Life's A Beach!

The Beach Vacation Scarf is now officially the Beach Sunrise Scarf.  This was the first "sideways" scarf that I have ever made.  I followed the pattern for the StockPot Scarves from KnitPicks website.  I used Reynolds Saucy Sport for the main yarn.  It is a sand color.  Then for the "effects" part of the scarf, I used 3 different eyelash yarns and knit for about 1/3 of the scarf with each one.  The effect that I was trying to create was to "paint a picture with yarn."  I love to blend yarns, like paints, to see what effect the combination will create. The picture I was trying to paint here was the beach at sunrise.  I wanted to start with the sand, move into the water, and finally the colors of the sky at sunrise.  To do this, I started the scarf with a combination of sand and blue eyelash.  Then I switched to a another eyelash yarn that was a lighter color beige, more like an ecru, mixed with blue and some blue iridescent.  The last eyelash yarn was a combination of ecru, peach and peach iridescent. 

The scarf  was fun to knit.  I have decided that I really like knitting these sideways scarves.  It takes a long time to get through a row, but you can have a lot of fun with striping effects with this type of scarf.  I see lots of possibilities here!  I will make some changes the next time I knit one of these scarves, though.  First of all, I cast on more stitches than the pattern called for because I was afraid that the scarf would not be long enough.  I wanted a long skinny scarf.  I need not have added those extra stitches.  I now have a very long skinny scarf!  Especially since the main yarn is cotton, it grows a little bit each time I take it out of my knitting bag and show it to someone!  The second thing I would change is the needle size.  I followed the pattern directions for determining what needle size to use, but I think I will try one size larger next time.  The yarn called for a size 5, so per the pattern, I used a size 7.  I think an 8 would have been a little better.  The fabric would be less dense and would drape a bit better.  Needless to say, I am ready to try another scarf!  So, what picture should I paint with yarn now????

The yarn painting may have to be put on hold for a while though.  It is that time of year again when Christmas Knitting comes into the picture.  I have been looking through patterns and bins of yarn trying to come up with ideas for Christmas presents to knit.  I am almost finished with Kayla's baby poncho.  All that is left is the hood.  Yesterday I ordered enough Wool of the Andes yarn from Knit Picks to make 3 Farmer's market tote bags for Christmas presents.  WHAT????  Ordered yarn??  With 16 (yes, 16!) large tupperware bins of yarn, what in the world was I doing ordering yet more yarn!  Well, I want to make some felted tote bags, and I do not have much 100% wool in my stash.  The wool I have is superwash or mixed wool and acrylic, and that just won't do for felting.  So you see, I had no choice!  But the tote bags will make great presents, and they are fun to knit.  The pattern that I am going to use is also a free one to download off the Knit Picks website, and I have added that link to the Favorite Sites sidebar at right.  I will share the color combinations that I picked when the yarn arrives.  One other present that I have decided to make is also from a free pattern from Knit Picks.  It is the Ocean Capelet.  I have decided to knit this for Megan.  I have some other possibilities brewing, but these are the only definites right now.  I even think that I have stash yarns to use for the Ocean Capelet!

The art studio is progressing nicely!  It is just about ready to use.  I have hauled out 6 trash bags of junk that I don't need anymore, and the rest of the junk that I still need is now piled pretty much out of the way.  (Just don't open the closet door!!!  Yikes!)  There are still a few odds and ends that need to be done, but the bulk of the heavy work is out of the way now.  One bad thing about this project is that now that I see how much better that room looks, I am casting my eye around the rest of the apartment thinking that there are several other places that could use a good overhauling!  It is like a chain reaction!  But I can't get too carried away overhauling everything right now.  It is time for Christmas Knitting!!!  I love this time of year!