In my first year of knitting, way back in 2003-2004, I was intrepid. I wanted to learn all I could about yarn and stitches… I had a very patient knitting group, all of them much more experienced than I was. They helped me learn many things – and one of the best things was how to be fearless. When I wanted to start a lace pattern pretty early in my knitting career, with some of the nicest yarn I had ever worked with at the time (a gift from one of the group members) I didn’t blink. I just went for it.
…
Fast forward to 2010. Project was not forgotten, but was not “dealt with” so, it was continuously buried in my yarn closet. While I was pretty fearless back then, I didn’t have patience and stay power, so it was set aside for another time… and consequently never finished.
Back then, I knew nothing about construction and gauge. So, when I pulled this project out of the closet over the weekend (part of the big clean out for the wood floor installation), I decided to just deal with it. In the process of working through a few more rounds, I remembered the basic lace pattern that I had started on years ago… and I realized that this project could be repurposed and made new again – this time as a scarf or a cowl.
So, I did just that.
…and then I wrote the pattern for it…
…and made it available for free on Ravelry…
:: Blushing Lace Cowl ::
Funny that I jumped in so readily back then, and now I don’t knit much lace (if I can help it)… but as I was knitting up one last repeat, I realized it isn’t all that bad. Of course, this is a simple lace – not charted or complicated. Easily memorized. Doable. It’s quite a liberating feeling to have a project off the needles after nearly 7 years.
…and I happen to have some more Rowan Kidsilk Haze – just enough to make another version of this cowl – that I would be happy to give away to a commenter… leave a comment if you are interested in 1.75 balls of KSH in the 606 colorway! I will choose at random on Sunday evening (October 3rd).
…
Socktoberfest is nigh! I am quite excited about our sixth celebration – and some 1300 people on Ravelry are also excited! It’s not too late to join the fun! You can join us anytime in October. While I am planning to cast on for the Through the Loops Mystery Socks, I also decided to get a jumpstart on another pair of socks – that’s 100% allowed in Socktoberfest! the KAL with no rules! – and I cast on with some old stashed yarn from 2006… back when Socks that Rock was in it’s infancy. This skein was a gift, and it’s been waiting in the wings for a few years, now to become the Flammegarn Socks from Nancy Bush’s Folk Socks book – a simple slipped stitch pattern with a ribbed cuff.
Bring on the socks!!
The cowl is so lovely on you! And I am SO excited for Socktoberfest. I think it’ll be a good plan to try to finish all the socks I have on the needles …
What a fun cowl! Not sure I’ll be committing full-bore to Soctoberfest this year, but I’ll probably get some sock knitting in, regardless. I’ve not made many this year yet.
Thanks for sharing your cowl pattern. It is soooo pretty!
I love the colors of your new sock!
hi lolly,
i have been reading your blog for years now!! i love almost all of your projects you take on, and again, i love this pretty little cowl. i have yet to complete a single pair of socks this year but will not end 2010 without ONE pair!!!! i promise!!!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful cowl pattern. The cowl and color are great on you. I immediately downloaded it and eyeballing my stash to see what I could use to make it. Of course, if I would be so lucky to win the kidsilk haze that problem would be taken care of.
That cowl is so pretty!
I have just the yarn, and I’m getting to that cowl asap!! Thanks so much
Beautiful cowl! I love lace (the non-complicated kind) so I’m thinking this may be a perfect project for me!
The scarf/cowl looks so cozy! It’s a lovely pattern – thank you for sharing it!
I love all of your cowl patterns and would love the Rowan to try your new one!
I love the color of your cowl, it looks great on you! I have been crazy for bright colors since the rain/drizzle/darkness has started in Juneau.
Lovely cowl – I especially love the colour, and it would usually be way out of my comfort zone, but for some reason I just love it. My dpns are ready and sharpened – come on Socktober and all those lovely finished Christmas presents you bring…!
Love your cowl Lolly! I have a slight cowl thing going – did you know they have a book now just about cowls called “Cowl Girls”?
It’s simple and elegant…Pretty!
