Thanks so much for that ending bit. I had already wondered how that was going to work out and figured I would just live with some of the loops facing the wrong way (since I am copycatting you), but now I can do something better! Thanks! You rock!

I knew you would figure something out to save our loopy souls. BTW, the three-needle bind off works great for shoulder seams as well. The scarf looks fab!

I am copycatting you as well with the loopy scarf for a friends upcoming birthday. Thanks for the tip.
And, menage-a-trois needle lovefest? Best laugh I've had all day! =)

HAH!!! Great minds and all that rot. I decided to do the SAME THING last nite!!! Oh, I love us. We are all so nutty and crafty and clevah!!!

(of course, you are much clevarah b/c you used the thick, FAST yarn, and I did something that took me until 3 am to do!!!)

Argh .. I'm housesitting a DOG next week ... can you believe it ... AS SOON AS YOUR CATS DIE, PEOPLE START EXPECTING YOU TO HOUSE SIT THEIR DOGS.

Ick.

You're such a smarty! I love it.

Ha ha! I got the 10 needle bind-off on my legs last night. Woo! That smarts!

pure genius. congratulations.

pure genius. congratulations.

pretty

wait a minute .. wait a minute .... a knitting technique that joins together two separate knitting pieces AND binds 'em both off at the same time?? HOLY COW! I didn't even know such a thing EXISTED! And yet, now ... because of you ... I not only know it exists but HOW TO DO IT! I bow down before you.

I'm thinking the last three posts need go-to links on your side bar ... either under Categories or Knitting Recipes (who me? demanding? Says who?? :))

i love it when knitting makes me feel smart. it doesn't happen often, but when it does, I'm damn proud of myself. ;)

Hey Laurie, remember those Fuzzy Feet? Something you said way back when about them stuck in my head; this idea that you're always starting a thing about ten months after everyone else has finished it. In honor of that tendency (which I share, and I'm just sure others share it too), I've started a Behind The Times Along. It's targeted at people who see themselves in the following:

"Is it December, and you're just getting to the lace project for which you purchased yarn in June? Perhaps it's January and you're finally starting on your Christmas knitting. Or maybe it's somewhere in the middle of 2006, and you've worked through your queue of built-up knitting projects to the point where you're casting on for Clapotis."

The idea is that one of these days, someone will post something like "It looks like I'll be starting [such-and-such a project] in a few weeks; anyone interested in joining me?" and we'll have a mini-KAL within the larger one of people randomly knitting things that are so very YESTERDAY.

I'd be thrilled and honored to have you join us. You'd definitely be in good behind-the-times knitterly company.

DUDE. use a crochet hook for your right (third) needle. Way easier. And I never worry about having it be the same size as the other two needles (unless the yarn is too big for it...). Try it!

Seriously, CAP. Seriously. I, too, have found the term "three-needle bind-off" a little scary. I've never needed to do one, so I've never even looked it up, endorsing the ignorance is bliss concept.

But now that you've shown me what it is, exactly, I can see that I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE!! On the felted clogs pattern (http://www.fibertrends.com/viewer/patterns/AC33x.html), they give instructions for doing it, sort of, but they don't call it that. So cool. Those technique names can be so off-putting, but they aren't really so bad. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I, too, feel smart now. Should we get together for a drink to kill off those superfluous brain cells?

Your scarf is gorgeous, but it's making me crave Cheetos! I just dove into a bag of the crunchy ones. For the sake of all of our figures, maybe next time you should knit in broccoli green. :-)

Love the scarf. Something I just learned about you may find of interest is the Japanese BO...less of a ridge created. Link here: http://www.keyboardbiologist.net/Techniques/JapaneseThreeNeedleBindOff.htm

Also OMG...I can't believe you mentioned the chunnel. If you ever want to seriously geek out with your TIVO, record Megastructures (learning channel, history channel??? One of those educational ones) on the Chunnel...it is actually pretty interesting and AMAZING that it actually worked out.

CK, I now and proudly tell you: I have already seen that episode of Megastructures. Twice. I AM A BIG OLD NERD. Nerds rule!

Thanks ya'll for info on both the Japanese bind off (looks inneresting!) and the crochet hook idea, which is brilliant.

Liz, I'm wondering if the reason I stalled on fuzzyfeet was BECAUSE I joined a knitalong? Or at least that is my excuse LOL. I will check ya'lls KAL out for sure.

Geez Chase, your cat died? I did not know this. I am sorry. Would you like one of mine? Just $2600 OBO!

If you ever really decide to give 'em up, I got dibs on Soba. She's beeeeyoootiful.

Ohhhhhhh, that's what a three needle bind-off is! What the heck was I so scared of??? See, this is what the internets are for. You wait until someone else tries something scary, see how they do it, and if nothing horrible happens you adopt the same technique and flaunt it as your own to family and friends.

