Issues with my finished scarf....

[catherine625]

So I was totally inspired by the mini-skull scarf http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=22;action=display;threadid=4399 and I had a skein of yarn laying around so I thought I would try it.  I am still a beginner, I just started knitting last winter and I have a few issues with my scarf:

here is the whole finished scarf:
http://tinypic.com/1ahq0

Here is my 1st problem:  I'm not very good at following directions properly and I think I messed up the part where you make the keyhole.  I'm not sure where that lump on the side of my scarf came from...  (I think that the pics are gigantic, so I'm just going to post the URL.)  http://tinypic.com/1ahqb

My second problem: If you are making a rib stitch, are you supposed to bind off knit, then purl?  or doesn't it matter?  the end of my scarf looks really funny. http://tinypic.com/1ahqa

Thanks for your help!

Catherine

[greenchick]

Love the Swell pillowcase! Totally addicted to that line and Target. On to the knitting . . . it looks fine to me. The lump on the side could be from a difference in tension if it was after your keyhole was made. Usually if you are using one specific pattern for the whole thing, the directions will tell you to bind off in pattern, but sometimes not. Does the other end look like that end? I usually bind off in knit just because it goes faster for me, but I will bind off in pattern if directed to.

Jill

[melidomi]

I always bind off in pattern - so you work the stitch just like you would if it were a normal row, except for the whole binding off part.

that lump looks like it might have come from attaching a new strand of yarn (I say this because there's an end hanging off near there. 

Have you blocked it yet?  that may make it more perfect..

[catherine625]

Thank you for the pointers!  (I also **love** target.  a friend of mine started calling it the $100 store..)

[Calamity Jane]

Wow... actually, I think your "keyhole" looks really good.  Mine has this weird piece of yarn that crosses over the middle.  I can't figure out how I did that without noticing.  Also, the yarn seems to be causing problems for me.  It is really... springy... if that makes any sense.  So, I'm having a lot of trouble getting the edges to look neat.  Has anyone else had that problem?