FO: Funky ribbon scarf

For this scarf, I decided to channel my inner funkiness. I actually wasn't sure I had any inner funkiness to channel but you expert Yarnies told me not to block it, just to let it march to its own drummer, so I did. As always, following your good advice paid off. In fact, I like the scarf so much that I couldn't resist modeling it myself because it looks better on a person than on a table. So here I am, looking as close to funky as I am capable of doing:

I went with fringe because I like the flutter and sway of it. But again, you warned me against the dangers of trying to make it look neat and tidy (always my first impulse) so I did big fat tassels and did not trim the ends to be even with each other.

It gives the fringe wonderful movement and stays very much in keeping with the loosey-goosey feel of the scarf.

I think my Darling Daughter will love it!

A very hearty thanks for all of your wonderful input! You guys are the best!

Spring temptation

A trip to the LYS is always dangerous but in the spring, it's even worse. I needed to buy yarn for a donation to Brenda Novak's fundraising auction for juvenile diabetes (the Yarnies donated a fabulous gift bag which I'll post a link to once it's up on the auction site) so I walked in the door. Big mistake! All the spring yarns were in and the colors called to me like sirens. I was bored with the white lace scarf and the Wake Forest scarf and the throw that I've barely knitted three lo-o-ong rows on. I wanted something fun and breezy and fast to work on.



Here it is: a scarf (of course) on No. 17 needles in Colinette Giotto "Fresco #147". I love the fact that the yarn is from Wales.





I've never knitted with a "ribbon" yarn before and wanted to try it out. The Lovely Yarn Lady suggested garter stitch with an occasional row of double-wrapping to give the scarf some funky texture (which I hope you can see in the photo below).



So I cast on 16 stitches (well, actually I cast on 10 first, knitted for about three feet and decided it was way too narrow so I ripped it all out and started over as my DH looked on in disbelief). I do the double-wrap every seven rows. I think it's really fun and funky.



It's a bit of an adjustment to knit with these gigundo needles (which I show beside the cable remote to give you a sense of scale). I find I'm much more loosey-goosey with the ribbon yarn and big needles, a fun contrast to my usual smaller-than-gauge style.

I do have one question for the experts: do you block this sort of yarn? I forgot to ask the Lovely Yarn Lady and I'm afraid to go back into the store for fear of being tempted by another spring project.