My family and I just returned from a 2.5 week vacation in Homer, Alaska visiting my in-laws. I always lament that I can’t sew while on vacation, so while traveling I tend to gravitate to small knitting projects. I’m not much of a knitter–truthfully, it is a craft of last resort for me–but I can’t be without a project of some kind for that long!
This project was a small cowl, made with lovely hand-dyed yarn purchased 2 years ago in Homer. The colorway is called “Fireweed”, which represents a gorgeous flowering plant all over the fields and hills in Alaska. Here’s a (rather unrepresentative) close up of the plant. In real life, when completely carpeting a field, it’s stunning. By the time I got out into the fields to take photos, the fireweed was almost completely bloomed out (waaaay early, thanks to a warm summer).
The pattern is lacework (Estonian Leaf Cowl–it’s free!) and while I’m not the best knitter, the pattern was doable and the mistakes are not too obvious because the yarn is nicely variegated.
My cast-on stitches are okay, but I made some mistakes binding off, so that edge rolls all over the place when I wear it. Anyone have a good bind-off that is stretchy, but doesn’t roll? It’s a bummer.
Anyhow, this was intended to be a ‘practice run’ for some extra-special yarn, but I don’t love the shape of the cowl–it kind of slumps down when I wear it–so I’m back to square one. However, I’m pleased I finally used this lovely yarn (and created something while on vacation!). Actually, I purchased another hank of yarn and managed to knit a really simple open-work infinity scarf the night before our flight home, but I’ve not yet taken any photos to show it off 🙂
Bea & Lucille 
that is really cute and I love the color. I keep trying to learn to knit – for the reasons you mention – a portable craft:)
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Great story about your cowl! Love all the pictures.
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Lovely cowl and the perfect travelling hobby.
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Lovely yarn! You've done a great job – no one sees the imperfections! I think for a cowl with some structure you'd want to use a pattern that creates a more solid fabric, lacework will always be drapey. Have you seen the honeycomb cowl pattern?
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Gorgeous color! Loved your photos.
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