Scarfapalooza

If you are on my Christmas list this year, chances are good you are getting a scarf...unless you're a child, then a scarf is considered a choking hazard and you're not getting one, so there you go....you surprise isn't ruined....but also, you're not reading this blog....alrighty, now that's out of the way. Don't worry, I'm making a ton of these, and I'm not telling who's getting what, so you'll still be surprised...or hoping you get the good one. I can't believe you're thinking that....they're all good ones!

These 3 scarves are all from free patterns. I will provide the links.

This first scarf is a free pattern from Lion Brand (link in side bar). The pattern is called Classic Cabled Scarf http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80755AD.html. The yarn used is Patons Classic Wool in Dark Grey Mix. I have only used this yarn for 2 of the scarves here, and I love it! It's nice to work with and it makes a nice fabric. My husband, who tested this scarf out thought it felt itchy, but when I tried it I did not - so I guess that's up to personal taste - however a scarf is usually outside the winter clothes, so I don't imagine that will be a problem, but I will only use this yarn for other people for this kind of project, just in case. This was my first try with cables. It was actually pretty easy and the scarf looks pretty good - it is hard to tell from the pictures though - the colour doesn't photograph very well.




This is what happens when you're taking pictures and they're not of your 3 year old!



This scarf is for Bernat Alpaca yarn and the pattern is called: Lacy Leaves Scarf. The link to Bernat Yarns is in the sidebar, but I'm not going to bother linking the pattern, because you have to be a member of the site to see it. However, they have many nice patterns - it's worth it to sign up (for free) to have access to so many free patterns. I found this pattern because I bought the yarn and then searched through their site for scarves that are specifically intended for this yarn. The yarn I used is called Bernat Aplaca Natural Blends - it's 70% acrylic and 30% alpaca. The yarn and the fabric it creates is soft and fuzzy. This was my first try with lace. I think it turned out pretty well - the edge of the scarf turning in annoyed me the whole time I was knitting, but it actually looks pretty nice when the scarf is on, so I'm not going to try to block it flat.

This scarf from Knitty.com. The pattern is called Wavy, and can be found here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter04/PATTwavy.html. I think this pattern is great! It's not complicated - it's basically ribbing that meanders back and forth. Ribbing, for those that don't know is something like Knit 2 purl 2 knit 2 purl 2. In this case it is knit 3 purl 3, but the pattern moves 1 step in either direction each row. Sounds a bit complicated, but if you can knit, purl and count to 3 you can do this! Now, I did screw up, and didn't know how to fix it, so there the mistake stays, but now I do know how to fix such a thing and would fix it. This scarf was my first try back at knitting after a very long absence during which I pretty much exclusively crocheted. Right now all the small and fast things I'm working on are knit and the large and slow ones are crocheted. This is another scarf made with Patons Classic Wool. I don't have the ball band any longer, as this scarf was finished in January, so I can't recall the exact colour. I will be making another one of these scarves in purple in the coming months.