I actually finished this scarf quite some time ago – on May 24 say my Ravelry records -  but only recently found a model whose neck was worthy of this cotton/bamboo blend. Special thanks to Maria for wearing the scarf in what turned out to be a chilly summer day in Concord, California – it only got up to 82 degrees!

I started the Twin-Leaf Scarf from Vogue Knitting a few months ago but finished it quickly. It was hard to put down! This scarf is versatile and surprisingly easy. No kidding. Try it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

I’m almost finished with  my fourth week of the seven week summer session at CSUEB and everything’s moving swiftly. Mountains of homework and reading still to be done. I’ll be back to knitting and the dog days of summer soon.

Ever since I took Nancy on the East Bay LYS tour back in April and we visited Article Pract, I have been dying to make a scarf that I saw on display there. The narrow Sailing Sea Scarf was made from Tilli Tomas Demi Plié and, as it turns out, the pattern comes with purchase – a mini, business-sized pattern.

Now I ask you, how cool is that? I wish that all patterns were as portable.

As soon as I free up my size 2 needle, I will cast on.

The other cool thing about Article Pract is visiting Bakesale Betty’s which is only steps away. I finally had a chance to sample their strawberry shortcake *and* apricot pie. Wow! Best pie I’ve ever tasted, hands down. But as you know, with dessert comes pounds so I’m off to work on my bike again. I’m trying to ride off another ten pounds. It’s a beautiful day for it anyway. Have a good one!

You may remember that I started the Pyroclastic socks about a few weeks ago. In the first version, on the far left, I cast on 66 stitches on a size ZERO needle. This *is* Malabrigo after all and because it’s so soft and stretchy, it needs a very tight knit. Well when I tried it on over my big leg, it felt a little small – barely clearing my foot – so I cast on again, this time with 77 stitches but still on the size ZERO needle. That’s the swatch in the middle. That one felt much too big.

Finally I cast on again, with 66 stitches but on a size ONE needle. That one felt just right.

For the foot of the current version I switched back to the size ZERO needle and I’m starting to regret that decision. I like my socks tight but I’m starting to re-consider that preference. Nevertheless, progress on the sock has been swift. The pattern, which features some interesting shaping and unique stitch patterns, is quite lovely.

It’s also the type of sock challenge that I really enjoy. I’m pleased so far although I’m not sure this sock will be for me. We shall see.

There’s been no lag time between socks these days and progress on my most recent pair has been swift. A friend recently reminded me about Knitty.com and it was there that I found a sock pattern worthy of the super soft, yummy yellow Malabrigo sock I purchased at K2Tog a few months ago.

BTW: K2Tog is moving and opening in their new digs on June 1. The new location is near their old location on Solano, just a few blocks up the street, so be sure and check them out if you’re in the neighborhood.

Because this sock pattern was designed by Marlowe Crawford and it’s a tribute to Northern California, it seems fitting that I would continue my exploration of the Northern California coast this holiday weekend by visiting Bodega Head just north of Bodega Bay. See for yourself.

It was an utterly spectacular day on the California coast. Simply magnificent.

And the rock formations are certainly quite pyroclastic, aren’t they?

I have noticed that when I make scarves, my cast on edge (on the right) is usually a lot tighter than my cast off edge (on the left). Does anyone else have this problem? This is not the first time it’s happened. I try to cast on really loose, often using both needles for the cast on (long tail cast one here) but invariably, I always seem to get the same, uneven results.

Solutions? Anyone?

I did manage to finish a long standing project, the Liesel scarf recently, a scarf which Ravelry records show I started on January 26, 2009. The scarf was pattern intensive and not something that I could easily pick up and mindlessy knit away at. This project required my full attention but the results were worth the effort.

I gave the scarf to Nell as a graduation gift and although I wasn’t sure if the color was right for her, I am very pleased with the results.

Results. How many times can I say results in one blog post? Many times it would seem.

It’s late and I’ve had a very long day but I wanted to post my latest project which I started a few days ago. It’s the Twin-Leaf Scarf from the most recent issue of Vogue Knitting. This issue is just chock full of lacy, leafy projects and I’m really enjoying this scarf. First time ever knitting seed stitch – can you believe it?

The pattern called for bamboo and as it happened I had one ball of Lion Cotton Bamboo in a lovely shade of blue that I managed to score last year in Portland at the Knit and Crochet Show.

It won’t be as long as the scarf in the pattern, but I think it will make a nice little neck adornment for the warm days and cool nights of summer.

Stripes are everywhere I look these days and especially striped legwear. I couldn’t believe my eyes when a student at the High School I was subbing showed up decked out in tights to match my El Sob socks which, by the way, are coming along swimmingly.

BTW I want to mention that I’m using the Noro Stripy Sock pattern which is featured for free here.

This is my first time working with Noro Kureyon Sock and I have to say that I have more than a few complaints. First of all, it’s not as soft as the merino I’m used to working with and the fibers really stick to each other. I found that out yesterday when I did a fair amount of tinking due to a KNOT (yes a KNOT) in the yarn which interrupted the color pattern. Although the stripes may look random, they are anything but. They are carefully thought out and executed I can assure you.

In addition to being really sticky, the yarn seems to break quite a bit (or am I too tense?). Knitters who have used Noro are familiar with these complaints but watching the colors of the opposing stripes change gradually make Noro totally worth the trouble.

Here’s one more shot of R. Thanks for modeling!

During our tour of yarn shops on Saturday, Nancy wore a shawl of her own design, called Miss Jenni and this pattern is now available for FREE on her blog. Isn’t it fabulous?

I was honored that Nancy asked me to photograph her modeling the MJS on the side streets of Oakland and we had a lot of fun in the process.

Based on the “feather and fan” stitch pattern, the fabric is created with two fibers held together – Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Karabella Merino Silk - giving the finished piece a luscious halo in addition to it’s super soft touch. I can assure you, that having experienced this shawl live and in person, the feel of it is simply exquisite.  And how can you go wrong with red?

The Miss Jenni Shawl is extremely versatile and can be worn several ways, all of which are described in great detail on Nancy’s blog Getting Purly With It. Shown here are just a few ways it can be arranged.

Dress it up or dress it down. Any way you wear it, this is a shawl for the woman on the go.

So what are you waiting for? A complete tutorial and PDF pattern are waiting for you. Go and get your FREE pattern now!

True to form, I immediately cast on a new pair of socks as soon as I had a free needle. I’ve had this yarn in my stash for quite some time but the spring weather has finally inspired me to bust it out into the fresh air. I have to say that I am very pleased with the results so far. The color is “mellow stripe” and the yarn is Red Heart “Heart & Sole”. Love it!

The pattern is my own improvisation. Mindless socks, if there is such a thing.

Oh and one more shot of yellow. Can’t get enough. These are from the backyard and they won’t last long.

Happy spring!

Have you ever placed a vase full of fresia in your bedroom? The scent is heavenly I assure you. Spring is in the air and with it come another pair of tiny socks.

I adapted Hedera by Cookie A. for a miniature sock and I think it came out better than my full size version which is full of mistakes. However, I ran out of this luscious yellow late last night and now I am adjusting, taking a little from the first sock to finish the second. Or should I finish with a splash of wild color? What do you think?