Stash-buster update

February's Finished Objects...

SB Project 2 (100g):
The BSJ has been taking a back seat a little during the month, because I really couldn't decide if I liked it or not.  I've finished it now though...

This is definitely one of my favourite patterns, and I love that I can make small changes each time so that each BSJ is completely unique.  This time I did the increases by knitting into the front and back of the marked stitch and the one before it on the RS, then purled the marked stitch on the WS rows; that gave a diagonal line of knitted stitches over the garter stitch which was quite effective in the finished jacket.  I added a vertical knit line by picking up the stitches for the button band the "wrong" way.

I also cast off a stitch at the beginning of each row after the first neck cast-offs until the button band, in order to get a slightly wider neck.  This worked quite well, although the edge would have looked much neater if I'd finished it off with an i-cord edging.  The buttons were from my button stash, and were originally salvaged from old clothes - I've no idea what now.


I'm quite pleased with how it's turned out, but I don't like it enough to give to my friends when their baby arrives.  It's nice, but not right for their style.  I'm planning to give it to a local charity shop instead so that they can get some benefit from it.

SB Project 3 (100g):
I've already written about completing the Chinook Scarf.  I did manage to block it in the end, by pinning out each of the points and leaving the straight edge unpinned.  That seemed to work quite well, and I was very happy with the finished result.  I've already worn it a couple of times for work; it feels lovely and soft against my skin and is warm without being too much.

I've finally managed to get a couple of daylight pics:
















SB Projects 4 & 5 (150g):
I made myself a Bandana Cowl to use some of the Debbie Bliss Paloma yarn I bought with a birthday voucher last year.  The yarn is so soft and squishy and I'd been waiting for the "right" project to match it with.  This cowl worked very well.

I cast on fewer stitches than the pattern said, since I was using a thicker yarn, then did fewer decrease rows so that it wasn't as deep.  I liked the simple design and it was perfect for wearing while in town looking around the shops.  I gave the first one to my 93-year old gran while she's in hospital, and I hope she likes it.  I'd love it to be a hug from me while we're far apart.

So then I made another for myself... I used 3 skeins in total, although perhaps I'd have preferred the 2nd cowl (mine) to be slightly wider - I'm not sure if it was different to the first, but I was so keen not to run out of yarn that maybe I stopped a row or two earlier?

I'm happy with the cosy feel of this cowl - again, it's quite lightweight but it's lovely and snuggly for the recent cold mornings.


So I'm pleased to have completed 4 projects this month, and to have destashed 350g.  There's still a long way to go!


Thanks again to Linda for hosting this challenge.  I'm feeling inspired by all the creative ways people have found to use up their yarn supplies.  And I've enjoyed remembering the stories behind my own yarn purchases.

Knitting and rugby...

...make a good opportunity to work on a scarf for myself!

The Six Nations 2013 rugby competition started last Saturday, so I took the chance to work on my Chinook Scarf while I watched my national side lose bravely (if somewhat predictably) to the English last week, then comfortably beat the Italians today.  It's turning into an interesting competition this year: by the end of tomorrow there should be 4 teams with one win each, the French with no wins (surprisingly) and either the English or Irish with 2 wins.  It's wide open at the moment which makes for fun viewing.

The side-benefit of this is that I completed my second stash-busting project during today's match.  This was a scarf pattern for some Silk Blend I'd bought a couple of years ago then not been able to match to the "perfect" project...

The pattern is fairly simple, but had some interesting touches.
- This was my first built-in i-cord edging and I did like the way this neatened up the edge and added to the sense of quality.
- The lace border took me a few repeats to get into my head but then was a fun start/finish for the rows.
- And the stocking stitch body made for a nice mindless section (perfect for during a good rugby match).

It needs blocking I think, although I'm not sure how I'll do this yet - the i-cord edging is lovely but could be a bit tricky for pinning out evenly.

I wasn't sure at first if I was going to like the finished result, but when I tried it on this afternoon I was very pleased.  It isn't too big but should be a cosy, pretty addition when the weather's a little chilly (which is quite frequent around here!)


This is a wee bit late for Tami's FO Friday, but I don't really want to wait another 2 weeks (I won't be able to get online next Friday) so I'm going to sneak my link in to yesterday's post.  Well, better late than never!

