Nice!

You are so spot on with this post. It really isn't about the knitting, it's about the knitter. Good for you!

1. Do your co-workers question the fact that a flash seems to be going off in the bathroom on a regular basis?

2. Your scarves are SO PRETTY and you can't be using all of them in LA (even if Roy steals some). Why don't you put up a side bar where you sell the ones you've made (and don't want)? I regularly wish that I could find such nice scarves in the store.

Quite lovely knitter and FO and thoughts. Thank you for sharing.

What does it say about my knitting process if I Can. Not. finish anything? Even things I really love and would love done even more? I am an excellent starter with the attention span of. What? Oh, look! A butterfly!! Is there knitter's medication?

Good for you, sometimes I feel guilty because all I want to knit are socks. I have the yarn to knit sweaters and have, in fact started a sweater but have really no inclination to finish it. But right now we are selling our house and buying a new one and socks are enough to take the edge of my whole selling, buying, packing, moving anxiety/crazy. I love the pictures of Roy, he reminds me of my cat Bo.

The scarf looks great! I think it's awesome that you actually finish and wear things. I'm so looking forward to the day that a 2nd sock magically jumps off my needles and I have a finished pair to wear instead of a drawerful of singles.

The scarf turned out beautifully....I am very inspired to make my own 10 foot long scarf with a bunch o different yarns. I'll keep you posted.

As an aside...I see you have the ad for the 3 Day Breast Cancer Walk on your site. My twin sister and I are both breast cancer survivors. (me-diagnosed at 33, lumpectomy, chemo, radiation, mastectomy. she-diagnosed at 44, lumpectomy, chemo, mastectomy)...and we wanted to walk in the 3 Day...did you know that you have to accrue $2,200.00 in pledges in order to participate? YIKES! How do people get that many donations??? If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. (clydejackson@yahoo.com)

I love the scarf! And the top you're wearing too! I know what you mean about never feeling "advanced" as a knitter. I've made tons of stuff, stuff I like. Stuff the people who receive it like. But just because I can't make intarsia look right or get "continental" style to work in my hands, I feel like a permanent beginner. *sigh* Thanks for sharing the new title I'm an Advance Basic Knitter too!

The wonderful woman who is teaching me how to spin yarn right now, is one of my most favorite knitters as well as spinners! One day she told me that "you have to OWN your knitting. whatever you knit. Own it! And it's yours. There are no mistakes. There is no right or wrong. It is yours." I loved it! And then became comfortable at that point in time just knitting scarves, because scarves are what I own! :)

Look at you striking the confident pose in that last shot! Yay! And so sweet with the snuggly Roy. My new kitten likes to snuggle like that too. Which is great until you feel guilty about just not being able to wait a second longer before you have to move him and go to the bathroom.

Greetings from London!

I try to do everything - socks, sweaters, bags, plant holders, placemats you name it and whilst I get the staisfaction of finishing an item, a little bit of me is sorry that the whole ride is over. You're so right - knitting makes you discover things about yourself. None of my friends would think I'm the least bit anal but I just have to get it right - even if I have to take it apart 50 times! ;)

I *love* the scarf! It really looks beautiful. More than that, though, I love your pose in the bathroom. Totally priceless. :)

You're right about the knitting. I am finding right now that my work isn't challenging me (in the way I want to be challenged, I guess) and so I am trying to learn every stitch, and try all types of patterns. But, as you say, it's all about the KNITTING. :)

I like the scarf alot, but the cuteness of the feline is overwhelming.

I also love the idea of being an Advanced Basic Knitter. I like what I'm doing, and I can admire what someone else is doing, and I think it pretty amazing that they can be so very different and both be called "knitting", you know?

I have thought of getting a snugli for Pan for when he is having a major lap day and I am trying to get things done around the house, but I think that with his healthy dose of natural feline perversity, he would hate it, so I haven't yet. But I do still think about it!

I have heard so many folks say the same thing about finishing... oddly enough, I LOVE to finish stuff! I guess it's because I make quite basic items (and you only need one scarf, unlike socks where you have to make a set) but to me there is nothing finer than casting off that final row. Of course I am a super slow knitter, so there's such a great feeling of "Thank Goodness this one is done! On to something new!"

As for the mirror pics...
I get to work VERY early. Like 6 a.m. kind of early. And so I don't often run into others in the ladies room, but jut in case I never use flash ;)

Oh -- and about selling my scarves? I usually give them away to friends or I keep them because I am a greedy, greedy scarf lover ;)

I'm back, had to go pee after seeing the bathroom.

I love your color choices and schemes. You have a knack for mixing colors. Colors sometimes scare me but I should use more of them. Is it wrong to love white, black, grey and brown?

I consider myself intermediate basic, and I would like to learn make socks. I've done some hats so the round knitting isn't so scarey anymore. Does someone have a suggestion on a basic sock pattern and what size needle I should purchase?

Sing it, sister Purl!
My goal in life as a knitter is to swatch every lace stitch known. I might make a shawl again someday, too. Aside from that, I'm making a scarf.
Advanced Basic Knitters Rule!

I am fine with anything but sweaters. I am sweater impaired. I mostly want to overcome this handicap, but every time I think about getting serious about sweaters I am distracted by a hat, or a scarf, or socks, or lace, or... see, I have a lot more things to distract me. Maybe my handicap is not such a bad thing: imagine how many UFOs I'd have if I could do sweaters too. I am The Intermediate ADD/OCD Knitter. (I very rarely use self-striping yarn: I alone will decide when to change colors!)

I too am a "random" knitter. I love to make crazy scarves, changing yarn whenever I want, and even making the rows different widths. This style of knitting reminds me of the quote, "Those who wander are not always lost."
Wander on, girlfriend!

Well said, well thought out, and well knitted. I know what you mean, I am all about the fibre and the texture and the colour (hence my undying love for Noro) AND the process. Finished objects, almost secondary.

Yay! Go with that epiphany! Do it YOUR way, and revel in it!

Laurie, I love your scarf. I love all your scarves. I wish you knitted more, because I get a kick out of seeing your "Advanced Basic" projects!

BTW, if you ever take it into your head that you want to tackle a sweater, I'd be happy to help you through it. It's not as hard as you think. It just takes longer.

Laurie:

I read you blog a couple of times a week, for a few months now. I am a fellow cat lover and beginning knitter. Two things: I adore that you knit for the actual love of knitting. I find that it a form of mediation, especially for those that have quit smoking. And to be quite honest, regarding your post from the other day, and I hope I don't sound like a freak, but I have always been a bit jealous and somewhat in awe of how pretty you are. It's a shame it's so hard see our own "sparkle".

All I can say about your epiphany is Amen sister! I have had some (not-so-friendly) people in my SNB group make comments about how I knit dishcloths all the time and they do not understand why anyone would knit a dishcloth. However, I knit them because they are easy, the yarn is cheap and they are fast. We all have our strengths and weaknesses and we need to accept them in other people as well. Can't we knitters just get along?

Lovely scarf, and I think you are dead on with your ideas. We knit what we need and want to knit, and that is all that matters!

