You've got to look at

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

Funniest pics of cats (mostly!) ever! Your cats deserve to be there, too!

I've been working on an alpaca scarf for my aunt, but it's really 'hairy', hopefully not too itchy. I did a lacy looking pattern with crocheted edges. Really purty

I'd frame that picture, it's priceless! For an alpaca scarf, for the Valley, what about a simple lace pattern? Would lighten the scarf up, make it into maybe a stole you could wear when the temp is below 90 or so, and if it's not one of the real complicated ones, it wouldn't fight with the texture of the yarn. Those basic diamond patts keep me from dying of boredom in the middle of something long, too.

Praise GOD! It is October.

Beautiful scarf and even more beautiful kitties!

(And alpaca is amazing.)

Future knitting giveaways?! Be still my heart!

Such a pretty scarf. You really should write a blog entry on how to wind a ball with the center pull thing. A friend tried to tell me how, but not in a way I could wrap my head around. You're great about writing instructions for the mentally challenged, like me.

Yes, do explain the center pull. I am always defeated by the center pull.

Were you the one who first told me about the kitty chaise? It must have been you. My cats love thier chaise. We only have one and sometimes there is fighting over it. My cats (all 4 of them)thank you very much. I'm getting ready to start a binge of knitting dish clothes to sell at a craft fair. I love knitting them becuase they take no time at all and I have the pattern memorized. If they don't sell then my family will get them as gifts.

Yes, do explain the center pull. I am always defeated by the center pull.

LOVE your cat pictures. LOVE THEM.

And love your scarf - - it looks deliciously warm! And with Winter coming to Central Illinois, it would be so cozy! Guess I need to start learning how to knit. :-)

Love the kitty pic! The scarf is fabulous!
Knitting with the misti alpaca is wonderful - I made my first scarf with just one skien of it. I think it was a ruffle scarf with a simple lace pattern. Simple lace or rib patterns work well with alpaca.
How do you get your center pull yarn balls to turn out so well? I have to use a swift and winder to get anything decent looking.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that yarn. I have 4 scarves in that yarn. 3 were knit in the mistake pattern which I don't have with me right now. It's something like cast on 17, knit 2 purl 2 across row and knit the last stitch. This size took only 1 skein.

I love your cat stories. and want to hear more about the center pull yarn ball.

thanks,c heryl

My new favorite stitch pattern is knit two rows, k1 p1 two rows. I got it from my knitting pattern a day calendar and I just did a scarf in chunky alpaca in this pattern. I'll try to post a pic to my Ravelry page tonight. Purplepurlgirl on Rav.

This is a cute picture. I would definitely frame it!

Fall is now here in NE OH. It looks like it will rain all day. I, too, am making a scarf in garter stitch. It will be donated to the Special Olympics. LOVE the kitty pics and giveaways!

I've knit two scarves with the Misti Alpaca chunky and am about to do a third. One of them was a mistake rib...came out gorgeous. The other is reversible lace...also gorgeous. You can find the reversible lace pattern on Mason-Dixon's blog. One of them knit it last year for Christmas. It's a nice, easy quick pattern... perfect in every way.

Here's a great free pattern from Misti Alpaca for this yarn. I have 2 skeins and plan to whip up a couple of these scarves. I love this yarn, so soft.

http://www.mistialpaca.com/downloads/ribs_ruffles_scarf.pdf

My big tri-color cat likes to sit on her scratchie thing from Target just like La Soba. I always ask her how the boat ride's going. :)

I was going to comment about how much my cat likes his chaise, but I saw Melanie already commented about how great they are. But I guess you can't say or hear thank you too much, so Thanks for the recommendation again.

Was going to suggest the pattern that Dawn suggested - my co-worker made two of them - really easy, nice effect AND 1 skein wonders!

Kay from Mason Dixon used the same yarn for teacher gifts BUT she used 3 skeins - 1 she did a mistake rib and the other an easy lace.

