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!

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.

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!

Sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly but it will always materialize if we work for it.

I actually unearthed the Liesel Scarf which I had started almost exactly one year ago. According to Ravelry records, it began life on Jan. 27, 2009. Weird, huh? It was so easy and natural getting back to this pattern even after its long hibernation. Who knows when it was last touched? Everything was tucked neatly inside the drawstring Japanese bag that Max had brought me from Japan nearly 5 years ago.

There are other things going on, trust me. But this is all you get for today’s drive by blog. More to come soon!

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Daniela Rosner on Ravelry who asked me to participate in her PhD study in which she is developing a software/app called SPYN. SPYN allows the crafter to attach or “pin” memories to a handmade article, via the Google Android phone, while it is being crafted, for the enjoyment of the beneficiary (and the crafter as well I suppose). SPYN records the row count and the location (via GPS) and the user inputs the memory which can be supplemented with video, audio and still frame captures.

I wasn’t 100% clear on the whole process, but I agreed to do it anyway.

I chose the Drop Stitch Scarf as my project and my sister Karen as the recipient. There were some stipulations: 1. It had to be a project that I could complete in two weeks and 2. it had to be gifted to someone nearby. I might have chosen one of my kids, but all live more than 500 miles away and a pair of socks for the project but didn’t quite feel confident enough to finish a pair in two weeks – although I’m sure I could, if  put my mind to it.

The drop stitch pattern calls for multiples of 8 plus 4 so to expedite the scarf, I only cast on 36 stitches.

Yesterday, the three of us, Daniela, Karen and I, met at Starbucks for the completion of the SPYN alpha test.

I’m not sure about Karen, but I was quite pleased with the finished scarf, especially the contrast of the green with the fuschia colored top she wore.

Karen was amused by the “memories” I recorded during the past two weeks – especially our nephew Bradley’s birthday party. Here’s another shot of Karen wearing the scarf as she rushed off.

Although she confessed that she found the socks I had made her more useful, I’m hoping that the scarf will grow on Karen because I think it looks stunning on her. I love this scarf and this pattern so much, I started another one.

As for Daniela, I’m not sure what she thought of my project and I’m sure she has more work and testing ahead of her. In any case, I thank her for allowing me to participate.

I seem to have three projects going all in green and it struck me the yesterday, how wildly different these greens were from each other. Isn’t it amazing the infinite shades that can be achieved in just one color? hee hee I guess I’m easily amazed.

I started another drop stitch scarf with a ball of Crystal Palace Kid Merino (they even have a color called “Frog Green”). The weight is so fine, the finest I have ever used, and even though this little ball has lived in the  bottom of my basket since I can remember, I finally feel confident enough to wrestle with it and the pattern (from Artfibers) was just the right fit. Everything clicked. The progress, which has been swift, is pictured in the lower right.

On the left is the drop stitch scarf in Malabrigo Lace which feels like worsted compared to the CPKM. It’s the project for SPYN which I promised to explain to y’all and I’ll blog about it soon – I promise! Completing the trio is my replicant tank in the background being knit in Artfibers Brioche.

Have a great holiday weekend – whatever you happen to be working on!

It looks like my computer is going to need a new hard drive (it’s covered) and data recovery has been slow. So what’s a gal to do without her beloved MacBook? There is nothing else to do but start a new pair of socks and that is exactly what I did.

Hedera by Cookie A. had been suggested to me about a month ago at the Stash knitting group and the pattern looks fantastic in the Malabrigo sock from my personal stash, don’t you think? Although I have to say the color is so dark that I might as well be knitting in black. Using the tiny size 0 needles doesn’t help either but the pattern is knitting up quickly despite these obstacles. I’m tempted once again to make knee socks but probably don’t have enough yarn and I didn’t see this color at K2Tog when I was there last.

Note to self: Make Hedera knee socks before I die.

Besides knitting socks, I’ve been coping by taking Bella for lots of long walks in the El Cerrito hills.

The weather has been cool but dry and the views are amazing. The Golden Gate Bridge is often visible, as are downtown San Francisco and Oakland.

I never get tired of these hikes. As I’ve said before: You can take the girl out of the hills, but you can’t take the hills out of the girl.

I’ve been spending a lot of time at the Apple store on Bay Street.

Here’s a polite young man, also known as a “concierge”, named Juun (who has the most amazing blue eyes), and he has endured my emotional rants while remaining perfectly polite and gracious during this whole ordeal. Give the man a medal.

And here are the guys at the “Genius” bar who get to hear about computer woes all day long – including mine. Let’s face it, computer breakdowns are emotional but I have to keep reminding myself that it’s only a computer and they’re only photos and digital files. In the grand scheme of things, it all seems so minor.

This morning I reluctantly dropped off my MacBook at the M.A.C. Computer store in Berkeley where the proprietor promised a four day turnaround.

Hopefully the problems aren’t too severe. The very calm and zen-like man who checked in my computer told me his name was “Y” when I asked him. Actually spelled “Wai.” Yes, Why indeed?

In an instant one’s life can change so suddenly.

But through it all, I just keep on knitting. The one, and only, constant in my life.

I hope to get back to a regular blogging schedule soon. I’ve got lots more knitting to show you. In the meantime, thanks for hanging in there with me.