Aah…finally updating the blog. I’ve been busy, out of town on vacation in FL (which allowed me to knit and crochet a few little projects I’ll post another day, as soon as I weave in ends, add a button and take pics). Anyhow, I wanted to put this photo up, of a recently finished birthday gift, and my second knit scarf ever!!. Originally, it was not intended as a gift, but as often happens while I make something, as I worked on it, the fiber spoke to me and about halfway through knitting, the scarf decided it would be a lovely birthday gift for Niki. I don’t know if she would choose this color for herself, but I think it’ll look great on her!

The yarn is Lorna’s Laces “Glory” in the color Black Pearl–it’s a hand dyed Mohair/Wool Blend that I got from Christine at Now and Zen. I knit it on US11’s, 10 rows of knit stitch, alternating with a row of dropped (elongated stitches with 3 wraps). I carried along a thin strand of Rowan’s kidsilk ‘Haze’ for some very subtle stripes in areas. Originally I intended it to be a long scarf, but I ran out of yarn, so I decided to make it into a loop scarf/wrap instead, joining the edge with a 3 needle bind off, and adding in some randomly angled fringe of both yarns at the seam, with purply glass beads for sparkle. I think it looks best loosely around the neck, or wrapped twice for cold weather, though it can be stretched out a bit to pull as a wrap around the top of the shoulders too…

Aside from frogging issues (very hard to unravel this hairy yarn), I’m really happy with the yarn and the finished object. Add dropped stitches to my resume and I’m off to knit something else…I’m thinking a simple wrap or poncho on big needles, to teach myself how to increase at each end. I’d love simple free pattern suggestions! I saw a pattern and yarn while in FL, but the yarn was $47 a skein and I chickened out, plus the colors just didn’t jump out at me…oh well.

And a HANDSPUN SALE–just adding a quick note that I put all my handspun on theweb site on sale–$5 off each skein originally priced at $25 or more. Just for a few days until the 28th. I also put some of the felt scarves on sale to clear out and get ready for some nice summery silk nuno felt scarves I hope to work on over the next few days. So go check out Handmade–thanks!