The Trouble With Blogging

I have no stunning, amazing pictures. I can tell you that I've rearranged the baby chicken space to get ready for incoming Ameraucanas that should be here by Thursday, but do you really want to see a picture of a barn? I could tell you that I expanded the meat birds space because they are huge and filthy, but do you really want to see a picture of big smelly meat chickens?

 (this was a couple of days ago - the meat birds are bigger than this now.)

I could tell you I've planted 7 weeping forsythia and one Bloomerang lilac, and mulched anything that looked like it wanted it, and weeded and trimmed and, last night, covered to protect from frost a wide range of plants. But there's no pictures of me digging holes and trimming back branches.

Don't feel bad - Yoshi's bored, too. I promised him a walk today as compensation for my lack of presence in his space in the last few days. But it's SPRING! Time to dig holes and play in the dirt and rearrange chickens!

(Buff Brahmas and Delawares with a sneaky thing back left)

I wish I could say I've been more productive. I could, for example, post this picture:

And then tell you that I did these in the evenings after all the gardening. The truth is I did these ages ago, and just took a picture to show Girl so she could start her own pile. In the evenings I mostly knit handwarmers. It started with Fetching from Knitty a long time ago. After the first pair I bought 5 more skeins of different colors of RYC Cashsoft Aran, intending to make a plethora of them in 2007. "Great Christmas gifts!" I thought. When we moved it was a bit of stash I could not part with. I just KNEW I would make five more Fetching. And I even have the receipt to prove it - March 1, 2007!

I started the other day and made it through two before I got bored - WAIT! Not bored... well, bored but... I LOVE this pattern, do not get me wrong, but I NEVER reknit things. If I reknit it, it's GOOD. I have made 3 pair of Fetching, which means that's a really good pattern. But after two back to back I needed a change, so I switched them up and changed stitch counts and superimposed different stitch patterns.

I could post a picture of my back yard with ridiculous long grass - it was finally cut yesterday...

Or of a recipe I entered recently in a contest (cross your fingers!)...

(Second time I've ever entered a recipe in something - really hope I do well!)

Or of my favorite hen, Pet, a Jersey Giant of some three or four years old...

Or my favorite rooster, a little Silkie who's adorableness helped him escaped the ax in the last cull...

OR we could play a rousing game of "Guess the Breed" with the grab bag chicks:

Polish - White Crested Black and Silver Laced

Appenzeller Spitzhauben

Possibly Gold Penciled Hamburg. More will be revealed.

Either the biggest Gold Laced Wyandottes I've ever seen, or who knows!

Or...or I could just head back outdoors again and see what there is to dig or feed or plant or trim or grow. You know, I think that's the best idea I've had all morning!

Life Goes Speeding By

And sometimes you have to let it. Things have been crazy here for a while. First I got a bit sick again and had to go back on antibiotics, no big, just annoying that I want to be done and apparently the Lyme is not done with me yet. I am not a fan of drugs so the idea that I have to take these things for longer than the standard 7-10 days is difficult for me. Apparently 7-10 months is more likely, although we're at 9 now, and maybe longer the way things are going. Maddening honestly, and I wonder how many other people are mis- or un-diagnosed out there, ticking little time bombs, waiting for discovery. I hate deer. When they come through the yard I want to shoot them. I know they're not the only vectors. I could have gotten a tick off of anything. I was in the woods a lot. Heck, I live in the woods. But deer are the most likely source, so they've garnered my everlasting dislike, the poor things.

Then, just when I was thinking I really, really needed to get in here and blog, we lost our internet service - the dish broke. I discovered that I am indeed addicted to the internet. And now I am getting ready to head off on vacation, but I wanted to share a few things with you before I left, so you don't forget me!

First of all I did this pattern for Clover USA which you can download for free from their website. The socks are called Dresden.You can download the .pdf of the pattern on Clover's Make-It page. I love Clover. Ask my students. I have a thing for the Chibi and the bent foot tapestry needles and the locking ring stitch markers and...but I digress! Knit up a pair and tell us all about it!