Hi : I've been reading your blog for a while... I thoroughly enjoyed this post. It's a thought I've been vaguely nourishing for a while, but I wouldn't have been able to formulate it the way you did. It's well written, it's moving, and it's so true.
Well, congrats (for the scarf as well).

have i told you lately, that i love you?
:o) you rock!
many warm snuggles to the Roy-Roys and the rest of the kit-kat club!

have i told you lately, that i love you?
:o) you rock!
many warm snuggles to the Roy-Roys and the rest of the kit-kat club!

Fantastic scarf! I love colors, but i have no sense when it comes to mixing and matching them.

I love what you said about owning the knitting, that it's about us as the knitters. yeay!

I love the scarf! Roy is so cute and you look great!

In my children's Montessori pre-school, the teachers tell us parents over and over that the children will work on whatever captures them and we should leave them alone and let them make 500 North America maps if they want, it's important work, the work of constructing a self.

Now I have to go work on my fifth Old Shale scarf......can't get enough of that feather and fan....

I adore that scarf!

Awesome post, and awesome scarf! The colours look great on you. I have to agree with the girl at your Stich n Bitch, you are adventurous. Lots of people would be intimidated by the idea of making it up as they went along and not knowing exactly how it is going to turn out. There are many different kinds of adventure, and that's part of the fun too.

If you ever decide to branch out from scarves (not that you have to), but another great easy bus knit is a shawl. Cast on two, then just knit one, yarn over, knit to end of row. Lather, rinse, repeat until it's as big as you want. Another good user-upper of leftover yarn. I prefer circs for shawls for the room and because I feel safer shoving it all into the center and dropping it in my bag than straight needles.

I can do a sweater, but I'm afraid to try a hat -dpns scare me. We all have our issues.

I just cast on for my umpteenth scarf this weekend so I am SO hearing you! And I'm making the pattern up as I go, too, so yay for creativity! The scarf looks great and so do you - I'm going to start doing the lunchtime 30 minute walk.

The lunchtime 30 minute walk has helped me more than I can tell you -- I have more energy, and I'm nicer to be around because I'm less stressed out and crazy.

Yvette-- I made a scarf once (that I still sort of need to finish up, I meant to embellish it a little with some contrasting yarn strung through it) and it's almost a shawl, it's so wide! I agree, making a shawl would be an awesome project. Long live the rectangle! LOL

I love your scarf!

It's interesting -- giving yourself permission to happily knit the basics from now to eternity is incredibly freeing. I did that about a year ago, and then, before I knew it, I was wanting to move past the basics and learn something challenging like socks. And so I did! And now, a year after saying I could knit scarves for the rest of my life, I never want to see another scarf again! I'm currently in a major hat period, though. I've knit a bunch already, and have a bunch more to knit as gifts in the next few months. And that's okay, too. And I'm guessing by the time summer rolls around, I'll be sick of hats, and ready for socks again! And then, maybe, oh maybe, I'll knit a sweater for myself!

Laurie, darling, looking for someplace to wear this beautiful, wacky creation? Come on over to Rochester, NY. It's a fabulous 12 degrees today. With wind! So it feels like -15.

And while you may call it wacky, some people would call it $50 at a craft sale.

Again, you hit the nail on the head! I'm working on my 2nd little baby blankie that's just a 12" by 12" square of garter stitch in really pretty mercerized cotton. It's washable, sized so that even the smallest baby can cuddle with it, and it's a total no-brainer!

You crack me up!! LOL I love your personality and the fact that you arent afraid to show it. Well you might be afraid but you do it anyway. You are much braver than you think. Love the scarf but the bathroom pictures just add to the love! Sending Roy some warmth from Fl, not much, but better than the rest of the country. I had a baby kitten once that insisted on being carried around or he would MOAN and make me nuts. Thankfully my dh just laughed when he saw me vacuuming while holding the very content kitty. BTW how old is Roy? I have a 17 y/o who looks a LOT like Roy.

Roy is approximately 12 years old, but he might be older, since he was already grown when I adopted him. He had a very checkered and rough past, though, so he didn't get the kind of good care and nutrition that makes a healthy, strong adult and he has a lot of challenges. He's my little guy. I adore him!

The scarf is really nice, but I have a friend who knitted herself the actual HOUSE she lives in! Are you going to sit by and let her outdo you? Get to work! (hint: it is knitting the windows that is the really difficult part)

As long as you are getting joy from the knitting, knit whatever you love. And the scarf is very cute!

I'm with everyone. Knit what you want, the way you want. If you prefer English to Continental, great. If you like acrylic as well as natural fibers, so be it. And if you never finish anything but a scarf or a hat, you can be and EXPERT hat and scarf maker.

BUT, I think you should take a clue from Miss K and knit Bob a sweater of his ownie. (did you see the one Nimoy was modeling?!) Just a thought...

I'm still a rather basic knitter and I'm still trying to figure out the pattern of your scarf: "2x2 rib stitch" .....is that K2 P2 for each row?? Figured I could show a little ignorance and be okay (smiley) Thanks!

Live and Let Live. Great Idea. I wish the rest of the country/world would see how easy it is.

I'm often told by people how brave I am. I don't think so, I'm just doing what I like and what interests me. A few months ago a woman at the airport got in my face because I was knitting socks on size 2 DPN's. She was upset with me because she's been knitting for five years and hasn't moved past the garter scarf. I didn't say anything to her to provoke this. It was rather odd and so not worth my time. But to each their own. I told her if she was getting relaxation from her knitting than what did it matter that she wasn't trying new things. People are at different places in their lives and if somethings working they shouldn't be made to feel bad about it. Whether or not they are adventures with colors and yarn or sticking with Acrylic garter or moving onto socks.

I don't know when sides got drawn up. I haven't even been knitting a year and the fact that some people can't just let others do what they want seems incredibly pointless to me. We're all just knitters. We all knit different things. Which is good cause if we were all alike and did the same things as each other that'd be kind of boring.

So knit on with your funky scarf badass self! :D (Not that you need me to tell you that you are ok or need my validation or anything. Plus I'm on cold medicine, chances are I'm not making any sense anyway. *L*)

Do you have Noro in there? I saw some in Monterey last week or so that was many shades of green with sparkley stuff that was seriously fricken' cool. I wish I'd gotten it now. *L*

Hi Laurie, the scarf is beautiful.

You get to work at 6:00 AM?????? I hope you leave early? I must say that you have an awfully nice workplace bathroom. I plan to find a new job in the next year and I intend to check out the bathrooms at every interview!

Psychomom – check out SOCKS 101 in knitty & Terry’s SOCKS 101:

http://www.knitty.com/issuespring05/FEATsocks101.html

http://www.royea.net/sockdemo1.html

I learned to knit socks using both of these articles. I used the training sock pattern in the knitty article and I followed Terry’s instructions. It took a few tries but eventually I *got* it.

The scarf looks great, you look fabulous, and I love your little Roy. I've been out of the blog loop for a few weeks, just too overwhelmed I guess. I read the last 10 entries in a row, and I was laughing so hard I was crying. Between the cats passing yarn through their digestive tracts and you telling your boss he was funky fresh and all the rest, I nearly peed myself.

I meant "Roy". Three-letter names confuse me. 'Specially when you have exotic names like "Sobakowa" and "Frankie".

MonkeyGurrl, Kendra is the sort of knitter who makes me literally speechless in awe, she is amazing! But most amazing of all, she got a SWEATER on a CAT. How can this be possible? Does her cat not have the razor sharp claws of death that all my felines have?