Soba's eyes are shooting laser beams? No?

You could move up north...we only have the McCain campaign people taking over our state government, although no one outside this big a@* state seems to notice.

Something with a big center cable would look awesome i think...but that's just me. I have a thing for cables. :)

Hiya! I just made a hat/scarf set in this color, using seed stitch. It's gorgeous! And we could be twins! Here's a pic:

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/supercrafty/kims-hats-2

You need the scarf for the same reason that I would see women in sweaters in Bakersfield in the summer. You have adapted, 104 is the new 60 for you. (We lived at Edwards AFB. I never adapted to 115 in the summers.)

Laurie, how does one do the center pull balls?? Do you use a machine or do it by hand and if by hand, how?? You see, I have this friend, not me, who may have an affinity for completing projects 3/4 of the way and then deciding that I, I mean he doesn't like the way they turn out so he rips everything back out and starts over but ends up with Giganto - the yarn ball with a mind of it's own. Those look so compact and manageable and also with the whole not gigantic thing going on.

Hi Laurie! I love the scarf you made. I'm in love with the colors! Just a hint about the Misti Alpaca; make sure you test it on your neck before you commit to a scarf. I got a skein of the Handpainted Chunky and made just a little garter scarf. It's beautiful and cute, and it feels really soft on my hands, but when I put it around my neck all this hidden itch comes out. I can't really wear it on skin. It will get more use when turtleneck season is upon us. I hope it was just my skein and yours are fine (or maybe you have a higher itch quotient) but it wouldn't hurt to check before you spend all that time making the scarf!

And no, there is no reason not to have as many scarves as pairs of shoes!!

Your scarf is beautiful! I love the colors for fall. Laurie, check out "The Road Scarf", a free pattern on the Lion Brand website. Maybe something like that for the alpaca would be pretty?

The look on Soba's face made me laugh out loud! Wow, is she ever throwing daggers with those eyes!

I like your comment on the benefits of knitting in volatile times. Did you know there was a study done in Oxford that suggests knitting helps us process stressful events? Personally, I credit my sanity to an afghan I've been working on.

I'm using virtually the same yarn to knit up Amy Swenson's Stolen Moments Wrap - which is really more of a scarfy thing - anyway
Soft & sqooshy but also holey so it might be just the ticket for your armpit environment.

Its free on Ravelry.

You seem to need a ball winder! And a swift. They change ball winding into something that people with brain damage really LOVE!

Check it out here: http://astore.amazon.com/losart-20?node=8&page=2

I was going to suggest using moss stitch for the center of the alpaca scarf, but I like the lace suggestion even more.

I suppose it depends on just how chilly it gets there.

But the scarf is to die for! I'm really going to have to get some of that yarn. Thanks for the link.

Ooooh, how about "My So Called Scarf"? (http://imagiknit.com/?p=60)

Most folks seem to use variegated yarn, but I think the stitch pattern would look lovely in your solid shade of blue.

I live in NJ. I saw a movie this weekend that had a shot of Dallas Raines giving the forecast, so of course I had to tell my friends "that's Dallas Raines - he's the weatherman in L.A." -- like I was so well traveled and knowledgeable. Meanwhile I only know him from your blog but I didn't tell them that.

Autumn has arrived in central Maine, too. I am walking through piles of crunchy leaves. And my new, warmer hat (made with Lion Brand Homespun--covers up the dropped stitches really well) is on the DPNs, not a moment too soon!

Love them kitties. Soba's obviously not shy about expressing herself, is she?

Your Soba and Frankie are both beautiful, but my fave is Bob, I have a Munchkin that looks like him, including the tubby belly, but minus the white feet. My Munch is a dork sometimes, but I love him dearly, along with my other 3 cats, and my dog and hubs dog, and my hamster, and.......

This looks like a picture you'd see on icanhascheezburger.com. The caption would read:
"One less pet in 3...2...1...."

