When I discovered hand-dyed yarn, I was mesmerized by the colors. Socks were my knit of choice during those early years and I bought a lot of very bright sock yarn, much of it now destashed in favor of more muted tones. The New Year barely began and I felt the need to weed out my piles into what Clara Parks refers to as my happy and unhappy pile. What's left is yarn that I truly love and have planned projects for.
Just before the year ended I was searching for a knit quickie and I pulled a yarn out my destash pile. A brightly colored lemon yellow skein of Woolarina Merino sock yarn. I cast on the Lace Ribbon Scarf from 2008 spring Knitty.
Due to the short yardage, I only cast on enough for three columns of ribbon and had the pattern memorized in no time. The scarf accompanied me through the holidays and a trip to EPCOT prior to casting off. The scarf is so bright and tart that the palace lion puked it back up.
The result is pleasing but I learned that superwash merino has a mind of its own. The scarf curls despite blocking the dickens out of it and steaming it for good measure. This is not among my favorite finished shawls but I know that it will wear like iron and should brighten a dull winter day...
The rest of the country might be covered in snow and experience freezing temperatures but Florida is basking in mild 70,s and 80's. The little animals should have no difficulty foraging for food. So why do I have a parade of woodland creatures traipsing through my house and feasting on the Science Diet? I guess because they can and they have discovered the cat doors. The latest nocturnal visitor is a skunk. Mind you we have had racoons, possums, rabbits and a variety of birds...the smaller animals brought in by the cats. A few years ago we have a tough time keeping the raccoons out of the kitchen. They scattered food everywhere and washed muddy paws in the water bowl. The skunks are much tidier but the fear of the spray, which hasn't come yet, scares me to death. Here is Pepe in his favorite hiding place in between the fillers between the cabinets. The cats just watch. After the portrait session, we shooed him out the garage door and closed off the buffet entrance. Forage outdoors, little skunk.
