Waffle Scarf

Hi knitters,

I've just posted blog where the original pattern is written.

http://yarndreams.blogspot.com/p/malabrigo-waffles-scarf.html

Here is a scarf I knitted a year ago.  You really can't tell by looking at the stunning pattern that the technique required is rather simple. 

All you need to know is how to:

Cast on
Cast off
Knit
Purl

I didn't do blocking.  So it kind of curl on the sides.  And I made it with 

Lion Brand Fishermen's Wool, color Natural with U.S. #9 needles (5.5mm)

What's shown is the left over.

For me, this knitting project was wonderful for practicing Norwegian knit and purl as it requires ribbing for first two rows.

Happy Knitting.

Takumi Velvet needles

I love Takumi Velvet needles.  The price of it is a bit more than the Takumi, but it is definitely worth the price.  (Velvet will be called for Takumi Velvet and Takumi for the original Takumi for the rest of the blog for convenience's sake)  The pair of circular needles was bought for a year in a yarn store in San Mateo.  I used this pair to knit a few scarfs and a hat already, and I'm very satisfied with it.

Velvet is polished even more profoundly than the Takumi, thus it makes Velvet more smooth to knit with.  The cord is made of a tougher material, which can hold your knits which weight more.   

For beginners, I would say Takumi would be a better choice:  it is lower in price, and easy to knit with.  Velvet , in my opinion, is made for more experienced knitters, who would like to speed up the knitting a little.

Interestingly, Velvet is not commonly obtainable in yarn stores.  Are they still too new to the US market?  Or is there a problem in supply?  

What should I do with these Rowan yarns?

As I mentioned in previous blog, I got some Rowan  Felted Tweed Aran yarns from a local yarn store.  In fact, when I was about to purchase them, I still had not decided what to knit.  Well, my brain was not blank; indeed I had too many ideas.  

I got four dark violet skeins and three pebble, so 7 in total, should be enough to make a adult size scarf.  

This yarn is made of 50% Merino Wool, 25% Alpaca and 25%Viscose.  Each weighted 50 g, 95 yardages in length.  It's good for US#8, 5mm needles.  Though it's a British brand, this particular,gorgeous yarn is made in Italy.

Well, the name of this yarn suggests doing aran, cable knitting with it.  Hm....let me think about it.  The reason I picked these two colors is that I think I can make something with them together very nice.  How do you like the color matching?

Anyway, my friends living in the US, should have one extra hour for knitting.

Take good care.