:) Frankie is just a lover!

Looks like Soba wants to give Frankie a good smack for ruining her photoshoot!

I adore Misti alpaca. Check out their website for some scarf ideas.

I love that yarn! I just finished a scarf and hat out of it for my husband! I did a reversible cable pattern- k4 p4 and cabling every 5 rows, so you cable each side in the appropriate knitting area. Is that confusing? My blog explains it a little more easily. It's a really great scarf! I got the scarf and a hat to match out of three skeins.

For language learning, check out www.livemocha.com. It's kind of like Facebook, only with language lessons.

Also: I made my husband a single rib scarf from alpaca. It's so soft and cuddly. You'll love the scarf, and will have to come up with cold places to visit so you can wear it!

oooh, if looks could kill....

How about a broken rib scarf - I made six last year for a wedding and loved the texture. Not sure if that's really the name but the lady at the yarn store told me to cast on an odd number of stitches. Row 1 - K1, P1 ending with K1. Row 2 - Knit. They were gorgeous - we used black alpaca for one the scarves and I wanted to steal it. Good Luck.

Love the scarf you just made and love the alpaca, too. I made a scarf for my daughter out of the same stuff. So soft! I used a basketweave pattern (I think it's called). Four or five knits, then the same no. of purls for 4 or 5 rows, then switch. It makes it nicely reversible. Her cat loved the alpaca so much that I made him a little swatch of his own so he wouldn't sleep on her scarf. And I love winding balls with my ball winder and swift. It's more fun (and therapeutic) than just about anything!

If you're going to move anywhere, come to Canada! Imagine, being able to knit and then wear it... for at least six months of the year! And it's sunny the rest of the time! Who would want to be anywhere else? LOL

I love this scarf pattern from the Yarn Harlot:

Cast on in multiple of 4. repeat this across each row: knit 2, knit 1 through back loop, purl 1. On every row. Makes a kind of nice looking ribbing that won't shrink up too skinny like an accordion, and will lie flat and looks the same on both sides.

Forgot to add: this pattern is publicly available on her website, so I'm not breaking copyright. That would be nasty.

This looks pretty done in that yarn: http://imagiknit.com/?p=60

I'm about to start the ruffled edge wrap (from Vogue knitting winter 06/07)with the Misti chunky.

Love your blog...good luck with your project.

"I'll have to check with my parents and see if they dropped me as a child..."

Umm, are you sure you want to give your parents this kind of an opening? I think we can all guess how they'd run with an opportunity like that...

I love cats because they can give the "looks" and get away with it and get their picture taken in the process. A human would be involved in an argument..."like what was that look for,what did I do NOW?" Gotta love cats. And you have inspired me to knit socks for the first time and I'm liking it! I'm getting ready to cook up a pot of the white bean and chicken chili,sounds good says my hubby.

Great scarf!! For the alpaca, I would recommend a pattern which looks the same both sides; seed stitch is good but very boring;rib is also boring; brick stitch is nice; I have used a reversible lace which is lovely==email me for the pattern if you wish.
Alpaca is very very stretchy, and soft and yummy.
Think of sewing matching, or contrasting beads to the ends or to the fringes (if you're planning such)to help it drape. It's a lovely colour.

For your suri alpaca, how about a big cable in the middle of that lovely moss stitch border? I think that would be so pretty!

Also, I am amazed that you haven't invested in a ball winder and swift. Has made my life infinitely easier!

I just realized my last two posts have 2 sentences each. And the last sentences both end in exclamation marks!

If you want to be a bit daring, I did a fabulous scarf in the Misty last year that had a very easy hat attached to it. So really a hat with a scarf attached I guess, but so easy and the Misty was a dream to work with. It would also look great with a ruffle scarf.

