ZiggyZag Scarf

bottom to top: versions 1a, 1b, 2, 3

Yikes! I didn't realize it had been so long since I was last here. All I can say is that things have been happening, a lot. I've had plenty of knitting time, though. In fact, I recently published another pattern, the ZiggyZag Scarf.

I've knitted it in 4 different Noro yarns, but they would look simply smashing in a handspun or hand dyed yarn. It is knitted in one continuous piece so there are just a few ends to weave in at the end.  You can get the pattern in my Ravelry shop as an instant download. It's also available by email in my etsy shop, and hard copies can be found in Mew Mews Yarn Shop in Lafayette, CO.

December Round Up

I've been making progress on my project pile, in one way or another. First, the sad news.

This afternoon, I bid farewell to Heere Be Dragone. I pulled it out to take pictures in hopes that it might motivate me, but when I took the meager 20-odd rows out of the bag, I saw that it had been chewed up all along one edge. Upon closer inspection, I saw a centipede-looking thing crawling around in the bag. Ugh. The skeins got shaken out outside and placed in a ziplock bag in the freezer. I took the chewed up bit off the needles and threw it away outside. Don't know when I'll pick that pattern up again, but it probably won't be anytime soon.

The good news is, of the 15 WIPs I found in October, only 7 remain on the needles. I finished the Noro Silk Garden Sock ZigZag Scarf yesterday. It came out a little shorter than I had hoped, so I "blocked" it by pinning it up to dry by one of the end points. I like the way the corners fold, nice and leafy. I would like to see it with smaller squares (that would make it longer, too). Next time I'm in a domino mood I'll pick up another skein and give it a go.

I did like the yarn, but I would never knit socks with it. It is a loosely twisted single with a very variable diameter. Great for accessories, but seeing "sock" in the name is, I feel, misleading.

On the subject of socks, it is now December so I can start my self-imposed sock club selection for the month. I'm knitting Rough Weather from Think Outside the Sox in a skein of Lion Brand Magic Stripes that I've had sitting around for a really, really long time. Since before I found real yarn shops to buy yarn in. I've made a pair of socks from this yarn before, it's not bad but not my first choice. A little on the thick side, and a bit fuzzy but durable and soft and warm. This pair will be for Tara since she loves the colorway, Lumberjack Black. If I knit fast enough, she may even get them for Christmas.

Noro Zig Zig Scarf

I bought a lovely skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn at Mew Mews a few weeks ago to make another zig zag scarf, this time a little more grown-up looking. I even figured out how to make it totally reversible, and using a continuous strand instead of breaking off and joining on every 2 blocks. I really dislike weaving in ends, especially if there's not a wrong side to hide them on.

I really like the color changes and the way it feels so far, but I decided to rip it out and try to knit it with built-in I-cord edging. I think that would be a fabulous edge treatment, and if I knit it as I go I won't have to worry about having enough yarn left to do applied I-cord at the end. I can always do that if the built-in I-cord gives me a headache. I think I'll be ok, though, if I sketch it out ahead of time and take really good notes.