Unexpected Knit Cowl

Sometimes projects don't turn out how you thought they would. When that happens, it can be a bit discouraging. However, finding the unexpected value in a project gone awry can help you to relax and save you a bit of heartache.

Remember this scrap project that I started forever ago? Well, I completely stalled out on it. I got bored. I was knitting round and round and round... and... *yawn*. It did not end up being the giant scarf that I had planned on. So, I reassessed my work and found the value; I turned it into a small cowl instead by blocking it out fairly aggressively.

As it turns out, I really like it this way! It was a good way to use up some nicer fingering weight scraps. It was also a nice mindless project to work on at my fiber group while we chatted. Hopefully I can carry this momentum into other stalled projects.

Have you had any projects turn out differently than you expected?

Snow Blossom Beanie

It's almost time for spring! Boy, am I ready. The winter weather around Washington hasn't been as intense as other parts of the country (my friends in Portland and Boise were drowning in snow!), but it's definitely time for the grey to make way for green. Appropriately, today I released my Snow Blossom Beanie, which is perfect for the last of the chill. It is available on Ravelry and Craftsy. Thanks go out to the lovely Alexis for modeling.

The Snow Blossom Beanie reflects the hopeful transition from winter into early spring. It is delicate and feminine with sweet little flowers. Surface crochet and appliques provide nice texture and stand out in the cold. The pattern includes a chart, written instructions, and a short photo tutorial on surface crochet. The yarn used to make this pattern has unfortunately been discontinued. Alternative yarns are suggested.