Since this is a knitting blog, I guess I really should blog about what I was knitting while I was travelling. First up, another iPod case – this time for my Director, who is based in Mozambique. Since she has one of the "bigger" iPods, and not a Nano like mine, I didn't use the same design as mine. Again, I used leftover sock yarn (this one is Meilenweit's Megaboot). 

 And, since I wanted to include earphone storage, I added a ribbed pocket on the back. I knit the pocket flap separately, using a provisional cast-on. Then I wove the sides and bottom onto the back of the case.

This gift was received in the manner that all knitters hope that their gifts are received – with much appreciation. It was a fun little knit, and was a pleasure to give away!

Next up, is a scarf that I began before I left, and worked on primarily on my outgoing flights. This is based on the Clapotis, with many modifications. So I have dubbed this my Garter Rib Clapotis Scarf

This project was the result of two random thoughts that popped in my brain. The first came when I looked at the 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Tuscany colourway that I won in a contest that Norma held back in August. I had always planned to make a pair of socks from this yarn, but suddenly it occurred to me that these skeins did not want to become socks. They wanted to be something else, though they knew not what.

On a separate occasion, suddenly it occurred to me that I must make a Clapotis.  It wasn't that I had any burning desire to have a clapotis – it was more that I had a burning desire to make one. It was the technique that interested me. More and more I find that I'm choosing what to knit based on technique instead of based on the final product. And Clapotis has some interesting features – it is knit on the bias and incorporates dropped stitches to create a nice effect of having the yarn pattern angling in one direction and the stitch pattern angling in the the opposite direction. Very cool. The pattern calls for 820yds of a worsted weight yarn, and results in a scarf that is 21 in x 55 in. I had 430 yards of a sock weight yarn.  No problem.

So I decided to make the scarf about half the width of the original, and figured I would have enough yarn to make it long enough. Since I was making it at a totally different gauge, I didn't follow the number of repeats or rows or anything, just the technique. That was major modification #1.

I knit a few inches on it, and was not very happy with the result. Of course, it curled, as any stockinette based scarf is going to do. Now, if you look at the picture, it is meant to curl. That's part of the design. But while a 21" scarf will curl into a wearable width, a 10" scarf will curl into a little tiny tube (and you know how I feel about little tiny tubes. So in came major modification #2. I changed the stitch pattern from a stockinette-based pattern to a garter-ribbed pattern. On the right side rows I knit across (twisting the stitches on either side of the dropped stitches, as instructed), but on the wrong-side rows I did a 3 x 3 rib. As a result, the sections in between the dropped stitch sections are in garter stitch instead of stockinette stitch.  Here's a close-up:

I'm quite happy with the result. I finished it early in my trip, but only blocked it once I got home (I may have taken a lot of knitting supplies with me on the trip, but I decided against packing blocking wires!). The resulting scarf is 10" x 72".

That was it for finished objects on the trip. The rest of the time was spent on 2 Big Projects.

Months ago I was reading Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac, and became intrigued by the Mystery Blanket (the April project). This afghan is done in squares, from the center out, and then the squares are grafted together and a border is added. There is no sewing, but lots and lots of grafting. I thought that using self-striping yarn would create an interesting blanket, with each square different, but coordinated. And I know (from experience) that anything done in squares makes for good travel knitting. So when I was planning my travel knitting, I picked up a few skeins of Paton's SWS, to give it a try. I didn't buy enough for an entire blanket, in case I didn't like it.

I like it.

I used the Natural Navy colourway for the inside of the squares, and the Natural Denim for the outside. I bought 7 skeins total (5 Natural Navy, 2 Natural Denim), and with that I made 13 squares, approximately 12 sq. in. each. I graft 4 of them together to see how it will look. I think it's going to make a great, cozy, curl-up-on-the-couch afghan. I now need to buy more, but I figure the dye lot isn't crucial since the squares aren't identical anyway. The squares are fun to knit, and I've come to love grafting, so I even enjoyed putting them together. 

The other big project I'm working on isn't easy to photograph at the moment. I've dubbed it the Big Pile O' Lace. It's Misti Alpaca Laceweight, and I cast on 491 (gulp) stitches. Here it is, several inches in, with many much more to go.

I also did some knitting on Dad's sock, but I think it's too narrow in the leg and I fear I will need to rip it all out. Mom, will you please measure Dad's calf at about 8" off the floor.  Thanks!

So that's it for my travel knitting!