And for the Stash-Buster 2013 Challenge... this is project number 2 and has used up 100g of a lovely soft yarn.

Project 3 (BSJ) has also been growing during the rugby-viewing, and I'm looking at ideas for the next bit of my stash to be busted.  More to follow once inspiration strikes...

2 UFOs

Unexpected Finished Objects :-)

By the time I'd finished the Red Leafy Scarf for my mother-in-law, I didn't think I'd be able to complete the scarf I'd been working on for Grandma as a Christmas present.  But I'd got far enough to be able to start the decrease section, so it grew surprisingly quickly.  I had a very late finish on the Saturday before we were due to head north and it was pinned out to block before I went to bed.  I was able to wrap it on Sunday and we left on Monday.  Hooray!

It's proved very difficult to get decent pictures of this project - I think maybe the colours haven't given enough contrast - but Grandma was wearing the scarf all Christmas Day.  Success!

So then my fingers were fidgeting but without a project, so I decided to make the Möbius Cowl that I'd considered for my other gran.  I cast this on while at my in-laws' for Sunday lunch and an early Christmas meal, then knit most of the way up to Scotland (with the car light on when it got too dark) and did the final few rows once we'd arrived.  I do like the Möbius construction and this original version gave a lovely lacy effect.  I hope she enjoys wearing it.

Oops!  I nearly forgot another finished project... It was made long before Christmas, but I couldn't post until it had reached its new owner.  I sent my friend a Zig-Zag Möbius which I hope she'll find comfortable and practical since it shouldn't be a fight to keep on in the wind...

It's another challenging make to get a decent photo of, but I liked how it looked in real life.

Ready for Christmas

The Red Leafy Scarf is finally finished!

As predicted, by the end I was getting to be quite frustrated with its neverendingness, but I'm pleased with the final result.  The unblocked version was nice, with a bit of a shell effect at the ends, while the blocked scarf is quite elegant.  I'm sure my mother-in-law will appreciate the effort and I hope she'll feel spoiled - it's been a long autumn for her.

And just to complete the scarf-set (excepting the one which will now be for my gran's birthday in January), the 2nd & 3rd crocodiles were finished last Saturday:

The green croc either looks as though he's half asleep, or maybe he's enjoyed a Christmas tipple or two.  I'm not sure!

It was a late finish last night...

Phew!  The Red Leafy Scarf is finally pinned out to block.  I grafted the two halves together last night, soaked it in water this evening and I've stretched it out to dry (after the picture was taken I've repinned it so the edges are less zig-zaggy).

I'd been a bit unsure how to arrange the join between the two halves, and should really have finished each half with a WS row to make it invisible, but at least it's fairly neat.  I had to unpick the first couple of inches to get the strips lined up too.  Only I will see the imperfections though...

It's not quite finished yet, so I'm joining the WIP Wednesday again:

Endless scarves...

The scarves continue to take up most of my time...  The Red Leafy Scarf feels as though it's getting close to completion at last, which is good since I could do with blocking it in the next few days if it's to be ready for Christmas.  I'm managing about 10-20 rows in a sitting at the moment, and there are 50 to go...

I took a break from the 4-ply to do some of Crocodile No. 3 at the weekend and while we were visiting A's parents (the red scarf is for my mother-in-law, so can't be worked on when I'm there!)  I'm making it the same length as the others by adding 32 rows in the straight section compared to the pattern.  When I made the first I ripped it back when I saw how it was turning out length-wise so that I could extend it.  They're still not over-long but hopefully a bit more cosy.

The Any Yarn Scarf is on hold at the moment - if I don't manage to complete it for Christmas it can be for my gran's birthday in January instead.  Or perhaps I'll finish it on the journey north...

Finished

I've finally finished a project!  I made this crocodile scarf some time ago, but only attached the eyes and nostrils in the last few days.  It was going to be a Christmas present for one of our godsons, but his birthday present didn't arrive in time so we've done a swap.  He'll get his scarecrow puppet for Christmas now instead.

I'm really pleased with the way it's turned out. The pattern was in Let's Knit magazine a couple of months ago, although I modified it slightly to make it longer (I added about 32 rows of the straight section).  The eyes were quite tricky but I think they look good in the end.

