NORO Scarf

The NORO Scarf (a.k.a. The real and maybe only reason I started to knit)

Cast on 39 stitches. Janice taught me to do a long-tailed cast on. The only problem was the stitches ended up at the wrong end of the needle. After slipping all the stitches to the other needed, we were good to go.
Knit 1 Purl 1 back and forth and back and forth. I also slipped the stitch before starting each row. It was so much fun using this wool. The variegated wool makes such a neat pattern, watching stripes develop is pretty fun.
After 2 rows, I switched to the other ball of yarn. I just brought the yarn up the side. It is pretty interesting how bringing the yarn up the side actually works. I was a bit confused about slipping purl wise- but it actually worked.
Janice told me that I needed to use up all the yarn in the 4 balls, but she stopped about 6 inches before I did. But- I love the scarf and I love the wool.
Wool Used:
NORO Silk Garden 284 x 2, 292 x 1, 272 x 1
Needles: 4.5mm bamboo needles

Started: December 22, 2008
Finished: December 31, 2008

Olyvia's scarf

After a trip to Lakefield to Happenstance Books and Yarns (what a great idea- books and knitting- I love it!) where I bought 9 balls of wool with the hope of making 3 scarves for Christmas (really what was I thinking?????)I really wanted to practice the same stitch I was going to do for my next project- the NORO scarf. I started with the burgundy yarn.
Using 5 mm needles and some help at Alec's soccer game from Tracey- I cast on 50 stitches and started. I did a few inches Saturday night and then packed it up to take to Janice's farm on Sunday.
Her first thought was-it's kind of wide isn't it? (why do I like her anyways?) So that night I ripped it out (or frogged it? frogging?) And then cast on 30 stitches. I knit 1, purled 1 the whole way back and forth. The NORO scarf calls for slipping the last stitch- whatever that means. I decided to only learn 1 new thing on this project. I worked on it all week- determined to finish it before the NORO wool came in. On the 22nd, I was getting close, but the NORO wool was in. I forced myself to go back to this scarf before starting the next one. On the 23rd I thought it was long enough and so I packed it up without casting off (because I don't know how to do that yet!) and took it to mom's thinking I would give it to Olyvia on the holidays.
When I first showed it to mom- her first thought was - is it long enough? (why do I like her anyways?) So...with some help on the last several inches from mom- who ripped out more than she knit- she finished it on December. 28th. She also showed me how to cast off as well.
While I was knitting the scarf for Olyvia, Alec asked me to make him a scarf- but not an itchy one and one that was blue. Then Eric asked if I would make him a blanket. When I said I was going to make an afghan- Eric asked what an afghan was. He asked "Is it Chinese for blanket?"
Started: December 13, 2008
Finished (by mom): December 28th, 2008

I hope Olyvia enjoys it!

Do You Like My New Hat?

This is my first knitting project ever. I came home with a terrible cold and after 2 nights of parent/teacher interviews I was completely burned out! What a silly night to try knitting! I was very surprised how relaxing it was. I couldn't seem to stop. I finished 1 ear flap with lots of help from mom and some words of encouragement from Grandma! I went back to work the next day and mom fixed up the other ear flap and had it ready to go when I got home. I worked on the knitting and purling for a few hours and then took it out to Janice's where I continued to knit and purl.
After working at the Tree Farm on Saturday, I came home very tired, but wanting to keep knitting. With moms help I worked to decrease the stitches which was easier than I thought. I added a braid down the sides of the ear flaps. I had to sew up the back using the only 'needle' I could find- an old hat pin from a scrapbooking kit.
Now Bryor and I have matching hats!
Started: December 4th , 2008
Finished: December 6th, 2008