Bring your bad-scarf self North! It would be a great way to use those scarves and see some sights.

Also, I have used the sling I carried my girls in when they were itsy-bitsy at the end of two kittles lives. They love the warmth and the attention. That might be an easier way to keep the Roy comfy. Just a thought, from you not-so-ambitious-knitting friend.

I knit because it is my form of meditation. I make hats. Everytime I try something bigger or more complex, I get all stressed. SO, a simple hat is a fast, easy, calming endeavor.

Another fabulous scarf, dahling! And I love your epiphany. I wish all knitters - and all people, for that matter - would have that epiphany! We can all knit (or crochet - I do both) whatever we like, and none of us is wrong! We love yarn and yarn loves us! Also, I want to buy the world a Coke!

Sweet Roy. Go right ahead and tell potentially dateable men that you dote on your old-man cat; Mr. Right will appreciate it properly and know that it means you're a loving and wonderful person. :)

That scarf is freaking AWESOME!! I only wish I possessed the skills to create a basic knitted rectangle, however the thought of two needles scares me... *clings to crochet hook*

1. The scarf rocks, nuttiness and all!
2. I'm a pattern only knitter. I think the engineer in me can't let go enough to experiment like yall.
3. I need to start taking my knits to work and photograph them. Until now I never realized how great the lighting and lack of dog hair is in the ladies room!

PS You can bring your scarfy fabulousness to Ohio, if you want - you may have heard we're having a cold snap out here. Ha! Cold snap! It's like approaching the summit of Everest, including the part where it's hard to breathe - only it's hard to breathe because all the membranes in your nose are frozen, not because you're at 8800 meters.

Don't mind me. I gotta get back to my nice warm yarn.

Thanks Kathy, Those links will really help. I'm the visual type and need to see it what I'm supposed to be doing and I really should attend a Stitch and Bitch for hands on learning. I'm real good at the Bitching part.

Minnesota would be a nice cold place to visit.

I totally get your knitting theory - mine is much the same. I'm currently working on a cabled scarf & am looking forward to mindless garter stitch.....

I love that scarf so much. It just looks so warm and cozy, who gives a poop that it is all mixed up and weird? That just makes it better.

I also love all the pictures you take of yourself in the bathroom at work. When you write a book, the cover art should be a photo you took of yourself in the office bathroom. That would be awesome. :)

I just googled "steeking." OMG! How scary is THAT?

I do sweaters. Just sweaters. No scarves, and socks scare me.

Love the scarf! The frigid east coast, while not as exciting as the arctic, would be a good getaway for the scarf. You could show the scarf the Atlantic Ocean, Broadway and the Appalachin Mountains... or maybe you could stay in warm LA and show the scarf some pictures.

Love the scarf... I quoted you on my blog, what you said today is so me, only my outlet is quilting not knitting!

I have a heat seeking kitty too!

I am on the east coast. The FREEZING east coast. And I have to walk to work and my ears got frostbite. And my cheeks and nose got bright red! I umm...am not lacking on the pigment so do you know how hard that is on just a regular day?? Send ME the scarf. ;-)

As someone else who enjoys knitting neckwear (fancy, schmancy name for scarves) might I suggest the mobius. Once you get past the cast on, which is completely easy, it is the zen of scarf..uh, neckwear, knitting, and it lends itself all kinds of variations. It still amazes me.

You go girl. It's all about fun.

I adore that picture in the ladies' room mirror. You look smashing, baby!

What you say about knitting (finding and excelling at your own level and being happy with it) is so true about life in general. If you like and are happy with where you are, then nothing anyone else says or does should matter. I read/heard somewhere that someone who is critical of everyone else is usually most unsatisfied with herself or himself.

BTW, without checking the archives, have Roy been tested for kidney disease (since he's been losing weight and getting skinny)? My cat went through it, and there are things you can do to improve quality of life, etc. Kitty love is one of the best things in the world!

I started knitting about a year before my mom started, and I've made scarves, socks, wristwarmers, gloves, mittens, and a sweater. Mom just learned to purl about a month ago. We both enjoy knitting, though. That's the best thing, everyone has their own take on it, and different things make different people happy. :)

errr, that would be has Roy been tested. Good thing I don't write for a living.

Soooo.... where will your magical frosty vacation be?

I have an old, skinny dog who likes for me to wrap him in blankets and then put him on my lap and then wrap -both- of us in a blanket. And if any guy did not like that, he could move on because the dog has been here longer.

Laurie,
Great looking scarf but talking about your pompoms again reminded me....

I thought I'd sent you this a long time ago back in the stone age and just wondered if you ever saw this sweater?

http://www.hollywoodrag.com/images/uploads/victoria_balls4_thumb.jpg

They had a VERY similar sweater at TNNA - Indianapolis in June from the Skacel booth if I recall correctly. Talk about loving pompoms.

Like cursingmama said, you could definitely get some good use out of the scarf in Minnesota today! I thought of you this morning because my normally 40 minute bus ride took TWO HOURS this morning. Stupid snow and freezing temperatures.

I am a Basic Basic knitter, but I am ok with that. I should get over my relative shyness and go to a SNB thing here. We'll see.

Anne, I need to take a minute after seeing that photograph. OH MY!

VirginiaGal, Roy has an inoperable brain tumor. It seems to be pretty static right now (i.e. not getting bigger) but it causes him some trouble at times. He's hanging in there, though. I call him Tumor Head sometimes, and he just sighs.

Roy is such a cute kitty - I love the second pic where he is looking at you. So cute.

The only thing I can figure is that competitive knitting is a throwback to a time when a woman's worth was judged by her ability to do household chores, including darning and making clothes. Not that traditional "woman's work" is demeaning or evil in any way, it's just not the arena I choose to compete in, partially because I wouldn't stand a chance.

I put myself into the class of modern knitters - we do it to relax and express creativity, or maybe to show love for friends and family by presenting them something handmade. Sure, love can be an intricate, complicated thing, but is simple and easy love any less meaningful? Like the love we have for babies, cats, and sunshine? I bet ya Roy appreciates that kind of love a lot.

Sorry for the sappy comment. What I'm trying to say is - that scarf's a beauty!

The scarf is gorgeous! Come to Toronto or Waterloo (Ontario, Canada) -- it's REALLY cold here right now!

Might I suggest a snuggle safe http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=6587
or a cozy cushion http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=8982&N=2002+22760
to keep Roy warm? (I don't work for these people, I just have a cat who's cold all the time.)
Just in case you might ever want to put him down, ya know. Just for a minute.

Wonderful epiphiny!

I love to see the thing other people knit! I have a friend, Karen, who does knitting and weaving things that would never occur to me in a million years.

She says "Oh, I LOVE lime green!!" this is a color that makes me look like I died three weeks ago, but she uses it as a zinger in a mix of other colors, and it looks FABULOUS!

Someone commented about combining colors. Get a telidescope. It's like a kalidescope, but doesn't have anything in it to look at.

I have one that looks likw a tiny megaphone and it has a multi-prisimed piece of glass on the far end.