Lovely cowl. Lovely YOU! XXOO, Mom
This is such a great story. I am glad you found the enthusiasm to repurpose the project and now to enjoy it. The cowl looks lovely on you.
Nice cowl! One more project to add to the long list of things to knit….after Socktoberfest is done that is.
first, the color of that KSH is absolutely GORGEOUS. i love the story of intermittent persistence.
Gorgeous! Can’t wait to make this.
That cowl is great. I’m not fearless or fearful, but I’m trying to get to that point in my life where the need and desire to turn my design thoughts into reality is more important than knitting the fun thing I have on the needles right now.
Thanks for sharing the project and the pattern. It’s really cute and feminine with out being too frufru – Perfect!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity as well.
And happy Socktober!
What an absolutely gorgeous color on you!!!!! Love the cowl and what a wonderful feeling to remove something from the knitting basket that has been sitting for so long – I have a few of those myself!
Love it, thanks for offering up the other skein – can’t wait for another socktoberfest
Just love it! Love the colors, and you look so pretty!
Oooo! I love this cowl and I’d love to work with KSH!!! I’m crossing my fingers!
I’m so excited about Socktoberfest – I can’t believe it’s starting tomorrow!
Congrats on the lovely new/old design. It looks lovely
P.S. I’ve never tried KSH, so I’d love to have you draw my name.
Gorgeous– both the cowl and the color! I’ve never knit with kidsilk haze before…so I’d love it if you drew my name!
I’m a fairly newer knitter and just recent stumbled on your blog. While I’m not ready for socks yet, I think a cowl would be a great new project!! Thanks for the chance to win!
Hello! This is the first time that i’ve commented on your blog but i have been following it for some time now! Anyway, this is my first experience with Socktoberfest since i just knit my first pair of socks last month! I’m going to take the plunge and try the Through the Loops Mystery socks. Thanks for all of the inspiration!
Oh my gosh, I love it! It looks so soft and warm…a must knit for the winter
Thanks so much for making it available!
I love the cowl, and the yarn! I am not quite brave enough to start socks just yet (the DPNs scare me) one day I will!
How awesome – that looks so cozy. I would love to try some KSH! Thanks for the reminder about the mystery KAL – I need to wind up some yarn today!
Absolutely love this pattern! Heading over to Ravelry to check it out.
Love love love the color and simple lace! I am a brand new knitter (well, 9 mos in) and would love for this to be my first lace project!
Absolutely! I love that color!
Oooh! Pick me, please! That is a gorgeous cowl.
You *are* fearless, and I admire that so much about you! When it comes to knitting, I’m definitely not fearless. That’s a goal for next year: trying to shed some of that fear, and just going for it!
I love your stories and pictures—the cowl is beautiful–It is a great feeling when you find a long time UFO and get it finished—-nice job!! I would love to make a cowl like yours:):)
Love the new cowl! Can’t wait for mystery socks tomorrow!!
I love that color and the cowl looks so cozy and inviting.
Can’t wait to see what this Socktoberfest brings…
And I love the cowl! That pattern is the perfect match for the Kidsilk.
Glad I checked into your blog. I love the cowl. I am finishing up my summer of socks so I can start some Socktober fest socks!
love, love, love the cowl and the color!
Love the cowl and the color. I have some yarn I can’t wait to start your pattern. Thanks for the inspiration.
Love the cowl! Can’t wait for the Socktoberfest kick off tomorrow.
That is my favorite color!! I’m crossing my fingers.
Love the cowl and the color you have chosen!
I have been reading your blog for so long now… have watched socktoberfest all these years from the sidelines.. thinking of joining in the fun this year – though with the current time constraints in my life, i haven’t touched a knitting needle in over 6 months now.
I’m a fairly new knitter (just learned to purl last year) and I got mocked mercilessly for using too-large a needle so this is perfect for me. I’ll be making this cowl win-or-lose. And I’m terrified of knitting in the round – jump in with both feet!
The cowl is beautiful and I love the color! Looking forward to Socktober Mystery Socks as they are usually the only pair I knit all year.
Stunning! It has been favorited and is a contender for the holiday knitting list.
I’ve never used KSH before and would love to knit something with it.