Lady Fern Scarf from Hill Country Weavers - DONE!

I'm a Fern fan!

Before blocking

I absolutely LOVE how this turned out.  I think the fringe added just the perfect touch, especially when I combined strands of all three different colors.  It has that marvelous, retro-urban vibe that I associate with Austin, and I’m convinced it will be an accessory favorite of mine.

Blocked

This was my first experience with a dedicated fiber wash—normally I use just a hint of Dawn Blue—and I’m a convert to Eucalan.  The scent is marvelous, and no rinsing is required.  As promised, the linen softened up considerably after its first bath.  I’m really looking forward to wearing this!

The last panel turned out fine!

Speaking of wearing scarves, I’ve gotten many comments about my new Facebook feature, Scarf/Shawl selfies.  I wear some of my knitting almost every day, and here’s a chance for youth see many of the DestiKNITions projects in action.  Click here to visit my Facebook Page, and you can scroll through the recent installments.

Thanks, Hill Country Weavers, for a marvelous project!  Next up, a lovely, lacy cowl from The Knitting Nest.

Lady Fern Scarf from Hill Country Weavers - Day 5

New color, new stitches!

It felt like a vacation to finally get to work the teal yarn!  Seriously, I was grinning like a fool for the first five rows.  No more brown trellis!  Don’t get me wrong—it’s beautiful, but I was beyond ready for a change.

Once again, the kit concept has shown its value; I would have never put these three colors together if left to my own devices.  I just love the contrast between the teal and the brown, and the fern green (how appropriate!) will add the perfect touch for the next section.

Time to fess up on a mistake I’ve made with this project.  When I pulled out the needles, I was pleased my handy short set of 5’s were just the ticket.  Until this week, when I realized I’d used 5mm, not size 5.  It meant I was actually knitting with size 8.   When I pulled the larger size called for in the next section of this pattern, I realized my error.  In keeping with the directions, that means I’ll have to do the next section with size 9.  The good news is that I also have a handy little short set of size 9s, and being of the “not petite” variety at almost 6 feet tall, it’s usually best to size things up.  Only lace doesn't always look right on larger needles, so I’m a bit worried how that will turn out.  

Stay tuned…we’ll all see soon enough.

Lady Fern Scarf from Hill Country Weavers - Day 3

Virtuous?

This. Is. Hard.

Not in the this pattern is so challenging it’s making steam come out of my ears hard, but hard in the I can’t believe it took me this long to knit 27 inches and I’m only halfway done kind of hard.

Four row repeats are soothing.  Zen, even, under the right circumstances.  But after 27 inches, even Zen gets a little too Zen-ish.  27 inches of solid brown—even though I really need a solid brown scarf and I picked the color out myself—borders of mind-numbing.  

On the upside, I could now knit the trellis stitch in my sleep.  On the downside, it offers very little challenge whatsoever. Other than perseverance.  I understand that’s a virtue, but it’s a tiresome virtue to gain, yes?

I know I will love the texture and drape of this scarf—when I’m done.  Right now it’s row upon row of scratchy stitches.  A fiber marathon.  I’m actually calculating how many rows I have to get done each day to stay on schedule.  And when I resort to math, you know it’s getting sticky.

Stick with me.  I need to know I’m not climbing this trellis alone.

Lady Fern Scarf from Hill Country Weavers - Day 2

Learning to love linen (the infotainment edition)...

I need to learn to love linen.  That’s not going to happen by the current feel of it between my fingers—I find it scratchy and inelastic.  To educate--and hopefully alter--my snarky attitude, I went and did a little research on this fiber.  Here’s what I learned:

Despite the lack of elasticity I bemoaned above, linen has some admirable qualities.  It’s made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum (so you can see where the name comes from). Why is it a luxury fiber?  It’s laborious to manufacture, but highly absorbent—which is why we think of linen for hot weather wear, and why it's an excellent choice for Austin.  

Linen has a serious pedigree—it goes back thousands of years.  The earliest known examples—which were woven, not knitted—date back to prehistoric times.  The earliest known examples of knitted items come from ancient Egypt. Linen also shows up frequently in the Bible, including the resume of that impossibly perfect Proverbs 31 woman (talking about her clothing, unfortunately, not her knitting).  

Linen fabric is described as cool and smooth to the touch, gaining softness with multiple washings.  That smooth, lustrous texture is why you want knit stitches on the right side of this scarf rather than garter or purls. Ah, but this fiber's not just a pretty face: linen is three times stronger than cotton and second in strength only to silk.  I was intrigued to discover that linen is one of the few fibers that is stronger wet than dry.  Did you know Henry Ford’s Irish grandmother spun flax into linen fiber?

