Just in time for fall

Knitting in Purl Scarf
Originally uploaded by Emily E.M.

I've finished my first Purl Scarf! I say first because I can see myself making several more of these scarves. So easy, yet so satisfying, and, most importantly, so me. I love a good long fluffy scarf that can be wrapped around the neck four times with length to spare! I started this back in August as my easy work project, and it got finished quite quickly. I took it to the Yarn Harlot's talk last week, where I knit a couple of feet, and then I finished it up on Saturday morning.

Project Stats: Purl Scarf

Pattern: Purl Scarf, from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: Manos del Uruguay (color 115 - 2 skeins) and Knit One Crochet Too Douceur et Soie (Deep Garnet - 1 skein)

Needles: Size 11 Clover Bamboo straights

Finished Size: About 5x92" - that is a long scarf!

Time on the Needles: Mid-August- September 22, 2007. Just over a month, which is not bad for something 92" long, especially with all the other knitting that's been competing for my attention.

Impressions: Love it! My love of Manos has been well-documented here on the blog, so I'll not bore you with it again; suffice to say, I love me some Manos. Enough that it interferes with my sense of good grammar...I think it's pretty difficult to go wrong with a ribbed scarf in beautiful yarn though, don't you? Including the mohair adds an additional color depth and a pop of fuzziness, even though I only used one mohair instead of the recommended two. I'd really like to make some more of these scarves, one in every semi-solid shade of Manos, but I will have to restrain myself at least until after the Christmas gifts are knitted...

I have been such a bad blogger of late, and I apologize. I've been up to all sorts of blogworthy stuff, and yet my laziness with the camera means there's nothing to feast your eyes on whilst I ramble about departmental retreats and dusty bike races, and so on. But, for the interested or those with nothing more interesting to read about, Thursday and Friday I was in lovely Port Townsend, WA for our annual microbiology departmental retreat, where we blather on about science and acquaint ourselves with the incoming first-year graduate students. During the break Dave and I headed into town where he accompanied me to (brace yourselves) two yarn shops, Diva Yarn and The Twisted Ewe. I much preferred the second shop, although they were both nice. At The Twisted Ewe I might have accidently bought some Socks that Rock (very well-priced, should you be in the market/neighborhood), as well as some yarn for a Christmas gift that shall remain secret in case the recipient is reading.

I spent Saturday night and all day Sunday standing around watching bike racing, which is one of my favorite pasttimes (yes, seriously). This weekend was the real start to the local cyclocross season, with two big races in the area. Big as in several national champions were racing in our backyard, including two from Europe. It's always exciting when the Euro pros grace us with their presence! Dave had good races both days, and a good time was had by all. If I had any dramatic pictures, you'd be seeing them, but all I have are podium pictures, and they're not really that exciting unless you're into it and know who they are...