I know you've ruled out the seed stitch scarf, but I made one for my dad in that yarn and he totally loves it! It's a good yarn for the bumps, 'cause it's so soft. :)

HAHAHA - I love how Mademoiselle Frankiepants has her eyes closed as if to protect herself from The Wrath That is Soba. (I call my Elsie "Miss Dancypants" because she cannot walk in a straight line to save her life. She minces more than anyone I've ever seen, feline or otherwise.)

mmmmmmmm...alpaca. How about a magic scarf with a seed stitch border? I broke down and bought a ball winder and swift at my LYS because I wanted to save my fragile wrists for knitting, typing, combing of hair, etc.

Oh and Greenland may have a stable economy, but their ice shelf is melting/cracking and falling into the ocean.

Hi Frankiepants! **waves**

Isn't that just the softest, greatest, most beautifullest yarn you ever came across? That's the stuff I'd like to fill my bath tub with and just bury myself in it... talk about yarn-p0rn! :D

I, too, vote for the "My So Called Scarf" pattern from Imagiknit. http://imagiknit.com/?p=60 I made one and it is lovely. I am lucky that this store is in my hometown and I can actually visit them, too!

oooooh....alpaca...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the seed stitch, but I also love the idea of a cable. I tried to write my own pattern for a seed stitch scarf with a cable, but I noticed that most cables have purl stitches adjacent to the center cable stitches and it threw me off. I think it would work on a nice wide scarf, though.

I am doing a basketweave stitch out of bamboo right now, and it is very pretty, although bamboo is frustrating to work with.

CO multiple of 10 stitches
R1) P7, K3, repeat across
R2) P3, K7, repeat across
R3) P7, K3, repeat across
R4) Purl
R5) P2, K3, P5, repeat across
R6) K5, P3, K2, repeat across
R7) P2, K3, P5, repeat across
R8) Purl

Repeat rows 1-8, ending with a purl row.

The only thing is, I find now that I want all my scarves to be reversible, so I am not always fussing with making sure it is laying right.

If you are like me, you will try about 5 or 6 different stitch patterns, ripping them all back, until you finally have to cut off several feet of yarn because it is so frayed.

Another one I want to try is just a stockinette scarf with random stripes - like the one in the Knit Scarves! book. If you found it in your heart to go and get a couple more coordinating colors of the alpaca....

Apropo of nothing, I had to share this with people:

On Tuesday evening, one of my neighbors stole a bin bag from the landing outside my flat containing a dirty, smelly, unwashed shetland wool fleece covered in sheep doody that I was planning to wash, dye and spin. It was sitting outside my flat for two months to ensure that whatever was living in it was dead before I brought it into the house to wash it. I am partly relieved that the thief has saved me a really dirty job that needed to be done before the fleece had any value, but on the other hand I feel really sorry for the pathetic person who felt that it was worth stealing, and left them a note telling them how to clean it and wishing them good luck. What else should I have have done? It wasn't worth calling the police over, and everyone I told about it has laughed at the stupidity of the thief.

I like this one:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2006/10/12/one_row_handspun_scarf.html but I think other people have recommended it in other formats.

Also, I recommend Iceland as a getaway spot--lots of English spoken, lots of opportunity to wear wool, and LOTS of hot spas indoors and out. Spectacular.

It looks like Soba's eyes were really red in real life and you photoshopped them green...or something? scary wooo!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/misti-chunky-ribs--ruffles-scarf

This scarf is super simple and so wonderful in the misti alpaca chunky. I've made it a couple of times and lurve it!! You can make it as long as you want and use more than one skein, but if you follow the directions exactly, it takes one skein. LOVE that yarn!

I like the color of that yarn! I may just steal your idea, buy some, and knit a scarf from it. My aunt wanted a scarf for Christmas anyways :) Is it really soft? I don't want anything remotely scratchy.

How come my center pull balls never come out so round and pretty? You should give lessons...

