Green Swirly Scarf

I had been thinking of making a scarf in Kelly Green. I tried out a few patterns, created a couple designs.... etc..  Although I liked the designs, it was not what I had imagined. Since this green is so vibrant and bright, I wanted to create something that made a real statement. Something bold yet elegant and feminine. I found this pattern by accident. I remember it was part of the designs that were being promoted by Martha Stewart. It caught my fancy. I began making this scarf a long time back... I ran out of yarn towards the end and needed more to make the tassels. I had to run to the stores several times before I found one skein, hence the delay in posting it here. I wonder if Kelly Green was the color of the season!??

The Swirly Scarf... is so pretty and could be customized for anyone.. little girls or young ladies.. it was awesome working on it. I found the pattern on Lion Brand's website. CLICK HERE to visit the link. This pattern is super easy and makes me wonder why dint I think of this? It is just an extension of what I've made several times - crocheted circles ! Its a great project for a beginner, especially because you can finish it in a day ! Instant gratification!   ...well, almost.  :-)
I am glad I looked at the pattern and just started off...

I believe I must have put in about five hours to complete the scarf. I made it extra long for myself because I love to double my scarves when wearing them. I made the scarf in two parts as suggested in the pattern. There is no particular reason why the scarf should be made in two parts. I decided to make it in two parts because it helped me keep the circles under control. If I had crocheted the whole length together it would have been a lot to move around, specially because I like to carry my projects wherever I go. I worked on the two parts separately, got the tassels on and then sew them together. I feel making it in two parts was much easier for me. However, if you are crocheting a smaller length, I think doing the complete length at one go would save a lot of effort.

I made a few changes to the pattern. I used Half Double Crochet stitch for the whole pattern instead of the Double Crochet stitch as suggested in the pattern. I think the HDC looks much nicer than the DC stitches and this also helped me keep the width of the scarf under four inches.

Book Review - Knitting Over The Edge

'Knitting Over The Edge: Unique Ribs, Cords, Appliques, Colors, Nouveau' by Nicky Epstein is a beautiful collection of extraordinary edgings and techniques of creating gorgeous trims that make a statement for every knitted piece. This book is the next in series after 'Knitting on the Edge: Ribs, Ruffles, Lace, Fringes, Floral, Points & Picots' which featured a large collection of Decorative Borders.

I have enjoyed designing my own edgings for every project. However, working with the patterns in this book was just wonderful. The parts that I specially enjoyed were working on different types of fringes and the pretty floral appliques. Some of these patterns looked very complicated, but once I started working through it, the pattern seemed easy enough.

If you are into knitting and are looking for some creative juices to add a special touch to your designs, this book is a must read for you. It is fun to create, the edgings can be easily modified to suit any garment and the instructions are easy to follow.

I am still not done with this book... I will be posting my pictures of all the trims that I ave adapted for my projects. Tune in again !