Next, I am going to give you sneak peeks of the new book over the coming weeks. Today you get just a tease, a little taste of what's inside. First we need to thank wonderful photographer John Gruen for his amazing work on this book! Ok, ready?I love this image. When I saw this picture it took my breath away a little, I am not ashamed to say! The socks have names. On the left, from top to bottom are Seagrass, Wavelength, Twisted Baskets, The Keep, Raindrops and Helix. On the right are Peppercorn, Graphic, Ballet, Soft Waves and Kid Stuff. You'll learn much more about them inside the pages of Toe Up 2-at-a-Time Socks. I could gush about them now, but then I am a Sock-Mom, and we do that. We go on and on, waxing poetic about the compelling and complex twisted stitch pattern of Ballet, for example, and how the delicate cables of Helix make my smile every time I slip them on (I knitted the pair for the cover, and once done popped them right on my feet). I could tell you about how delicious The Keep feel in your hand, since they're knit in Malabrigo, or how the soft and subtle colors of Soft Waves, knit in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock in color Lunasea will make you want to head for the nearest ocean on a stormy day...but I'll save that for later.
You'll get a few more tastes and hints in the coming weeks - maybe after vacation when I post pictures of Mickey Mouse and socks all in the same day?
A couple of weeks ago I caught up with Kristen and Marley and Mary Alice at the New England Poultry Congress. I was half-heartedly considering trying to buy some birds. In the end we didn't bring along a cage, which was just as well. I didn't see anything that really caught my eye.Kristen thinks I need the Guinea sign. I think I may need both, although so far the boys are wonderfully well behaved. I am waiting until spring really gets here, then we'll see how their attitudes really are. If all four stay lovable I will be most pleased. If not, well, anyone with a mean streak can head into the freezer thank you very much! We ordered meat birds rather than hatching them out. With the book coming I am not sure that I want to be tied up with turning eggs twice a day, every day. Chicks I can handle!
This is a poultry oddity of sorts. It's called a Frizzle. Their feathers grow "backwards".Kind of strange. They look like chickens that had a bad run-in with a blow dryer. I don't think I'd want one, but I enjoy looking at them.
Today I came home to find this guy (or girl) lurking in a big maple across the street.Too close for chicken-mom comfort, but there's not much I can do. He has to eat, too. I'd prefer it if he stuck to mice, voles, pigeons...and left my birds alone. Chickens are really too big for a bird this size, but a bad winter will make them try anyway. So far with a mild winter I feel pretty safe from predators in the air.
The other day I came home to this.This is our killer cat, the one who was returned to the shelter after 24 hours when he "attacked" his adopter when she rubbed his belly. When I see him all sprawled out like this on Gene, belly exposed, I remember that and wonder how many misunderstandings between animals and people result in shelter returns or abandonments. The only misunderstandings we've had with him involve my obvious stupidity. He thinks he should be fed five or six times a day. I am too stupid to understand this. He thinks the papers in the recycle bin are toys. I am too stupid to tolerate this. He thinks he should be played with when he says so. I am too stupid to play. Just ask him. He'll tell you!
See you in a week or maybe a little more, with a new sock picture or two!

One Last Holiday Thing (and One Free Pattern)

Last minute holiday stuff is coming up all around me, and it's making me think fast about last minute gift ideas for family and friends. I figured I'd share my musings with you in case you too are at a loss. Parts of my list could be for knitters and others, but mostly for knitters of course, because I am one and so am very biased in knitterly favor.

Audio Books
This depends on your giftee, but in general I find audio books to be well-received. I myself have a few around and some were sent to me for review purposes. I most recently dove into a review copy of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society with gusto, and really enjoyed it. Disarmingly homey, this is the story of the correspondence and relationship that forms between columnist and author Juliet Ashton and members of a rather unique book group. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is formed spontaneously as an alibi to protect the members from arrest by Nazis during the occupation of Guernsey. Presented as a series of letters between members, artfully read by multiple voices, I found this a compelling listen. Following Juliet's process from slight to intense interest in this band of club members was entrancing.
I also received The Girl Who Played With Fire to review. Having not had the benefit of reading (or hearing) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I had concerns that I might be missing enough critical information to make this a complicated listen. I had nothing to fear. I was instantly captivated by this thrilling tale of criminal activity and investigation, and by the main character Lisabeth Salander. I found myself rapidly caught up in the story, and sense that if it had been the "real" book I might have found myself curled in my chair long past bedtime, pages turning one after the other, unable to put it down.

