Christmas presents, part 2: Who wants an awesome scarf?

So scarves are nice to make, partly because they tend to be fast, and partly because they tend to be mindless. Which is a good thing when you're also trying to keep toddlers from inadvertently maiming themselves.

My first crochet project "back" this fall was this scarf here:

Photo credit: Me via Fotofriend

I told myself if I was going to start crocheting again, gosh darn it my first project would be for me. And I finished it, and it is glorious. It reminds me of a candy cane. I made up the pattern; it's stitched end-to-end in single crochet in the back loop only, alternating colors every two rows with 8 rows of cream in the middle. Stitching in the back loop only gave it a nice ribbed texture and a bit more bulk.

Later on, after I'd finished an afghan or two, I decided to use up a little scrap yarn, so I made two of these gaiters, I guess they are called. It's a loop that makes the neck part of the scarf, but you just throw it around your neck and don't have to tie anything. These I just made up as I went, stitching them the short way and single crocheting a seam in the back. Then I fold it in half--it's actually twice as tall as in the picture, so there are two layers there. The first one was red and black, and I gave it to Steph. The second one in pink and linen is pictured below:

Photo credit: Me via Fotofriend

It reminds me a little too much of those foam medical braces for people with neck injuries. If I make any more like this, they will be in darker colors. It doesn't look too bad with my black coat, though.

So for gift-giving, I am thinking I ought to follow a pattern. I welcome feedback on styles and colors here. If you're reading this, I will probably be willing to make you one, so just ask! This is my sanity-saving project to work on between afghans. Here is a cowl I'm thinking of making one of my scarf-loving, fashionable sister in laws:

Photo credit: Lionbrand.com, pattern via link above

OMG you guys, giraffe print turtleneck. That's taking yarn modeling to a whole new level. ><

OK, I will try to quit picking on the models. They are modeling for old ladies, so what do I expect? It's not like my pictures are high fashion, either. Seriously, though, I like that pattern and think in a different color, it might be lovely. It makes me think of an infinity scarf, which I suppose it is.

Then there is this, which I also love the look of:

Photo credit: Lionbrand.com, pattern via link above

Maybe in a different color as well. I don't really know. Sometimes I think I should go neutral, so it goes with anything, but other times I think a scarf is an opportunity to make an outfit pop, so I should go bold. If it's a gift, though, going bold can be dangerous--I'm not great at figuring out exactly what colors people would like to wear. So, if any of the lovely ladies in my life want to weigh in, make any requests, I will be happy to whip something up especially for you! And if you hate both of the scarves above, let me know what you'd like. Wide and chunky? Narrow and funky? Thin and lacy? I'll do whatever. Want a hat instead? No problem. In fact, I might dedicate another post to hats, since I need to make myself a new one.


Note: All pictures in this post are taken from Lionbrand.com unless otherwise noted. Yarn and other notions are available for purchase at their website, as well as many free patterns such as those linked above. The red in the first scarf pictured above is Vanna's Choice in cranberry. The second scarf pictured is Vanna's Choice in linen and pink with two strands held together. Both are my own pattern.