Knit Once, Purl Forever

Reality Monday

Once upon a time, Monday was the hardest day of the week due to my workload. If I could make it through Monday without completely losing my mind, the rest of the week would be a breeze. At the end of the day, I felt as though my brain was completely fried--that's when I discovered the joy of Reality Monday. Reality Monday consists of vegging out in front of whatever reality show I can find--the cheesier the better.

My current job doesn't consist of more challenges on Monday than on any other day; however, I still find myself drawn to the siren song of bad reality TV. I actually crave it. And while watching The Bachelor tonight, I thought of a new spin for Reality Monday. Something for my blog.

The idea is to share a little knitting reality,  by sharing a little more than the norm. I share things here, but I don't always share EVERYTHING. I don't always mention the concerns because I don't always want you to know how neurotic I am.  But for today, and only today, it's okay because it's Reality Monday.

Reality Knitting: Meet the Red Scarf

For some reason, I can't seem to get a decent picture of this thing, but I will still try to describe my issues.

First up, how narrow is too narrow for a scarf?  I envisioned a long, narrow scarf, but now I'm concerned that it won't be wide enough. Unblocked, the scarf is 4 inches wide. Is that wide enough? I think it might stretch out one inch during the blocking process, but I still wonder if 5 inches is even wide enough.

My next issue involves the quality of my stitches. They're not always even. I know that some of that comes out in blocking, but some of it doesn't. I see perfect, even stitches on your blog, and that makes me think that I'm just a bad knitter. I'm not going to stop knitting, mind you, but I do wish for perfect, even stitches. Or maybe this pattern is making my stitches look odd. I'm not sure.

In spite of those little issues, I really like the way the scarf is turning out. I like that the pattern is the same on both sides. I like that the pattern is simple, yet interesting. I like that it's easy to measure my progress based on how many rows of squares are knit. I like the deep red of this color (it's much darker than the color in the photo). I like the softness of this yarn.

I guess there's more that I like than that which I don't like. The red scarf stays.

Too Late for Words

(Red scarf at an odd angle.)

It's too late for many words, anyway.

I can; however, handle a few words about the Scarf for the Red Scarf project in what else but red yarn from my stash. I'm using a pattern from Lion Brand's site and 100% Merinos wool. I think it's the basket weave stitch, but don't quote me on that one. The pattern calls for Lion Brand's Cashmere Blend, but I think the Merinos wool is working out okay.

This project brings my total to five projects on the needles this year: the Tassle bag, Whitby socks, Gioia scarf, blue Snowflake sweater, and the red scarf. And it's still early. It might be too late in the night for words, but it's too early in the year to worry about the number of projects on the needles. That's my story anyway. Sticking to it, too.

Another Project from Stash

Norma's spreading the word about a knit project for the Orphan Foundation of America, Mary Beth's Red Scarf Project. If you're participating in the Stashalong and if you have any red yarn in your stash, this might be for you! Of course, if you're not participating in the Stashalong, but want to help with a good cause this is also for you!

Note: This will have to move to the top of my list as the deadline for mailing this out is January 28. Of THIS year. Two weeks away, baby! At least I know where to go for a quick, and free, pattern! I truly believe all things happen for a reason! =)

Update: I forgot to link to Norma's site. DOH!

De-Lurking Week

It's the tail end of De-Lurking Week, but just in time to say "Hello!" I'd really like to hear from the lurk-ness monsters here! So feel free to speak up. Or would that be comment up?

Free Online Sock Patterns

Looking for free sock patterns? Look no further than here:

Knitting Pattern Central - Socks (I'm drooling, DROOLING, over some of these patterns!)

Here's a link to the Knitting Pattern Central Directory for all your free pattern needs.

Color me niave, but I hadn't realized there were so many free patterns available. If you don't hear from me for the rest of the day, you know why. I'm either perusing the free patterns or I'm casting on for yet another project from my stash.

This Stashalong is working out for me, I must say. I'm hardly even thinking about the yarn store. Yarn store? Who needs to go to the stinkin' yarn store? Not me......

So far, so good anyway!

Swatchin' the Blues

I have this theory about reality TV. While I admit that some of it is crap, I think that if you are selective and if you think beyond the basic mindlessness of it, some good can be gained from watching it. There is a bit of the real in reality TV, you know.

Take Monday's episode of The Bachelor, for instance. Travis met each girl briefly as she exited the limo and then spent 15 minutes, at most, during the reception getting to know each girl before making his decision to send more than half of them back to the States. In watching this episode, it really seemed as though most of his decisions were made based on the first impressions gleaned from the brief greeting prior to the reception. It seemed to go along with what we all know about first impressions being the most important.

First impressions of my latest project, a blue snowflake sweater, seem to indicate all systems are go. I'm swatching with the sleeves. Of all my projects, which are admittedly few, I've only managed to knit a swatch once. Most of the time I begin the project in a trial by error type of manner and rip and start over as necessary. I lack the patience to swatch. I know it would probably save time, but it just seems like such a hassle and a waste. And I'm usually just too anxious to get started. I can't wait to start knitting away, and so I don't wait.

I decided the snowflake sweater will be my official Stashalong project. As for the Gioia scarf, I'm still working on it. Some knitters keep a pair of socks on the needles at all times, I've discovered that I like to keep a scarf on the needles at all times or at least during the winter.

I'll post photos tomorrow.

For Fun

Head over to Sharon's for a fun contest and a little entertainment. She's asking for one thing which you have not yet done, but would like to do OR something you did once but would never do again. It's fun to read the entries.

Bad Day

A friend summed it up best, "It's as though they baked you a pie and served it on the trash can lid."

Yes, it is like that. I really can't go into it, but it's exactly like that.

Of course, it's nothing a little glass of wine, knitting on Gioia,* and a trip to Paris, via The Bachelor, can't help. Mondays are for bad reality TV, knitting, and whine wine.

*No progress picture as I'm not quite to the halfway** mark yet, so it pretty much looks like it did yesterday.

**I'm knitting this thing until I run out of all four balls of Noro Kureyon (in this colorway) from my stash. I'm still on ball #2. The scarf is complete when all four balls are depleted.

Getting Me

Gioia Scarf at the 1/4 mark. (Pepsi can for perspective and refreshment.)

I have this thing about people getting me. For the most part, I think that they don't. Sure, some people understand certain aspects of my personality and my psyche, but I've yet to meet someone who understands everything about me. The Hubby is probably the closest, but he doesn't really get everything about me. He doesn't get the knitting or the blogging. I doubt that he gets the constant need to photograph yarn and half-completed projects or the need to post those pictures to my blog.

But you know what? I love that he accepts it and that he acts as though it's perfectly normal to do such things. I'm pretty sure some guys would try to have me committed.  Of course, I wouldn't be alone in the  loony bin--you all would be with me. And you get me.

Plus, think of all the knitting we could do...

More Gioia Scarf. The project should come with this warning: Gioia may cause knitter to knit compulsively without thought  of family, friends, career, personal hygiene, or the like.

Bustin' My Stash

I was torn over which project to knit next. The only thing for certain was that it would be something from my existing stash since I'm dedicated to knitting for the Stashalong. I decided to knit a Gioia Scarf to start. I'm sure there will be many more stash bustin' projects before the Stashalong is over.

Gioia was an excellent choice. I love this pattern! It's sooooo fun to knit. I'm using Noro Kureyon in colorway 124. I'm making a scarf instead of a shawl on size US 9s (in case you want to know...) Here's a shot of what I have so far. (I think this photo shows the colorway best.)

And here's a closeup of the pattern.

And now I'm off to knit. This project is very addictive!