I need to redo the eyes on the blue scarf (they're too close together and too far forward... he just looks scary!) so I can't call that one finished yet.  Crocodile no. 3 was cast on last Saturday.

I'm still working hard to finish the grown-up scarves, so I'll post about this next Wednesday...

Capturing the creativity (or not!)

Still knitting the scarves...

and pleased that I'm making some progress.  I've started on the 2nd half of the Red Leafy Scarf, which means I'm on the lace part again (concentration required!) and I think I'm over half-way on the Any Yarn Scarf.  I'm not sure how long to make it yet, but I guess the straight part will be somewhere between a third and half of the total length.  So far so good anyway.

But my musing this week is around how to get good pictures of my projects...  I took this photo with an iPhone4, which has sometimes given me spectacular photos and sometimes just doesn't know how to focus. And on other projects it's worked well, but for these two I don't think I've managed a sharp image yet.  I've tried different backdrops and different flash conditions or focal points, but I can't get a clear picture to show the stitch pattern.  It's a shame, because the enjoyment of these scarves is partly in the detail of the patterns.

I don't have a "proper" camera to play with (maybe I should ask Santa!) but I've had success with my phone before.  So I've got some ideas to try...

- wait for daylight (weekends only at the moment, and sometimes not even then!)

- try creating a plain backdrop with a sheet of material to give a clear contrast

- wait until the scarves are finished and blocked so the definition is more obvious

- borrow my husband's camera so I can put it on a small tripod (I'm not always confident I've kept the phone steady)

- spend more time browsing other blogs to see what clever tricks other people have used

- I'd like to be able to get a good close-up as well... 

I'll just have to keep practising.

Switch it off!

After posting last week about the frustration of never-ending scarves, this week I've been enjoying some of their repetitiveness.

I cast on for an Any Yarn Scarf for Grandma, using 4-ply sock-yarn, and spent some time on that this evening.  I've reached the stage where I don't need the pattern any more, which feels good: I like being able to read the rows to know where I am and what comes next.

I've also picked the red leafy scarf back up and made some progress last night while chatting with friends.  It doesn't need to be long enough to wrap around a neck, so it shouldn't be too long until I can start on the second half.

In both cases I've been enjoying the repetitive nature of their fairly short rows and simple lace stitches combined with plain knitting. This is something I've often read about but not experienced so much myself; normally I look for the challenge of a new technique, or I'm knitting to a gift deadline.  And knowing that I can switch between projects when one becomes too repetitive lifts the sense of there being no end in sight.

But perhaps the real difference has been knitting while chatting rather than with the tv on for "entertainment".  So maybe the moral of the story is... Switch it off!


I'm a little late for WIP Wednesday, but there you go... too busy knitting I guess ;o)

Against my better judgement...

I have 3 active projects at the moment, and one which I ripped out yesterday.  All of them are scarves.  Looking back at my recent makes I've also made 4 circular moebius scarves and a Clapotis wrap since the start of the year.

So my question is... why do I keep making scarves?  When I first cast on for a new scarf I'm full of enthusiasm, but I know that long before the end I'll have grown to resent the thing: its nagging, unfinished presence and the repetitive rows which are the same as the previous 100 and the 100 still to come.  I know that I'll put it down "just while I do this quick knit" only to find it abandoned months later, when I realise I've left it too late for the gift deadline I had in mind.

Even the Teddy's Scarf I knitted for our young godson's birthday was tiring by the end.  (Surely it's long enough by now!)

And yet, I love the finished result.  And I press on with the thought that a gifted scarf might keep the recipient feeling warm and cosy - a lasting hug.


So here are my current projects:

• Two crocodile scarves for our godsons

These were wonderfully quick to knit up, thanks to chunky yarn and a pattern that can be knitted without having to watch every stitch.  I even made the crocs a bit longer than the design.

They're both nearly finished now - only the eyes and nostrils to add.  I think they're going to be so cute!

• A red leafy scarf for my mother-in-law

I started this back in June and made great progress until I put it down for a short while... I've restarted it within the last week or so.  It won't be finished in time for a November birthday, but maybe Christmas; just don't ask which year... it was originally planned for 2011!

This is my first entry for WIP Wednesday.  There are loads more projects to see at Tami's Amis