the blue blog archives: a scarf project

Who would have thought that I'd be making scarves? I'd pretty much written off knitting accessories (socks, hats, scarves) because I would simply prefer to make a proper sweater. That is until the plan to knit chemo caps was born. Several caps later (and more still in the planning stages) and now my mother has me knitting scarves for a child she sponsors in the Ukraine through the Crimean Women's Humanitarian League of America.

Here's the first one all done. I used "Joel's Scarf" pattern from Sally Melville's The Knit Stitch (I just got the Purl book, by the way - thanks, ma!) and some bulky Sandnes yarn that was in the sale bin at my LYS. I'll also be making garter stitch scarves for his sisters. I think there are four of them. I've picked out several skeins of Lamb's Pride Superwash in various girly colors for theirs.

I wonder if there's anyone who could get me knitting socks again? I'll tell ya, though, that's gonna be much harder!

posted by alison at 8:03 am | in accessories , baby things

Comments

Re: socks...is that a dare? a temptalisonintoknittingsocks dare? Okey Dokey.
;-)

Posted by: claudia at September 25, 2003 7:53 AM

I hear they really need socks in Siberia. ;)

Posted by: Kerstin at September 25, 2003 8:14 AM

The scarf looks terrific!!

Posted by: Mom at September 25, 2003 9:04 AM

Well, there's always a socks knit-a-long! I've got two pairs I'm planning for holiday presents, and could use a swift kick to get started...

Posted by: Becky at September 25, 2003 10:16 AM

what's so wrong with knitting socks?

Posted by: andrea at September 25, 2003 11:26 AM

I'll tell ya what got *me* excited about knitting socks again....the book Knitting On The Road by Nancy Bush. Very interesting patterns, best done with basic plain sock yarn rather than the self-patterning stuff which is fun at first but can get boring after awhile.

Posted by: Karen at September 25, 2003 12:33 PM

You're funny, Kerstin! Go Becky, knit those socks!

Andrea, there's nothing wrong with knitting socks, I just don't enjoy it. I know that I won't finish knitting anything that's kinda small and fiddly. I may have the patience to do a Dale baby sweater, but I can't muster up the patience to knit a bit, stop, do some little thing, stop, pick up stitches.... Although I love the few pairs of socks that I've knit for myself, I simply have no desire right now to knit more socks. That's right all you sock knitters out there, I'm a lost cause! Sorry! :0(

Posted by: alison at September 25, 2003 1:27 PM

Hello Alison,

I am finally saying hi and introducing myself - I have been reading your blog for many months.

I am a knitter, mother of twin boys (they will be 28 this November) and have visited the Crimea.

I attended a library conference that was held in Sudak, Crimea in 2001. Sudak is on the SE coast of the peninsula - the conference center faces the Black Sea - across a stone beach.

The peninsula of Crimea reminded me of Northern Italy - mountains and wine growing. The countryside is beautiful, but living conditions are harsh.

Thanks for the interesting blog.

Colleen

Posted by: Colleen at September 25, 2003 2:34 PM

Lovely scarf! So I finally conquered my fear of DPNs and am halfway through my first sock. Also my first time knitting on such tiny, tiny needles (US no. 1). I don't know if I can keep doing this, even though I have two more balls of this lovely sock yarn. I think we need a sock knit-a-long.

Posted by: Sara at September 25, 2003 2:43 PM

Socks......... what socks? My Mom knits socks off by heart. I learned from her. I haven't made a sock since I was a teenager and then all the funky yarn came out and I made a pair of funky socks for myself. Turned out really neat. I followed a pattern since I couldn't remember how to get the heel just right. My Mom looked at the heel of those socks and laughed. I thought they were pretty good but as per my Mom, "I needed to come back to her knitting school to learn how to make a proper heel on a pair of socks". Haven't picked up the sock yarn or the sock needles since!!!

Posted by: Uli at September 25, 2003 4:08 PM

Hello Colleen, thanks for saying hi and for sharing your experience of the Crimea.

Sara, good for you for working on your first sock! I think every knitter should try socks, lots of great techniques in sock-knitting and handknit socks are a dream to wear! Maybe you could start a sock knit-along for beginners.

Nice story, Uli. There's always a reason we put stuff down and don't return to it, I guess. Enjoy your funky socks. Make more - but just don't show them to your mother! ;0)

Karen, thanks for the book recommendation. If I ever get psyched to knit socks again, I'll check it out.

Posted by: alison at September 25, 2003 4:22 PM

Fun scarf. Did you do anything special with weaving in the ends (to make them less obvious)?

Re: socks.... have you tried the two circular method or the one long circular technique?

Posted by: Melissa at September 25, 2003 7:48 PM