Sunday, December 30, 2012



scarf   n.   a length or square of fabric worn around the head or neck


January ... brrrrr! Winter is fully upon us now and where I live it's COLD! I was going through my pile of scarves looking for something to wrap around my neck and shoulders to take the chill off. All of my scarves were long and narrow and no matter how many times I looped them around it just wasn't what I was looking for.

Off to my yarn stash to knit just the right scarf to wrap myself in cozy goodness. The result is this month's project: a Triangle Scarf. Knit with fine yarn on large needles this scarf is large, soft and warm without being bulky. And hopefully it's a little stylish, too.


For my scarf, I used Vanna's Glamour, a lightweight acrylic yarn with a thin metallic thread. Most lightweight (size 2) yarns are animal fibres (wool, angora, alpaca, etc.) which may irritate your neck and chin. I tend to shy away from these because I am sensitive to animal fibres, but sometimes a yarn just screams out to me and I give in to a wool yarn. But I have a trick for being able to wear wool. Once my project is finished, I hand wash it in Soak, then rinse it in water mixed with hair conditioner (just like you use on your head in the shower). The conditioner smoothes the hair fibres and reduces the itch-factor.

If you are looking for a cozy scarf pattern, why not try my Triangle Scarf – an easy, quick p[roject to start of the New Year.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

... prizes


 

prize     n.     1. Something offered or won as an award, as in a contest or competition.


November was a busy month here at the Knitting Doodle.  I asked you to sign the Guest Book and you responded enthusiastically.  Your reward for doing that entered your names into a draw for a knitting prize package. 

 

Drum roll please ... the winner of the draw is DENISE PYNE of Sarnia, Ontario.  Congratulations, Denise!  Here’s what’s in your prize package: 

Knitting Doodle Tote Bag
2 Balls of Sunburst hand-dyed wool
2 hanks of Riverstone Yarns hand-dyed wool
US Size 7 Turned Wood Needles by Serendipity
Newborn Hospital Hat kit
2 packets of Soak

The draw was done on Saturday, December 1st, 2012 at Random Picker.  To see the list of entrants and the results, go to http://www.randompicker.com/protocol/16589x57073 .  It was so much fun to see where some of the Knitting Doodle followers are from and to read their encouraging comments. 

 
The Knitting Doodle started out in 2009 as a simple blog.  In January 2012, I launched it into a full website and to my surprise it has really taken off.  My goal in starting the Knitting Doodle website was to make a site that any knitter could have some fun with.  I had heard too many comments from beginning knitters that so many of the knitting sites and blogs out on the net seemed too advanced or highbrow.  I decided to do something about that!  The Knitting Doodle tries to put out monthly projects that beginning knitters can tackle with ease, but advanced knitters can alter to make it more challenging. 

 
And here at The Knitting Doodle we think it‘s just fine if you go to Michael’s and purchase Value yarn for your project or hit your local yarn shop for some more exclusive (expensive) yarn.  That’s one of the neat things about a knitting hobby.  It’s as expensive as you make it.  The point is you are doing something you enjoy ... knitting!

 

You may have noticed in the last month the addition of advertisements on the Knitting Doodle site.  I am trying a few different things to generate some income from the site.  Operating a website isn’t free.  Surprise, Surprise!  Whatever I decide for the future, I am committed to keeping the patterns, projects and videos free of charge. 

 

And, of course, I love hearing from you!  Let me know what you would like to see on the site.  Ask questions in the Doodle Forum.  Share the site with friends.  I’m really looking forward to 2013 and some of the projects I have lined up for you!  I guess you could say that YOU (the followers of the Knitting Doodle) are my prize package!  Thanks!