You dump the yarns you're thinking about using out on a bed or table or in a big bowl or basket, and look at them throught the telidescope, which breaks it up into little bits of the colors you're looking at and jumbles them together. It gives you a good idea of how the colors are going to look when mixed together.

The latest catalog I got from KnitPicks has one for sale.

Work it, girl.

I want a t-shirt that says "I am a small daft child on the short bus to garter stitch".

Roy, the cuteness! Do you wrap him up before you go to work?

I too am addicted to scarves and hats. It's the process and the interesting fiber that make me happy. Hardly ever wear em, though, even in the Northeast. I foist them on others. Good book for basic patterns, which is responsible for getting me off scarves/plain hats and actually taught me TAMS and SOCKS without fear and tears and screaming and embarrassed defeat: The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd. It explains gauge in an understandable way and has nifty little tables for sizes/number of stitches. It's spiral bound so it stays open to the page you're on.

Come to Boston, Missy. We're plenty cold enough here for you and your scarves to visit!

I've been lurking for awhile, and finally decided to say, "hey!" Love the scarf, love your blog, and I agree.

Drew is so smart... and I think maybe Roy needs a little blanket... that might help him stay warmer and free up your arms.

I've been knitting for 4 months now, made the requisite long garter stitch scarves, a blankie for my cat and then got really brave and made the Flower Power sweater from Stitch n Bitch Nation (no flower)and it turned out so perfectly that I'm still in awe of myself! It fits, it's cute and people lavished compliments all over me. It was such a sublime moment that I may never recover enough to try anything with complicated stitches, or cables. But oddly, I think I'd like to try socks. Go figure.

Couldn't resist chiming in here. I'm studying in the UK at the moment to be a holistic therapist and one of the media we use during creative abilities sessions is guess what - good old basic knitting. The solo challenge/OCD/ADD competitive thing is all about finding the right, unique and individual stress-fit in our occupational balance. I'm just reading a book about meaningful activities generating 'flow', which in turn raises serotonin levels (Russian author, unpronouncable name). To some people this may mean a creative journey with an unknowable ending and to others, the solid satisfaction of sticking to a pre-determined pathway and achieving a specified goal. Some people get their enjoyment out of kicking someone else's ****. It's a wonderful world isn't it????

Beautiful scarf, wonderful epiphany, fantastic cat!

I just finished reading "The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats" by Clea Simon. Anyone out there who is a cat lady should give it a read (nothing stopping cat men from reading it either, I suppose). Be ware of the second last chapter though. Bring kleenex.

Love the scarf. I love green. Love the cute Roy cuddles. My kitty has been insisting on crawling under the covers when the wheather took a nose dive below zero this last weekend.

I completely agree that all of us knitters find our own challenges. I have been knitting since I was 6 but I had never gotten past the basics. In the last couple of years I finally expanded my techniques to include pattern design, stranded and colorwork, reproduction knitting and lace. I don't know why I waited so long...

I still feel like a beginner though. There is a lot to learn.

I knit anything I consider easy. My definition is somewhat skewed, though. It goes something like "if it is not intarsia and there are no seams, I'll consider it".

Full-fingered gloves with asymmetric thumb gussets knit simultaneously on a pair of size 1 circular needles? Easy-peasy!

Stockinette sweater in super bulky yarn on size 13 needles? Not in this lifetime. You have to ATTACH those sleeves.

Also, any stitch pattern that has a repeat of more than 10 rows is probably off the table, on the grounds that I *will* forget to advance my row counter at some point, probably at the very spot the eye is most naturally drawn to.

My default projects are scarves, dishcloths and gloves/mittens. Portable, capable of endless variations, and (by my lights) easy to knit up. :)

psychomom: Best sock knitting book I've run across is "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch. (She's also got some excellent, easy stitch patterns in there that I've lifted for everything from scarves to gloves.) Also check out "Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles" by Cat Bordhi.

Come to Canada with that scarf. It feels like -20 today with the wind... It's a brilliant piece of scarfery!

*snork*

I don't remember who said it, but !Simple hat!????

I can not make a hat. Can. Not.

Not simple.

I'm a sweater virgin - they terrify me. Every once in a while I think I *should* knit one - or even that I'd like one in suchandsuch yarn - but that's just peer pressure. I'm waiting for the right one to come along.

BTW, just to garner a little sympathy and remind everyone their lives could be worse, there's a dead rat in a wall near my desk. Three weeks of stink plus oodles (swarms? pods? flocks?) of flies to wave away. Do you feel sorry for me? I know I do!

LaDonna,
My sympathy is somewhat lessened by the knowledge that you must be somewhere warm enough for stink to be possible. It's two degrees here. TWO!

(But yes, that's awful, and you have what sympathy I am able to muster. Have you called Maintenance?!)

One more suggestion, Laurie. If you trust your electrical outlets, you might consider a self-contained oil-filled radiator heater. It's the size of a regular radiator but on wheels and that plugs in - you can find them at Home Depot for about $40, especially now. Turn it on low and put Roy's favorite bed next to it. No chance of fire (with the possible - and rare - exception of the outlet) and nice dry heat for his old bones.

I had baseboard heaters in my old apartment that I never turned on once the entire time I lived in Portland. Only used one of those heaters, and I had a pretty big place. My four cats LOVED it!

3rd Base line,

Maintenance? That's funny. We're a staff of 12. *I* am the closest thing to maintenance we have! But you're right. A few weeks of gag-inducing stench is definitely balanced by the beautiful SF Bay weather. Stay warm!

You quit smoking? FABULOSO!!! I totally love the crazy green scarf, looks like it would go with every single item of clothing in your closet.

Or my closet.

The Roy is so cute it breaks my heart. It makes me want to go home, get back in bed, and snuggle cats. With or without knitting.

OOoooOOOOOooo that is a pretty scarf! And looks soo warm. Yeah, I'm a basic knitter too. Sweaters and lace? Puh-shaw, I'll stick to my hats and scarves.

Great post - and it produced this realization: Bossy is an advanced basic blogger! It all makes perfect sense now and she is at peace! Although admittedly, unlike you, her ah-ha moment was slightly tequila-drenched.

Poor skinny Roy! Give him extra cuddles and loves from all of us at Casa del Cat Hair in Northern Cali.

Ok, I dont knit... I crochet. I know, its a dirty word to some... But, I do love your blog, and i think you're fab. I, too, make scarves, scarves and more scarves... and granny squares, oh by the hundred. Its fun, and its relaxing, and I like being able to play with colours, and not get bored by hundreds of miles of the same thing. Small projects (like scarves and granny squares) are good for my short attention span. I love your crazy scarf o' greens.

Wow! I thought that scarf would look more chaotic, but all the yarns work together very well. Good job! You made a very good point about the advanced simple knitter epiphany. I just started my first sweater and putting off doing socks. And I've been knitting for years doing just scarves. For some reason, I'm afraid that I would not like sock knitting because sweater knitting is starting to not be as enjoyable as I thought. I thought that I was stupid or something. Now you've put my mind to rest about that. Thank you!

Hi Laurie,

I also live in LA and I had an epiphany recently that I could get more knitting done if I commuted to work by bus. My only issue is that for many years I commuted to work in NYC both by bus and subway and the bus would have been way too crowded to knit and the subway was way too filthy. The thought of the yarn dropped on the floor of the NY subway still fills me with disgust and horror.

