Why in heavens name would you knit a scarf????

I've knit many projects in the last year and a half. The project that took me the longest was a scarf I knit for my husband.
I started it in fall 2005, about 4 months before we got engaged. It was blue and made from two balls Patons Shetland Chunky, a very nice acrylic/wool blend. I used a simple knit two, purl two ribbing. I thought at the time that it was a good starter project. I worked diligently and finished it by Xmas and presented it to my sweetheart. Being a good honest boyfriend, he told me it was too short!! :-P I saw that indeed it was but I couldn't get the same dye lot of yarn to make it longer......

So I ripped it all out! (a good lesson for another day)

I bought two more balls of yarn, in charcoal grey, and started a stripe pattern.
I was through about one ball of yarn when I finally realized that scarves are BORING. Even with stripes. And this one was twice as long as the original. I worked on it for a month and then only picked it up if my hubby asked me when I was going to finish it.

I did finish it, over a year later.

I have since taught a couple of ppl how to knit. They both started with scarves. I know one friend has still not finished her scarf. She moved on to xmas stockings. Much more interesting!

Why would you start knitting with a scarf??? Yes a scarf is useful but it's a very long rectangle and if you're ambitious, you learn to knit and purl. By the time you've got a square you're ready to stop because you've mastered the basic stitch.

I'm not saying start with a sweater, but there are so many other small, simple, useful projects out there. Knitty (my new favorite online magazine) has a great little article on this exact topic. When I read it I was jumping up and down saying "yes, why didn't someone write this sooner!?!?!!"

The Moral of the Story:
Start with a small, interesting, useful project. You'll be satisfied when you finish it and you'll be confident enough to try another project. (maybe even a sweater!?!?!) Mittens are a good choice.... unless you pick hot pink yarn I guess....

That's my rant for today!
Alley