Generosity-inspired scarflet and a giveaway (FO)

Well, up front, I'm not hosting the giveaway, but two people are, for a good cause. Amanda and Jody, by the 20th and 21st respectively.  So head over there for the chance at a neat shawl!  Or don't and keep my odds high(er)! ha ha

So, on to my knitting.  This is part of the continuing Generosity series. :) 

When I left on my last business trip, I knew I wanted to knit something for a lady that would also be there. We're often the only women on the trip, so we've had some great times together - she introduced me to a traditional Japanese bath house years ago and this year we went to a Korean spa three days in a row!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to knit, but I knew that it needed to be kind of small. The mystery blue lace item that hasn't yet been blogged had me knitting right up until I left so I knew I'd be starting on the plane.

see... plane knitting!

I thought about hats, and had some great ideas, but kept returning to the idea she has curly hair and what a hat would do to her hair.  And, since she lives in Canada, so I wanted it to be useful (warm!). 

Right before I left, a designer re-wrote a pattern, and I thought, "That's it!" 

I chose some yarn that I was gifted with earlier this year (another blog post that is yet-to-be-written). I tried to capture the subtlety of the yarn, but failed each time. 

The pattern was more fiddly than I realized. Not hard, but a lot of turns and increases and decreases (which really, should have been obvious from the onset). When I was done with it, I wasn't happy because I didn't really like the yarn and it rolled on the edges and didn't look like leaves to me. But it was, in deed, a plane project (about 5-6 hours): 

However, I forged ahead (because frankly, I didn't have a choice - the person that discovers yarn and pattern delivery at 30,000 feet will be a millionaire!) When I got to my hotel, I washed and rolled it in a towel to 'block' it.

And when I took final FO shots, was pleasantly surprised. At least with browns and neutrals, it didn't look too bad. 

I worried - even on the plane - that I'd made the neck part too long. I followed the pattern, but kept thinking it should be shorter.  Frankly, at this point, I have enough knitting experience that I should have trusted my instinct. My friend is Japanese and is petite. My instincts ended up being correct, which frustrated me later since it didn't hug her neck. 

In the end, my friend seemed very happy with it. Her niece is actually a knitwear designer and she kept saying she was going to show it to her. Ack! I hope her niece isn't still wondering why I didn't make the neck shorter! haha! 

Post wash (in the picture above), the subtle colors are easier to see. I like the flatter look as well, though I probably flattened out the leaves too much. 

I liked the generosity themes involved - a free pattern, gifted yarn, and an FO as a gift to thank a friend.

Pattern: Anthro-inspired Scarflet (and ravelry)
Yarn: Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran, 147 yards
Modifications: none, though I should have made the neck smaller, for the recipient
Knitting yardage total 2012: 713

Comments

[Partner]

I like the way the pattern in the post wash shot pops out. Not bad for plane knitting.

[melissa]

i love the shot of the seat next to you on the plane. i like to imagine you have a seat mate buried under all that knitting somewhere :)

i think it turned out great, i'm glad your friend likes it as well.
partner's right - the pattern really seems to pop post blocking.
yay for plane knitting!!

[Andi]

That scarflet is fantastic! Sorry you didn't win my giveaway. I hope you win Jodys!

[snoopydog]

Love it! Ros

[Rachel]

I think it is great how you knit this on the plane and blocked it in a hotel room...more committed than I am! ;) I like this knit though am sorry it turned out a bit big. But the stitch pattern really is cool and I bet it will still keep her toasty in Canada!