My Yarnmarket Order

Aren't these colors gorgeous? It is Noro Cash Iroha for making two pairs of fingerless gloves from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It has a wonderful soft texture and I can't wait to knit with it.

Also in my order was Rebecca #31 and I'm planning to make some of the summer tops. I think I will substitute with Knit Picks Shine worsted and sport to save on cost.

Change to Comments Settings

I've changed my comments settings to allow anyone to leave comments. You no longer have to be registered with blogger. I'm sorry if I excluded anyone! Thanks for visiting :-)

Obsessed With Edges

Everyone thinks scarves are the simplest thing to knit, but I think they can be a bit tricky. You have no room for error in a scarf! You can't tuck that crooked edge into a seam and obscure it forever; it's right there in plain view.

In my last post, I was having a dilemma about whether to join a new ball of yarn on the edge of the scarf or whether to knit in a little way and then join. On the blue, moss stitched scarf, I joined the new balls on the edge as suggested by the book I was using. My gut feeling was telling me I'd be better off joining in a little from the edge. When I got it all done and wove in the ends, the very edge of the scarf was slightly uneven looking in those two joining spots. Mainly it's caused by the weight of the scarf pulling a bit at those spots. Really I'm the only one that notices it, but it matters to me. I want to do it right!

My husband immediately claimed the blue scarf as is, so I won't frog that to perfect the edges. Instead, I quickly knitted up another scarf in the same yarn though in a slightly different stitch pattern. This time, I paid extra attention to the areas where I joined a new ball and I've decided that I prefer to join new balls in a little from the edge. At least, this is what works for me when I'm using solid colors and this thick yarn. I know when I do striped scarves that I have to join at the edges and that hasn't been a problem with the one I've done with a different yarn.

I'm still interested in suggestions or referrals to books or websites with good pictures or descriptions about making edges look neat. All right, that's all my obsessing about edges for now.

The pic is of my latest scarf. It's done in Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Cashmerino using a pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I plan to give it to my Dad for his birthday.

Men's Dress Scarf

Here is a detail of a men's dress scarf that I finished today. It's done with Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Cashmerino on US 10.5 needles. I'm mostly happy with it. However, I'm a bit disappointed with how the yarn joinings came out.

Readers, I would really value your imput on this: when joining a new ball of yarn on a scarf, do you do it on the end of a row or in a few stitches from the edge? The book I was using said to do it at the end, but this didn't work out so well for me. Also, is there any special trick to weaving ends into moss stitch so they don't show?

The non-knitters who look at my scarves don't seem to see the joinings, but I would like to make them better anyway!

Shopping Therapy

Yesterday, we had a nor'easter (isn't this June?) and the sky was dark, it was windy and the rain was coming down sideways. The best thing I could do was curl up on the couch and alternate between knitting and browsing through my newest knitting books in an effort to distract myself from the fact that my gardens were being flattened by the weather. Today, it looks like a herd of elephants cavorted in the lupines. Eight of my tomato plants are snapped in two. I can't go on; you get the picture. I really needed a pick me up after surveying the damage. What to do? Did someone say shopping?

Well, I love the look of the hand warmers in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, so I ordered supplies to make two sets of them. For yarn, I chose Noro Cash Iroha in Burgundy (84) and Sage Blue (92) from Yarn Market. I also ordered the necessary needles (Clover, circular, US6, 8 inches long) from Purls.

And, as if I don't have enough patterns on my to do list, I ordered a couple that I've been eyeing for awhile. First, Rebecca #31 from Yarn Market. I've never seen this magazine in person, but it looks exciting in the pics online. Also, Sirdar Booklet 319: California Girls in Luxury Soft Cotton as I think shrugs are fun to knit up and I'd like to try the tank, shawl and hats as well! That one is ordered from McA Direct.

I'm feeling a little better with these items on the way. I'll share pics when they arrive!

For now, here's a picture of my butterfly garden before the storm.

Fabulous Books in the Mail

Yesterday, I had such a nice surprise in the mail. My inlaws collaborated to send me two knitting books from my amazon.com wish list. They chose 'Last Minute Knitted Gifts' and 'The Sweater Workshop'.

Both books are filled with inspiring photos. I'd like to try all the patterns in LMKG! From TSW I look forward to learning how to customize seamless sweaters.

Last night, I was anxious to get started on something from one of the new books. I've had some Rowan Kid Silk Haze in my stash for awhile and decided to use it for the Eyelet Lace Scarf in LMKG.

That fine spun fiber really tried my patience at first! It was tough getting started and several times I almost ripped it off the needles, but I kept going and it actually started to look pretty and got easier as I got a rhythm going. Clearly it will need to be blocked, but I think it's going to turn out all right! Perhaps in the spirit of the book, I'll give it to my grandmother!

Pet Pics

I know my fellow Knitting Kitty and Purling Puppy bloggers have been waiting for new pics of my pets, so here are some I took today!

Saffy stopped to smell the wiegalia blossoms in the yard.



Bandit looks very sleepy here as he was having a nap in a cardboard box that a yarn order came in.


He had some fun yesterday! My husband was vacuuming the back hall with the shop vac and Bandit was just laying there in the way, so my husband started vacuuming Bandit! He liked it! He just rolled around on the floor and even wanted his tummy vacuumed. Do we have a weird cat or what?! Does anyone else vacuum their cat?