Friday, August 24, 2012

To Infinity and Beyond

Happy Friday!  Woo hoo!  It's almost the weekend!  This has been a long work week for me so I am hoping today goes by quickly.

It is probably a little known fact that I knit.  Did you know that my love for knitting - and sharing the stories of my life - inspired the name behind this blog?  Originally I wanted the title to be "Spinning Yarns" but that URL was already taken, so I settled on Lisa's Yarns.

Anywho, so I knit.  Not as much as I used to, but when there is a lull in my schedule, I find myself in my local yarn shop (which is a short walk away).  It's the very yarn shop where I learned to knit and purl 4 years ago!  In late July, I had an unplanned weekend so wandered into the yarn shop in search of my next project.  I was pining for fall and wanted to work on something warm and cozy for that season.

I settled on this very simple pattern.  It's called the "GAP-tastic Cowl" as it was inspired by a scarf that the author of the pattern spotted in GAP.  It was my first time making an infinity scarf.  I have always wanted to own one, but never saw one I really liked in a store (with a price tag I could stomach).

Here is how it turned out!

The picture is obviously a bit dated as it was taken before my haircut!

Here is an up close shot that shows the texture of the scarf

I am really happy with how it turned out.  I used my favorite brand of yarn (malabrigo), which is such a lovely yarn to work with.  It's so warm and cozy - it will be perfect for my walk to work when the temps drop!  I am glad I went with a neutral color as it will go with almost all of my winter jackets!  I want to pick up some more yarn this weekend so I can start working on another one.

Do you know how to knit?  If not, would you ever learn?  I love it because it's crafty, but there is a pattern to follow, which makes a type-a girl like me happy.  :)  I encouraged my aunt to take a knitting class and she fell head-over-heels in love with it!  She knits circles around me these days and I love hearing about her latest creations when we get together!!

25 comments:

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

Haha that's funny that it's a little known fact about you that you knit, since I think that is one of the first things I learned about you :) Also my mom refers to you as Lisa's Yarns so I think she knows you knit too, unless she has no idea what Yarn's means.

I like to knit too though it's been awhile since I did. I'm bad at following patterns so I basically only make straight scarves. I had a goal one winter to knit a hat but I couldn't figure it out at all. However, I have wanted one of those infinity scarves for awhile so maybe I'll have to learn how to knit one. Do you think it would be easier than a hat?

abbi said...

Looks great! I haven't knitted anything in quite awhile and would like to get back to it. A friend is having a baby and I really keep thinking I should make something...better get on it!

Becky said...

That looks awesome! I just got back into knitting (I did some in college), and I'm almost done with my first scarf - after that I'm going to make a cowl-neck one (similar to your infinity one). It's interesting because I actually don't like to follow a pattern when I knit - what a switch up, huh?

Happy Friday!

Lil Miss said...

Very neat scarf! It looks great--

I haven't ever knitted; I think I might be too clumbsy for it. I do crochet though; and recently I've been crocheting afghans: I made one for my dad, one for me (our sofa), and one for my husband...all in a matter of a couple months. I suppose it's alot like knitting in that it's so relaxing! Really lets my brain unwind and you get the added bonus of something to keep you warm in the winter!

missris said...

Wow that's beautiful! I don't know how to knit but I've always wanted to learn. Maybe that should be my next project!

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

LOVE the infinity scarf - nice job, Lisa! I don't knit and I don't know that I'll ever learn how to ... though, it would certainly give me an excuse to watch as much TV as I watch ("What? I've got to finish this project!!! ha).

Unknown said...

Love the scarf!!! I think I will try that pattern. Yes, you were my inspiration for learning to knit. I have so many projects started, as you know, it is a bit of an embarrassment!

Leigh said...

I consider myself pretty crafty, but have no idea how to knit. It seems so complicated and hard to me! Love the scarf you made though :)

Have a great weekend Lisa!

Marlys said...

The scarf really looks warm so it will be great this fall & winter when the temps plummet! Right now, it appears a bit uncomfortable as it is in the 90's again! I would love to start knitting again when I retire!

J and A said...

Holy!!! Nice work - LOVE it!!!

Caroline said...

Love that scarf! I figured you liked to knit from the title of your blog :) My sister got into knitting a few years back and taught me how. I made like.. half of a scarf and then stopped. I really did like it though! Great thing to do while talking with friends or watching TV

Amber said...

My grandma tried to teach me how to knit multiple times but I never could get the hang of it! Here's a little fact for you - my brother knits! My grandma also taught him and he was able to get the hang of it. Last spring when my grandparents camped in Kamloops for a week my brother posted a photo on facebook of his knitting project and my aunt was like "how do I know grandma is visiting?!" lol.

Anyways, I LOVE the hat you knit for me and can't wait to pull it out and wear it again this winter. I also love that scarf you made for yourself, and I'm glad you devoted this knitting project to make something for YOU :)

Cherry Blossoms said...

I LOVE THAT SCARF! I wanted a gray infinity scarf last year for Christmas and never got one.
Hmmm.. maybe I can pay you to make me one!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

I cannot wait for my knitting classes to start in two weeks! I really hope I like it because I have big plans to make scarves for Christmas presents this year.

That scarf you made is gorgeous! I love it! I will have to come to you with yarn recommendations now!

J said...

I know how to knit but I prefer to crochet. I wish I could knit like you (and my mom). I just don't seem to be able to get the pattern to be even!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

I don't know how to knit, although I used to know a little bit. I don't think I'd be good at it because I get bored easily and don't have a lot of patience for meticulous activities :-) I wish though!

Elizabeth said...

I used to knit and I actually collected donations of scarves myself and others made over a year to routinely drop off for homeless street youth. It was a fun endeavor--something easy but still giving. It's been a few years since I've picked up my needles though and I never tried to do anything beyond scarves! Maybe that should be a new goal....

Gracie said...

For some reason I never got into knitting, even though I like how knits look better than crochet. I do crochet lots of tiny teddy bears as baby gifts, though, and I think crochet works better for shaping toys. That scarf texture is lovely.

Raquelita said...

That scarf looks fantastic! I'm really impressed with your skills. I learned how to knit a few years ago, but I never got very good at it. It's on my 32 by 32 list to get back into it and knit a scarf, though. I will have to re-learn how to cast on.

Lisa-Marie said...

It's beautiful, such gorgeous texture! I thinks this is what is called having skills!

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

That is really nice! I think that you are really a great knitter! I can do scarves, but thats about it. However, I don't really have the motivation to knit these days... I have been working on the same scarf for about 5 years.

Melissa said...

Ohhh your scarf turned out so pretty!! I've wanted to learn how to knit for a long time but can't seem to find the time.. Worst excuse! I really would love to learn soon, though.

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

i love that you have multiple winter coats hahaha. i have one ski jacket and htat is that. maybe i need to start collecting coats this winter. i also never buy shoes and this summer i bought 3 pairs of dress shoes and 2 pairs of flats! they were all 9.98 each, so i think it's okay.

Jeanie said...

I LOVE to knit, although I don't usually start again till fall. In fact, when I packed for the lake last weekend I took up a couple of skeins of yarn and an unfinished project which I hope to get with this weekend! Good for you -- the cowl is gorgeous. I love the pattern. Was it difficult?

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

I love my LOFT infinity scarf. I would wear it every day in the winter if I could. Yours is super cute!