Fiber Arts Friday: Elevation Profile Scarf

When I finished the Traveling Woman Shawl, I was in a bit of a frenzy about what to start next.

I thought I was going to start a project with my early handspun, but it didn't feel right.  Then I made a swatch for socks, but needed to purchase smaller needles.  So I spent about 24 hours with nothing on the needles.  Nothing!

Talk about feeling weird.

I finally settled on a scarf that had been on my list since last November.  Hubba had brought this Yak/Merino yarn from Japan and insisted that I make something for myself.

It's no secret that my Hubba is a Marathoner.  After all, he was in Japan to run a marathon.  Are you tired of hearing about that yet?  You shouldn't be, I haven't mentioned it in quite a while.  ;-)

Anyway, when Marathoners are choosing races to run, one of the things they consider is the elevation profile of the race.  So when I was contemplating this lovely yarn, I showed Hubba the Wayfarer Scarf from Brooklyn Tweed and he immediately said, "That looks like an elevation profile."  It sealed the decision and the scarf went on my To Do List.

This is my first time using a pattern with only charts for instruction.  O.o  I've ripped back several times.  First because I was making the decreases one stitch to the left of where they should have been so the grey portion was not shrinking.  Second because I was making the increases incorrectly which resulted in a hole rather than the correct pattern detail.

Third because I thought I was making the increase in the incorrect location, but after I ripped it out I realized it was fine.  And fourth because I made a transition between the colors incorrectly and was unable to fix it to my satisfaction... otherwise this pattern is simple.  As for my first real attempt at charts, I think it's going well... now.

I'm just over half-way complete with the scarf and into the 3rd chart out of 4.

A nice thing happened on Monday while I was traveling.  The lady who was sitting next to me on the plane told me that she was impressed by my knitting skills.  Which of course made me happy.  Then she told me it reminded her of breathing.  That the in and out of the stitches was just like breathing and that it was very meditative for her.  I think that's probably the best compliment I've had in a while.  :-D

Hubba said all I need to do is add yoga back into my life and then I will have no stress because I will be meditating all of the time.  Ha.

Anyway, I hope you all are having a beautiful Fiber Arts Friday.  It's starting to cool off here, which has me dreaming of comfy-cozy woolies.