Caterpillar to Butterfly Scarf from Sheep's Clothing--Done!

Transformed!

Blocking this involved stringing two short blocking wires through the looped fringes on either side of the scarf and tacking it up over a doorway.  Super easy.  While blocking did straighten things out a bit, the yarn also didn’t hold the straight shape for long once I put it on.  Still, its light texture makes this a good choice for warmer or transitional climates where a wooly scarf would feel too bulky.

It’s a bit of an odd length by my taste—not quite long enough to loop around my neck, but too long to leave just hanging lose.  It needs a hitch around itself to be thee right length, but then you loose the openwork effect.  I’d want another foot in length if I did it again.  I’ll have to play with it some more to find how I want to style it in its current length  

All things considered, I still view this a very good improvement over the drop stitches scarves I never quite seem to master.  The unraveling is great fun and highly satisfying.  This would make a terrific project to give a young knitter ready to move beyond basic garter—as long as you can be looking over his or her shoulder for the tricky cast on and transformational bits.

Thanks, Sheep’s Clothing, for a unique and ingenious knitting experience!

Next, we move on to a mobius cowl from Griffith’s Spinnin’ Yarns.

Caterpillar to Butterfly Scarf from Sheep's Clothing--Day 5

Opened up...

I wasn’t sure if all that unraveling would be tedious or wondrous.  

Turns out, it’s a little of both.

It’s a lot of yarn-wrangling.  The thing feels like it’s one giant ball of loose ends, even though it isn’t.  It’s so open.  I think it might feel less challenging in a bright color, but the neutral colors of this yarn seemed to fade into everything as I was trying to unleash those stitches.  In reality, there are no loose ends to tangle, but it continued to feel as though it were twisting on itself even though it can’t. It’s not tangled, it can’t really tangle, but it feels as if it is on the verge of tangling every time I pick it up.

While I wasn’t quite sure why it would need blocking, I think that “verge of tangling” feeling is exactly why it needs to be blocked.  After being bent up in stitches for a long time, the yarn won’t lie flat.  That contributes to the “tangling” effect.  Once I block it, I’m hoping the long “slots” of open fiber will lay out more smoothly.

Lengthwise, it’s considerably longer now that the stitches are opened up, but it still isn’t an especially long scarf.  That suits the piece, though, as you would loose a lot of the open effect if you had it looped or knotted.  It’s really one of those scarves to show off flat against a highly contrasting shirt or sweater.  Oodles of texture!

This transformation was indeed fun to create!  Now I’m anxious to view the final product.

Alexandra Scarf from Gauge Knits - Day 2

Why I love knitting...

I’m pleased to report that my roll-prevention efforts seem to be paying off.  It’s still a bit early to call those six extra stitches a complete success, but I’m over eight inches into the scarf and nothing is curling in on the edges so far.  Hooray!

Look at all those pretty green zig-zags!  There’s something about a pattern repeat stacking on itself so nicely, that swells the heart, isn’t there?  Beautiful, precise, order.

The creation of order in a chaotic world was one of the reasons I started knitting in the first place.  With small kids underfoot and the unpredictable nature of a writing career, I was hungry for things that gave me a sense of accomplishment and control.  When I knit something, it generally stays knit (unless I have to rip it out, but that’s another issue).  I can’t say that for an empty dishwasher, a clean counter, or even a well child.  None of that has changed, even though those little kids are now young adults—everything still feels as if it is in constant motion.  Knitting is my antidote to that non-stop shifting.  It establishes something that wasn’t there before, something that stays where I put it.

Have you ever tried to explain the deep satisfaction you feel when you look at your knitting? Especially to someone who isn’t a creative type?  It’s hard. The sense of “I made this, and it is beautiful,” even if it’s something as ordinary as a garter stitch dishcloth, defies explanation.  For me, knitting becomes visual time…it is effort you can see and feel, it is tactile and concrete.  Even my writing—which you can see 100 words as concretely as you can see 100 stitches—doesn’t give me the same deep sense of accomplishment.  

It’s why I love knitting so much.  And I expect I have lots of company in that affection.

Just in case you missed it:  Authors Who Knit will shift to READERS Who Knit for 2015!  I’ve been telling my publisher (and anyone else who will listen) that readers are knitters and knitters are readers.  What better way to celebrate that marvelous symbiosis then by highlighting my readers who take to the yarn and needles?  Starting in February, I’ll feature 11 Allie fans and their knitting—one each month—and those featured readers will get a few special goodies as well as some kudos here on DestiKNITions.  Email me at allie [at] alliepleiter [dot] com if you want to submit to be featured.

Alexandra Scarf from Gauge Knits - Day 1

A smart, simple scarf...

I spend a lot of time knitting scarves and shawls that “do” things—either through clever design features, thoughtful shapes, or intriguing patterns.  All that’s fine and dandy, but there’s always a place for the basic in every knitter’s project cue.

