When I first started this project I was filled with enthusiasm. I could hardly wait for the noon hour so I could knit the day's sky onto my needles. If I wasn't home I would make a note of the sky wherever I was, then knit it as soon as I returned. This level of enthusiasm lasted approximately two weeks. The remaining 362 days of scarf knitting were met with a progressive lack of enthusiasm. I have never been as happy to cast off a project as I was this scarf!
Judging from the scarf's length, there were clearly too many days in 2012. I reached optimal scarf length somewhere around the end of August, and all knitting after that moved this from being simply an accessory, to being a potential accessory to a crime. Here it is with no wraps. And it's okay. Go ahead and laugh. I certainly did!
One wrap around my neck and it still isn't quite right.
Two wraps is perfect. Well, as perfect as something that poses a major choking hazard can be.
It's not exactly beautiful (massive understatement). It's huge (another massive understatement). It cost more to knit than anything I have ever made (you can't believe how much yarn went into this thing). But now that the tedium of knitting it is a thing of the past, I can honestly say I am glad I finished it. When I look at the long patch of grey that was knit last spring it instantly brings back memories of all the rain we had, and how the North and South Thompson Rivers flooded. The huge patch of brilliant blue reminds me of the glorious summer we had. My favourite bit of the scarf is the single, dark, foreboding ridge of grey that represents Typhoon Sanba, experienced during my visit to South Korea last September. And the endless stretch of light grey that makes up the last part of the scarf proves I am not exaggerating when I say we have had very little sunshine this winter.
You have no idea how happy I am to be able to say this- it's a wrap (Ravelry project link)!
I can imagine the tedium, but I agree: it was worth it to end up with this fantastic and unique reminder of the past year. And I applaud you for not hanging yourself with it instead of plodding through, LOL!
ReplyDeleteThe opportunity to hang myself still exists. If i trip and fall when wearing it I'm a goner. :-)
DeleteI guess this means there are birthday wishes in order. Happy Birthday! Maybe you made yourself a wall hanging?
ReplyDeleteIt could be a wall hanging if I owned a house with vaulted ceilings. :-)
DeleteWell the colors look beautiful on you and Fergus is as cute an accessory as I've ever seen! That last picture is adorable. Can you see yourself wearing a weather stole/wrap thingy?
DeleteI think it is going to end up as a piano runner, or I might cut it in two and sew two halves together to make a lap blanket. I agree about Fergus being a cute accessory. :-)
DeleteWell done for persevering with it. It looks lovely in the photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Una! It really is much better in the photos than in person. :-)
DeleteYay!!!
ReplyDelete(And Happy Belated Birthday. Hope it was lovely. Nice of the province to throw you a party with a holiday and all....)
It was actually very strange to have my birthday be a holiday. I'm not sure if I liked sharing my day with everyone like that. Ha!
DeleteHoly cow that is a huge scarf. I did laugh at the picture where you said it was okay... So, I'm sorry but I have to ask (I hope since you are done with it now it's not a 'hit you while you are down' kind of question). I get the length of the thing considering the number of days in a year but why oh why did you knit it so wide? Half of your agitation (and half of the size of that beast) could have been dropped and you still would have had a fetching scarf (that's funny...I don't know that I have ever used the word fetching before). Okay, that aside...outside of the fact that it is huge, I actually like it. I like the colors together...even that long stretch of grey...and I love that you will always look back on this scarf and have some of those memories. But I also love that you are done with it...such a huge accomplishment and I bet it feels so good!
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Birthday!!!
I stated it on my 55th birthday, so decided to cast on 55 stitches. The rest is history. :-)
DeleteWOW. Just.....WOW. That's amazing. And warm, if nothing else! And an accomplishment, to boot.
ReplyDeleteYep. WOW. That totally sums it up. :-)
DeleteHappy (probably belated) Birthday! I think that the scarf would make an excellent table runner. (That's preferable to tripping or strangling on a too-long, too-wide scarf.)
ReplyDeleteMary G. in Texas
Great suggestion! Or maybe I could drape it across the top of our piano. :-)
DeleteNo matter how you feel about it, it's a memorable project. I love it!
ReplyDeleteI like your definition - memorable indeed!
DeleteCongratulations on the finished project!
ReplyDeleteit looks terrific against the snow.
Lisa R-R in Toronto
Thank you Lisa! You are kind to say it looks nice against the snow. :-)
DeleteI didn't laugh, but I may have giggled a little! The colors are gorgeous, and I guess you won't be knitting another?!