What has your experience been like? [apologies if you have posted on this frequently - I only just found your blog and am only just beginning to read your archives]

That scarf looks so awesome...YOU look so awesome! You are rockin' that scarf, girl!

Samantha, I take the commuter express bus, and luckily my bus is not always full so I usually have a whole seat to myself, perfect for knitting!

I have knit on the subway, too (the red line) although the Orange Line (busway) is just way, way, way overcrowded for any activity including breathing.

Depending on your crowd level on the bus, you should be fine with any smallish project (I try to use my circular needles, too, not so big and jaunty) and nobody even looks twice at me knitting away anymore. Sometimes a woman on the bus or subway will ask what I'm making, but that's about it. It's really almost the only time I have for knitting, and I love it. I hope this works out for you, too!

And thanks for all the nice comments everyone! I love knitters (and crocheters) (and quilters) (and crazy cat people!)

Beautiful!

I will be e-mailing this to my mother post-haste. She has just finished her second garter-stitch scarf, and is now about to begin one in . . . (pause for suspense) . . . 2X2 rib! She's so happy.

Jen, crochet isn't a dirty word - hold your head high! :) I learned to crochet way yonder before I learned to knit, and I love both crafts endlessly. Hurray for yarn! There are knitting snobs out there ("Oh, you're crocheting? How quaint"), but I refuse to believe that any of them are visiting Purlie. She only has nice friends. Like us. :)

Hooray for the scarves!
They're fun to knit, and because you're soon besieged by your own work--they're even MORE fun to give away!
I made a lovely "keep my hand off the candy" scarf of fun-fur purple and silky knobby yarns (left-overs!) over Christmas. And because I DO have tonnes of "advanced beginner" scarves at home, I had the even greater pleasure of giving it to a toddler one our home-ward plane who was enchanted by it's muppet-like fuzziness. I swear- I have more pleasure from the memories of her delightedly prancing around in her little baby-wobble steps and showing her new "lovey" to all the other passengers at Gate 25 than I get from all my other scarves combined.
And now thanks to you, Laurie, I know I'm an ADVANCED beginner knitter! Hooray!

Love it! Love you!

Y'all have got to see this. (And if you want to make it - it's all rectangles. Long live the rectangle!) I just love the name of the sweater!

http://www.fuzzygalore.biz/patterns/nightliving80s.shtml

Scarves are great, I have a large box full of ones I've made.

As for sweaters, I've seen alot of cute patterns for sweaters, cardigans and shrugs that are comprised of rectangular (scarf shaped) pieces, even for the sleeves.

If you want a little more shaping for the sleeves than a recangle, many of the patters use a trapezoid shape for the sleeves which can be accomplished using simple increases.

So, making a sweater would be the equivalent of knitting a few scarves and not more difficult.

You crack me up endlessly. I also need a 'small daft child' t shirt. Get on that right away please.
As a self taught knitter, I feel much the same way, and haven't joined any groups for fear of ridicule. I love making socks though, and I am curious about trying a sweater. Chances are I would never wear it though. Too self conscious. I like being basic. So much in life is too flippin hard as it is!

Awesome scarf! You've inspired me to pick up my wacky scarf I haven't knitted on in a month - it's all fall colors, green, beiges, brown, gold, etc.

I like to knit scarves also, mainly because I've only been knitting 1 year and I'm still learning. I did knit a shawl that I LOVE and I enjoy wearing it over my nightgown. The pattern is a Karabella pattern for Gossamer, but I adjusted it to use a bigger yarn. I like it because it has a neck and doesn't fall off my shoulders. I had to spend an hour at my LYS so they could teach me to increase. I'm pretty good at it now, if I do say so myself.

I'm not trying to change your knitting passion, but if you want to try something different, that is not TOO much, it's a nice project.

Laurie, have you had Roy tested for hyperthyroid? My furry boy was getting skinnier and scrawnier and that was the cause. It's very common in older cats. He had the radioactive iodine treatment, and now he's quite a big, healthy fur lump.

Love the scarf!

I like to Mix It Up - it's fun to do the complicated "must pay attention" stuff, but it's also fun to do the relaxing stuff, like scarves and hats.

Thanks Laurie,

I'll try it - I finally got over the knitting-in-public-anxiety in planes. And now I wonder why I ever cared what the guy next me thought? My next hurdle is knitting in meetings. It would make the meeting go so much faster and I would resent being in them so much less.

You should get a sling to carry your furbaby around in. Be like Gwen Stefani, but with a cat.

The scarf rocks!!

Wow. Well said. Stand tall, wildly wave that freak flag- somebody's got to let the rest of the world that it's OKAY to do just what makes us happy.

I love your green scarf. I also am an accessory knitter. I knit scarves and hats and fingerless gloves and am thinking about socks. I can't see myself knitting a sweater or an afghan. I get bored easily. Maybe someday.

I love the pictures of you with Roy! They came out great.

The scarf is beautiful, sweetie!! I was thinking; (UH OH) if you made a wide scarf out of a study yarn you could carry Roy around by tying it behind your neck and carry him in it like a sling. A warm and fuzzy sling!!

I'm the opposite of you; since I spend all day doing boring, mundane chores I like a bit of a challenge. I like socks because they're challenging but not terribly hard. They finish up fast and I love giving them away. My first real project was the Skully sweater in the first Stitch and Bitch book. INTARSIA is not a good place to start! My Monica wanted it and it took me 2 months but I did it. I've only knit one other sweater for my hubby but it takes TOO LONG!!!

Sorry to babble. Big kisses to you and the kids!

Of course you're advanced. You invented a fancy-ass stitch!

When we shaved the Packet-cat last year, she liked having small knitted items draped on her (like a lacy scarf, a dish cloth, assorted WIPs). Here's a camera phone picture.

OK, here's the camera phone picture: http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5559/packetshawl0625060044zh0.jpg

Laurie: your scarf is absolutely beautiful. A lot of creativity went into the colours which, frankly my dear, I thought not so great when you were first working on it. But it is gorgeous. When I'm old(er), I'm going to learn how to do things like steeking, the daily newspaper cryptic crossword, and making a sweater that actually fits someone. (Have a 14-year old former barn cat with FIV who does not like the current temperatures in Ontario of minus 25 Celsius -- at -40 degrees the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales merge so you know that's cold!) Lovely work, and all the best to Roy and his siblings.

The scarf rocks! It is beautiful and covetable. And I love the sassy, scarf-sporting pic in the bathroom!

I stick to basic items too. I venture out a little to play with techniques but I stick to baby-sized garments to do this.

I have discovered that I love the yarn more than I love to knit. So it isn't the final project I'm going for, it is the excuse to play with fibery goodness.

very cool chick-a-dee! waving your freak flag (scarf) in the ladie's room ;)
it's fabulous! i love the combination of yarns and colors, and the fearless knitting it conveys.

Hi Laurie,

There are lots of generic sock patterns out there but I think woolworks.org and Charlene Schurch's "Sensational Knitted Socks" are great for those little details people don't tell you about like gusset holes (I hate gusset holes!).

Kisses to sweet Roy. It's so hard seeing a beloved pet grow old and thin, but he has a wonderful life with you, and many admirers besides!

