From Homemade to Handmade

Well, it happened again.  

I keep learning things the hard way when I knit!

So I began knitting that Basket Weave Scarf for Mr. Man,
you know, and soon I realized: 

the edges were all so bumpy!

I was following the pattern all right,
but they didn’t have any provision
for making the edges pretty.

It didn’t bother Mr. Man, but it bothered me. 
And after awhile, I just couldn’t stand it anymore. 

So off to the Internet I went, searching for help.

I wasn’t sure if I could just add an edge, or what,
so I looked on Ravelry for a pattern that could help me out. 

Unfortunately most of them were just like the one I was using. 

Boo…

Then I used Mr. Google and, voilà,
I found someone who addressed the edge treatment
that she used on her basket weave scarf pattern.  (!)

She adds 2 stitches to the pattern,
one on each end of the row. 

She slips the first one purlwise,
and knits the last one on the row.

This makes for a very lovely “chain” edge on your scarf,
which looks so nice and professional. 

It’s those kind of details that can take something
from “homemade” to “handmade”.   ♥♥♥

So, off to unravel again!

But in all my researching, I also found
a basket weave pattern that included 2 knit rows
in the pattern repeat. 

Ooh, I was happy about that…

You see, the Basket Weave Scarf is just a lot of knits and purls. 
You knit 4 and then you purl 4,
and then you knit 4 and purl 4. 

And so on and so on. 

And when you switch back and forth
between those two stitches so much,
things just got a bit floppy to me.

This knit row is just the ticket to “cinch” things up
every once in awhile.

So, I tried the pattern with these 2 changes
and it works out great!

And along with a pretty edge,
my new pattern even makes the scarf reversible.
That is, the pattern is the same on both sides.

How great is that??

So, whether it’s knitting or whatever you’re into these days,
persevere!  Don’t settle!

As homemaker/cooking TV star, Beverly Nye, would say: 

“You’ll be so glad you did!” 

XOXO,

Lucky Dog

♥

What's on the Needles

I am currently knitting another scarf for my nephew. Last year I knitted him a scarf in his his two favorite colors: hot pink and turquoise.

This year he decided that he liked the turquoise yarn so much, that he requested a scarf done entirely out of that yarn. It’s a fuzzy yarn from Hobby-Lobby, and it actually knits up to be a very soft scarf done in just the knit stitch. Easy, mindless knitting. Yay!

And I’m using a circular needle made from components of my Denise Interchangeable Needle System, instead of two regular knitting needles. I love the Denise needles because they’re plastic. Soft plastic. I like how that makes them quiet to knit with. And I also like how they’re not cold like metal needles and that they are somehow softer (more resilient?) than wooden ones. And I like how there isn’t a straight needle, poking at my ribs.

Apparently, it's yet another one of those Goldilocks things:
this one is just right. J

And circular, just cuz that way I don’t have to keep up with a second needle. It stays all together this way. I also like how the scarf just hangs off the cable onto my lap. I do want to try Addi Turbos sometime soon, but for now I just grabbed these outa the closet. And that’s the beauty of the Denise Needle System -- you always have the right size needle on hand.

So now that I’m almost through, I can’t wait to finish it and work on something of my own. Like a Vintage Bubble Bag. (Oops--I bought the yarn for it already!)

Besides, I don’t generally enjoy working on “assignments”, knitting or otherwise. I guess that’s why I never enjoyed doing calligraphy as a business. As soon as I got a commission, I couldn’t wait to get it done and off my table, so I could go back to my own stuff. Plus the pay was never worth the grief and hassle, but that’s a whole ‘nother chapter. Sheesh, maybe a whole ‘nother book! J

Anyway, I am such a process-knitter (I enjoy the Process more than the end Product) that I will putter away at it until it’s finished, happily ignoring how slow a knitter I am. I tell you, glaciers move faster! Oh well, it’s a good thing my nephew doesn’t need it for this winter, because at this rate, he’ll get it for the 4^th of July! haha

So, what are you working on??

XOXO,
Lucky Dog
♥