Making peace with denim-style

Saturday, November 22, 2008

I frogged most of the scarves I was making with Bernat's denim-style yarn. I was really starting to hate that stuff. But I have finally made peace with it. It works up nicely as a hat when I use an L hook (8.00mm).

It has been wicked cold the past couple of weeks. Great yarn weather. I keep adding more winter-wear items to my Ravelry queue. I can't possibly get them all done, but I can't stop collecting them. Every once in a while I'll go through the queue and weed out the items that, when I'm honest with myself, I know I will never make.

I keep adding more yarn to my stash, too. I've got to stop buy yarn until I get some of these projects done. But there are so many lovely yarns out there calling my name. I'm currently glomming on Highlander from Alpaca With A Twist. It is so soft and buttery. And the colors are homey and comforting. This yarn just makes me happy.

Scarf Mania

Sunday, November 9, 2008

With the economy in the tank, it's a good year for homemade gifts. That's why everyone is getting a scarf this year. At the moment I have nine different scarves in the works, with more on the way.

Most of them are in Bernat denim style yarn. I love the way this yarn looks on the shelf. Unfortunately, it's not as much fun to work with. It's almost a bulky weight so it needs at least a J-hook to have any loft whatsoever. I'm keeping the stitches simple because even a basic V-stitch felt too stiff with big holes.

But it did give me an opportunity to try a slip stitch pattern based on David Benjamin Burchall's techniques. Using a Bates P-hook (11.50MM), I am alternating back loops and front loops. The resulting looks similar to a knitted American moss stitch. And the fabric is soft and drapey. I'm pretty happy with it.

On the knitting front, I finished my garter stitch scarf and have started moss stitch scarf and a ribbed scarf (both in Bernat denim). I have also started a hat using a beautiful mint green Highlander yarn from Alpaca with a Twist. I love this yarn so much I don't even mind using pointy sticks. It is so soft I can't wait to touch it. My husband is starting to question my relationship with this yarn.