Webs Gift Cards
Or a receipt for the one that you ordered online. I always think that the size of the gift card should be commensurate with how late you are in purchasing it. In other words if you don't manage to shop until Christmas Eve - or worse, online on Christmas morning, then the value of the card should be at least double what you would have spent if you'd planned better. Trust me, this will make you feel MUCH better about the whole thing. Would I lie? If you get your gift card in person at the store, amp it up a notch by tacking on a pair of really nice needles, a set of fancy stitch markers, or any of the myriad of other knitting notions we knitters just can't live without. Webs store staff is more than able to assist you in finding just the right thing!

Something Knitted
If you are a knitter, and you've got a toddler or small child in need of a personal but hurry-up gift, knit something and make it their own. Shopping out in public this weekend I ran across multiple examples in different shops of adorable knitted hats and mittens for kids that really were super simple, just embellished and customized into painful cuteness. Here as an example we have the basic knitted hat and mittens:
Yawn? Boring? Dull, right? Well, help it out a little. Knit your own and embellish the daylights out of it. If you're really pressed for time, you could even buy a set at your local department store and cover them with scrap-ball embellishments. This hat and mittens were knit in one day, and embellished the next morning. Super simple and super fast and VERY fun. The hat pattern is below.

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash colors Chocolate, Magenta, and Pink Ice are shown, but you can use any three colors of a worsted weight yarn that will get the correct gauge.
Needles: For me, a Clover 48" circular, US 4, but you should swatch and use whatever needles get you the proper gauge!
Gauge: 5 sts/inch in stockinette stitch
Notions: Clover (or other, this just reflects my bias toward a favored multi-tasker) locking ring stitch markers (8 of them), tapestry needle, imagination.
Finished size: about 16 inches in circumference.

The finished hat will fit a toddler, from about age 2 to about age 5, depending on the size of the kid in question. It may fit a 11 year old, if a bit snugly, as mine did (I just slapped it on one to see). It's snug on me, but I'd wear it, and my head is about 20 inches around. PLEASE feel free to adapt, modify, make bigger or smaller by adjusting gauge, or number of rounds knit, or casting on an extra inch or two's worth of stitches, or what-have you. This is a really basic pattern, and it assumes the knitter has a basic skill set of simple decreases and circular knitting techniques, or knows where to get information on the same.

Toasty Warm Toddler Hat With Ear Flaps Begging for Embellishment:

Cast on 80 stitches – Divide and join for working in the round. (This will vary based on the type needles you choose for your project. I used one long circular, so I divided the hat in two sets of 40 stitches. You could easily substitute dpn if desired, dividing the stitches based on the number of needles in play – for example 20 stitches on each needle if you’re using 5, or 26-28-26 if you’re using 4 and so on. Really all that matters is that you've got 80 stitches and they're joined for working in the round somehow. You could use one 16” circular and not divide at all. Choices, choices!)

Work in garter stitch for 1.25” (knit one round, purl one round; alternate these two rounds until desired length is achieved). Change to stockinette stitch and work until the hat measures 5” from cast on edge to needles. Knit one more round, placing markers after each set of ten stitches.

Crown decreases: Decreases will be in the 8 sections of ten stitches each that you've just made with your stitch markers.
Round 1:*K8, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 2 and all even rounds until round 14: Knit.
Round 3: *K7, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 5: *K6, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 7: *K5, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 9: *K4, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 11: *K3, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 13: *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 14: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round.
Round 15: *K2tog, repeat from * to beginning of round. 8 stitches should remain.

Cut yarn leaving a 6" tail. Thread yarn tail onto tapestry needle, and pull through all live stitches, pulling to close top of hat. Take yarn to inside of hat and run in end. Run in end of yarn at center back of hat (the tail where you cast on).

Earflaps: These can be left off if you're in a really big hurry. I am just a sucker for ear flaps.
With right side facing, beginning at center back of hat, count across 10 stitches, pick up and knit 16, skip next 28 stitches, and use a second yarn to pick up and knit 16 more stitches. These two sets of 16 stitches form the foundation of the earflaps. I worked mine at the same time, but you can easily slip one set of picked up and knit stitches to a stitch holder and work them separately, or just don’t pick them up until you’ve finished the first ear flap. More choices!!