P.S - Can we have another picture of Frankie? He's my favourite.

Coming out of lurking (hi!) to tell you another way to do this with fewer needles. Slip the stitches from both pieces onto 1 needle. Slip 1 stitch from piece one then one from piece 2 etc etc. Then just k2tog, k2tog, pass 1st stitch over k2tog, pass etc.

Who thinks that Laurie should keep going in the fashion and publish a knitting book, complete with cat pictures and helpful photo commentary?? "blue wall" was my personal favorite. ;)

I was wondering (and starting to worry a little) if you had enough yarn to finish the scarf and do the loops at the end and what-not. How silly of me to ever doubt you! You rock, smartypants! (And thanks for pointing out the blue wall).

I'm with you on the blue wall. It's the sneaky things that make me laugh until I snort. But since I don't read this at work, no one's listening to me snort.

Well, you're about eleventeen million steps ahead of me -- pls. ignore first half of doofy email sent earlier today. Second half still stands.

The Three Needle Bind-Off still sounds like a dive maneuver to me. And I would absolutely buy a knitting book by Ms. Laurie. So far, you've explained all kinds of crap to me in a way that I totally get - usually I end up trying to follow directions, pouring myself some wine, cursing mightily while I untangle my yarn and retrieve my needles from across the room, then finally getting it an hour later. YOU? Are an Explaining Genius.

All hail the three needle bind off!! It is one of my favorites. I learned it from Kay, over at Mason-Dixon Knitting.

Laurie, the orange scarf is beautiful. Truly.

dude, that's the roy's meow.

i love that scarf. cheeto colored and all.

I'm impressed with your technique -- but just amazed at your courage to give full attention to anything with that SobaCat within range. Girl, she SCARES me!

I had this three needle bind-off explained to me before, and it sounded so intriguing. Thank goodness we all have CAP to make these mysterious concepts so much easier to understand. Love the scarf. LOOPS RULE!!!!!!!

xo

Wheee! All I heard was: "Triple needle bind blah blah blah blah TALKING ABOUT BLOCKING!"

Because this is what I truly want to know.

Pretty darn impressive - inventing a scarf and figuring out how to do the loop ends. I usually just cry, drink wine, and pull apart my project. Great and wonderful scarf. If you are parting with cats - I'll take Frankie - she's a beauty.

I dont knit... however I just enjoyed these last 3 posts on the cheeto scarf so much. LOL.. does that make me strange?

Also- my 4 year old just walked by and called your cat by name.. lol.. think I spend some time on this blog? Yep!

Cute scarf! Knit me one? I will pay!

Um, I was thinking the other day that you should make some more CAP buttons -- one featuring each kitty. Then we could all steal our favorite kitty to put on our blogs.

Cause I'm sure you have free time and all. :)

I get Frankie... how much is she? I got a Bob of my own.

Hmmm? I like the idea about you writing a knitting book. Everyone else is, so you might as well jump on. Your gimmick: Every example in the book is knitted in orange. Kind of a kindred spirit to the Orange Show in Houston. Ask Drew about that one, Sweetie.

OMG. I think I understood this too. I may have to go back and try re-reading the loopy stitch instructions.

cats cats magical cats

Wow. I'm ever so impressed with your know-how. I know-not-how. Which is why I'm so g.d. impressed.

oOoOoO! Kitty buttons? Must...have...

And yay you! Knitting like you know what you're doing.

Hey, if you want to do crazy, maybe you should get a pair of these lighted knitting needles. You never know, it could get dark on the bus.

http://stores.ebay.com/Lighted-Knitting-Accessories_Lighted-Knitting-Needles

Check out the big picture that shows a woman actually knitting with them!

I am so copying your pretty scarf. You are GOLDEN!(Just learned the 3-needle bind-off for a sweater that has only taken me months to finish...)

OMG the Orange Show!! Eeeee! Childhood flashback!

I second Agent Orange. Aside from the Yarn Harlot, I want a CAP book mostest.

Hi Laurie, first comment from me. I love your scarf -- the loop fringe is fabulous and three needle bind off is great. Have you ever tried kitchener stitch though? You could have joined your pieces together and never been able to tell where the join was.

BOOK!

Laurie Purl - you are just the greatest knitting teacher I've ever seen. It all looks logical and something even I can do. If Wendy Knits can do a book so can you! One with cat pictures - just like your blog!

i require roy's presence.

immediately.

Book! Book! Book!

