It was early September, and I was ready for a challenge. I had just purchased a wondrous book called Knitting Little Luxuries by Louisa Harding. It was filled with beautiful projects, each more lovely than the next (not to mention a pair of shoes to die for on the cover). I felt I was ready for the next level, but this was not a trip I could start on my own. I needed advice from my Yoda, and Mary Beth obligingly came to my shop that very same week. She started me off on the magical journey of what Louise dubbed "The Hard Scarf". The piece has a pattern repeat of 27 rows, in which are contained 10 cables, and two continuous rows of yarn over holes. This pattern is repeated 20 times. The first time I did those 27 rows, it too me 4 hours. By the time I finished the scarf, I could do them in two, and almost from memory. I can probably do them in my sleep. This will be one of those pieces I take with me to the grave.

This brings us to my first project. Not the hat I started in class (which really did get finished) or the scarf from class (that didn't), but the first things I made on my own, no patterns, no nets. I should give you a bit of background. While I am new to the Land of the Fiber, I am no stranger to arts & crafts. I have been living in the Land of the Beads for fifteen years. For much of that time I have been designing intricate beadwoven jewelry, eventually opening up a shop selling my beadwork and jewelry making supplies. So I am not shy when it comes to design, in fact, I would much rather make things my way. I also generally like to "wing it", half the fun of the doing is figuring it out for myself. In that first week I had accumulated an overwhelming amount of books, yarn, needles, and even an iPhone app. I had all the ammunition I needed and was ready to go!

I was particularly inspired by this very thick and very orange yarn I had found at a local craft store. And I knew from my first class that I could do garter and stockinette stitches till the cows came home. I wanted to learn something new. So I decided on a hat with a ribbed brim and a scarf with a basic cable. I flew through these first pieces like a woman possessed! And in the end I took a look at what I had done and felt pride, then like any good addict, quickly discovered I already needed more.