Koby's Lacy Ribbed Scarf

I know everyone is tired of winter and that the idea of making warm scarves may be the last thing you want to do. However this scarf is lots of fun to do with self-stripping yarn. Save the pattern for the fall when the idea of wrapping your neck in warm and color is more appealing. 

Koby's Lacy Ribbed Scarf

Abbreviations:

K = knit

P = purl

Sm = Slip marker

Rep = Repeat

K2tog = Knit 2 stitches together 

Sts = stitches

MATERIALS:
2 skeins Amitola Louisa Harding Yarn

         (80% wool 20% silk 50g/237 yd) Salsa

Size US 9 (5.5mm) needles
Stitch markers
Yarn needle

Gauge: Not really important

Cast on 6 stitches.

Work in garter stitch (knit all rows) for 4 rows.

Row 1: K3, yo, k3

Row 2: K3, p1, k3

Row 3: K3, yo, k1, yo, k3

Row 4 and all even numbered rows: K3, purl to last 3 sts. K3

Row 5: K3, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, K3

Row 7: K3, yo, k1, yo, k1, k2tog, yo, K3

Row 9: K3, yo, *k1, k2tog, yo (twice), K3

Row 11: K3, yo, k1, yo, *k1, k2tog, yo (twice), K3

Row 13: K3, yo, *k1, k2tog, yo. Rep from * to last 3 sts, K3

Row 15: K3, yo, k1, yo *k1, k2tog, yo. Rep from * to last 3 sts, K3

Repeat rows 13-16 until you have 48 stitches, or the desired number of stitches for your desired width (must be divisible by 3).

Begin Pattern Stitch:

Row 1: K3, yo, K3tog, yo, *k1, k2tog, yo. Rep from * to last 3 sts, K3

Rows 2: K3, purl to last 3 sts. K3

Continue these two rows for 60 inches or until you reach a length about 8 inches before you want to the scarf to end.

Row 1: K3, yo, K3tog, yo, *k1, k2tog, yo. Rep from * to last 6 sts. K3tog, yo, K3

Rows 2 and all even numbered rows: K3, purl to last 3 sts, K3

Row 3: K3, yo, K3tog, yo, *k1, k2tog, yo. Rep from * to last 8 sts. K1, K2tog twice, yo, K3,

Row 5: K3, yo, K3tog, yo, *k1, k2tog, yo. Rep from * to last 6 sts. K1, K2tog, yo, K3.

Repeat rows 1-6 until you have 12 stitches left.

Next row:  K3, K3tog twice, K3. (8 sts)

Next row: K3, p2, K3

Next row:  K3, K2tog, K3. (7 sts)

Next row: K3, p1, K3.

Next row: K3, K2tog, k1. (6 sts)

Knit 4 rows. Bind off.

Weave in ends. Block the scarf to lay flat.

"TWAS" - The Wild Animal Sanctuary

"TWAS" is this incredible wild predator reserve for lions and tigers and bears (yeah, I know) and wolves and leopards that is just north of the Denver area.  I have supported this place for the past several years, but this was my first visit. I went with my husband Ken, my youngest son Dane and his girlfriend Christina. What a wonderful place! I could spend paragraphs and paragraphs describing it, but you can just go to the website http://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/ for information and donating.

High Five!

We strolled through the sanctuary on an elevated walkway peering down on the animals. The theory is that the animals don't pay any attention to us because they think of us in the same way they think of birds. It was the heat of the day, so most of the animals were sleeping. Unfortunately, it made most of the animals look like they were either fake or dead. I think even Neko might not be able to take on some of these guys.

The only safe way to pet a lion

Newly Anointed Shawl

I just finished blocking this lace shawl in a creamy light lavender color alpaca yarn. I laid it out to take a picture and then went in search of my camera. When I came back, the shawl was newly anointed with black cat hair.

Yes, my shedding little Neko decided this shawl was the perfect place to rid himself of his winter coat. When I asked him why he was on my shawl, he told me (in cat language) that black is the most ideal contrast to lavender. Not only does he make his presence known on the shawl, but he has to rub his fur into the lace as well. Beside, he said (once again in cat language), the black fur accents will then match everything else in my wardrobe. At least he didn't use his claws to see how fine the yarn is. That's only because his claws have been recently trimmed.

I will now spend the next few minutes removing fine black hairs from my new shawl. Oh, the price I pay to be both a cat owner and a knitter!

Back to the needles.

Heaven, I'm in Heaven!

Crawling back into the Blog

Me with Peggy wearing our Downton Hats

I haven't posted for over a month and I have come to the conclusion that working for a living is intrusive into my knitting and my blogging! I have a great job (which I started in December), but I am exhausted by the time I get home from work. In the last month, though, I got incredibly sick with some kind of virus and am still coughing up a storm.  And I have taken two vacations. One to see a long-lost found-again friend and the other to Albuquerque.

Ken and I went to the western slope (Colorado) a couple of weeks ago to visit my old friend Peggy. We figured out that we haven't seen each other for 30 years (yikes!). Peggy moved to southern Colorado and then to Alaska which is how we lost contact with each other. And then Facebook was invented! Peggy was able to track me down when she moved back to Colorado. We used to be single together as well as play softball. It is always great to get back in touch with old friends (Not that we are old, but our friendship is!) I gave her one of my Downton hats and I am wearing the other one. Seems appropriate.

I am not even knitting that much, however I have completed another Downton hat and a pair of socks. I have also started a sweater four times now, and I am going to rip it out and start it again. What a pain in the @$$! When in Albuquerque, I did buy some purple double knit, but I am going to try again. I'll post some updated knitting pictures soon.

Back to the needles.