Unicorn Stripes!

For my birthday earlier this year, I was lucky to receive quite a few Madelintosh mini skeins of yarn called Unicorn Tails. Well, I actually bought them for myself, because that's the way we roll in this house with gifts. No surprise little blue boxes. No gift vouchers. No sewing machines. No nothing! I know many people are really good at giving gifts in their family or relationships, but we're almost 20 years into this one and we've just never gotten there.

For me, birthdays are about getting something for myself that I would not normally buy. Something a little over the top. Something a little more than I would normally spend. For this year's birthday, it was these little skeins of wonderfully coloured, soft, squishy Madelintosh.

My inspiration for this scarf came from the Fancy Tiger Crafts blog. As soon as I saw their Unicorn Stripes cowl, I just couldn't stop thinking about it. The only way to justify this expense on yarn was through my birthday gift.

I think it was also the expense that drove me to complete this project - which for the record took just 8 weeks!! Unlike the many versions of this scarf on Ravelry, I only purchased 19 Unicorn Tails skeins. I just didn't see the need to have a scarf as long as the 30 skeins produced.

As it turned out this scarf is perfect! As you can see, I loop it around to make a double cowl which sits just perfectly around my neck. Not too high, not too low.

This scarf is so soft and squishy and not at all scratchy, which I normally find with wool garments.


Now because it's pictured in these photos, I'll point out that I also made this basic top over the weekend.

I purchased this navy ponte from The Remnant Warehouse on Saturday with plans to make another basic New Look 6145. In these photos it looks quite blue, but in real life it's so deep that it appears dark purple.

I've made this pattern many times over the past couple of years, but my most worn variations are my ponte tops which you can see here and here. I wear these tops each at least once a week - at school and at play. As a side note: I've been on the hunt for basic black ponte and have found nothing really nice in Sydney. My black top version of New Look 6145 is starting to look a little shabby and now I've looked it up and know that it's over 2 years old, so it's no wonder why! Handmade = better quality for sure. Please also let me know where I can get some lovely thick black ponte. thanks :)

Each time I make this pattern, I play around with the hemline a little, depending on the styles that I see online just prior to completing the top. This just makes me feel like they are all different and on trend. 

I adore this top and I love this pattern. I already have another ponte version made, ready to photograph and I might even share the modifications I have made to this pattern to make it so successful in a knit.

Happy sewing - only three more sleeps till holidays!!