Scarf Exchange Take Two + Kepler Along + a little Kiri

I was having some issues with the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. It wasn't the pattern...I really like it. It was the combination of the yarn and the pattern that was worrying me.

Enter My-So-Called scarf. If you think this looks familiar, you're right. I knit this scarf for myself in this pattern last winter. I love this pattern and the yarn (Handpaintedyarn.com's worsted weight merino in the magnolia colorway) I was saving the last skein that I had for the matching hat pattern, but before I printed off the pattern had been sold to a magazine. Now...I'm super excited for the girl who wrote the pattern, but a little bummed that I didn't print it when I first saw it. No matter though, the yarn came in handy. I don't need another My So Called Scarf, but I do love knitting it so it was the perfect replacement for the Chevron Scarf for the Secret Scarf Exchange. I really hope my recipient likes it. I'm planning on mailing it the second weekend of September if not earlier.

In other knitting news...I've joined the Kepler Knitalong that Amy is hosting. Emily has created a masterpiece and is graciously sharing the pattern for Kepler with the rest of the knitting world. I swatched for Kepler with Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride worsted in dark charcoal the other day. I'm not happy with the cable definition in this yarn. It's wonderful yarn and I love working with it, but it's not working for this pattern. The yarn has been reassigned to another project (Dad's felted clogs for Christmas) and I have purchased what I hope to be a sufficient amount of Cascade's Eco Wool in Mocha. I'll be casting on to swatch for that as soon as it arrives.


I've also joined the Kiri KAL. This is my first true experience with lace. I'm in love with this pattern. I think it's an excellent beginners pattern since it is charted and written affording the beginner the opportunity to "cheat" while trying to get the hang of reading the chart. I've completed Chart 1 and 2 repeats of Chart 2. I'm using KnitPicks Shadow in Oregon Coast. This yarn is so amazing. So soft and the colors are fantastic. This picture doesn't do the colors justice. From across the room it looks tan, but up close there are all these colors incorporated in it. It absolutely reminds me of a sandy beach.