Oh! First I saw the red scarf and I said, "I know that yarn. Didn't I knit 3 scarves with it?" Then I saw the alpaca and I said, "Holy cow, I just finished knitting a cowl with that!" I saw the yarn in my LYS and I had to have it but I could only afford one skein. It knitted up very soft but it did shed a bit.

Oh! First I saw the red scarf and I said, "I know that yarn. Didn't I knit 3 scarves with it?" Then I saw the alpaca and I said, "Holy cow, I just finished knitting a cowl with that!" I saw the yarn in my LYS and I had to have it but I could only afford one skein. It knitted up very soft but it did shed a bit.

How about putting some reversible cables down the center?

That last picture is so All About Eve.

I LOVE Sensations Licorice despite the fact they discontinued my favorite color. You are not alone in finding something perfect only to discover what you are holding is all there will ever be. I am debating a scarf now that I have gotten over my huff. My new favorite color is what you made your scarf with. What do you think about socks made from this yarn? I think the colors are perfect but they might be lumpy. As for bamboo yarn, so soft, but it sheds more than my persians and that really saying something.

I think you should make the Pink Ribbon Scarf by Cindy Craig.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5310590

She designed it in honor of her sister, who has breast cancer. I made it in a beautiful teal chunky soft yarn. The lace pattern was easy and fun. It's also a good introduction to lace, if you haven't done any before. And reading a very simple chart.

sherry, tempe, arizona

How about this one. I came up with this when I finally learned how to do purl stitches. It's now my favorite scarf pattern.

Cast on an even number of stitches (I usually do 40)

Slip the first stitch knitwise. (do that at the beginning of every row)

knit one, purl one to the end of the row. (last stitch in the row should be a purl)

Do that till the scarf is as long as you want it.

Hey Laurie,
That misti alpaca is gorgeous! I see an Irish Hiking Scarf! You can find the pattern for free at Hello Yarn! And I'm sure you could find it on Ravelry as well.... as a matter of fact, it's also in my projects - oliviaknits .... best of luck finding a pattern for the yarn!

xoxo

As I watch the unfolding of the political drama, I take comfort (as I have in the past) in the closeness of Canada; LOTS of opportunities to wear handknits there, and I understand there is knitting is becoming quite common there {heh}. As for the kitties - Soba's look says it all, but Miss Frankiepants can hold her own, I'd say. Oh - and I LOVE "My So-Called Scarf" but I have to really pay attention...still, I think it's such fun to knit that I've been known to knit up swatches and then just use throw 'em away (I'm a real process knitter, what can I say?) I DID make a scarf in it though, and it's wonderfully thick and warm.

Hey, love the scarf! One can never have too many! I too live in a hot climate, so what am I knitting? A beret. And a Christmas stocking. And socks.

Anywho, Frankie reminds me a bit of my cat in that picture... as much as I try, she always manages to close her eyes when the flash goes off. Probably not so bad, as it keeps me from posting more pictures of her on my blog.

WOW! That picture of Soba and Frankie reminds me of the pictures they used in Napoleon Dynamite, the ones of Napoleon and Kip on the walls of their family home. They look like the photography styling that was popular in the 70s or the 80s with the side profile and the direct head shot together on one photo sheet. Sorry for my horrible description, it is late at night. Anyway, the picture is just so fabulous. Such photogenic kitties!

Oh I do hope I'm the Debbie in question!

You're a fan of the Gilmore Girls aren't you? - I just saw an episode (4-19 "Afterboom" I think) where Rory wears a pink cable cardigan to talk to her lecturer at Yale - its knitted in different directions and looks amazing - do you know anything about this cardigan or can you find any pictures/information about it?

how about an irish hiking scarf? That's what the pattern is called. And I'm in a scarf mood as well, but I first have to finish my baby blankies!

EVe

Oh! Ohohoh! Look up brioche stitch! It sounds complicated at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's interesting and fun but also repetitive enough that you don't need to pay too much attention. It looks the same on both sides and actually you work every row the same way regardless of what side you're on.

