Fiber Detours and Dead Ends (or “The Scarf That Never Ends!”)

Okay, so I’m not always going to post twice in one day, but since I have determined this to be, in part, a knitting blog, I thought I should share one of my WIP’s (work in progress).  Back story:  When Michelle taught me to knit last year, we both decided that we would make ourselves Harry Potter scarves – Gryffindor House pattern, of course.  We used Knit Picks Merino Style in Hollyberry and Harvest.  I think I started my scarf in January, while Michelle was already onto her next project having finished her scarf months before.  Take a look at the pattern – it’s a cast on of 90 stitches knit in the round that goes on . . .
and on . . .
and on. 
(And we even cheated, doing only 12 repeats instead of the 14 the pattern calls for.)
However, in October, after working on it quite sporadically, it appeared that I might actually finish the blamed thing!  Michelle told me to be sure to cut the yarn for the fringe before I finished the scarf to make sure I’d have enough yarn, and so I did.  But as I got nearer to the end of the final repeat of the pattern, I started to sweat.  My last ball of Hollyberry was dwindling fast.  No worries – I had enough to bind off with 8 inches to spare!  Whew!  Now for the fringe – one side done, and start on the next.  Yup – you guessed it.  I ran out of yarn needing only about 24 inches to finish the gaps in the fringe.  I had no choice but to place another order with Knit Picks (and of course, you have to spend $40 to get free shipping – I was being fiscally responsible ordering some other stuff!).  Since it was just the fringe, I wasn’t worried about the dye lot. 
My order was to be delivered on a Tuesday, but the box didn’t arrive until Thursday.  Houston, we have a problem – it was not my box.  Some lady in Florida had my yarn, and I had some painting supplies.  I called Knit Picks and Kathy was wonderful to send my order out again with no hassle.  Kathy understood.  Kathy is a knitter.  Finally, the Hollyberry arrived, and I finished the fringe.  Behold, the boy wizard! (Thank you to Robert for indulging me in posing for this photo.)

After this, I could hardly say no when he asked if I’d make him a Slytherin scarf.  8 balls of Knit Picks Merino Style in Pine and 2 balls of Fog later, and I am making better progress – probably because I know it can be done – it will end!
This was taken November 1st (gotta love the date setting on the digital camera):
 I had finished 2 repeats.  Tonight, I am very close to finishing the 8th repeat, with 4 more to go after that.  Yes – I did over 5 repeats in 17 days.  Much better progress than on Gryffindor.  Hmmm, am I really going to try to do some Christmas knitting? 

By the way, a big thank you to the girl in Wal-Mart this past Wednesday who told me she liked my Gryffindor scarf I was wearing.  You made my day!