Curving?

So I started working on a new scarf, shown on the right.

Cast on 19 stitches

R1 - K
R2 - K
R3 - K
R4 - K2 *y/o, K2tog (repeat 8 times)* K1

I like the pattern it creates, but I'm having a minor issue. The further along I get, the more I'm noticing that the scarf is starting to slowly curve. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the pattern itself or maybe the way I'm knitting. If any of you have any ideas on why it's happening or how I can stop it, let me know.

Washcloth

A few months ago I came across this beautiful green cotton yarn on clearance at Tuesday Morning. Never having worked with cotton before (and unable to resist a good deal), I bought a couple skeins. This weekend I finally put it to use and tried my hand at creating a pattern for a washcloth.

Below is the result and the pattern. I actually altered the pattern a bit after the fact to get rid of the excess bit at the top (a couple rows of knitting that made the pattern uneven).

I was told I could just buy one at the store for $1, but come on, where's the fun in that?

Washcloth Pattern:

Yarn: Ella Rae Baby Cotton
Weight: DK / 8 ply
Suggested Needle size: 4.00mm (US 6) (I used 4.5mm (US 7) as I tend to knit a little tight)

Cast on 30 stitches

R1 – K
R2 – K
R3 – K
R4 – K
R5 – K2 *p* K2
R6 – K
R7 – K2 *p* K2
R8 – K2 *p* K2

R9 – K2 *p* K2
R10 – K2 *y/o, K2tog (repeat 13 times)* K2

Repeat Rows 1-10 twice more

R11 – K
R12 – K
R13 – K
R14 – K
R15 – K2 *p* K2
R16 – K
R17 – K2 *p* K2
R18 – K
R19 – K
R20 – K
R21 - K (and bind off)

Click here to download this pattern.

_{*This is my first pattern, so if any notations seem off or there's a simpler way to write it, let me know.}

Check Your Dye Lot!

When I picked the yarn for this baby blanket, I eye-balled the colors. While they do match, the dye lot made a definite difference in the overall pattern. Thankfully, I don't view it as a total loss. The more I look at the variation (and the more I'm told it looks fine), the more it grows on me.

I ended up using yarn to crochet the flowers instead of embroidery thread, then I attached buttons and sewed them straight on to the blanket.

Unfortunately, the blanket also curls a bit, something fairly common to a stockinette stitch. I thought the border would be enough to prevent that; maybe a wider border would fix the issue? If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

New Yarn and New Storage

Thanks to Craigslist I found the perfect solution to my yarn storage dilemma: An antique metal bookcase.

The previous owner said it originally belonged to her grandfather and she thought it was from the 1930's or 40's. It's sliding glass doors keep away the cats (and their fur), and unlike the plastic drawers I was using, it's much easier to see and grab what I'm looking for. It also came with a wood stand with caster wheels that her grandfather had built for it which makes it easy to move around if necessary.

And I couldn't have found it at a better time. After a trip to the Lebanon Flea market yesterday, I came away with nearly 30 skeins for 30 dollars (Willpower, what's that?). After assessing all the yarn I have now, I am amused, albeit not that surprised, at how many skeins of yarn I had squirreled away over the years. Now I just need to start assigning projects to them.