This is a step up from the basic scarf, surely, for the zig-zag design adds a bit of flair and reminds me of the Comin’ Round the Mountain socks I knit from Hearthstone Knits in Saint Louis.  I respect that this scarf isn’t out to do tricks or turn heads.  This is a scarf that knows what scarves are for, and why we love them. 

It helps to have a splendid fiber—this Luxe Perch merino/cashmere/nylon blend has a nice feel and the brilliant green is just what this jaded (no pun intended) Chicago winter gal needs.  It reminds me the vibrancy of Spring is just around the corner.  You could do this project in a solid or a multi-color yarn, but I’d advise staying away from too dark a hue so that you see the lovely stitch-work.  

I have a strong aversion to stockinette scarves—their tendency to roll at the edges drives me  nuts.  To guard against that, I chose to amend Kelly Ramsey’s pattern with three additional garter stitches on either end of the pattern.  You may not share my fears, and could be just fine with the pattern as written.  I, however, like the color and simplicity of this scarf so much I don’t want to risk being annoyed by rolling when I am all done.

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 4

Trellis Finish!

It took so very, very long to get that second skein of Shibui linen knit.  Five whole feet in total!  Honestly, I felt like I was going trellis-mad by the end of it.

The directions say to knit to the end of the second skein, but I elected to save out a small ball in case I decided I wanted fringe at the end of the scarf.  I’m usually not a fringe person, but I keep envisioning fringe at the end of this scarf.  I want to leave myself that option, and I’m willing to risk an inch of trellis to get it.

I found it amusing that the scarf is nearly as tall as my Christmas tree, so I had a little fun with the photography.  I needed to celebrate getting to the end of this trellis marathon.

I can hardly wait to change colors, stitches, and even needle sizes as I begin the last two segments.  It will feel wonderful!

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!

Brady Scarf from Ruhama's - Day 3

Who’s wearing who?

Halfway done, and I’m truly enjoying myself.  This is definitely an eye-catcher, as I get stopped every single time I knit this in public.

I’m finally getting to the length that I can see the impact of the yarn’s gradual color change.  Depending on how and where I tie it, this scarf will either look red, pink, or something in between.  That could be very versatile.    

  

Granted, I’ve seen some photographs of this fiber in more dramatic color changes, but I’m particularly happy with the one I chose.  Sometimes, when you get drama in both the pattern and the yarn, it ends up too much.  More like the scarf that’s wearing you rather than you wearing the scarf.  

Coco Chanel, who was more into pearls than scarves (and we’ll forgive her for that) understood this truth.  Her famous quote “Dress shabbily, they notice the dress--dress impeccably, they notice the woman” has an application here.  When the scarf is right for the outfit and the person, you notice the style of the person wearing it.  When it overpowers either the rest of what one is wearing, or the person herself, all you can see is the scarf.

Come on, every one of us has made something (think eyelash yarn or that thick stuff calling for size 19 needles) that swallows you whole when you wear it.  It happens.

That’s not the same thing as a statement scarf or a statement necklace.  When you let a piece take center stage in an elegant way, it works.  Provided, I believe, that nothing else on your body is fighting for the attention.  If I did this scarf in the rainbow colorway, I’d need to wear a solid black, white, or neutral top.  I think I still may need to do that with this red-pink progression, but not as strictly.  

And besides, we all know I love center stage.

Knit Along: Angora Lace Scarf from Lion Brand Studio - DONE

It's complete!  

And it's killing me that it is too warm in Chicago right now to wear this lovely scarf, even lacy as it is.  Every knitter loves fall for just that reason--it's time to break out all the lush, fluffy stuff.


I'm very pleased.  It's shorter than many of my other scarves, but I think it suits the airy nature of the piece.  It's a smart little thing, an accent rather than a drape.  Just itching for a lovely pin or a clever knot, don't you think?  

Well done, Lion Brand.  You've designed in impressive scarf that even a novice could attempt with confidence.  And you already know how I feel about the yummy yarn.  My photos just don't do the color justice.

I'm going to treat you to another goodie today, DestiKNITters.  

If you've not encountered the lovely little accessory called a yarn bowl, allow me to introduce you.  Pottery lovers, here's a chance to combine your passions.  This piece was given to me by my brother, one of Virginia artisan Brian Lacy's works.  I love that his business card says "functional, handmade pottery to enhance the culture of living."  Thanks, Brian I really do feel enhanced.  I feel artistic.  

I feel like my yarn won't roll off the table next time.  See that clever little slit?  You drop your ball of yarn in the bowl (this one's a nice size to accommodate any number of yarn weights), feed the yarn through the slot, and knit away.  Unlike some of the other yarn holders which feed the yarn through a closed hole, you can insert and remove the yarn from this holder at will.  That's good, because you really don't want to tote pottery around.  Still, while you're stitching in the comfort of your own home, this is an artful addition to your yarn gadget collection.

Speaking of artful, wait until you see the fabulously artistic nature of our next project from Loopy Mango.  See you soon!