FO: cozy scarf

I finished my Pei scarf last week and am pleased to say it’s already been blocked and worn.  Finally got around to photographing it: I really liked working with this woolen-spun yarn (Loft).  It’s so lightweight but definitely warm.  It’s not the softest yarn ever, but it didn’t bother me to wear it around my neck like this.  To feel even warmer, I just doubled it:The stockinette panel makes the scarf not want to lay flat, despite the effort of the designer to thwart that tendency (the edge next to the stockinette panel is a 5-round eyelet pattern, followed by some ribbing, and the bindoff is also in rib).  I think, if I were to knit this again, I would work K-K-P-K instead of all K in that section.  That might help.  It would also be interesting to make this in a smooth, drapey, worsted-spun yarn – like one of those sock yarns that is 100% superwash merino from which I’ll never make socks.  How many of those do I have left in my stash?  That’s worth a look…

But overall, I’m pleased with the result!  I think a swingy cardigan knit from Loft would be super cozy and lightweight… maybe I’ll keep that in mind for NEXT year’s sweater project.

I’ve also finished the first Hickory sock and have cast on for its mate.  Here’s a sneak peek:

I really like the branching quality of this design.  It reminds me of another pair I knit years ago, the Mock Cable Wave Socks.  I’ve been wearing those a lot lately.  This undulating quality must be speaking to my subconscious.

Green Pei

I ate a piece of extremely green pie at lunch today – the dining hall had grasshopper pie on the dessert table and I couldn’t resist it.  It was wicked witch green.  But I didn’t take a photo of it.  Instead, I give you Green Pei:

I’m working on the Pei loop scarf from BrooklynTweed, made from the new Loft yarn.  This is a fingering weight, woolen spun, 2-ply yarn.  This heathered green colorway is called “Button Jar” and I’m smitten with it.  See how many colors show up?  It’s not “just” green!

If you haven’t seen how the Harrisville Mill makes this heathered yarn, I recommend reading Jared Flood’s mill tour posts.  I would LOVE to see this mill in person someday!

By the way, I heard some negative feedback about the integrity of the Loft yarn on the SpinDoctor podcast – Sasha’s skein broke several times while winding it on a ballwinder.  I’m happy to report that I had no such issues (though I did wind especially carefully because I heard her podcast first).

…and speaking of mill tours, The Mannings is sending a busload of folks to Nazareth, PA, to tour the Kraemer Textiles Mill.  I’m thinking of taking a vacation day to go along.  I’ve always wanted to see a spinning mill!  Don’t get me started on the Mingus Mill in Great Smoky Mountains National Park…  I could stay there all day watching how the mill grinds the corn.  And then there’s the David Macauley book called Mill.  Yeah, I think I just talked myself into a vacation day on April 13.  Who’s with me?  To the mill!

In other news… I posted a few photos from our NYC trip on Flickr, including some delicious pictures of the yarn at Habu Textiles, for those who are interested.