I have to admit, I’m starting to gain some respect for this crispy little fiber.  But enough education for now.  I’m chugging along on my several feet of trellis pattern, a little less than halfway through the first of two skeins.  If I keep knitting and researching, I might end up downright fond of linen by the end of this.  Hey, it could happen.

Lady Fern Scarf from Hill Country Weavers - Day 1

Linen Lace...

I haven’t knit with linen before, and there’s a reason.  I’m not a big fan of the way it feels between my fingers.  Linen feels scratchy before you wash and block it.  Afterwards, it feels light and airy with a really nice texture and sheen—but we’re not there yet.  My tendency toward immediate gratification is working against me here.  Still Shibui has a great rebutation as a quality fiber, so I think I can rest assured I'll be happy with the results.

The trellis pattern—the stitches that make up the majority of this scarf—is an easy four-row repeat that I memorized by the second round.  That will make for excellent book fair knitting as I sit and meet readers at the Kentucky Book Fair this weekend.  Having the scarf casted on to nice, short needles will help as well.  It might not be as marvelously portable once the thing is many feet long, but right now this is mighty handy knitting.

The fact that this is a kit keeps the color choices pre-loaded for success, and I must admit I like knowing my hues are professionally selected.  I’d find a way to mess this up left to my own devices.

The next set of directions are splendidly easy:  repeat until you run out of color A.  That, I can handle!

AUSTIN, TX: Day 1 - South Congress

Weird and Wonderful...

“Keep Austin Weird.”  “The Blue Dot in the Red State.”  No one seems neutral about the unique and memorable personality of Texas’ state capitol.  It’s an artsy town, no doubt about it.  Creativity is practically pooling in the streets.  And the food?   Well, if you like your cuisine adventurous, this is the town to go exploring.

Lucky for me, I’ve got a truckload of reasons to visit—my next series of books is set here and my son just became a Longhorn (Hook ‘Em!), so I’ve got both personal and professional reasons to get chummy with the locale.  Join me on a three-day adventure through some (but not all…gotta save some for later trips) of Austin’s yarny offerings.  Today we're venturing south of downtown on Congress Avenue, one of Austin's many neighborhoods.

First stop for any DestiKNITter is a good coffee bar.  My sources sent me straight to

Jo’s Coffee

1300 South Congress Ave.

Austin, TX 78704

512-444-3800

joscoffee.com

One of four Austin locations that not only serve as your morning java and wifi fix but your evening beer and sandwich stop-off, this open air walk-up coffee bar feels like what I expect Austin to feel like.  Funky with a bit of twang, authentic, and serious about its fare.  If you’re poaching in the summer heat (I visited in August!), the mister fans are your best friend.  As for coffee, the “Turbo” is the way to go here—Jo’s own supercharged concoction and truly delicious.  I’m almost never one for iced coffee, but on a sweltering day, my Turbo was pure bliss.

Toms Store

1401 South Congress Ave.

Austin, TX 78704 

512-350-2115 

www.toms.com/toms-stores

A store devoted exclusively to Toms uber-comfortable shoes?  One with a coffee bar?  That has a craft night?  Sign me up!  I dare you to walk out of here without a new pair to add to your collection (I sure didn’t).  They’ve managed to perfectly capture the essence of the company in a retail setting.  It’s one of only two locations in the country for heaven’s sake—you gotta go!  Your wallet can feel as good as your conscience, as every shoe purchase provides a pair for needy children.  If you need an excuse to feel like shoe shopping is your civic duty, look no further.

For lunch, try:

Guero’s Taco Bar

1412 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704

512-447-7688

guerostacobar.com

When you’re in Austin, you’ve got to eat Tex-Mex at least once, if not daily.  More than one person directed us to Guero’s; not only for the food, but for the Austin vibe.  We had dinner, but the brunch (and breakfast!) is highly recommended as well.  Give yourself enough time to wait—particularly on a weekend evening—but the outdoor live music patio just next door can make this a pleasant experience.  If you’re a salsa fan, their salsa bar rates top notch.  Like most popular restaurants, lunch can be the best (time- and money-wise) way to take it in.

  

Hey Cupcake!

