Where's Waldo?

One of my friends has dark round glasses - and happens to have a red & white striped shirt. I started teasing him that he looks like Waldo (Wally for my UK friends), so I decided to make this hat and scarf combo to complete the look! For the scarf, I simply used red and white wool to make this diagonal ribbed pattern that is one of my favorites. The pattern was extremely easy to knit, though I wish I had made narrower than the 42 stitches the original pattern required.

Since this was my first attempt at a hat, I chose this basic pattern that I thought would be fairly easy. After watching several online "how to" videos on using double-pointed needles, I felt ready to begin my cap. Surprisingly, knitting-in-the-round with double-pointed needles proved remarkably easy! (I was worried that the stitches would easily fall off the needles while working - though this wasn't a problem.) My only complaint about this pattern was the bottom edge wants to roll up since it's simply stockinette stitch; if I make this pattern again, I will definitely had some form of ribbed edging around the bottom. I also wish I had made my stitched a little tighter when switching between my four needles; there is a small gap visible (at least to me) where I changed needles. Fortunately, my friend was happy with the final result.

Christmas Scarf #2

After the difficult "Column of Leaves" lace pattern that I just finished, I decided it was time for a much easier pattern that I could mindlessly knit while watching TV. Since I also need to make a "man's" scarf as a friend's Christmas present, I thought this diagonal rib pattern would be exactly what I was looking for.

Last winter, I knitted a similar pattern for myself (in fact, the blogger who posted these two patterns considers them a series - though they have little more in common than both being diagonal ribs.) For my scarf last year, I had used multiple colors, which is something I really like until you start weaving in yarn (something I'm not that great at....) Since I wanted to keep this scarf as easy as possible, I decided to stick with a single color throughout (a light-weight wool on size 6 needles.) Fortunately, the scarf did prove a quick, easy knit - which was exactly what I needed (now I just hope my friend enjoys it.)

Diagonal Ribbed Men's Scarf

I have wanted to make myself a scarf for several months but generally find men's scarf patterns to be a little too boring. However, I found this diagonal rib pattern that proved to be both easy and engaging. In fact, I would say the most difficult aspect of the entire project was weaving in all the yarn from all the color changes!

To make the scarf, I used size 6 needles with a fairly light-weight merino wool (I would guess that it was sport weight - but the packaging wasn't printed in English, so I'm not exactly sure.) I was again impressed with the ease of knitting with wool; I might have a hard time returning to synthetics ever again!