Tuesday, April 2, 2013

A Twirly Scarf

There has been some fun playing with yarn here this past Easter weekend.  I made a twirly scarf.  Actually it is the Arugula Scarf by Jennifer Dickerson of Fiber Flux fame.  She has lovely crochet patterns and they are all free.  Please stop by and give her a shout, you will be happy you did.


I took this photo outside where it was apparently very, very sunny.  Even in the strange lighting you can really see the colors of the yarn, actually much better than you can see them on Caroline the dress form.  It looks like a beautiful cabbage when it is all rolled up.


 I had all this Noro Cash Island from a Christmas exchange with my knitting group a few years back.  I wanted to use it all so in typical Meredith style I did not follow the directions completely.  I added a few double crochet rows to the pattern.  Not a great idea if you ask me, it made the scarf less, ruffly and twirly.


Still it is a fun scarf and I am going to gift it back to the person who donated it to the Christmas festivities.  She no longer knits so I am going to surprise her with her own yarn.


Since I had lots of yarn left I decided to make another scarf.  This Noro yarn is not my favorite and the colors are very deep and dark.  It still made a great little scarf.  This one had one less row than the pattern because I ran out of yarn, hmmm...follow the directions Meredith and you would have had two scarves of the exact same proportions.  Lesson learned, I think.


You all know me by now, I tend to do things my own way even if it isn't the right way.  Stubborn that is what I am, plain and simply stubborn. 


Now this sweater to be, is causing me some concern.  I am using Malabrigo Rio and I love it which is the only reason this yarn has not been thrown in the trash.  I attempted to make a sweater from this yarn three times having to rip it out each time.  It was knit sideways and I swear I just wasn't getting the right gauge.  I got to under the first armpit every time and then had to frog it.  I decided to find another pattern, which I did, and then got myself all turned around again.  Two inches past the ribbing were knit while watching the Jayhawks lose their game, the next two while Ohio State lost their game this past weekend during March Madness.  Maybe the sweater just had bad mojo going from all those loses.  I have ripped it back again and hopefully am on the right track this time.  Thank goodness I love the feel of this yarn, because really I am on my fifth attempt at knitting with it, that might be a record for me.

What are you working on these days?

28 comments:

JCDiTaranto said...

I love that comment that you tend to do things your own way, even if it's not the right way...and here I thought I was the only one who simply will not follow a pattern as written, even if it's written perfectly! Love the blue yarn, and hope the sweater works out this time. Maybe fifth time's a charm?

Betsy said...

The scarves are both very nice Meredith. The colors are great! I know what you mean about pattern following. Every time I try to do my own thing I regret it. :-)
Blessings,
Betsy

Deb said...

I love the yarn Meredith - it reminds me of a milk & sugar carnival glass set I have. Hope you are having a wonderful day♥

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Oh I love all the things you've made.

Hmm now about the sweater...I am more than sure you are on the right track now..but for any reason you aren't...try a top down sweater next time and see if that works out better.

Love the color of that yarn...it looks so pretty.

Hugs and blessings always dear friend.

Babajeza said...

Don't give up!! ;-) I don't know what project I want to do next as we are going to Colmar by car tomorrow. It would be nice to have an easy project, but I lost interest in socks. I would have to take too much yarn with me to finish a blanket I'm making with left over yarn. However, I could look for a yarn store in Colmar and buy something nice there together with needles, hooks or whatever I need. :-)
Hugs to you!

Unknown said...

Beautiful colors on both the scarves and sweater. Isn't it amazing that yarn comes in so many fanastic colors! So many colors, so many uses. I have not been working on anything. Too lazy lately I guess. But the weather is nicer now so maybe I will get my mojo back. Another dollhouse contest being announced soon. Not sure if I will do one this year or not. Kind of depends on what the kit looks like and if I get a good idea.

Gracie Saylor said...

Last night I finished knitting Miss Maggie Rabbit's capelet. It is a simple pattern but I had to frog many rows and somehow I uniquely finished it as well and refuse to frog it to complete the pattern correctly because if I hadn't confessed to my error you could not see it...well maybe you could Meredith because you have more of an eye for detail than I do :) I love seeing your work and to me it is always perfect!
xx,
Gracie

kathy b said...

She will be so surprised to get that yarn back in the form of that gorgeous crocheted scarf.

Im finishing the twin hat tonight. THen.???

