Finally – a finished object!

I’ve finally finished the short row rib scarf!

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden #08.  I used 2.5 balls.

Size: A little over five feet by 6″

Needles: Size eight

Notes: If you recall, I started this scarf nearly two months ago.  It has languished as my third place project since then.  The silk garden was hurting my hands, and I was really not sure at all about the brightness of some of the colors.  Last night I looked at it and thought “I can’t have this hanging over my head anymore.  I declare it long enough!”  I quickly did the finishing squares and blocked it.  Does anyone else find that Silk Garden grows majorly in blocking?  Because this grew a good 6″ in length.

I found this scarf to be kind of tedious.  I couldn’t seem to memorize the pattern, so I had to pay constant attention.  The cast off isn’t as nice as the cast on, but I think that’s true of all scarves made with this pattern.  I’m going to wear it out tonight, but I think I’m pretty happy with it.  The colors are less bright when you aren’t staring at them from 4 inches away.

My yarn for Lady Eleanor finally arrived today, no thanks to UPS.  Does anyone else  hate it when something ships UPS?  Apparently UPS considers my zip code to be a “high crime area” (ha!) so they won’t leave a package even if you sign for it.  So I’ve been sitting here all day waiting for the UPS guy.   I ordered Noro Cashmere Island color #2, which is a combination of blues and greens with a bit of red thrown in for good measure.  I got nervous after ordering – I was going to get a different color, but decided that #2 was prettier.  I then got terrified that it would be too bright, and so I tried to ignore that it was coming.  I needn’t have worried though – it’s lovely!

I’m especially happy with the greens, which contain not a trace of teal (I like teal, but not the bright Noro teal).  The cashmere island seems to contain about 50 pounds of sizing, like all Noro yarns, so I can’t wait to swatch and block, so I can see how this yarn actually feels!

I also broke down and ordered some Skye Tweed, which WEBs has at really fabulous closeout prices.  I got a sweater’s worth of Loch Ness Teal and Spruce Green.

The Spruce green is actually brown, but it does contain tiny green tweedy bits, which are lovely.  Plus this yarn was super cheap, and I’m really happy to finally have some tweedy yarns in my stash.

Now that my scarf is finished I would like to start another.  I want to make “My So Called Scarf,” but I’m unsure about yarns.  I have two skeins of Malabrigo in Verde Azul.

You see the problem?  One skein is darker than the other, although they’re the same color otherwise.  Is there any way I could use both skeins without it looking weird?  I’m not sure if it would matter, since the yarn is variegated anyway.

I have to go pick Marc up from yet another holiday office party in a bit, and we’re going to my church group’s potluck Christmas party.  I have nothing for the potluck, since I’ve been stuck here all day waiting for UPS (and we need groceries), so I’m going to have to go the crappy route and pick something up.