Best way to get rid of pesky coworkers when I actually want to get something done...talk about my knitting, or even better whip out the latest wip and blab on and on until their eyes glaze over. Generally effective, and I have such fun doing it. Of course, I really love hearing people going on excitedly about my habit. My teaching partner and I get all giddy when we get new yarn catalogs or magazines...and we have Friday show-and-shares over coffee to start the day. Yeah, first grade knitting teachers, the ultimate in cool.

menage-a-trois needle lovefest?
AND knitting?
What kind of Blog have I stumbled into?

FOUR cats a creepin
THREE needle lovefest
TWO crazy needle techniques....
and a partridge in a pear tree...

tis the season ya know...even if it doesn't feel like DECEMBER in California....

Bravo, nicely done! I'll have to try that sometime.

Congrats on saving the scarf!

Soba is scaring me. In fact I am so frightened that I am going to have to have a big glass of Shiraz when I get home.

Y'know, I never understood the 3 needle bind off til now. Thank you, Ms. Purl for making me feel potentially smart. Got a sweater completion coming up and I'm gonna need to know it.

CAP, you crack me up. What is this "felted joining" of which you speak? Can we have a kitty-picture lesson in that, too, please? And a whole book?

Yes, yes to the three needle bind off! It's the best technique ever (for a person, like me, who despises finishing!

Maybe I could get a finishing gnome to weave in all my ends?

Teresa

P.S. I hope you're secretly hard at work building the Crazy Aunt Purl store! The people need t-shirts, and also commuter mugs.

Three needle bind-off? Brilliant!!! I love love love this scarf and I want you to know that as soon as I've finished my Xmas knitting and my knit diapers and my chemo cap I'm sooooo knitting that scarf. In the same color. I can't wait to see it blocked!

where were you tonight?

i have something for you, and i would just mail it but YOU DIDN'T REPLY TO MY EMAIL.

are you gonna make me drive to the valley?

Hey Aunt Purl,

Do you crochet at all? I don't knit but I started crocheting a few months ago. I could really use some moral support!

Hey, I just learned that this week, too! Rock on!

I am just laughing so much - and learning at the same time. I so love your blog. It's so manic and cool and intelligent.

Amazing! 3 needle bind off...who knew!? Thanks for explaining it so wonderfully...you never cease to amaze me. OOOh and the cheeto/chop stick tip...fabby! Love, love, love your blog!Kep it up,you are one witty woman, and we can never have enough of those!

I am thinking of the people who read your blog because it's funny, not because they knit, and how they're now wondering "What the hell is this crap?" Har!

Next time? Graft. Seriously. At first, it will make you hate yourself and knitting and whoever invented knitting needles but when it works? It is a Thing of Beauty and you can't give it away because you will sit and worship it. So cool.
http://www.socknitters.com/lessons/lessons.html under Kitchener, only they don't mention that you've cut the yarn and threaded it through a needle. Good explanation, though.

bulleted, for your protection

-CAP, you rock the knitting explanations. A knitting book sounds like a groovy idea

-blocking is magical (gnomes?) and if you dont have a set of blocking wires, you need them. it is a moral imperative

-and dont tell Soba this, but she looks a bit like a dirty abominable snowman. scccary

I like the 3 needle bind off for shoulders and seams when I can get away with it, but for a scarf I'd have done the kitchener which really and truly isn't as scary as it sounds.

You've inspired me! I bought superbulky yarn in non-orange to start this scarf myself. And thank you thank you thank you for the clear pictures. I totally never got drop stitches until now to my everlasting embarassment, never mind the three needle bindoff. I feel all, as someone else said, potentially smart now!

You absolutely need to write a book - your explanations are crystal clear to me, a relatively new knitter (unlike the majority of knitting books). AND you made an orange scarf look good. You're terrific.

I do the two--needle-and-one-crochet-hook bindoff too, and it's way better at getting through both those stitches and snagging the yarn than a regular needle is. I even use it for sock toes so I don't have to learn the Dreaded Kitchener Grafting. Now, if you could 'splain THAT to me in pictures, I'd be ever so grateful, because I am scared of it!

Oh, and me too on the book, when are you writing one?????

I just used this technique for the first time on Monday! I was so proud of myself for doing it and doing it right! I even used the *gasp* provisional cast-on to do it on both ends. Stupid tube scarfs. But it looks great!

Purl, your instructions and demonstrations have to the be the easiest and clearest i have ever seen. I think it would be a great idea to write a book on knitting but not just knitting but include the stories of a thirty something..... that would be awesome. PS i would even pay to read your blog. Gives me something to look forward to each morning as i drag myself to work.

Thanks again!!!!

Gosh, Soba has a mad scary stare in that photo.

Thank you so much for the incredibly detailed instructions, Laurie! I not only made one but three of your drop stitch scarves with the hot loop action, and - yes - doing the three-needle bind-off made me feel like a damn Mensa member. Now, onto the blocking!