Leftie

I do love knitting patterns by Martina Behm. They are so clever. The challenge and then float off the needles once you figure out the magic. So far I've knit The Hitchhiker, Lintilla, Trillian, Magrathea and now, Leftie.

 This yarn "spoke" to me in Fancy Tiger of Denver when I was there for the National Science Teacher Association conference in December.

It is knit on Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. This yarn is a dream to work with, and even more so to wear. I get more compliments on this scarf when I wear it than any other scarf, and it's so EASY!

My only complaint on this pattern comes from all the ends that were left to weave in when I finished. Sigh.

Oregon Ducks Linen Stitch Scarf

Here it is. All 400 stitches in length of it. 

 My first knit item for my husband Luke the Human Heater. 

In his very favorite Oregon Ducks colors. 

 It is also in, my now, very least favorite stitch to knit, linen stitch....

 Though the stitch is so unique, and the fabric it makes is so light!

 It really is the perfect stitch for a man scarf. 

 I took it to the football field to take pictures of it, then to the park where I realized just how bizarre people thought I was taking pictures of this scarf like it was my child. Let me tell you, a gazillion rows of 400 stitches of linen stitch. It may as well have been.

Here is the front where you can really see how it gives the woven linen look.

 Here is the back. It still has the woven look but also as someone said "looks more like a plaid."

After two re-starts of this scarf ("oh I've done this scarf before, I don't need to pay too much attention to the pattern") I finally got it going correctly. I'm glad I did. 

Even if it meant frogging two inches. 

And another two inches.

 And casting on 400 stitches...3 times. 

Alas, it was on this scarf that I discovered the beauty of Addi knitting needles. It was this scarf that has been with me to Grand Junction as I helped John and Neola pack, Olton,Texas as I visit with my family, Denver for another family adventure, Dallas, Texas  to a Rangers Baseball game and more!

Now it will be ready to go on adventures with Luke (when it gets cold enough) and bring some green and yellow to this region of blue, red, and purple.

WiP Wednesday- Cotton Bale Table and Ducky Scarf

When I went to Olton in February, Uncle Doc hunted down an awesome 5 lb cotton bale! After I looked at it for a while I realized there was no way I could break it open. Rather, I concluded it should be a table. When conferencing with my friends regarding the matter, this is what I came up with.
I decided that this would be my birthday project.
I picked up an 18 inch wide board (and asked them to cut it in 18 inch pieces) some threaded rod (two 36" pieces cut in half), 4 carriage bolts, 4 cap nuts, 8 washers, 8 coarse thread hex nuts, 4 coupling nuts.
Once home, Luke drilled four holes two inches in from each corner.
I assembled the hardware first to make sure everything would work before putting the finishes on the wood and metal.  Starting from the top, I put the carriage bolts through the board and tightened them each in place with a hex nut and a washer.

 The carriage bolts are square on the top making them snug in the holes. Luke used a hammer to make it snug with the wood. This gave it a nesting place so that any time I put the table together or take it apart things will fit right.

Then join the carriage bolts with the threaded rods using the coupling bolts.

 Then I put the cotton bale in between the rods upside down. Place the next board on the rods and use the last four washers and hex nuts to secure it.

 Cap nuts go on the end of the threaded rods acting as feet for the table. 

 Here it is all together. 

Here you can see how it's raised from the ground. 

Today's adventure was aging the metal. I wanted the metal to be dark like the wrapping of the bale.  After surfing the web for metal aging and darkening techniques I finally came across the idea of using Gun Blue which I understand is used to maintain or darken the finish on guns. After an adventure to a local gun store I came home with greaser (to prep the metal) and Super Blue a cold Gun Blue (in contrast to those that require torching.)

A good coat of de-greaser and the metal responded to the blue in milliseconds!

Here's the before and after! Way cool huh?!

On the knitting needles right now is my third attempt at this Oregon Ducks, Linen Stitch, Scarf.

I'm linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced and WiP Wednesday!

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Finish it Up Friday- Magrathea

I have finished another Magrathea scarf. Once again I LOVE it! (Good thing this one is for me!) The last one was for my mother in law and I realized last night that if I finished this and blocked it today, the two of us could take pictures in them together when we're helping Mark get settled in his apartment in Colorado Springs!

 I knew I'd be cutting it close on yarn with this one but I definitely started to feel the pressure.

I can't wait to wear it!

I'm linking up with Finish it Up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts! She just finished up a Big Bang Theory reference pillow that I have major envy of.

Hitchhiking

The closest I ever hope to get to doing so is making this Hitchhiker scarf.

It was a great project for these times as it is a fairly mindless pattern. Once I figured out the increase to decrease ratio.
It's great for multitasking. Tan took these picks of me this morning before my gig. I couldn't decide between sleepy squinty with a real smile or slightly crazed eyes open. Either way you get to see the scarf! I love it!

Gary L. compared it to a saw. I liked that. Now how to turn it into a title for Ravelry.
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