Cables - fake and real!

I would not say that I am an expert knitter.  I have knit many things - baby sweaters, baby blankets, children's sweaters, scarfy things, mittens, a really bad hat and two good hats are the things I can list right away that I've made.  However, I have never knit cables.  I have found them too intimidating.  I'm not sure why, maybe because you need a special needle, or because in the books I was reading to learn knitterly things, the cable section went on and on about how cables messed up your gauge and you had to think about all these things...  so I've never done them.

When I confirmed with our mom that she would like a smaller scarf (cowl), I went looking for patterns.  I found this on Ravelry (Cowl) and thought it looked really cool.  I printed out the pattern, which is a chart, not secret knitting code (a first for me) and made a swatch to test the pattern and gauge.  I didn't like the yarn I had originally selected, so I used some plain yarn that I knew would be extra from Middle's blanket and forged ahead.

I had a big problem once I started the second repeat of the chart and I couldn't figure out why the pattern wasn't lining up.  Finally, I went back to the chart online and surprise - I knew that I was supposed to skip the last stitch of the last repeat of the final row, but I was ALSO supposed to skip the last three stitches of the last repeat two rows before that.  Everything went great after that, and here is the final result (I think our mom never reads the blog, so I feel safe in posting this).  The only thing I wish is that the yarn were more smooshy and slouchy.  It's pretty snug and stays close to your neck.  I am worried that it will remind her of the neck brace she had to wear for three months last fall.

It is not as lovely as the original, but I suspect that is user error on my part.  Anyhow, these look like cables, but they are fake cables.  No yarn is passing over other yarn.

The other thing I have been talking about is a scarf I want to make for My Friend.  I wanted a scarf that would be interesting, but still "manly" and this is what I found (Scarf) and I think that's just the thing.  It has real cables.

I was going to use some black alpaca wool I got in Colorado on vacation, but it is too small, so that may become more hats in the future.  After much thought and angst, after I finished the cowl last night, I made a little swatch of the scarf using the yarn originally intended for the cowl.  And I tested out making cables.  I don't know why I waited so long, cables are super easy and cute!  The gauge is totally off for this yarn - it's supposed to be sock yarn weight, and this is heavier than that - so I've just decided to reduce the width and keep the pattern the same.  Here is my swatch.  It's sitting on my laptop, which makes it look like it's floating.  Cool.

I still have the lace scarf that I'm planning on, but now I'm sick of the blue color I chose, and I want to get the green color that I saw at the shop when I was there.  Too much blue.  But a fun scarf to make!  The yarn is very soft and nice to touch.  I think MF will like it.

I'm taking the kiddos up to Boston for Thanksgiving to see Catherine and Evil Twin, and we've decided to go to Webs, a massive yarn store in Western MA, while we're there.  Should be fun!

Margie

I'm guessing about 5 hours on the cowl.  Maybe I'll start keeping track again.