Thanks to staceyjoy’s comments and emails, I gave the lacy scarf a severe talking-to (washing and another blocking) and it’s much flatter. Success!

I also just had to start another scarf when my Jaeger pattern book came in the mail yesterday. Giant stash to the rescue!

The white is some completely scrumptious wool/silk/mohair I was keeping for knitting baby things, but I think my neck deserves it. The red and green are from my sock wool bag.

I am also plugging away on the back of the mister’s sweater. GAWD, ribbing is boring, even on rainy days when there’s nothing else to do.

Oh, I am so addicted to yarn. I placed several orders last week. The first was from Elann. I got a bag of Classic Elite 03 Tweed and absolutely love it. It’s nice and soft and tweedy. Then I bought a yarn pack for sweater #120 from Poetry in Stitches. Check out those sale prices!! I can’t wait to get it and get to work. Already today I’ve purchased 2 lbs. of dyed Cotswold locks from Frene Creek Farm so that I can spin more yarn. I can’t stop!

At least I have been knitting and using up lots of yarn. Over the weekend I designed and knit the front of the mister’s Cycling Aran. Check it out:

The Man Along (see sidebar for link) is really spurring me on. I can’t wait to get it done and get it on him so I can force him to pose like for the Kmart circular.

Sweater stats:

~cabled front (with my favorite staghorns)

~3×2 ribbing for the back and sleeves

~long and slim fit so his butt and wrists stay covered while cycling

~tough wool yarn so the sucker never wears out (Annabel Fox Chunky Donegal in Walnut)

~Jaeger Baby Merino in a matching color for lining the collar. (his neck is very sensitive)

~it will have a zipper, for ease of removal

Please forgive me if my posting is sporadic for the next 2 weeks. We have houseguests coming soon and someone needs to clean the house and entertain them. I think that means me.

I finished the scarf and am not 100% happy with it. It looks smashing on, but the way the edges curled (story of my life) bugs me, since I did make quite a chubby garter edge. I told myself “It’s lace, it’ll block out” the whole time I was knitting it. I was lying! The way it curls, though, makes it look 3D and puffy, which looks good on, so you be the judge.

*click to see back*

Scarf stats:

100% Merino wool 2 ply

300ish yards

9 wpi (chunky knitting weight)

size 9 needle

finished size: 7.5″ x 8.5′+

If you like it, here’s the chart:

I made a 5 stitch garter edge, which seems like a bit much now. It’s just going to curl, so I’d make it smaller if I did it again. Knit some garter stitch on each end, and just knit that 23 stitch chart over and over and over.

Carolyn mentioned in the comments yesterday that it looks like cables. YES! That is exactly why I like it.

I got so excited by the Man-Along that I started designing the mister’s Aran cycling sweater on Saturday afternoon and am almost done with the second front already. At the rate I’m going, it’ll be finished in a week. I like it that he’s skinny. Photos tomorrow!

ETA: Washing and severely blocking the scarf did wonders. The photo above has been changed to reflect that. Knit the scarf without fear!