The earflaps are worked back and forth in rows.
Keeping first and last 2 stitches in garter stitch and the center 12 stitches in stockinette stitch, work 7 rows on all 16 stitches. Now begin decreasing to shape flaps:
Next (RS) row: k2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 (14 sts)
Next 3 rows: k2, keep center 10 sts in st st, k2.
Next (RS) row: k2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 (12)
Next (WS) row: K2, p2tog, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2(10)
Next (RS) row: k2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2 (8)
Next (WS) row: K2, p2tog, p to last 4 sts, p2tog tbl, k2(6)
Next (RS) row: K1, K2tog, ssk, K1. (4)
Knit two rows on these 4 stitches, then bind off.

I made the ties using 12 strands of yarn, 4 of each color, about 20 inches long. I braided them together and attached them. You can do the same, or knit I-cord, or crochet a chain and work single crochet along it...whatever works for you!

Now comes the fun. Embellish. I've shown you two options here, but there's a million. Simple or complicated, it's up to you. You could use felt scraps to cut out shapes - think trucks, airplanes, snowmen, lollipops, the sky is the limit, and stitch them into place. Or crochet shapes and sew them on. Embroider flowers. Go simple. Go crazy. ANYTHING!! Now find a cold kid, and your work here is, as they say, done!

Abbreviations:

st - stitches
st st - stockingette stitch
gs - garter stitch
k2tog - knit 2 together
p2tog - purl 2 together
ssk - slip, slip, knit

For tutorials that teach a wide range of knitting skills, check out Knitting Help. This is an amazing website with a huge amount of information available to knitters!

Rainy Days and Mondays (and Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays...)

We seem to have come to some sort of a weather impasse here in New England. It has rained, or been significantly overcast, or in some way not been sunny and bright for so long I have forgotten the last shiny day.
(I love the Carpenters. Wanna make something of it? Also Barry Mannilow, in that kitschy, cozy, reminiscent sort of way...)

Anyway, I recently finished up a kind of last minute deadline project and needed a little something to ease me back into my regular work flow. I reached into my basket of single-skeins and pulled out color. Sunny, bright color. Noro color.Noro is so my guilty pleasure. It's the one thing that can send me to the registers with 6 or more bags of discontinued colors just because, like Everest to Mallory, "...it's there".

I present the end product of my "wishing-away-the-rain" knitting project, complete with free pattern to create the same should you so choose, providing you adhere to the rather lengthy but really important copyright information you'll find under the pattern. It was fun, fast, and simple. Enjoy!

Melissa’s Cloud-Chasing Rainy Month Hat
copyright 2009 Melissa Morgan-Oakes - see below for more information on copyright

Materials-
1 ball Noro Silk Garden Lite color 2047
US 6 and 7, 16” circular needles or size needed to obtain gauge.
US 7 dpn, or one size larger than that needed to obtain gauge.
Pompom maker, 1 5/8” or pompom method of choice.
Seaming needle
Gauge- 19 sts/4 inches in K3, P1 rib with smaller needle
Abbreviations -
Sl2KP: Slip two stitches together knitwise, knit one, pass 2 slipped stitches over the just-knit stitch. This creates a centered double decrease – you’re eliminating 2 stitches each time you work this decrease, and the center stitch ‘pops’ to the front of your work.
K: knit
P: purl
K2tog: knit two stitches together

With smaller needle cast on 88 stitches. Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist. Work in K3, P1 rib for 8 rounds. Change to larger size needle and begin working in stitch pattern as follows:

Round 1-3: *knit 3, purl 1. Repeat from * to end of the round.
Round 4: *K1, K into the stitch 3 rows below, K1, P1. Repeat from * to end of the round.

Work in stitch pattern until hat measures 6” (or desired length - usually the measurement of your hand from the heel to the tip of your middle finger - or to put it another way, from the base of your carpals to the tip of your longest distal phalanges) from cast on edge. Now you will work the following rounds, decreasing for the top of your hat. Change to double pointed needles when you can no longer comfortably work the stitches on the 16" circular.

