Life of the Lintee Bean

I’m Lintee Bean, and I’m a scarf-a-holic.

As I noted previously, I am relearning how to crochet.  Last I wrote, I’d made a lumpy coaster, a quarter-scarf (not enough yarn for an entire scarf, so I ripped that out), and a skinny scratchy scarf.

So what have I been making since then – MORE SCARVES!

I find scarves the perfect beginning project as they are simple.  Often I can just use the same simple stitch for the entire scarf, even, and hope the yarn is so pretty no one will notice the stitches are boring… and uneven… and bumpy.

So, since the last time I wrote on the subject, I attempted a “color block” scarf:

color block scarf

I realized about 1/3 into the project that these yarns are much too different to work together.  (See how the red is nice and heavy but the blue has lots of “air holes”?)  So, I ripped it out.

Then I attempted another simple fluffy scarf, just single crochet stitches:

Hump-me the Tiger modeling simple fluffy scarf

It’s not exactly perfect, not by a long shot, but it’s wearable and I started wearing it at every opportunity.  Heck, it’s not exactly fashionable, but I made it!  I’m very proud of myself.  It’s even fluffy and warm!

Wearing my sad little scarf to work, a coworker asked me if I’d make a scarf for her niece.  (Um, now that I think about it… maybe she asked before she saw the results of my crochet.  Now it makes sense.)  I said I would LOVE to!  I originally picked out a pattern similar to the simple fluffy scarf, but upon hearing the niece was four years old, I decided to do something different.  Also, the coworker thought a cap and scarf would be really cute, but I’m not ready for hats yet – only squares and rectangles.  So, I decided to try making a simple hooded scarf. 

I quickly found the textured yarn I chose was MUCH harder to work with than what I had been using.  Fortunately, a friend had suggested I join Ravelry, which is kind of like Facebook for knitters and crocheters!  (I’m “lynetteack”, friend me!)

So, I joined a “Learn Crochet” group and asked for help.  I got some great advice, and perservered.  Again, far from perfect, but I thought it turned out pretty cute.  I added a tassel, because a four year-old little girl needs a fun little tassel, in my opinion.

Hump-me the Tiger modeling simple hooded scarf

So, I gave it to the coworker, who expressed her delight and thanks.  Then, to my surprise, another coworker came to me and she’d seen the scarf and wondered how much it’d cost for me to make HER one!  What a huge compliment!  I will do it for free, of course, and ordered more yarn (as she wanted the same one).  I’ll start it as soon as I finish a big project due January 29.

But wait, it gets BETTER!  I posted a picture on Ravelry, as the people that helped me said they wanted to see my final project… and they liked it!  One even asked me how I made it as she wanted to make one!  Then someone else I don’t know posted a comment on the picture, saying it was cute… and another person added it to their “favorites”!  I feel like a REAL CROCHETER now!

So now I’m basically obsessed with scarves.  I see people and note their scarf, or think their scarf could be prettier – or oh my gosh, they NEED a scarf fo compliment that outfit!  I’m a little nervous about what I’ll do when winter is over and no one needs scarves… but hopefully I’ll think of something.