More Dulaaning

It was a Dulaan (before you click on that link, fair warning: It's a pdf) kind of a weekend.  My back was still bothering me a bit, and knitting on my sweater seemed too intense an effort.  I did several rows on my Baby Burp Cloth scarf, and in addition to making the first "Dulaan Cupcake Hat" from Sunday's entry, I also made these:

Baby, it was cold out there when I took this picture.  Each one of these, as well as the Cupcake Hat from Sunday, used up oddballs and remnants of yarn.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love to use up oddballs and scraps and turn them into something warm and useful? It gives me way more pleasure than it probably should.   

The Final Accounting, since, you know, we self-employed people are all thinking about accounting this time of year: 

3 hats (including the one in Sunday's entry) and a neckwarmer for Dulaan.  Check.

Ends of yarn used:  1 entire ball Classic Elite Beatrice (the orange blend) left over from making my Kirstin sweater; the ends of a dark brown Lamb's Pride Bulky; the ends of a ball of coral-colored mohair received from a yarn swap at Claudia's; the end of a skein of Lopi (the goldish-orange in the earflap hat); the end of a skein of Patons Divine (the first half was used in a Dulaan scarf for last year; a ball and a half of pale blue Berger du Nord received as a gift from JoVE; the ends of a skein of blue Plymouth Encore used for a hat for Rabbitch's hat drive in December; the ends of Scout's first handpainted yarn. 

No dustbunnies were harmed in the making of these, but at least I feel like I made a bit of a dent in the neatening, as a result of using up all those oddballs.  (Deluding myself again.  Work with me here.)

I think it's quite magical how I can start with a little odd scrap of yarn that looks quite useless, and on a day when I don't have the necessary energy to knit something challenging, I can end up with something cute and warm for the Dulaan box.  It's also fun looking at that little oddball and figuring, "I can get a hat (or neckwarmer or trim or even one stripe, or whatever) out of that," and have it come out just about right. Or if it doesn't, then pick up another scrap and continue on. Using every last scrap:  It's a Yankee kinda thang.

And the Dulaan box, it is filling up. 

P.S.  There is a new post in the Red Scarf Blog.  Go see. 

Comments

[Kristen]

Awwww! Sniffle, sniffle! (And a "Huzzah!" Gimme the address of that brown-eyed boy!)

[Kristin]

Way to go! I've been doing the same. It's been a very challenging past few weeks so Dulaan knitting is about all I can take in the evening. I've made 6 so far and barely made a dent in my bucket of scrap yarn. I'm going to post a photo of them hopefully sometime this week. By the way, the cupcake hat is very cute! I'm doing most of mine with the Live Dangerously, Don't Swatch pattern which starts at the top. It's a very easy one to remember for me. Can you give an idea of the size you are doing for a neck warmer? I'd make some of those too!

[Carole]

I love the Yankee in you, Norma.

[LauraJ]

You Spa yes?

[Lucia]

Fookin brrrilliant, as Billy Pyle would say. (Is he even still around?)

What LauraJ asked. Me Spa. You Spa?

[Roxie]

It's a sort of magic, taking something that someone else might throw away and making something useful from it. It satisfies a survival need in us. And then, over and above useful comes the satisfaction of making something beautiful! It satisfies the soul! I imagine someone opening the gift boxes, and my particular hat appeals to one particular child, and she / he says, "I want that one!" And wears it with pleasure and pride.

[Carrie]

They (the kids) are so sweet. I want to hug them all and tell them what a great job they're doing. Must find more red yarn!

[Laura]

Love it. LOVE that picture. It's inspiring to get out the stuff and start knitting for Dulaan. I've said that before... maybe this time it'll really happen. (feeling the subtle NormaNag hitting me) I'm thinking the earflaps are a great idea - how long do you make your i-cords?

[Sue]

Wow! They look great, Norma! Isn’t it such a joy to know that others will be kept warm with these?

[kathleen]

you are my dulaan idol. i love that yellowy flap cap1

[Lynn]

What cute hats!! And I get excited when I use up those last little bits too. I've been making cat toys for the new additions and I've even stuffed on with left over scraps cut from old projects!

[Cookie]

Look at you go!

[Minnie]

so does that make me a yankee as well? i love scraps. in fact, i used to collect small balls of yarn from my thrift store, just so i could play with them. unfortunately, that thrift store is in another town, and the closest one to me doesn't carry yarn :(. i love the crazy color combos i get with my odd balls, lol.

[Carol]

Awww-Time to knit red. Hope you're feeling better.