Round 1: *K3, P1, Sl2KP, P1. Repeat from * to end of round [66 stitches remain.]
Rounds 2&3: *Knit 3, P1, K1, P1. Repeat from * to end of round.
Round 4: *Sl2KP, P1, K1, P1. Repeat from * to end of round. [44 sts]
Rounds 5&6: *K1,P1. Repeat from * to end of round.
Round 7: *K1, P1, K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. [33 sts]
Round 8: *K1, P1, K1. Repeat from * to end of round.
Round 9:*K2tog, K1. Repeat from * to end of round. [22 sts]
Round 10: *K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. [11 sts]

Cut yarn leaving a 6” tail. Thread yarn onto a seaming needle and run through all stitches. Pull snugly, take yarn to inside and run yarn ends in.

Make pompom if desired, and if there’s enough yarn left. I used a Clover Pompom Maker, 1 5/8”. Tie pompom using alternate yarn or strong thread. (I used a 6” scrap of a strong, plied sock yarn that was handy – the Silk Garden Lite is not strong enough as a single ply to tie it’s own pompom securely). Use pompom tie to attach pompom to top of hat with a strong knot. Run in all yarn ends.

Apply hat to head regardless of current temperatures, and stand in front of mirror often. The colors of the hat will inspire hope that someday, yes, the sun will return to New England. If nothing else, I am now prepared for fall and winter. Maybe that's when the sun is coming back?

Boring but really important part:
Copyright 2009 Melissa Morgan-Oakes. All rights reserved. This pattern may not be sold or used for any purpose other than personal use by the individual knitter without written permission of the author (that'd be me). In other words, please don't steal this and tell the world it's yours, or make 500 hats to sell at your local winter craft fair thereby becoming independently wealthy. You may print it for your own use. You may even give a copy of it to friends as long as this long and conversational little copyright explanation is included. You can even use it to knit for charity, like Warm Woolies.
This pattern is also available for download as a pdf from Ravelry
download now

Free Pattern for A Toque for a Canadian Roommate Who's Allergic to Wool and Only Just Learned to Knit, Which I Personally Think is Odd For a Canadian

Materials:
US 6 needles, 40" circular (OR 5 DPN OR one 16" circular needle)
Seaming/darning needle
1 skein Berroco Comfort color 9755
1 skein Berroco Comfort color 9700

Gauge: 20 stitches equals 4 inches in stockinette stitch.

With red, cast on 80 stitches and divide stitches in half, then join for working in the round (as for, say, 2-at-a-Time Socks, only one-at-a-time hats. Or cast on for two hats if you know two Canadians), and work in K2P2 rib for 2 inches. (Alternatively, divide on 4 DPN, 20 stitches per needle, or use a 16" circular needle) Change to stockinette stitch and work for 2 inches. Change to white and knit for 23 rounds. Change to red and work for 1 inch. On next round, place markers after every 10th stitch. Begin decreases as follows:

Round 1: *Knit 2 together, knit to next marker. Repeat from * to beginning of round.

Rounds 2-4: Knit all stitches.

Repeat rounds 1-4 until 8 stitches remain. Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread yarn on a sewing needle and pull tightly through 8 stitches remaining on needle. Run in all ends. Create maple leaf image on white part of hat using red yarn and duplicate stitch.Make a pom-pom out of remaining yarn using a pom-pom tool or two pieces of cardboard. Attach pom-pom, run in yarn ends, and find a Canadian who's allergic to wool and does not know how to knit. Or just wear it!

