Yarn Winding Fail

I would love to tell you that this blog post is about my latest knit. But to be honest, I have not been knitting much lately.  However, I have definitely been trying....



Exhibit A:  Alpaca Dew Drop Cowl Fail


Probably should have just followed the pattern and used something more along the lines of a lace weight.  Will most likely try this pattern again sometime, though!

Exhibit B: Boredom halfway through a Growing Leaves Cowl

I actually tried out this pattern because I wanted to learn how to do the appropriate increases and decreases to make something like the Rustling Leaves Beret by Alana Dakos.  Once I realized that generic leaf patterns are easier than I thought, I think I just lost interest in this little practice project.  But that's okay, because now I am stoked to find other little goodies to knit.

Why are there gaping holes in my row of left-leaning leaves?!
I thought I followed the pattern, and double checked my stitches,
but there is a hole on all nine of my leaves in that row...

Exhibit C:  Ultimate Yarn Winding Fail


I have been working on this beauty for a while now.  I purchased the yarn from Tanis Fiber Arts in hopes of doing a test knit for my Kitsilano Slouch pattern that I hope to share soon.

There isn't a long-story-short version of how this happened.  All I can say is, I have been winding the yarn into a ball from the loose end and weaving it in and out of the knots, and I desperately hope that the next skein I have winds up a little faster!

My yarn mess captured from a few angles, in all its glory

{pattern} Changing Seasons Cowl

It is almost that time of year...somewhere between spring and winter.  Almost too warm to wrap a scarf around your neck twice.  But sometimes too chilly to just let your neck go bare.

With that in mind, I knit this cowl for a good friend as a birthday gift.  Even though we live north of Edmonton and I am sure that there is plenty of winter left (*sad face*...), I wanted to make sure that she could still get some wearing time for her cowl just in case the temperature did stay a little warmer like it has been up here lately.  The Changing Seasons Cowl is just a single loop around the neck, but sits high enough to keep you cozy without being too bulky.

I tried to get my friend to pose for a photo with the cowl on...couldn't convince her (maybe next time, though!), so here it is by itself instead.

Changing Seasons Cowl
for Carlena

I knit this cowl on straight needles and joined the ends with a seam.  It is just as easy (if not easier) to knit it in the round, but I wanted to be able to figure out the size as I went.  If I knit this again, I will do it in the round since now I know the gauge and measurements that I am happy with.


Changing Seasons Cowl

Yarn Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in Fleece

Needles  Straight needles size US 11

CO 26 stitches
Row 1  [k1, p1] repeat until end of row
Row 2  [p1, k1] repeat until end of row

Repeat rows 1 through 2 until you reach the desired length.  i.e., stop earlier to have it tighter around the neck; keep on repeating rows to let the cowl hang looser.

Bind off.  Sew ends together with mattress stitch.

Wear and be fabulous!