ReplyDeleteVery good guess, Sarah. I will definitely not be knitting another one of these. Never. Again. :-)
DeleteWhat an amazing achievement. It's beautiful. I have something of similar size and I tend to start with the middle being over my head and then wrapping round the neck. It gives me extra ear warmth.
ReplyDeleteThat's actually a great idea to drape it over my head first. Thanks for that! It might make it actually usable if I do that. I don't mind the width of the scarf, it is the length that bothers me and that would deal with the problem.
DeleteHmm, let me say that I would not have the self restrain to do something that requires so much.... commitment. You can always use it as a stole, and I love its colors. I've heard about projects like this and wondered if I could do it... maybe if it would be narrower,after all the dr Who scarf is also pretty long... not that I could knit that much garter stich.
ReplyDeleteIf you have been thinking of a similar project I have a suggestion for you. Don't do it. :-)
DeleteThanks for the advice. All that garter would hold me back, anyway :-)
DeleteWow, it IS a tad large, isn't it? :-). But I love the idea behind it!
ReplyDeleteAnd you thought it was bad when you kept knitting those cuffs and tried to tell yourself they would be fine. :-)
DeleteBrilliant, love it........ the colours look great and I am REALLY impressed with your commitment!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think it would have been better though if I had been a little less committed and quit sometime around September. :-)
DeleteI am so happy for you that you finished this HUGE undertaking! I do love the colors, but my goodness woman.....what were you thinking when you cast on 55 stitches for a scarf? LOL
ReplyDeleteI too am impressed with your commitment - I wish I was as determined about SOMETHING other than reading my kindle !!! I pulled needles and wool out to make a pair of baby socks and there it sits in my knitting bucket. Blah.
Hi Fergus!
Huge would be the key word here, for sure. :-)
DeleteI'm glad you are enjoying your new Kindle. I just got a Paperwhite for my birthday and I love it!
Happy birthday! What a wonderful way to capture the colours of the sky for a whole year! I like my projects to be short before I loose interest so I am so impressed with the work and commitment you have taken with it! Fergus looks so white against the snow!
ReplyDeleteSarah x
It was my one and only go at a lengthy project like this. I'm totally with you - from now on it is short projects only. Of course, my new definition of short will be anything that takes less than 12 months to complete. :-)
DeleteI love your posts, and this one really made me laugh! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got a laugh over my "slightly oversized" scarf. :-)
DeleteLove the shades of color! I'm sure you'll find a good use for it. Oh, and happy (belated) birthday!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I wonder if there is a charity group that knits for giants. I could donate it. :-)
DeleteWell done sticking with it! That alone is amazing, forget about the massive size. To your credit the colours look great together. And they suit you well!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if it is such a good thing that I stuck with it. I worry it might be a sign that I am losing it! Thanks for the compliment though. :-)
DeleteYou may have just started a new fashion trend, but probably not a handknit one. I think it's attractive!
ReplyDeleteBelated Happy Birthday--and enjoy your visitor!
I am really looking forward to seeing Rebekah! When she leaves again she will only have a few months left in Korea, so it won't be so hard to say goodbye this time. :-)
DeleteI actually think it's quite pretty ... it almost looks like a Native American weaving design. I haven't read all the comments on your post so I may be repeating someone, but perhaps you could use it as a table runner (for a very long table!)
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about it, but you are right. It does have the look of a Native American weaving design. Somehow, that makes me feel much better about it. :-)
DeleteThe table runner is a great suggestion!
Kristie,
ReplyDeleteWhat an accomplishment! I like your phrase, "a potential accessory to a crime!" I just love everything about this post. I adore the colors of your loooong scarf, and all the effort you put into it. How can I laugh at that? Oh, no, I won't laugh. But I can't help it. Ha ha ha ha ha. You hit my funny bone, and it won't stop!
Laughter is good for the soul, Keiko. :-)
DeleteA LENGTHY job for sure but what a way to remember a year's worth of sky and some of the memories it brings.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
It definitely holds lots of memories! :-)
DeleteNow that really is a wrap ... looks warm though, and what a great way to remember a year gone by! :D
ReplyDeleteIt is extremely warm - it will have to be well below zero before I could even think about wearing it!
DeleteCongratulations. What stamina, what method, what on earth will you do with it? I like the idea of a runner or a lap blanket (after you cut it inhalf, of course.)
ReplyDeleteI think it is going to end up being the runner on top of the piano. Or maybe I will let Fergus and Jenny use it as a tug-of-war toy. :-)
Delete