Thanks for all of the great scarf patterns you mentioned in my last post. As if I didn't have enough to knit already! I am even eyeing some of those great scarf kits over at Morehouse Merino. (I have one of their scarves on my To Do list: Bellini)

I bought this yarn at Maryland Sheep & Wool last year. Two skeins of raw silk. Lovely yarn for a lovely scarf: Branching Out! I'll add it to the list.

I joined the Sock It to Me knitalong! My second sock pair will be done soon–probably this weekend! You know who really has the sock thing going? Those Utah girls. Susan's Almost Argyle pattern is on my list, as well as Mim's new Razor Shell pattern. And Margene churns out great socks left and right. Talk about inspiration–thanks girls!

Lest you think I am only knitting socks, here is some evidence of my other knits. This is a slow and steady knit, the Kidsilk Haze camisole.

The rate this one is going, I probably won't be finished till 2006… but its okay. No rush.

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PumpkinMama is running a cool contest over on her blog–it is right up my alley! I found out about it a little late… but hopefully I am still in time to qualify! She wants participants to show their favorite t-shirts… and it so happens that I have a fine collection. I could not narrow it down to just one though… so here are my favorite three:

My Arizona t-shirt (reads "Arizona: It's Not That Hot"); Hump Day, and my oldest tee of the bunch: "If You Ain't Lithuanian, You Ain't Worth Sudas!" I got them all at second-hand/thrift shops.

We have a great weekend planned… thank goodness I don't have as much homework this time around. Here are some hints:

Penguins

DC

Crafty Bastards

any guesses?

Watch for a blog entry this weekend to find out more!

Three years to fruit.
Three clusters of small Concords.
Three minutes to eat all of them.
It was worth it… they were so sweet!

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I love autumn! It is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp breeze, and the beautiful foliage. Even though I complain about the amount of reading, I love the return to school. I love pulling out my wool sweaters and cardigans. I love the season premieres of new TV shows. I love planning holiday gifts. I love harvesting the last of our garden vegetables. I love planning warm stews and soups to warm my belly and my soul. I love the cycles of nature.

…and I love wearing scarves!

If you have looked through my gallery (new and improved!), you have seen that I love to make scarves. Since my first Wool Ease Chunky scarf–not pictured in the gallery due to its hideousness–I have made countless scarves for family and friends, charities, and myself.

Here are some of my favorites from recent years.

From left to right, top to bottom: Colinette Giotto in Gaughin, Colinette Point 5 in Jay, Ironstone Mohair (colorway unknown), and Patons Divine in Floral Fantasy.

All scarves are my own design–never underestimate a simple design in a lovely yarn! The Colinette Giotto scarf is probably my favorite FO so far. I wear this scarf any chance I can get. One hank of yarn (that is all I could afford at $25 a skein!), simple stockinette on size 15. It curls, and I love it that way!

I have my eye on several other scarf patterns that have come out in books, on Knitty and MagKnits, and some designs that live in my head.

A few months ago, Heather gave me a great book, Vogue Knitting Scarves. I already know the first one I am going to make:

Not sure about what color yet (although that pink is nice!) but it will be a perfect way to stash bust, and have a pretty FO in return.

Others scarves I have my eye on? Branching Out, Edgar, Short Rows Multidirectional Scarf, Clapotis, Teva Durham’s Leaf Cravat, and for the Weasley knitalong, the HiP scarf. (Heather and I are doing this one together) I also have a great stitch dictionary (stitchinary?) that has some lovely cables, ribs and lace, that I want to experiment with… stay tuned.

What are your favorite scarf patterns?

Just because I have not had a lot of time to knit in recent weeks does not mean that I am not thinking about it!

Case in point: I just purchased some Handpainted Bulky Wool to make this little number for that special man in my life.

This raglan zipper cardigan is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The Manos del Uruguay that the pattern calls for was a little too rich for my blood, but this stuff is a perfect substitute (at less than half the price!) I am quite fond of the color of it (Date Palm), and will probably start on this one in the winter. Kris will probably not wear it until it gets really cold anyway, and in Maryland, that means January and February.

Kris’s thoughts on the sweater? "Cool, but not the orange zipper". I think I can handle that. He is a man of many words.

I have had my eye on both of these books for a long time, and I finally hit the "Confirm Purchase" button. Haven’t received them yet, but I know that I will love them.

This weekend was filled with more reading of books and writing of essays. I managed to rig up a little system to read and knit at the same time…

With my feet acting as props for the book, and with the yarn placed in between my feet, I was able to read and knit a few inches on Hourglass as well. This can only be done for short amounts of time, however. It results in feet cramps! I did read two whole chapters this way though!

I just finished my second skein of Knit Picks Andean Silk. That means I have 9 more to go, and about 80% more sweater to knit. Just when I was thinking that there was no other option but a mismatched Hourglass, I got a message from sweet Sunshine Dani. Dyelot 82501? She had some leftovers from her Hourglass! and she is sending them my way!! How lucky is that? Thanks so much, Dani girl!

My beloved socks are growing so big. This is the second Opal sock, and the first Fixation sock (can you see the little diagonal ribs?) Both of them saw a little action while riding the train this weekend.

Now for a little more reading before I head off to class this afternoon… I will curl up on the couch with these girls and finally finish these last chapters! (I caught Bella mid-yawn! hehe)

Missing You

This week has been a doozy. My reading and my mind have been stuck in the Middle Ages… I have 3 more books to read by Tuesday… is that even possible?

As you can imagine, very little knitting is happening `round these parts. The second Opal sock was cast on, and I even got a few more inches on Hourglass while watching the LOST premiere (I was not going to miss that–no matter how much reading I had to do!)

… and the sock fever continues: this time in Cascade Fixation.

Fixation is fun yarn: stretchy with nylon content, and soft with cotton. I think it will be perfect for socks. I am following the Diagonal Fixation pattern.

Now, I just have to figure out what shoes to wear with this color of socks.

In general housekeeping matters, Kris helped me redo my knitting photo albums. There is a link on my sidebar (under the socks) and one on my header. Go check them out and let me know what you think! you can leave comments in there too (just remember to leave your name so I know who you are!). I also plan to use that space as a general photo album for vacation pics, etc.

I also updated my "100 Things" list in my Lolly Odds and Ends section. Some adjustments and additions…

Weekend plans involve reading, reading and more reading. If I am lucky, I will finish early and get some time to knit. We’ll see what happens…

Oh yeah, and why did Stitches East have to come at such an inoppurtune time?

*Lei Lolly Lei*

The countdown has begun: One month till Kris and Lauren’s Hawaiian Vacation! October 20-29

That is where my sister lives: Kaneohe Bay, Oahu!

*Learn more about Leis and their significance in Hawaiian culture at Wikipedia