Oh, and post #2 in a row: what about a little sweater for Mr. Roy? Just a wide piece of knitted fabric (like a short, wide scarf) with some buttons or little ties to tie around his torso? Or maybe a wide rectangle with a shorter rectangle attached to wrap around his shoulders and neck? To keep him warm when you aren't home?

Laurie, I don't usually comment 'cause everyone said it before me. But today I have to tell you two of the many things I love about you:

1. I love it that you go into the ladies' room and strike those ebullient poses ... AT 6.A.M.!!! How do you do that?

2. Also I love it that you read your comments and comment back. That's fun.

So basically, I just think you rock. Thanks for all you give us.

You are just adorable! I love your site and your honesty. I wouldn't miss a day of reading it!

you want cold? Come to Chicago. I think it's 3 degrees. Knit me a blanket or something - fast!
(Hey, I have some Rowan Biggy Print that I got on clearance!! Eureka!!)

Also, I have cold cats too. That could be related to the -25 wind chill, but I find them fighting over heat registers on the floor.

Tip #1 - electric heating pad, set on low, covered with a good stack of towels. Make sure it's new or in good condition.

Tip #2 - electric blankets are lower temperature and made to be left on for longer. Same as #1 but more expensive. If you are using it just for the cats, buy a twin size. Being in SoCal, you might have to mail order!

Tip #3 - I also have a heated dog bed, for a very old and arthritic pup. The size small would probably fit all three of your cats.

Tip #4 - get something with some substance that you can arrange into a little cave that the cats can crawl into. I have a down-filled throw that I can roll up like a hollow sausage and leave it on the couch.

Cats DO like warmth. My oldest cat wants to sit on a blanket on someone's lap all the time. My two other furry terrors insist on crawling under the blankets with us at night. They get so cozy, when we try to get up in the morning, we have furry little paws pressing down on our arms to make us stay put!

I also wondered if this scarf was ... uh.. a little *too* unique. I have knit some butt-ugly things in my time, and I half expected this to be one of them, but it turned out surprisingly funky-good!

I have to say thank you so much for the lovely comments and suggestions about Roy. I will have to give some of these a try! I do need my hands free a few minutes each evening, at least long enough to make dinner LOL. I love that cat so much. He just makes me so happy I have him, and you know... he was a full 25% of my divorce settlement! ;)

Thank you, Laurie. I needed that reminder.

Thank you, Laurie. I needed that reminder.

Oh Miss Purl, once again you've knit the nail on the head. Oh, ha ha! I really meant to say "hit the nail on the head" but my knitter's brain was working faster than my fingers. Anyway, I just finished yet another sweater, and again, as always, it is too small. Maybe my inability to accept that I am no longer a size 6 is part of the problem. I think from now on I will only knit hats and socks and scarves and just ENJOY the knitting. Anyway, once again, thanks for speaking the truth in such an entertaining way. BTW - I will be in Anaheim next week for work and I have Monday free. Any suggestions for good knitting shops? Preferably on the bus route, since Accounting will most definitely not reimburse me for taxi fare to the LYS.

That is a revelation that we all need to remember. Love ya, Laurie, and love the scarf.

What a beautiful scarf, Laurie! You're so creative :)
Congrats on realizing your Advanced Beginner-ness. I think I'm still at Intermediate beginner, if that's a level. I know I *could* knit harder things, but I really, really love knitting scarves.. they may just be rectangles but it's relaxing.
Adorable pictures with Roy and your scarf.

When my old kitty (who has since passed away) was cold all the time, I made him a kitty sleeping bag - basically, it's tube made of Lamb's Pride Bulky that's sewn together at one end, and it really kept him warm when he was shiver-y.

I'm sorry I just recently discovered your blog! You are a delight in all your moods--thanks for warming up the blogosphere. Anyway, I used to paint that way too, I know exactly what you mean!

You may not always believe it, but...

You so totally rock! Thanks for sharing! :)
I can only hope to be an advanced basic knitter someday. lol
My current project is a hat for my dtr that turned into a littlest petshop pet bag. I'm sure I'll run out of yarn soon. Maybe?

hehe I very much get your post. I do scarves.. er.. and scarves.. and... well I tried socks once but it seemed a/ too hard b/ too stressful and c/ noone ever sees them and you can buy them in shops cheaper... I'm rubbish at following designs that you have to look at instead of watching tv/snuggling cat/nattering on phone. I will try it one day but.. well it's not a competition and I like it the way I do it, for now.
Yay you!

Laurie, that's a *gorgeous* scarf! I loved to combine yarns too. And look at Prism Stuff yarns - same idea, only expensive. You've just saved yourself 100's of bucks, doing it yourself. ;) Hey, knit what you love - what else is important?

Psychomom re socks (hope you don't mind the highjack, Laurie [g]) - excellent suggestions earlier re Cat Bordhi's book and Charlene Schurch's. (Btw, I'm a newbie sock knitter, who's loving it. Dpns hate me and run away, so I use the 2-circular method.) I don't have Bordhi's book, but did buy Schurch's and it's fantastic. It has instructions for using dpn's or two circulars for *every* pattern, and tons of patterns, in all sorts of gauges/sizes - w/stitch patterns both charted and written; plus socks knit toe-up as well as cuff-down, and different styles of toes and heels.
Errata for book at: http://tinyurl.com/y5fnyj

Needle size depends on how tight you knit. I'm a loose knitter; with fingering wt. I need to use #1's or #0's on yarns that are suggesting #3's or #2's on the ball band. ;) Knowing whether you usually go up or down needle sizes to get gauge is your best help to decide on size. I suggest getting your first needles in two sizes that bracket your best guess - like #0 and #1, or #1 and #2. See which gives you a fabric you like better. (Socks should be knit at a tighter gauge than sweaters, so they don't wear out too fast.) If you like socks, you'll end up with different sizes anyway, for different yarns, so you'll almost certainly use both sizes. If those sizes sound too scary at first, you can also start with socks in sport, DK or worsted - plenty of plain patterns for those on the web.

Links for some great sites to get you started:

Sockknitters Home Page
http://www.socknitters.com/directory.htm#links
Lots of tips, patterns, etc.

The Arachne Sock Calculator
http://www.panix.com/~ilaine/socks.html
(Haven't tried it myself, but most online pattern calculators tend to work.)

Tutorial on knitting socks w/2 circulars, with good pix:

http://www.az.com/%7Eandrade/knit/socks.html
(lots of other handy info on this site too.)

Kristin's Knitting Socks Online Class
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Intro.htm
This is the intro page - scroll down to dload whole thing as PDF, or get it on a print-friendly web page. (For the latter, just save the sucker as a complete page to your HD, then you don't worry about losing the printout or the web pages disappearing some day.) Lots of pix, instructions for making the socks with fingering, sport or worsted wt. yarns. These are done on double-points, but even if you end up going with the 2 circs method, this page can help you out at a lot of spots. It did me. [g] The pictures in particular - *really* step by step.

The last two sites not only take you all the way through, but if you knit along with, you'll end up with a pair of socks. As to other basic sock patterns, if you can't find enough with these links or at sites like Knitty.com, just Google for free sock patterns. You'll find tons. Really - and remember, this is from another sock newbie - once you've made one plain stockinette sock, you've also learned how to adjust it infinitely. All you need from then on is a person's foot/leg measurements and your gauge. Even a math ninny like me can do it. ;) After you get 'em down in stockinette, then you can find patterned socks. I repeat, tons of free sock patterns online.

