I started working on this a few days after Fanime because I'd found this wonderful Bernat Bamboo yarn that was so soft and luxurious. I've always wanted to make a hooded scarf for myself but never found materials that I would really appreciate.
After much research and ogling different projects floating around the Internet, I started. And pulled it out after a few rows. And started again, only to pull it out after even more rows. And started again to pull it out again. Finally I figured out to start with a chain tall enough to reach from the back of my neck to the top of my head, sc back down it and then put three in the last to round the corner and sc back up the other side. This formed the backside of the hood.
I sc'd five rows and dc'd one until the hood was large enough, then switched to the scarf. I opted for one just long enough to tuck or tie, with the idea that I would attach a snap or button to keep it closed, offering warm protection for the mouth.
The tassel is probably my favorite part, made from nine chain strands, braided to make three and then braided again for a thicker rope. I also plan to stuff the very tip so it sits correctly on the head.
Somewhere in making the hood was when my palm started tingling and I flat-out stopped crocheting for several months. This was the only project I took cross country with me to Boston (woo, grad school), and didn't touch again until September or so, when I tried slowly strengthening with no more than six rows per week.
Then I started working typing 40 hours a week. I didn't touch it again until January 2014.
I ran out of yarn part way into the scarf and had to postpone even further. While home for winter break, I picked up the last skein I needed and finally managed to power through on Valentine's Day. It's been a long time coming, of course long enough that the cold has passed and I have to wait until next year to try it out.