1511 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704

512-476-2253

heycupcake.com

Longtime DestiKNITters know my theory:  where yarn is, cupcakes are never far behind.  That exclamation point is there in the name for a reason, people!  The happy, shiny airstream trailer and bubblegum-pink umbrellas shout out the sugar-soaked happiness.  I love how they cite their menu as “100% non-fat-free goodness.” Arguments can break out over the best flavor, so I’ll let you decide for yourself if the Pumkinator or Michael Jackson take top billing over the Red Velvet.  Me?  I went chocolate all the way. Yum.

Allen’s Boots

1522 South Congress Avenue

Austin, TX 78704

512-447-1413

allensboots.com

I’ll admit, western wear is like a foreign country to me, but even my Chicagoan eyes could see the legendary nature of Allen’s Boots.  Aisles upon aisles of boots in every size, color, and design.  Even if you’d never don a pair, the place is worth your time just for the vast eye candy of it all.  I have no reason to ever own cowboy boots, but I began to catch myself thinking “Well, maybe…” as I wandered down aisle after aisle.  Sure, there are nifty clothes, a gazillion pairs of jeans and other western gear, but its all really about the boots.  

Uncommon Objects

1512 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704

512-442-4000 

uncommonobjects.com

To call this place “antique shopping” would be like calling Allen’s Boots a shoestore—accurate, but nowhere near the full scope of the place.  Give yourself at least an hour—maybe two—to wander the myriad of cubbies and alcoves housing everything from typeface to bureaus to taxidermy to that thing that makes you go “what on earth is that?”  The merchandise is eye-popping, but I found it just as much fun to listen to the customers and designers debate where in their homes/restaurants to put that red striped alligator head or those giant neon alphabet letters.

We saved the fiber feast for last.  Head on over to the bright green house on the corner for

Hill Country Weavers

1701 S Congress Ave

Austin, TX 78704

512-707-7396

hillcountryweavers.com

Cozy, crowded, cranny-filled, and stuffed to the gills, this place is amazing.  I saw more Noro than I’ve seen in any one place, not to mention a great selection of bags and needles.  Hill Country Weavers has been in business for 34 years, so they know their stuff.  As the name implies, the business started with a weaving focus, but customer response soon expanded that scope to include knitters, spinners, and other fiber arts.  

“We started out as a gallery and supply, but the supply pretty much took over,” says owner Suzanne Middlebrooks.  They’ve launched a series of patterns and are known for establishing the “Austin Style” in their knitwear—a “hill country look” that combines modern, vintage, and urban elements.  You can dip your toes into the “Weaving Made Easy” class or go for the immersion experience of the annual retreat.  

Some projects to inspire you as you wander the many rooms:

Stephen West Pebble Parallelogram 

Known for his striking designs, West combines garter stitch in five colors of Shibui Knits Pebble silk-wool-cashmere blend to make his trademark geometric magic. You could work this shawl/scarf up in graduating hues or in dramatic contrasts depending on your personal taste, but you can always count on Stephen West for a show-stopping accessory.

Paintbrush Lace Cowl

Hill Country Weavers is earning a reputation for great kits, and this lacy/cozy cowl is a fine example.  It’s a store exclusive utilizing five colors of Alchemy Silken Straw yarn in a stunning combination—which is what makes buying the kit such a good idea.  Lots of cowls are chunky, cold-weather things, but this one has a marvelous, season-less texture that’s perfect for southern climes.

Goldenrod Sweater

Another store exclusive pattern, this one takes Sweet Georgia Yarns superwash DK to create a short-sleeved sweater with style and swing.  Again, the color combination you choose could go either subtle or wow, depending on your taste.

Knit Along: Lady Fern Scarf

Our knit along from Hill Country Weavers will be this store kit crafting a long and lacy scarf from a trio of Shibui Linen colors.  As you can imagine, linen is a favorite fiber in Texas’ hot climate.  Don’t be put off by the slightly scratchy feel while you’re knitting; a wash and a few wearings will render it soft and delightful.  It’s a nice touch that the kit includes a packet of Eucalan eucalyptus delicate wash and a pair of pretty beaded stitch markers.

Whatever you pick, don’t forget to stop in the outlet building next door to scope out a bargain—because none of us ever has enough yarn, right?

See more that intrigues you down Congress Avenue?  No worries—we’re not done with this vibrant neighborhood.  We’ll be back again on Day Three.

A now for a bit of shameless self-promotion:  My most recent inspirational romance novel release is just out. Saved by the Fireman has a marvelous knitting heroine and lots of fiber world details. You might enjoy it.