I've said it before

And I am pretty sure I will say it again. I adore living here (when it's not snowing, and even sometimes when it is), and a lot of that has to do with this:These hills above me and the valley I live in are such a part of who I am. Both of my parents families lived and farmed here; my mother's on the mountain and my father's in the valley. Over time farming became a liability and gave way to the modern era of the "day job", but my soul really yearns for the labor of a farm. It's been that way since I was a child, making these long and detailed lists of what I'd need to get started in my farming endeavor. The biggest item, "land", I never thought to add to the list. Somehow I think I just assumed it would come, and maybe someday it will. I have not given up the dream. Then you'll find me chasing goats and wrangling chickens and planting and weeding and hauling hay. But for now, I live vicariously by visiting other people's farms!
This weekend we were privileged to attend Foxfire Fiber and Design Open Farm in Shelburne, Massachusetts. I got to rub sheep chins and bury my fingers deep in wooly necks, which is among my favorite activities. I got to buy a bit of yarn, some Cormo Silk in a lovely mauve color. And I got to introduce Mr. Wonderful and Mary and Ed to Guido "It's a Purl, Man" Stein, and have an impromptu interview, at which I am pretty sure I stank - although you'll all find out eventually when it goes live! If I did suck, we're going to blame it on the cold wind. It's worth a listen, anyway. There's a great discussion of condoms. No, really. There is. And also some talk about yarn and wool and sheep. It was kind of funny to watch Mary, Ed and Mr. W. start backing up as soon as the words "Would you like to do one now..." tripped out of Guido's mouth, followed by my "Sure!" By the time he had his mic out of the car, they were a good 30 feet away and beginning to back away faster. (BAAWWKKK!! BUK,BUK, BUK, BukAwwwk!)Guido is awesome. Guido has got a huge guild out there in the Boston area, which I would love to visit, although it might involve public transportation. I can probably figure it out, thought, right? I mean, it's just a train. In short, Guido rocks, and I'd do an interview with him any old time, even if I turn brain-dead in front of a mic. Which I suppose means he'd probably be more likely to find a rational person to interview, or maybe he's a glutton for punishment? We'll see if he ever asks me back, or politely requests that I stand well away from him in the future when he's recording.
We saw a lot of peaceful sheep, which is always a highlight of a visit to any farm, though you'll go a lot further and not find such a happy flock.Barb's sheep are the most contented and comfortable I've ever met. They're friendly, and a few positively seek human interaction. They have a lot of ego integrity for sheep.
I have a particular fondness for non-white sheep, but there's always a few up there that make me question my loyalty.
I probably spent ten minutes with my fingers buried in Calvin's neck while he positively purred at me to continue. Made me want sheep. I've always said I was a llama person, or a goat person, but not so much an alpaca or sheep person. Barb's sheep make me change my mind. It's not just their personality, it's their desire to interact, their comfort level with people. They're loved, and they know it, and they're willing to share the love.
Then last evening the moon rose in this perfect crescent over the house, flanked by two planets, Venus and Jupiter. The picture does not even come close. it was unbelievably beautiful out there. And I know why!! It was welcoming the beginning of Knitting Contrissmas, of which I am VERY excited to be a part. Yesterday was the first installment of this really awesome glimpse into the lives and thoughts of various knitting/quilting/cooking folk. Cirilia Rose, was the kick-off artist. Today continues with Knitterella, Jill Zielinski, an artist with some really lovely note cards and tags available. I don't know about anyone else, but I can't wait to see who's next. I'll be checking in daily. I loved this last year, like an advent calender all for me, and I was so excited to be asked to be a part of it. What day will I appear? Well, that would be no fun for Tina, now would it, if I told you? Or you either, really!! It's CHRISTMAS! It'll be a surprise!

About the Canadian hat. Yes, I will post a pattern, but not for a little bit. I need to finish up a few things, and then scribble it down. This won't be a hard and fast and full of details sort of a pattern. It'll be written the same way it was knitted. So if you think you can handle that, yes, I will surely put it up for you!

Wrap It Up.

**Just in - Annie Modesitt and her family are currently experiencing a very difficult time - her husband has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and if you feel so inclined, donate. The costs of keeping a home going at a time like this can be devastating to a family. The last thing anyone should have to worry about when facing this is the stupid mortgage.**