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Meredith, I think you are really patient. I think I would not have had the desire to keep trying!! Good for you and I hope you will like it to the end!!! It really looks pretty, love the blue.
Love the cabbage look of the scarf! Looks like you had some great crocheting time.
Enjoy, xoRobin

cockney blonde said...

Love the scarves but had to laugh cos you sound just like me. Have a pattern, nothing wrong with it but I have to do my own interpretation... As for the jumper, loving what I can see so far, x

Anonymous said...

After fighting with the Shenanigans yarn socks, I changed yarn and the new socks are going much, MUCH better.

I love your sweater yarn. It's a beautiful color!

Olga Poltava said...

The scarves are lovely. The colors in the first picture look very pretty.

Kris said...

Cute twirly!! I have done a couple, love them. Hope fifth time is the charm with this go.
I am projectless at the moment!!
xo Kris

kathyinozarks said...

very pretty Meredith-scarves can be so much fun to make-

Toni said...

Well, sure you can follow directions if you want to do it the EASY way......:)

Teresa Kasner said...

Hello dear Meredith.. I was out of my element a bit knitting the capelet for my bunny.. but I learned a new technique. I'm going to try another one.. a bunny needs a change of capelets, doesn't she? Love your projects. I am almost finished with my 2nd shawl.. can't wait to show you. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Elisabeth said...

I love the scarves Meredith. And as far as running out of yarn and not following patterns, I do that too. It makes everything we do unique and wonderful :) although it does make it all more difficult and it would be much easier if we just followed the instructions I guess ;) Have a great day! Elisabeth x

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

You've been busy! I am going to have to get more familiar with other types of yarn other than what I find at the usual national stores. I love to look at yarn! Both your projects are so pretty! I started on another wave, the one pretty close to Lucy's. Doing it in the ocean colors although now that I have those actual yarn colors they look less like the ocean in person. That's okay though because that is what I named this particular project. I also learned that new stitch double crochet2 together. Confused me at first but now I really have the hang of it. ~Hugs, Patti

Sentimentally Me said...

YOu know, I've sewen those twirly scarves EVERYWHERE, just haven't tackled one yet. I kinda like the first one with the extra rows though, not QUITE as twirly may be good???

Ahhhh, the frogging of the sweater. Been there, done that. I actually FINISHED a sweater and THEN frogged it. Cotton, despised the yarn, no idea why I finished it, but I did. Torture, why do we do this??!!!

Bummer for Ohio State in the NCAA Tourney! Hope all is well and thanks for the kind words on my crochet flower & cherries bag!

xo P

Cache-Mire said...

I can totally relate to going your own way, often at my own peril. I started a dress for my three year old granddaughter which, hopefully will fit my other one year old granddaughter! And then started a child's summer hat that became big enough for me!! I'm blaming it on the patterns :-) Good luck!

Hugs,
Terri

Kristen said...

Sometimes the yarn just fights back, doesn't it? It's a wonderful color--I think this time will be the charm. :)

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I'm not really one for following directions either. Sometimes I just want to have a go at it and will figure it out any which way I can. Both scarves are nice. I tend to go for skinny ones since it is pretty much hot here all year round. Right now the sky is getting more orange by the minute with a dust storm coming in. Good luck with the knitting project. I don't think I would try that many times. :) It is a lovely color. Best wishes, Tammy

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

P.S. I haven't made anything at all since I had the marathon bunny session over the weekend . :)

Mrs. Micawber said...

There is a lovely quote from Elizabeth Zimmermann which I hope to put as a button on my blog. It goes something like this:

"I shall have failed in my endeavor if you follow my designs too slavishly.... so be your own designer."

You are your own designer! :)

Such a lovely Noro yarn with those subtle colour changes. And that sweater yarn is divine - good luck with the project.

RURAL said...

All the terminology is confusing me..lol, but I still think it's beautiful.

Jen

Tanna said...

Love the Noro, Meredith!! Great piece. The Malabrigo does feel good! I know you will love it when you finish. persistence always pays off! blessings ~ tanna

Lillie and Moss said...

I hardly ever follow a pattern to it's fullest, I to always have to put my little twist to it so don't give up....your will get it!
Lovely blue!!
I am working on all kinds of things....I wonder what I will finish first???
Hugs, Shari xx

Jennifer said...

Beautiful! You did a lovely job, the color is perfect and looks light and airy for this time of year. Thank you too for your kind words, I am very flattered, big hugs to you stitchy friend!! :)

Jennifer @ Fiber Flux