I love this wood stove, and I love being warm. These photos obviously aren't taken from my apartment with its inefficient baseboard heaters and leaky windows. They're taken from my dad's house, which is where I've been staying during the weekdays, helping my step-mom with errands and such as she recovers from an injury.
And while I miss home terribly, these little creatures - Rags the cat and Jake the dog - are good company throughout the day. They're both furry and friendly, and they seem to like me well enough. As it were, I generally like any animal that likes me back. Rags has a particular affection for my little stash of wool, so we get along well due to our common interests.
The observant among you may notice that my
festive red and gray scarf seems to have lost length since the last time I shared my progress with you. This is such a simple project that I'm embarrassed to tell you exactly how many times I've frogged it. I'm also a little embarrassed to admit that I refused to be sensible and research the proper way to carry yarn up the sides until
after I had already ripped it out for the sixth or seventh time in frustration. I thought I could figure it out on my own, and that I would be able to settle for a conspicuously messy side, but after giving the scarf close, objective inspection, I sighed deeply, and began ripping away once more.
So now that I know the proper technique, I've decided to make this horribly monotonous project a little more interesting by teaching myself to knit continental. I've heard many a great thing about the speed one can attain through continental knitting, and although some argue for the joys of English-style throwing, my project-oriented mind sees great value in getting things done quickly.
My first rows in learning this new technique have been rough to say the least, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. Every time I make noticeable improvement, something in my brain dances with joy, which is enough reward to keep me going. And if continental knitting is really as fast as everyone claims, it will be well worth the effort.
As for this poor scarf, my stitches are frustratingly uneven due to my lack of dexterity. So... I may have to frog it again and restart before the end. We'll see.