I hate that my hair touches my face in the summer. It drives me nuts. I used to have waist length hair that I wrestled every morning into french braids, or just pigtail braids if I was feeling rushed, or a single center braid in the back. My hair is very thick unless managed with those scary razor thinning shear things, so my single braid was about 3" across at the top and not comfortable. I went through years of work as a nurse with side-braids like a five year old. The residents called it cute. My mother wept softly, but then she also had a problem with the non-shaving phase, and the patchouli thing, and the perpetual cut-off and hand embroidered jeans - although she did purchase Birks for me, but only after she discovered her shrink wore them too, which made them ok. I cut it for the sake of vanity, pure and simple, total sell-out, but I hate having it cut. I feel like I am sacrificing it's integrity by razoring it into managable, modern shape. If practicality were to take precidence, I'd have it back to my waist and perpetually in a headwrap and braids. I can't go quite that far back in time, but suspect that when I am old (and wear purple) you will find my with two fat braids down my back. In summer I take half of the equation - the headwrap part - and put it into practice when bumming about. Usually this takes the form of an old bandana or scrap of calico of a pattern that matches nothing I am wearing. These scraps are generally accompanied by home made cotton and/or rayon dresses or jumpers of decidedly unflattering shape and style. 'Frump' lives strong in me. It's not something I wear when away from home anymore (sadly, for I miss the comfort). Difficult to accept, but "professionalism" and "worn calico housedress with red bandana topper" do not work well together. But I digress.
To the point: when Girl gave me one happy little skein of bamboo in ideal Melissa colors and the idea of a headwrap first was brought into the picture I had a visceral reaction : sadness. I assumed that this would be a drag-along item that I used to cover a bad hair day when grocery shopping, or something I wore under my bike helmet so my hair didn't spike through the holes. It would probably not be something I could wear any old time, but would have to be restricted to the garden or the deck or the transfer station. I was wrong. Way wrong. I want a million of them in all colors to co-ordinate with my entire wardrobe. The headscarf grows up, and I am on board.

Melissa's Happy Butterfly Headwrap

Needles: US4 or size needed to obtain the nebulous gauge stated below.
Yarn: 1 skein Alchemy Bamboo; 100% bamboo, 138 yds/hank or other lovable yarn that you could only manage one hank of - just make sure you've got at least 138 yards. (Classic Elite Bamboo, Plymouth Royal Bamboo, Artyarns Regal Silk, leftover Great Adirondak Sireno, Debbie Bliss Pure Silk DK, Filatura Regina, etc)
Gauge: Eh, who's counting?? OK, if I had to guess I'd say 5.5 sts/inch in st st AFTER blocking. If you don't get gauge, consider reducing or increasing your cast-on by one repeat to make up the difference. Play with it.
Finished dimensions: 4" x 46" after blocking. Remember - most of the non-wool yarns will grow a lot in length after blocking and wearing.

Using crocheted cast-on (a.k.a. chain stitch cast-on) place 23 stitches on needle. Work in garter stitch for 4 rows. Begin following charted pattern below, maintaining two stitches on either side of the charted pattern in garter stitch. Row 1 and all odd numbered rows are wrong side rows. Follow chart throughout scarf. You may wish to use stitch markers to denote the two edge stitches. Continue until you have about 5 yards of yarn remaining. Work 4 rows of garter stitch and cast off (or bind off, it's all the same to me).
Wash your scarf in cool water, squeezing to ensure that the water penetrates the bamboo fibers. Spin or squeeze to remove excess water, then lay flat to dry. When dry, tie one on and go for a spin in your convertible, dust the house, do the shopping, head to work, run out for a lovely evening. It goes anywhere. Now make about 20 more in a variety of colors and wrap your way to inner peace.


If you take the plunge, I'd love to see the results. Email me, or post a comment with a link to your blog.

A Confession

OK, I have to admit to this. Since the Knitty issue went live and all of you lovely Knitty readers started linking here from the Sweetpea page, I have been obsessed - truly obsessed with sitemeter. Not because of the numbers at all. I mean, the numbers are nice and everything. It's the world map view, where I can sit and load the last 100 visitors to this blog and see where you're from as dots on this little world map. Australia. Canada. Alaska. Japan, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Britain, South Africa. Wales! I am a Morgan. I take it seriously. Someday I am coming for a long visit.

It is a wonderful testament to the universality of knitters and knitting. Someday I'd like to come and visit all of you. We can sit at a cafe, or in a park, or a knitting shop and have a cup of coffee - or tea. Or real sushi. The knitting community has created a truly small world of knit-minded people, and I love that. If you'd like to post a comment just saying where you're from, you would possibly push me to thralls of excitement never before known. Even better, if you're currently experiencing a cool meteorological or natural phenomenon as I also have an obsession with weather.

I am going now to get my haircut, but I will be thinking about you all on my way. Where you're from, what you're knitting, and how awesome it is that a worldwide community can be created simply by this amazing medium of technology!