The Scarf That Stole Christmas

I gave up scarf knitting pretty quickly after learning to knit.  For one, I live in a place where it has exceeded 90 degrees fahrenheit in the past few weeks.  And I also decided to get adventurous pretty quickly and left scarves a distant memory.  Until I needed a handknit gift that was meaningful, but not too taxing, and not subject to any curses (if you know what I mean...).  Hence:

One thing I wish I had remembered that I forgot about them, though:  scarves are long.  The one in this picture started feeling really really long about a foot ago.  And with every inch, my pace has slowed.  It's the only "Christmas" knitting I'm committed to -- but thankfully I actually have until the 26th to finish it (guess what I'll be doing while everyone else opens their presents... well, actually it had better be blocking by then).

It's amazing how such a project can start as a lark ("Yes -- I'll make a scarf -- it will be quick and easy, and thoughtful but not too over-the-top.  What lovely yarn.  So Soft!  Perfection!") and end up feeling like a punishment ("Two feet?!?  I still have to knit two feet of this %(!*&@! thing?!?!  He'd better like it.  And wear it.  And not lose it.  Harumph!).

I guess scarves (and Christmas knitting in general) bring out the Grinch in me.  Will make a note of that for next year.

(I swear I might get to all the posts I should have posted over the past month and a half someday... or start posting semi-regularly again... but at the moment my life is a little topsy-turvy.  I'll be back with more once the room stops spinning)