Plus, I made a brioche scarf in EXACTLY the same yarn you have - same color and everything! You can see pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94531184@N00/427489661/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94531184@N00/427489662/

Hi :)
I am currently knitting a scarf with that same alpaca and you are right, it will become your favorite scarf, it's extra extra soft! Now, as for the scarf pattern I will post it later since I have it bookmarked at home and right now I'm at work. It's a very interesting pattern, not too easy because it keeps changing, but the end result is gorgeous!

Are those Harry Potter books I spy in the backgroud?? Good choice :).

Simple knits like that I like to call drunk knits. It's the sort of thing you can take to a bar and knock back a glass of wine or 3 and still be knitting pretty. I have my priorities.

I have a chunky scarf pattern for you. If you haven't decided yet take a look at http://www.flickr.com/photos/morticcia/2774689178/in/photostream/. Very simple pattern that is from a stitch dictionary.

Hi Laurie, I recently finished a Magic Scarf using your recipe. Question - do scarves need to be blocked? It is so pretty now, I sure don't want to mess it up. But maybe it would be even better. ??

JoAnn-- blocking is always a nice touch! The very best blocking I've used on natural fibers is to spritz with water lightly, pin in place/shape and let dry. I always have to put a towel on top because the cats enjoy blocking, too....

OMG. Did you hear? Russia attacks USA...
More info here: hotusanewx.blogspot.com

Hey Laurie! That Misti Alpaca is soft, isn't it? I just bought two skeins in the autumn-leaves color, and I am making a hat. Or I will, once my sister unknots the second skein for me. Why on EARTH did the Misti people tie black thread around the middle?!? Anyway, it's full of knots, but I think the hat will be worth it. By the way, when I read your book, you mentioned you were all bundled up in 48-degree weather. If you want cold, come up to Northern NY State in winter. 48 degrees is balmy to us. When it's that warm, usually around March or April, everyone's walking around with their coats open! And then we all get colds because we think it's warm when it isn't. Anyway, it gets down to 20 degrees, 10 degrees, and negative numbers. If you want to really try out wool scarves and hats, come up here.

Lately I saw a line in one of your posts, something like "when I haven't got the right pattern or plan for the yarn I bought it will just stay in its corner of the universe for ever" and that made me check guiltily if the beautiful yarn I bought TWO years ago was still in its bag. Yes. It was, poor stuff. The pattern I bought it for turned out to be way to complicated for me and I haven't managed to think of anything else.
But, here's the point of this little piece of rambling: until I saw this gorgious scarf of yours!! Hooray! I will just make it into a scarf and that will clear the way for other yarn coming through my front door. That was my issue with it (as with others things around my house), as long as I have something on hand -whether I use it or not *sigh* - I won't buy anything else.
Thank you, from a very Autumny Holland, getting closer to the first frosty nights with more and more shiny orange leaves. I appreciate that beauty more thinking of you in Swelterville, thank you for that too ;-).

Hey. I have the Misti Alpaca in lime and I think it's going to be a scarf. I started Palindrome (reversible cables) but I dropped a stitch somewhere in the middle. Apparently I got twitchy during the Obama/McCain Debate, I can't remember the last time I did something so bone headed. I need to rip it back and I may just start over. Perhaps I'll try a different pattern.

I also have purchased that same exact Baby Alpaca (color and all) and used a mohair that was the same color and brown mixed and made my mom a shawl. Super easy and super cute (just tootin' my horn). Cast on 3 stitches. Knit two stitches, yarn over, knit last stitch. Next row, knit (or purl) 3 stitches, yarn over, knit or purl last stitch. So basically, you are just doing a yarn over the next to last stitch of every row and you are making a triangle shawl. Super easy, but looks nice and is very toasty warm.

I would recommend the scarf called "Pidge". It is a great scarf to wear and you will receive many commpliments!