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.

Under 1 Generals Fan

Not to mean that there is less than one generals fan. Just that THIS fan is under the age of 1. Henry's Dad John is a coach and henry needed a blue and gold hat to wear to games. I was up to the challange. Henry's Auntie Jill and I picked out a pattern at Monday night football. Then I forwarded some yarn choices I'd gotten from the ever so helpful Wendy...shoot I think that's her name...at The Websters in Ashland OR. (Pretty good yarn store folks.) The day I got the yarn in the mail I started the hat!

But then I though...Henry cant just have a hat! I have left over yarn. He needs something else.

Mittens! Henry needs mittens! Having just picked up the book Knit Mittens by Robin Hansen from the library for Miss Moss's mittens, I was well equiped to make Henry's. (This book is fantastic by the way.)

And now Henry has a set to wear when he cheers the Generals on!

Wax Job

I've been playing with wax. I know it drives my dad crazy. He sees (and remembers) all the things that can (and sometimes do) go wrong and it sort of freaks him out. For some reason I cant stand to let all those broken crayons go to waste. Theres good color left in them just waiting to be utilized! I loved to lay crayon bits on paper in the sun to get all swirly and melty! (It didn't help the case against my dad when it didnt occur to me to weight these projects down. The wind blew them over and the wax melted into our pourous pool side concrete. oops.) Any way we've got lots of broken crayons at work and once again I found myself saving them. We did the melty wax project at school with the students, but then I found ideas for making crayons around the web. Mine are sort of a mix and match of all of them but I did learn some things:
1.) When baking the wax in a slicone mold (big flowers) it really is important not to get the temp to high. If you turn the heat up to speed up the process, you'll get a clear layer that doesnt color.
2.) If you use mom's special non stick pans for acting as a double boiler, and the can the wax is in tips over, she'll find out what you used them for (even if you think you wiped it all out) when she makes mashed potatoes and the bubbles on top are blue.
3.) Use heavy duty bags to smash the crayons in, because "Dad" (substitute roomate, husband, sister) doesnt like it when there are tiny wax bits on the floor that stick to feet.

Happy crayon making! Its a lot of fun!