THis has nothing to do with today's post but once again I was howling at one of your past blogs about the bus being on fire. It was like five minutes of pure laughter!!!!!!
FOllowed by me yelling to my husband and daughter in the next room that you are the funniest person on the planet. (NO response from them because they have become accustomed to these outbursts from me when I read your writings.)

Life is such an adventure with you- you give us all so much joy! I feel sorry for your mom that you live far away- she must miss you on a daily basis!!

The knitter and the scarf are both lovely!

We are on the exact same wavelength today. I was carrying on about the virtues of plain ole garter stitch on my blog this morning.

LOVE the scarf. And Roy as well.

OMG!! Just ditto ditto ditto!!!!

and here I was feeling bad about enjoying my scarf obsession!

OH and just had to share..cause you make people feel like it's ok to share and all. I went to Michaels today as Waco TX only has craft stores not yarn stores. A lady asked me a question. ME. A. QUESTION. About yarn! My first thought was why in the world would you ask ME a question about yarn? Good grief I KNOW NOTHING! NOTHING I TELL YOU. However, I did know the answer to her question and I had an actual conversation about yarn with someone who wasn't looking at me like I had two heads!! I was so giddy I almost inappropriately hugged her!

That is a beautiful scarf! I love the colors you used. I wish I was color-brave like you!

My latest thing is purses. I've made 4 in the last 6 months (from different patterns) and will definitely make more. I've been wondering what the heck to do with all these purses, but your post made me feel better about it. Like many others, thought I was alone with my obsession for knitting the same thing.

Your scarf is lovely, Laurie, very snuggly-looking. I live in (subtropical) Taiwan, so I don't knit sweaters & scarves--they'd be worn for maybe a week or two in the winter (this year has been unusually cold, getting into the 50's at night. Oooh. Brrr.). Also, I don't knit (haha), but I do crochet! And now, thank you, I'm okay with the fact that I only crochet baby caps. I give them to friends with new babies (I am a firm believer in hats for babies--they lose so much heat through their noggins). I also sometimes bundle the caps up with vitamins, shirts, booties, and teething rings, and send them to mothers and babies in Burma, who have been forced from their homes and live in hiding in the mountains. It makes me feel better, knowing that my little OCD preoccupation can actually help someone, and I send each one off with a prayer for safety and peace. If you want to do the same, check it out here: http://www.prayforburma.org/IDX/Get_Involved/good_life_club.html

I think knitters and crocheters (well, I only know knitters, really) are gorgeous and kind, maybe from all the meditating on the yarn, or maybe from all the thinking of others as we do our needlework. I've really enjoyed your blog and all the comments, too. Very uplifting. : )

Your scarf is lovely, Laurie, very snuggly-looking. I live in (subtropical) Taiwan, so I don't knit sweaters & scarves--they'd be worn for maybe a week or two in the winter (this year has been unusually cold, getting into the 50's at night. Oooh. Brrr.). Also, I don't knit (haha), but I do crochet! And now, thank you, I'm okay with the fact that I only crochet baby caps. I give them to friends with new babies (I am a firm believer in hats for babies--they lose so much heat through their noggins). I also sometimes bundle the caps up with vitamins, shirts, booties, and teething rings, and send them to mothers and babies in Burma, who have been forced from their homes and live in hiding in the mountains. It makes me feel better, knowing that my little OCD preoccupation can actually help someone, and I send each one off with a prayer for safety and peace. If you want to do the same, check it out here: http://www.prayforburma.org/IDX/Get_Involved/good_life_club.html

I think knitters and crocheters (well, I only know knitters, really) are gorgeous and kind, maybe from all the meditating on the yarn, or maybe from all the thinking of others as we do our needlework. I've really enjoyed your blog and all the comments, too. Very uplifting. : )

Ew, I hate when that happens!

i heart roy

OH!

I love the scarf.

I love ROY! Thank you for being such an awesome kitty mama. He is truly blessed to have a human such as yourself.

Thanks for your earlier post about being more healthy. My husband and I have been trying to come up with something that works and perhaps doing nothing but what we really want to do at any given time is really perfect. ;-)

I saw this rockin article over at the BBC. HOw come they have all the cool articles?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6335077.stm

Also, I have got to get out and knit. Where did you say us LA girls could go? I suppose I could just google it but it was WAY EASIER before those crazy STITCH N BITCH people went nuts.

Love and Laughter,
Amy

What an excellent post. I have been guilty, at times in the past, of finding fault with a friend's or customer's knitting choices. I think I need to be reminded occasionally of what you have said here. Thanks, Laurie. :)

Wow, thanks MonicaPDX for all the tips and links. I am going to enjoy learning from all the suggestions.

That, my dear, is one kick ass scarf.

I almost choked when you said you hadn't even been drinking though. hehe!

Is that a tampon machine? Haven't we all earned the privilege of free tampons in the ladies' room? This is why my "Take a Tampon, Leave a Tampon" bowl idea is so great.

Beautiful scarf by the way. I love how it's so tweedy and cozy.

1) AMEN to all the messages above me; 2) I love to knit (so say we all) and knit almost only scarves (I'm wearing two of my favorites at a time these days that are -30f,) shawls, simple caps --and the occasional slipper or sock. I love shawls - Yvette, your shawl pattern is perfect, I've made DOZENS, I've practically started a Fashion Statement! To repeat her receipt in case you missed it: cast on 3; knit one, YO, knit to the end. Repeat until you're done!! And I use Lion Homespun for them; it's acrylic, washable, soft, pretty, cheap - I am NOT a yarnsnob.Mostly. Otherwise I use Cascade 220, which is plain ol' wool yarn. Occasionally I branch out but basically that's it. I'm an historical reenactor and make those red knitted French toques the voyageurs wear and get paid for them! (They're 95% garter stitch, ladies, may I please get on that short bus too?) And I LOVE your kitties (want to smooch Roy between the ears, but I'm in WI would you please do it for me, Laurie?) 3) Your scarf is splendiferous and magical and you're beautiful (and at 6:30 am?!?!?) I bow in your direction. And to all of my fellow Aunt Purl Blog Readers -- I love YOU all too, my kitty/knitty/witty sisters and brothers. I have spake.

That is so deep it's given me a headache.

Bring on the vodka!

Hmmm.
Roy warmers....How about a tube version of the kitty pi? You' d have to work out the scale, but if you knit it in the round, and then felted it with a garbage bag stuck in the middle (that's how articles I've read taught me to felt sweaters) and whip-stiched a few embroidery hoops to the outside to hold it open.....
Okay- I'm gonna try it first, then let you know how it goes.... Wheeee! New project!

Have you tried freeform knitting and crocheting? I just found out about it yesterday, and now it is my new love! It is so incredibly random and freeing! I think it's also called scrumbling...which in my opinion is a great word -

What have you been up to today?

Oh just a little scrumbling here and there.

And the best part is there are no rules - you knit a bit, crochet a bit and you mix all the funky bits of yarn you want together and some of the pieces I've seen are amazing.

