly called PomPom yarn (Pictured here is Bernat's version of it) and it consists of a woven cord with little fluff balls evenly spaced along the length. I have to admit it was very easy to knit but very difficult to work with in other ways. The only cast on method I could use was the backwards loop and the cast of was amazingly tight and both were because of the even spacing of the poms. Also cutting the cord caused it to unravel terribly dropping each of its pompoms along the way. On the other hand, stockinette stitch didn't curl in the slightest because of the way the poms spread each individual stitch way out. Also it certainly was incredibly soft once made into fabric and it's a look you can't really get any other way.

All in all, it's fine for a decorative scarf, but the loose stitching won't be keeping you warm at all without a lining. Oh well. All in the spirit of the season, no?

In truth, I had made this one a while ago with the intention of using it for the upcoming holiday so I'd be able to spend it stress free with my family. I've renamed it Sick Day for my Kevin who is spending the night in the hospital. I'm very lucky to have had a scarf ready made that I can move up in the line up, but more importantly I'm very grateful to know that he's being taken care of. If you have any healing to spare, send it along. Thanks :(

Day 345 and Fair Isle

It might not be the most accurate title for this scarf. I'm no expert on color work, but from what I understand, fair isle has very specific rules. I don't think my cowl here quite fits. It might be a little bit like bandaids. The proper term is adhesive strip, but if you say bandaid, everyone knows what you're talking about. Need charts of inspiration? I recommend Alice Starmore's Charts for Color Knitting.

Day 344 and Mint Chip

I thought I'd expand on the woven effect a little bit. In this collar I used an icord instead of scrap yarn and zigged it back and forth with each row. I used an interesting frog with a long loop so I could hook it onto itself instead of having another frog piece on the other side. Maybe it's just me, but I think loops are much easier than buttons. I'm sure it's just a personal thing.

Day 339 and Comic

Shameless plug alert! My fiance Kevin has been writing a webcomic (idget) semi regularly since... shoot, I don't even know! It's got to be about 10 years running now.

I turn to him today and I say, "Kevin! Give me an idea for a scarf! I'm feeling a little uninspired."
He says, "Do a scarf about a comic strip." I sense he's being facetious until *bing! lightbulb!*
I reply, "Perfect!"

It's really just another clever way to use an applique, but even more, it's a way to tell others what you're thinking. I have a rather large collection of buttons (badges). I used to display them on the upholstered ceiling of my car. Unfortunately my new car has a hard fiberglass top and I can't transfer the buttons there. This scarf gives me a new opportunity to show off the collection. If you don't have a huge set of brooches, badges, or high school kids in sports and band uniforms,* I suggest sewing in 3 black buttons in a row. Better to remain silent with a set of ellipsis, then to have a blank speech bubble and be thought a fool.

What? Is that not the phrase?

2 skeins Loops and Threads Charisma (held double throughout) I used offwhite.
Size 19 needles
10 yards worsted yarn (I used black)
size 7 or 8 dpns (A cranking icord maker or knitting nancy will work just fine too if you prefer)
Tapestry needle

Cast on 14 with large needles.
Rows 1, 2: [k1, p1] across
Rows 3, 4: [p1, k1] across
Repeat these rows until you're clean out of yarn. Bind off.

Cast on 4 with Dpns. Work i-cord until you're clean out of yarn.

Arrange the cording on the scarf in the shape of a speech bubble and sew into place. Use the black yarn to attach the cord as the white is far too large. If you catch only the purl ridges on the scarf body as you sew, the backside will have no trace of your stitches and appear clean and neat.
Pin some badges or sew some buttons and tell everyone what you have to say!

*Did anyone else's school do this? My high school had a photo roster which was turned into campaign style badges for parents to wear. Pass along the idea if your local house of learning hasn't already adopted the practice.

Day 337 and Ninja

Here's a simple equation: Hat + Cowl = Ski mask.

I've had this on my wish list for a while now! Here's the set up.
If you know the recipe for a short row hat knitted sideways, you can make it into a ski mask very easily. All you have to do is cast on many many more stitches until it's long enough to cover the face. On the crown edge, work the decrease wedges as you normally would and on the long edge, just knit straight.

When it comes time to put the face in, all you have to do is work the hat as if it were only a hat leaving all the other stitches on the needle. Then cut the yarn and attach it to the face area leaving a few stitches gap for the eyes. Knit straight until it's the same width as the hat portion and sew the seam.

I need to deconstruct this project again and post a better pattern. In all honesty, I made this one up as I went along (and that's very much like me). Among my goals for the new year is learning to make a PDF so I can post better patterns to ravelry. :)

Day 336 and Ravenclaw

If you're a hardcore fan of anything at all, you know that other fans can be rabid, insane, frightening, but above all of those other thing, they are opinionated!

Watchers of the Harry Potter movies might make a fuss that I've chosen the wrong colors for this so called Ravenclaw scarf, but readers of the books will nod in appreciation. Storytelling (and in this case scarf making) is constantly evolving even when the story is something as concrete as a book or a movie. Despite the art already having been made, there will always be someone out there interpreting it as he or she sees fit. How many years will go by before there is a remake of the series or a tv show that does a little retcon? It could happen.

As it stands, I went with book canon blue and bronze. I'm not saying it's better, just that it's my choice and just like my opinion, I'm grateful to have it.

Day 335 and Hufflepuff

I am nothing if not a completionist. I've made 2 Gryffindors and a Slytherin. I'll be darned if I don't complete the set!!

I used a nice fat yarn and it's outrageously soft. I'm totally a fan of Micheal's house brand "Loops and Threads" If you have a Micheals craft center near you, give the brand a try. It's much softer, much less pilling, and just as machine washable as you'd imagine.

Day 333 and The Winding Road

I'm really trying to get more cabling into my life. It's interesting, it's slightly challenging, and it always always always yields impressive results.

Here I did nothing more than a plain cowl. Garter stitch is used 3 stitches wide on both edges and in the center, a 2 stitch cable. All I did was move the cable over one stitch for every right side row. When I got too close to one border, I started moving it in the other direction. With an even wider center section, some interesting asymmetrical direction changes could be very exciting!

Day 331 and Cro-knit

Okkay here's one that's completely new to me! I can't believe I had one of these needles in my stash! I know I never bought it... maybe my mom passed it on to me.

Anyway, the technique is called cro-knitting, cro-hooking, double-end crocheting, crocheniting, and double tunisian, but as far as I can tell, they all stand for the same thing. The technique uses a long needle with a crochet style hook at both ends and two strands of yarn. The basic stitch (seen here) is exactly the tunisian or afghan stitch. The big difference is that after picking up all the stitches onto the need, you *turn* the needle and work the return row and another pick up row in the opposite color. Check out this video by Mary Middleton to see the basic stitch in action.

Day 330 and Pilgrim

I'm not sure what the problem with American History is, but we Americans can never seem to get it quite right. Case in point: Today is American Thanksgiving. The rules are as follows.
1. Indians wear little headbands with three feathers sticking out the back.
2. Cornucopias all have the same veggies.
3. TURKEY... chicken is blasphemous on this day!
4. Pilgrims wear buckles.

I have put rule number 4 into play today. Pilgrims wore buckles. If you wear buckles then you are a pilgrim. This scarf makes you a pilgrim.