Perfectionist

I started and finished a scarf this last week.  It was super hot and I enjoyed having an inside project.  I had to do it in and around our latest guests. 

 

They were only here two days, but you have to clean, make beds and set out fresh towels.

 

Then you have to fix something to welcome them each afternoon and set out fresh towels after the first night.  Not to mention the meal planning, grocery buying and then making and serving said breakfast.

 

These were the first guests that came specifically to be HERE.  Others have come here for weddings or graduations. 

 

Some have stopped here on their way to somewhere else or just passing through.  I hope we gave them a great, relaxing vacation.  They left some very nice remarks in our guest book, so I think we did.

 

The night before their last day, I finished my latest knitting project.  A beautiful, shiny, midnight blue, grapevine lace scarf.  It's hard to tell in the light from the late evening, but it is just a beautiful color.  Then I wove in the loose ends, sprayed it with water and stretched it out flat to block it and let it dry. 

 

Then the worst thing happened. (cue Jaws, or maybe even Psycho music) I discovered a GLARING flaw in the scarf.  When you are knitting scarfs, they frequently curl up on the edges.  This scarf had a very dark yarn and it was hard to see the details of the pattern.  But when I blocked it and had it all flat and in bright light, I noticed I had made an error.  ( cue curse word of choice,  not the worst one but the next one down)  An entire ROW of an error.

 

Luckily, it was fairly close to one end.  Had it been at the beginning, I would have just let it go.  I have no idea how to unravel and knit backwards. But it was close to the finished end.  I stressed about it all night.

The plan was to give it as a gift.  You have to figure which person to give it to.  Then you have to figure, who won't notice?  Or you can tell them about it and hope they wear it even with all the flaws.  I don't have good friends and then second tier friends, to whom I could give a second rate gift, so I HAD to fix it.

 

I snipped the corner where I wove in the last tail of yarn.  I unraveled the scarf, keeping track of which row I was on, for the sake of the pattern. 

 

Then I slid the knitting needles back in, keeping a crochet hook handy to pick up any dropped stitches, and re knit the scarf to the appropriate length and finished it AGAIN.  And blocked it AGAIN.

 

And now I can give it with a happy heart and I hope it will be well used and enjoyed.  And, dare I say it, loved?

 

Scarf Addiction

I don't know what it is.  I decided to make a few scarves for family members as Christmas gifts.  In the past I have made afghans and they are a real time commitment.  I can only do one or two a year.

Last year I made a scarf for my favorite son-in-law.  It is amazing how fast they work up.  Especially compared to an afghan.  I thought I could make a bunch of scarves and that would be good.

Then I made three.  How satisfying to make three nice gifts with wonderful, soft, yarn.  It will keep them warm and cozy.  Oh, no, I thought.  I am going on a trip soon and staying with a friend.  I better make one for her.  Oh, no, I thought.  I am visiting my sister, also.  I haven't seen her in years.  I should take her a gift.  Oh, no, I thought.   I am also staying with my son and favorite daughter-in-law.  And then I am going to meet some of my very good friends for a meal while on my trip.

You see where this is going. 

 

The friend I am visiting in California hosts me almost every time I visit.  She has for years.  I found some fabulous variegated yarn that I thought she would love.  I know.  It is summer in California.  But she can save it for winter....when she travels...some place where it is cold.  Like HERE.

 

You knit this one with two strands of yarn at the same time.  It takes a little more concentration as you have to knit up two loops at a time and that is harder to do by feel.  You have to look.

 

Then it curled on the edges and I had to block it.  This involves getting it wet and laying it out the way you want it to dry.  It is really long.  I had to move it before it was time to feed the cats dinner.  I'm sure you can figure out why....

So now I have four made.  And enough yarn to make three more.  I don't think I am going to finish them all before I leave.  I thought scarves would be LESS stress!