Some FOs, and Revising One's Knitting

I've finished some projects.

It seems that in all areas of my life, I finish a whole bunch of projects all at once. With my writing, both creative and research, I keep three or four (or eight--who am I kidding) projects going all at once, to prevent boredom, and because the cross-pollination seems to help my creativity. What happens, though, is that I end up with two or three or four projects all finishing at the same time. It's a little overwhelming. And then, once they're done, I hit a lull that can be hard to break out out of. I just want to sit on the couch and watch the Gilmore Girls and revel in my accomplishment. (Rory should dump Logan. Period. I can't stand self-satisfied, semi-alcoholic guys like that.)

The same goes with my knitting. I cast on and cast on and cast on like an insane person, until I have three or four (or eight) projects happening at once. Then, I work furiously to finish them off--it's like I deliberately put pressure on myself. Then, I end up with a whole bunch of FOs at once.

So, in the last week, I finished

Dalloway (a Pryal Design).

Clapotis #2, aka, "El Malaclapo," in Malabrigo worsted (color "Colchina"):





I love how this one turned out.




And a version of Lady Eleanor, made of Noro Niji yarn that I got on sale from Webs. This stuff stretches like crazy, so this ended up crazy-wide. I bound off and made a blanket (a baby blanket...) instead. Meanwhile, I'm casting on with the rest of the Niji to make a shawl to match (a mommy + baby set... . What could these ellipses mean?? Does K-Ro have a secret? Maybe. or Maybe not.)





I'm also revising some projects that I finished--one's that I wasn't totally satisfied with. For example, the second Nella I made, out of Plymouth Boku. The yarn was a squishy, much less sproingy than Kureyon. So the sweater ended up too big around the middle. But it's just perfect as a cardigan, thanks to the hook-and-eye closures I sewed on today.




Ah, satisfaction.

Now, I'm revising Xylem and finishing a lace scarf pattern I've written.

Free Pattern: Madame Luscious Noro Mobius

[Updated 14 Mar. 2010]



This pattern is available as a free PDF Ravelry download.

Download now.



I love luscious scarves, and I love Noro. I traveled to Japan in order to shop for Noro. That is obsessive, but I refuse to seek help.



I started this scarf in Tokyo, with some help from fellow knitting fiend C. over at Rapt With Fiber, using a scrap-yarn mobius cast-on, but the cast-on method doesn't really matter. What matters is that you select some seriously cool Noro yarn and show off the colorways.

PATTERN

Yarn
3 Skeins Noro Kureyon (Silk Garden will work too, you spoiled brats). That's 300 meters of some lickable variegated, worsted-to-aran weight yarn.

Needle
54 inch (from tip-to-tip) circular needle in size 10.5 (I made mine with my Denise Interchangeables).
One spare needle for scrap-yarn cast-on in a smaller size.

Supplies
Tapestry needle to weave in ends.
Large Cross-Stitch or Embroidery Needle for Russian joining. Looks like a tapestry needle but it has a sharp point.

Cast On Method: Any mobius cast-on method will do. I used the scrap yarn method described at girlfromauntie.com here. Cat Bordhi's method works fine too.

CO 175 stitches onto circular needle if you are using the scrap yarn method, because then you will pick up and double that number of stitches, giving you 350 sts. If you are casting on more conventionally, CO 350 sts.

Place marker to indicate the beginning of round.

Proceed to knit and purl in groups of 1, 2, or 3, giving you variegated ridges along your scarf. (see photo below)



Use Russian Join method to join second skein to first. This is not a good project for weaving in ends, being double-sided and loosely worked. Noro is an excellent yarn for Russian Joining esp. if you add a little felting for good measure. Great instructions for this technique are here (pictures) and here (video - knittinghelp.com).

When you join the last ball of Noro, work one round as above, then work remaining rounds in k2, p2 rib. (see photo below)



The ribbing ensures that the very long edges of the scarf do not roll upon themselves.

Bind Off: Two points about binding off. First, be sure to leave yourself enough yarn to bind off all 350 stitches. That's a lot. Second, bind of LOOSELY. Very loosely. If you bind off with tension, the edges will pull and the scarf will look less luscious.

Note: This scarf lengthens as you wear it. It will gain inches and inches, maybe even a foot, in length, between the time it comes off the needles to the fifth or sixth wear. That's okay, though--just wrap it around your neck again.

FO Madness!

I traveled to Tokyo to visit Rapt With Fiber and we went a little nuts with the yarn buying and knitting.

First, we did a knit-along and made the Buttony cardigan.




Then, I finished a scarf made with some of the alpaca I recycled from a thrift store sweater. [*The pattern is Bryher. Check it out on Ravelry.]

I whipped out a Tudora for my momma for xmas.


And I made a luscious mobius scarf with some Noro Kureyon I bought that I LOVE SO MUCH. This is the greatest project and I wear it like crazy. It almost makes up for the scarf that was stolen.*



I'll post pics from Tokyo when I've sorted through them all.

*(My favorite scarf was stolen a few weeks ago. Not only did I knit the thing, but it's an original design, too. Someone isn't too bright.)