When an Addiction Gets Addicting or How I was Enraptured by Drab.

I pretty much worked on this scarf nonstop. I did laundry, and cleaned the bathroom, and shopped a little, baked some treats, and visited the inlaws, but this scarf was worked on constantly; between folding loads and measuring ingredients, I just could not put it down! It was monotonous. 1x1 rib. More than 6 feet of it. I rarely knit scarves because it's the same thing over and over for however many feet. They scream, " BORING!" to me. But when my husband emailed me at work on Friday to say that his coworker (work boyfriend)  has a scarf, and now he wants one, only longer and better, I thought, "Oh joy!" the way many Knitters would when someone close to them requests something. The only requirements he had was that it be gray or black, very long, but not very wide. In other words, "Make it as boring as possible." But rather than being filled with dread, especially since I'm trying to cram in as many baby knits as possible between now and my sister's shower, I felt excitement! The excitement that can only be achieved by starting a new project.....and going yarn shopping!

First, I had to find the right pattern. I broke work rules and searched on Ravelry. I had to! I knew that Nana's was having a sale for this weekend and had redesigned their store and I was itching to see it. I had already planned on going to the shop after work even before my husband made his request. So I had to get to Nana's with a plan, and therefore needed to check out Ravelry at work, even though I'm not supposed to use the internet at work for personal needs. It didn't take long before I had decided on the Noro Striped Scarf by brooklyntweed. It fit the long and narrow category, was very popular, and, well, something about it just called my name. I knew I could find some Noro Silk Garden in grayish tones. The plan was set, but I had no intention of completing the scarf so soon. I thought I'd cast on and then work on it now and then, hoping to finish it while it was still cold enough to need a scarf. Eric gets hot easily, so I was surprised he wanted a scarf and knew he'd only need it on the coldest days.

I'll skip the part where I got lost on the way to Nana's from work after getting off an exit with road construction and having to navigate my way through an unmarked detour on unknown streets through an unfavorable neighborhood (not near Nana's, by the way). Once I arrived at the store, Tricia helped me to select appropriate "manly" colors and I was on my way. I cast on at home that evening, while hubby was still out with a friend and within an hour I knew I was hooked. The scarf had seduced me and I was too weak to resist. I'd set it down with the intention of working on a more urgent project, getting up to break stride with a glass of water (or booze), but once I sat down again, the needles were back in my hands.

It's addicting watching those colors change, however subtle, like the whispers of a lover's ever changing moods. I would think, "let me just get through this green part," but the green part would pass,and so would a gray, and a brown, and I'd still be knitting. Strange how something, in theory, seems utterly uninteresting and involves nearly everything I dislike about knitting, becomes the most compelling project! Those dull gray stripes and tedious ribs had won me over. The colors were the least exciting colors I could have chosen, and yet I was drawn to them. Husband went to bed and still I knit on, late into Friday night. All day Saturday I knit, through errands and chores. Sunday it went with me to "Butkus brekfix" and even my mother-in-law could see the appeal. Husband showed off the unfinished scarf with pride, unfazed by the woolly competition for my attention and affection. My ever long and growing companion and I retreated into our own private world and I knit on.

I finished it last night, took a few ill photos before handing it over to its new owner, who wears it now with absolute glee. May they have a long and happy life together.

But my love is fickle and I've already replaced my drab gray addiction by casting on a new one. In brighter colors. For me of course (yarn purchased on Saturday after a return trip to Nana's).