Neglect!

I'll be the first to admit ~ I'm in a dry spell for knitting.  It just isn't as enjoyable as it use to be.  It's become a chore.  The natural result is that a knitting blog gets ignored!

Since middle of July ~ approximately ~ I've been working on a real basic baby blanket.  It took me three tries to get the width correct.  First shot, it would have been about 4 to 5 feet wide, then closer to just 4 feet.  On both, I was wondering how many skein's I would need to finish this!  Finally found a number that was close to what I wanted!  FWIW, I did practice the 4 inch by 4 inch square and did the math to figure out the bigger peace.  For whatever reason, I had a hard time visualizing it in my head!  Weird, as this is just a knit stitch, row after row after row.  REALLY basic blanket!  That's probably why I'm getting bored.

Well, another lesson learned with this one on buying enough yarn.  I never would have dreamed that a dye lot could be SO different on Lion Brand's Home Spun.  The same colors are in each skein, however in the first one I used, the accent colors were in longer strands so the stripping is more pronounced.  In the second, the main color (white for both) seemed to be thicker and the accent colors much thinner and shorter length.  Not a whole lot I can do as this color was on clearance when I bought it and could not be found!  Argh!  It's not to bad of a change, but not what I would have wanted.

Maybe this time I'll learn my lesson!  :)

Accessories anyone?

Who doesn't like accessories?  Okay, I don't like accessories for everything, but for knitting ~ I thoroughly enjoy it.  Probably because I like to knit so much!

Anyhoot, I made this from a small tin, about the same size as an "Altoids" tin.

Below is the inside of the tin.  On the top, I glued a thin magnet to hold needles.  The body of the tin is just big enough to hold a tape and a small canister of stitch markers.  I am hoping to fin a small set of scissors to include in this.

Happy Knitting Readers

Mother's Day Gift?

Here's a link to a knit kitchen scrubbie.  These are small, should be quick to make, and great for presents!

Will revisit this pattern once classes are figured out for next year.

Hometown Baby Blanket

"The Big Reveal"

Just needed to use the terms from all those HGTV design shows!  ;)

Close up!  Decided to keep all knit stitches on the same side!

Bigger picture

The blanket measures just about 36" square.  Due to the stockinette stitch, it does curl along the edges.  I personally like the curl.

I chose not to whip stitch the edges in the tan.  I tried a few stitches and didn't care for the overall appearance of it, so it's plan on the edges.

Here's the post where I described the blocks, amount of stitches cast on and rows, color choices, etc.

Happy Knitting readers!

Sneak Peak!?!?

Do you want a sneak peak?

              I bet you do!

But of what?  What else would it be on this blog, but something knit (especially since I don't crochet!).

Okay, here is a peak:

Were you hoping for something bigger?

Something showing more detail?

Maybe something like this one instead?

Bigger "Sneak Peak"!

Okay, okay, I know a better picture of all that has been completed so far ~ which is almost all of it.  I really shouldn't have any problems finishing it by Thursday!  Below is the best picture of the blanket.  The last blue panel needs to be finished and the column knit together, then stitch those three blocks to the rest of the blanket.  So here it is:

What do you think?  It's for a baby boy I've been calling Todd.  Mom and Dad have the right to over rule my choice in names though.  ;)

Lesson Learned

In all the knitting I have been doing over the last few years, there have been a few that require multiple skeins of yarn.  Prior to this project, I had never had an issue with being able to find the particular brand, style, and color yarn I needed to continue working.  Never had an issue with dye lot either.

Approximately a month ago I began designing and knitting a baby blanket for a friend out of Lion Brand, Hometown USA in three different colors.  I originally picked up one of each color I wanted to use, not knowing how much I would ultimately need to finish the project.  Well, I finished up those three and did the math and calculated wrong.  Thought I could get by with one skein of the blue and one of the green.  Went back to Wal-Mart to get the 3rd of each color.  They only had the green and the feel was off but I bought it anyway.  In the following trips to Wally World for other things, I'd check to see if yarn had been restocked.  No luck.  Yesterday, I finished up the green and really need the blue.  The local Micheal's and a different Wal-mart did not have the blue.  I called Joann's this morning, they carry that yarn, but do not have the blue.  I called a Gaithersburg Joann's (Kevin works a bit from there), they don't have it in.  YIKES folks, I was REALLY hoping to be finished before this coming Thursday.  May call a different Micheal's in a bit to see if they carry Hometown USA.

LESSON LEARNED:  Listen to those who have done something longer than you and give you suggestions on how to do something, they just might be right.

Time to get off the computer and start making some phone calls!

Past Knitting Projects

I have another blog, on daily life.  Been at that one for awhile.  Here are some links to a few things I've knit and posted there:

9 panel baby blanket

stripped Hometown blanket

cable scarf (first portion of blog post is the scarf, the remainder is musing about life)

I've knit many other things and could possibly find more pictures too!  Will see what I can do on another day.