Round and around

I am happy to report that my knitting skills have improved exponentially over the past year.  While DPN's still give me nightmares, cables still seem impossible, and I'm no where near being able to knit a sock or sweater, I have moved beyond basic, garter stitch scarves.

I've recently learned to knit in-the-round using circular needles...sort of.  My first attempt turned into a mobius loop - kinda cool, but not a very effective hat design.  I have a few other hats in progress and they are turning out well, I think; however, I have no idea how to bind off in-the-round.  I think DPN's are inevitable...

Despite my irrational fear of eventually having to switch to DPN's, I really like using circular needles. My work stays in a nice little coil with no needles sticking out and poking me, there's no purl rows for stockinette stitch, it goes quite fast, and seamless things really do look better!

So, when I came across a pattern in the latest Webs catalog (www.yarn.com) that seems like a perfect compromise, I was very excited!   The Valley Yarns 341 Geothermal Tubular Scarf (here) looks pretty easy, doesn't mention DPN's at all, it's striped, and I imagine it will knit up quickly.  According to the pattern, this is a fun and "addictive spiral knitting technique" with "no jogs between the stripes and no strands to carry up the inside of the work."  I don't know what "jogs" are, but apparently, I don't want them!

I guess it's a pretty new pattern - no projects or notes on Ravelry yet, at least - so we'll see...

Wish me luck - it's quickly becoming winter in Minnesota and I have a cold neck!