Colorful Crocheted Scarf

I started this scarf on a visit to Nags Head, NC. It's a lattice pattern that I've done before and really like because it's so easy. After row one, all the other rows are just row 2 repeated till you get the length you want or run out of yarn (which I did since I only had one skein with me). The yarn is Bernat's Mosaic; the color is Psychedelia. I love the way the colors made horizontal stripes as if I'd planned it that way. I got a 2nd skein when I got home so I could make it longer. The colors are so wild that it didn't matter that the 2 skeins weren't from the same dye lot. I'm such a sucker for variegated yarns. This one came out like a wild rainbow.

BTW, while at the coast, I visited a wonderful yarn shop, Knitting Addiction, in Kill Devil Hills. If I lived there, I think I'd be in the shop all the time...it is full of gorgeous yarns and has a very welcoming, cozy atmosphere. My sister, a graphic designer, loved the colors and took photos of the yarns so she'd have a reminder of them. I bought some lovely yarn to make something for her, a felted fish kit for me, and a pattern for a simple shrug (probably also for me). I'll post the results here whenever I finish them. Right now, I'm finishing 4 other projects...all of which are NOT using old stash. So I'm a little off track on the stash busting action.

2 small projects

Neither of these are using old stash. I guess depleting stash encourages adding to stash...oh, well. Both projects are from Debbie Bliss's The Knitter's Year. All the projects in the book are "make-in-a-week" projects, but the ones I've done really only take hours, not days, to complete.

Next to the pumpkin candle holder is a pumpkin pin cushion in orange and green Brown Sheep wool. I felted it a little so the stuffing wouldn't show through the stitches.



Below is a door stop I made for on of my doors that tends to close when there's a breeze. The book showed the project in white yarn, but I think the dark fushia looks more dramatic. It took 2 pounds of beans to fill it out.

Incredible Output from Charity Group

One of the ways I've been able to reduce my stash this year is by participating in our area's monthly Knit Night. Knitters and crocheters met at a local library to make scarves, hats, blankets, sweaters, etc. that would be donated to local charities. At our November meeting we brought in the results -- over 300 pieces that will be given to 4 non-profit groups in the Raleigh area. These photos that I took are just a sample of the tremendous work that everyone accomplished.