Okay, some of them are incredibly scary too - but we all have our own definition of beauty!!

And since you are such an adventurous rule breaker, you might enjoy this as much as I have already!!

Fab scarf by the way!!

Psychomom - you're welcome! As someone recently sockBorged, I'm happy to join in with other commenters to help assimilate new vic-- Er, to pass on any helpful info in hopes of-- Oh, hell. We're trying to sockBorg you, too. The little suckers are addictive. ;)

(And Laurie, thanks again; sorry about cannon-balling in the pool with a huge comment, but, you know, I had the info, she *asked*... [g] You have the hugging thing; I apparently have inappropriately making over-long comments on others' blogs! Shutting up now.)

I totally dig! And you know, I was thinking about it and I'm an advanced basic knitter too! Thanks Laurie! I don't feel so silly anymore when my friend churns out her eleventy-first sweater.

Love the scarf! Looks really great

that scarf is indeed very nice. i love it. and you know what, i could be an advanced basic knitter. i can make sweaters, and do the steeks and the fair-isle and shit, but i choose not to. i like little projects. they make me happy.

Hey, why don't you knit your cat a cat-sweater? I'm sure you could probably find one online somewhere! He's a cutie!

Hi, I read you every day. You are SO humourous and I wish I could meet you one day. I just wanted to say that your picture of Roy is the exact image of my kitty, Simba..blows me away!

Wow, that could be the long lost fraternal twin to my blue mismatched scarf. Mine was store bought though. I'm in awe of your advanced basic abilities!

I, personally, am so freaking sick of the competitive knitters and the yarn snobs! I know several and I've about had it with all of them. I knit because I like it - I don't need to be as fast as someone else or do a million socks like someone else or not use a funky yarn because someone else thinks it's just too awful to contemplate ever using an acrylic for anything even when it makes the most sense to do so! Keep on keeping on, Sister!! Knit those scarves!!

The scarf looks great! You look great! The 2nd picture of you and Roy is very sweet.

I love the scarf and love the post. My cats love the fact that I night because they like to lay on the knitting while I knit and they do not play with the yarn. Such good kitties. (I'm sure they must be hatching some other plot!) I totally agree with your thoughts here, but I must be schizo. Sometimes I want something lacy complex and sometimes it garter stitch blanket land. The trick though is alway to finish...

that scarf is awesome. :) i think i will always be a basic knitter as i have really no desire to do more than scarves and hats.

that's a super cute outfit you have on in the pic, btw.

This is an awesome post--I love the way you knit your ideas together! And while I'm not a knitter, I'm a stamper who accepts I'm probably never going to be an, ahem, Card Artist or Scrap Goddess. I'm just happy stampin and watercolorin and givin it all away. C'est moi.

And you, Miss Advanced Basic Knitter--you are so ready to knit a sweater for Roy!

I think the competitive knitter thing is just another head on the hydra of jealousy. Not only in continental and intarsia beyond me, I have a deep FEAR of DPNs. I'd LOVE to make socks, or hats, but they don't make circular needles small enough....

I am so glad to see you voguing in the ladies' room at work. Makes me feel much better that the only reason I've carried my bag back and forth from my car to my classroom this week is to hide the knitting needles and project stuffed inside. :)

I really love your blog, by the way. You really brighten my days!

Oh, you've put my mind at ease about knitting as I await the ways and means with which to begin! Having not even begun learning yet I've already been feeling pressure from some of the yarn snobs out there in knitblogland. I think I'll aspire to becoming an Advanced Beginner Knitter, too! :)

Roy is awesome. xoxoxo

Very well-put, Laurie, you should be a diplomat in the Middle East now that you've solved the ancient feud between the two basic groups of knitters! I myself am a basic sweater knitter, with the occasional scarf, hat and mitten mixed in--I never choose a project beyond "intermediate" and usually stick with "beginner" or "advanced beginner." Never knit a sock, no fair isle, no intarsia, and steeks! Heaven forbid! But I love my basic stuff and so does my ten year old daughter as long as she gets to pick the yarn. As for that scarf, I need it! It's freezing here in Wisconsin!!!

Right, I probably shouldn't add to this when the next one is posted, because who's reading it now anyway? but I just had to say:

Clearly, that is NOT a scarf you have there. What you have there is a Roy blanket. Roy obviously knows it. You knitted it just for him, right? Right? Roy knows you did even if you don't.

Oh, I also have to say: Roy!!! So! Cute!

You are so pretty Laurie and so smart. All you have to do is believe it.

Second the vote for the Ann Budd book Dana mentioned, The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns. If I had found it earlier it would have saved me a ton of money buying other books and patters. Also, Sally Melville's Book 1: the Knit Stitch is great; no purling, only knit stitches and she comes up with some awesome stuff.

And knit (or crochet) what you love, it's all good. At least you're striking a blow against entropy. I myself will probably never make a sweater, or very few, as I'd go broke buying enough yarn to cover my ahem, well-nourished form.

Congratulations on a very nice scarf. I just read the opossum in the bra and who in their right mind would want something that hideous and stinky around their boobs? My dogs try to kill the one that comes into our backyard. My luck they will kill the damn thing when the husband is out of town on business and I will have to clean it up. Ugh! I just have to say it, only in California!
What is your next knitting project? I am in the middle of mittens for the nephews and then I want to finish my dragon scarf. It is sadly a UFO right now. It is a cool dragon scarf tho.

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Yay ! I love that you proclaimed liberation for knitters today.
I had just been feeling a little tweaked about not being a lace knitter or entrelac maven type.
Thanks !

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Laurie your color sense is awesome.... if I tried to mix and match a bunch of random yarns it would look like *ass*. :)

Whoa! Cute scarf, it looks all on purpose crazy...like you had this massive chart you colored in with neat little pencils and all. Good job girl!

And congrats on the progress of self you are making. What with the massive overhauls of brain with the weight issue and knitting issues, you don't need therapy, just more wool/yarn. :D

And as a fellow larger lady from the South (pluser sized than you are [is pluser a word?]) you have made marvo progress on your get healthy kick, just a little under a yearn and you look twice as healthy as me girl! :D I typed that with the taste of a Reese's still in my mouth, so we know I have no control or ability to stop, I'm just tickled that you do! :D

I love this idea. This is who *I* am. Here I've been thinking that I need to get out of this rut and try to learn something more complicated. Now I can happily be an advanced basic. Thank you.

Couple of things:

1. That woman with the possum in her shirt is insane. See my blog archives for my possum trials

2. You look adorable.

3. The scarf is cool too.

4. I bet if you put that scarf up on ebay people would pay good cash money for it, therefore enabling you to buy more yarn & wine.

5. Love you. Love your blog.

I am also your basic hat and scarf knitter. I am working on a baby blanket, and I hate it because it is 144 stitches across, and knitting just one row exhausts me. I only have about 10 rows left though, if I ever get back to it.

How did you prevent the big scarf from rolling?

Right now, I am doing the lamest knitting ever...a straight stockinette on enormous needles, using this funky yarn I got on clearance at AC Moore. But it makes me happy because of how it is all monotonous and I can do it without looking.

I dream of making socks someday...

But hey... at least YOUR ladies room is CLEAN ::Laughing my ass off:: you should see where I work.. and it's a HOSPITAL!!!