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Sunday, August 21, 2016

Fitzgerald Scarf

Deep Stash Half Marathon 2016 update:

Fitzgerald Scarf yardage:  380.9
DSHM current yardage total:  380.9
DSHM yardage remaining:  22,691.6

I have more yardage to add from a pair of socks and some sold/given away destashing, but I'll post that later.

Fitzgerald Scarf

Ravelry Stats on my Fitzgerald Scarf project page.

The Fitzgerald ticked a few boxes for me.  Besides yardage for the half marathon, it's my donation to this year's Red Scarf Project campaign and my challenge during the Olympics while playing Ravelry.com's Ravellenics Games.  Both events need some explanation, I suppose.

Briefly, then...

The Red Scarf Project is part of a care package program for college students run by Foster Care to Success, America's College Fund for Foster Youth.  For the last several years, FC2S has included a red scarf in its Valentine's Day care packages sent to students who have aged out of the foster-care system.  I read about the program through the Now Norma Knits blog and have been making annual knitted contributions for the last six years.  If you're interested in making a red scarf for some chilly student, please read the guidelines.

Fitzgerald Scarf

The Ravellenic Games run concurrent to the Olympics and are an opportunity for fiber enthusiasts around the world to knit, crochet, spin, and weave on challenging projects as a celebration of the athletes from around the world doing the amazing things they do.  Much like the Olympics, the Ravellenics have events (Scarf Hockey, Afghan Marathon, Sock-Put) for which feats of astounding crafting are attempted.  Finished lines are crossed, virtual medals and laurels are awarded to all participants with completed projects, and warm fuzzies are felt.  It's been a fun way to sit and watch the games in Rio.

That said, this scarf nearly did me in.  Not because it's hard.  It is not.  It is, in fact, addictive.  But I started it halfway through the Olympics and had never finished a scarf of this magnitude (6 inches by 75.5 inches) in less than ten days.  This one took me seven, plus one day to block.  Rows flew by, but there were oh-so-many!  Two rows in each repeat require a couple stitches for every eleven to be completely off the needles, flapping in the air conditioning.  While you'd think that might be nerve-racking, it's not.  Those stitches stay put like good little kiddos until you need them again.

Fitzgerald Scarf blocking

I had thought I would like to make a blanket with this pattern.  However, the fabric this stitch creates rolls horribly.  I blocked the dickens out of the scarf, but it still wants to roll in on itself when handled and not sitting still for photos.  Don't know if a lap full of this pattern would behave the same way, but I'm not eager to find out now.

Fitgerald Scarf in snail mode
The scarf before blocking, but it rolls up after blocking, too.

Anyway, here's to the first scant quarter mile in the half marathon.  Onward!

Fitzgerald Scarf

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