Nyan's Scarf

It's been so hot and humid lately, that all I want to do is sit in my room with the air-conditioning blasting (intermittently, since it's on energy saver, yo) and crochet... and watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Hulu.

I've been crocheting a lot!

Last week, my friend Nyan over at NyanPon's Knits and Crochet posted the cutest scarf pattern.  I absolutely had to make it!  She gives you the instructions for an average width scarf, but suggest that if you'd like a chunkier scarf you can double the foundation chain when you start.  Chunkier scarf?! I am all over that!  (Crossing my arms and nodding my head like I Dream of Jeannie) Done!

This was a perfect project for four reasons:
1. I already had the yarn (Bernat Handicrafter 100% cotton worsted weight yarn in Country Red) and hook (size H).
2. One of my friends has a birthday next month and I've been agonizing about what to make her.  She'll love this.
3. Chunky scarves look really good on those of us that don't wear size 4 jeans.  The proportions make us look good, especially if the scarf is a little long.
4. This pattern is fun and quick, even as large as I made mine.  It's also a little brainless (in a really good way) which means you can crochet and watch a movie at the same time without worrying that the pattern will get all messed up.

The finished measurements of my scarf ended up being 16" wide by 84" (that's 7 feet long, peeps!).  You, of course, wouldn't have to make yours this big.  Or, you could make it even larger!  I think I'm going to make a 2nd scarf this size for myself, and triple the foundation chain stitches (up to 60) and make a scarf/wrap.  Perfect for SoCal winters!

Okay, so I have to tell you a funny story about the 'photo shoot' for this scarf.  I don't look super happy in the picture, but I swear it's not the scarf (in fact, everyone who has seen the scarf 'in person' has wanted one)!  It's the fact that it was 102 degrees out.  Did you notice my dead lawn?  It's reverting back to desert, people!!!

Also, that shirt was too hot.  I had the perfect shirt on earlier, when I went to my oncology check-up (No sign of the lymphoma in my bloodwork! All my stats were normal. Yippee!), which was the one I wanted to wear for the picture.  But I did something dumb involving dry shampoo and couldn't wear it...

Has Pinterest suckered you in to making your own dry shampoo yet? No? Give it time...

My batch was approximately 2 cups cornstarch, with about 1/2 cup baking soda added in.  I use about a tablespoon on the days between washings (my hair is a little pretty damaged from switching back and forth between blue-black hair and blonde hair... twice...).  So I get the super bright idea today that I should 'refresh' my hair so it would look good in the picture.  It was so hot, and I was a little sweaty and my hair was looking a little flat, so I figure that it needed a little boost from the dry shampoo.  Uh, I'm going to blame the heat for this synaptic misfire...

So I get my hair loaded up in cornstarch and baking soda, not giving a single thought about my shirt, or my makeup or the fact that I had already done my hair this morning and used hairspray...  Epic fail.  I got it everywhere...  I had to change my clothes...  I had to wear a too-hot shirt...  I think that this would be really funny if it had happened to my sister... but since it's me, not so much.

The only redeeming thing is that I was right.  My hair did look really good afterwards, 'cause that stuff works really, really well...

Okay, Dynamos, go make some scarves and your own dry shampoo today!

xoxo