A last minute finish and new yarn........

I wanted to finish one more item before the end of the year and I did.  This is my Ohio State Cowl.

 

Do you remember the hat I made for my son that I just loved?  The yarn pooled in such a fascinating manner.  I was so intrigued with it I had to try and make something else with the same yarn.  Just after this yarn arrived I was watching a taped episode of Knitting Daily, in the episode Laura Bryant, the owner of Prism Yarns, was discussing how to make yarn with a longer color change, pool.   You have to make sure the yarn repeats on itself by casting on the right amount of stitches and match up the color repeats just so.  I think I got really lucky with the hat because it all worked out without any calculations.  With the cowl I had to plan a bit more.

She also had this great idea to change the stitch pattern with the color change.  So while I knit this in the round, every time I changed colors I had to knit or purl depending on the color.  Does that make any sense at all?  The thing that is fascinating about this type of pattern is that it adds such great texture to the project and the cowl does not roll in on itself like it would with straight knitting.

I used about 200 yards of Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash Multis in the color Checkerboard, with size 10 1/2 circular needles.  I have lots of yarn left over for another scarf for Mr. 21, just in case he loses yet another one that I have made for him.

 

There was yarn for Christmas from my husband.  Now this is the part I need you to be nice and not judge me about.  I think it is so fantastic that my husband found a small store in Dunedin, a near by town, that sells yarn in two rooms of the store.  They sell lots of other things also, but in these two tiny rooms they sell yarn.  He went there and picked out a lot of yarn for me and I felt so lucky.  But, and there is always a but, it was all sock weight and had a LOT of blue in it.  You see his favorite color is blue and I guess he assumes mine is, too.  Every year he has blessed me with a LOT of sock weight yarn, and every year I try to make things with it and am totally frustrated becasue I don't knit socks and am not fond of that weight yarn.

This year he asked me if I wanted to return anything and I was honest with him.  I told him I loved the fact that he went out searching for yarn for me and picked it out.  But the thing is I rarely use blue yarn, and I rarely use sock weight yarn.  I am trying hard to not add anything to my stash I am not going to use, and I know this yarn would be there waiting for me to try and figure out something to make with it for years.  It was beautiful, don't get me wrong it was just so blue..... and thin...... and well blue.  All the yarn was blue with the exception of two skeins of the pink above.  I LOVE that yarn so I gladly bought two more skeins of it so I would have enough of it to make more than just a scarf. 

 I went to the store with my bag of yarn, my head hanging low and confessed to the lovely woman behind the counter.  She laughed at my situation, remembering my husbands visit she said she tried to get him to purchase a gift certificate but he wouldn't.  I returned the yarn, with the exception of the pink and bought all you see above.  And I have to admit I am thrilled with all of it. 

I also bought these gorgeous crochet hooks from Bryspun made from Forest palmwood.  These are such a treat and feel so smooth in your hand.  I love a fatter handle on a hook but so many larger hooks don't have a thicker handle, these are perfect.  

So that is my story and I hope you do not think I am horrible.  I came home from the store and gushed over everything right in front of my husband and thanked him profusely for his kind gesture.  I have already cast on with the cream yarn, I think a rib cowl would be perfect for it.

I worked this morning and came home and cleaned up all of Christmas. Hooray, I am so glad it is done.  Tomorrow after work I will be cleaning sheets, doing laundry and doing the final clean up of the year.  I am going into 2015 with a clean slate.

Oh and just for you Kathy B here is a picture of Little Buddy's train from Santa.  He loves it.

When it becomes disconnected he says, "You got to be careful."   Yes you do Little One.  He has learned how to put it back together already, he is a smart one.

I hope you are all careful tomorrow night as the year comes to an end.  I am staying home where it is nice and safe.

Happy New Year if I don't get to chat with you before the year comes to an end.