Category: Afghans/Blankets

Knitting in Progress: Daughter’s Checkerboard Blanket

ThreadLover Leave a comment

The blanket that I was knitting for my daughter was put on hold for several months. I’ve finally gotten around to bringing it back into my active knitting in progress queue. I’m hoping to finish it before the weather turns cold. We’ll see! It’s been extremely busy, which explains the reason it has set on the sidelines for so long.

I’m also slowly gearing up to start spinning again. I know I mentioned that I would be doing that in my last post, however, that wasn’t happening. A few unexpected things happened which made me put a stop to most everything as I focused on finding the issues, with the help of my health care provider, and doing what was needed to improve. Outside of the wrist issues, that I had last year (related to the work I was doing) pregnancy (2003) and an appendix operation (1992). I haven’t had any reason to be seen by the doctor, so this was “new” for me.

It’s a beautiful day outside and so I won’t be doing too much knitting today. I want to enjoy the outdoor weather with my daughter, however, this evening I do believe we’ll watch a movie and I’ll continue knitting the blanket.

Knitting: Shale Baby Blanket is finished!

ThreadLover Leave a comment

This August, I finished knitting the Shale Baby blanket!

This means I’ve met my personal goal of knitting three baby blankets for 2018 a few months early.

The shale blanket is 100% wool, just like the two other blankets I’ve knit this year.

It’s also heavy and it’s incredibly soft.

To be honest, I knew that I most likely would be making another blanket. Why not stick with an even number for the blankets, right? And so, a little over a month after completing my lace blanket I started knitting this simple checkered blanket. This blanket is for my daughter. I asked if she’d like a blanket, she told me she really didn’t need one, but I knew she wanted one. She doesn’t ask me to knit her anything, but she loves and uses whatever I make for her. The reason she doesn’t ask is that she knows the amount of time it takes to create some of my knitted items and she feels guilty about me devoting so much time to her. I’ve told her often, that she’s the most knitworthy person I know and she’s my favorite person to knit for. She finally told me she’d like a blanket in yellow and in a checkered design.

I’ve made a few checkered knit items before and it just so happens that I had yellow wool (mustard to be more specific) in my yarn stash.

I’d started this blanket using my size 10

Hiya Hiya Steel sharp interchangeable circular needles, however, I thought the fabric should be denser and so I ripped out the blanket and started again.

This time I used my size 6 Hiya Hiya’s, much better!

And so it begins again… another work in progress wool blanket.

Monogamous Knitting and Audio Bible ( theatrical version)

ThreadLover Leave a comment

Recently, I’ve discovered that I really enjoy listening to audiobooks while I’m knitting. Before, I was watching shows on Amazon video or Netflix, but… my daughter and I really aren’t television watchers and… I also found myself abandoning movies/series because the content wasn’t appropriate (nudity, sex, swearing). Because of that, I decided to search for another way to occupy my time while knitting. I discovered audiobooks! In the past, I had listened to audio content, while knitting, but I haven’t done it exclusively… that is, until now.

 

Occasionally during the wee hours of the morning (I’m usually awake by 3:30 AM), I spend my quiet time doing my devotions. Recently, I’ve been knitting the shale baby blanket while listening to a theatrical reading of the Holy Bible. All I can say is… wow! I’m blown away by this version of my favorite book. The Word of Promise Audio Bible is my first audio Bible and I got it from Audible. I still prefer physically reading my Bible daily, but this is a nice addition.

 

This audio version of the Bible is over 90 hours (Which means a whole lot of listening/knitting!) and thus far, I’m enjoying it immensely!

I’m typically a monogamous knitter when it comes to large knitting projects. I haven’t knit anything else since starting this project on 7/26/18. Guess what? A little over a month later and this adult-sized version of the Shale baby blanket is nearly complete, however, I’ve recently added one more skein of yarn to be knit, so that’s 465 yards before I’m finished and… I might add another skein. We’ll see!

Shale Baby Blanket… update

ThreadLover Leave a comment

I’m exclusively knitting the Shale baby blanket by Jared Flood. This blanket is much simpler to knit than it might appear. It’s a four-row repeat. The first row being the setup row. It creates a beautiful lacy design. Once I cast on for this blanket, I decided to stop knitting the blocks for the log cabin blanket until I’m finished knitting this blanket. I know, I know… I said I’d be knitting on both, but I changed my mind. Besides, I most likely will need to wear a “finger protector” for knitting that blanket. The bind-off was giving me callouses. Regarding the shale blanket, I’m not making the baby blanket and so I added an additional 100 cast-on stitches, to bring the total stitches to 251. Additionally, I’m using my US size 6 Hiya Hiya interchangeable stainless steel sharp knitting needles.

You know what? I’m at the point where I’m trying to convince myself to stop knitting this blanket and just turn it into a poncho, skirt or… some other item. For whatever reason, I tend to do that with the blankets I’ve knit. However, I know it will pass.

 

I’m looking forward to seeing how heavy this knitted blanket will be once I’m finished this knitting project. This is going to have some weight! I stated that when this blanket was about 4″ and now it’s around 30″ or perhaps a little over that? I do believe the next new blanket I start will be another Shale baby blanket and I most likely will cast on the same amount of stitches (251) however, I will knit that blanket at a much slower pace. I’m still undecided on what color the yarn will be, however, it will most likely be a jewel tone color and I do believe I’ll make it in superwash wool. Regarding the Shale baby blanket, my goal is have finished knitting this blanket by the end of September and if I continue to knit at this pace, this won’t be an issue.

Jumbo Yarn ball winder by Nancy’s Knit Knacks

I’ve had the opportunity to wind one more yarn cake with my Jumbo Yarn ball winder by Nancy’s Knit Knacks and I must say I have no regrets in making this purchase. It was a bit pricey, costing $301, however, it was worth the price.

 

Lacis Swift/Skein Winder

I had ordered this Lacis swift a day after ordering my jumbo yarn ball winder from Nancy’s Knit Knacks. I ordered it from a seller on eBay. It should have arrived earlier, however, according to the seller there was some mixup, and so it was delayed. Admittedly, I was slightly disappointed, however, the communication from the seller was amazing. They did a great job of keeping me in the loop so I would order from them again.

Knitting two WIPS: Shale Baby Blanket and Log Cabin Squares

ThreadLover Leave a comment

The past several months, I’ve been enamored with blanket knitting. I’ve already knit two queen-sized blankets, within three months and now I’m working on a third knitted blanket and now…. a fourth!

This past Friday, I added another blanket into my WIP rotation. I’m currently knitting the Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood. I stumbled upon it on Ravelry. I cannot tell you what I was looking for, however, the end result landed me on THAT blanket and I was smitten.

Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood – My WIP

Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood – Initial thoughts…

  • This design is gorgeous and it’s much easier to knit than it might appear. I did make one mistake in the above photo, however, I’ve since fixed that issue.
  • I’m deviating slightly from the pattern. I’m slipping the first stitch purlwise, since I think, slipping the first stitch, creates a neater edge.
  • I wanted a regular sized blanket, I cast on 100 additional stitches. The pattern states 151 stitches to knit the baby blanket.
  • I’m using my size 6 Hiya Hiya Steel Sharp interchangeable knitting needles.
  • This pattern is a four-row repeat. The most “challenging” aspect of this pattern is the SSSSK stitch, however, with my super pointy Hiya Hiya Sharps, this isn’t an issue.

 

I also started a Ravelry project notes page for the Shale blanket, so check it out if you like.

Log knitted cabin blocks

Log Cabin Blanket – Update

My knitting is slowly adding to my log cabin block pile. Currently, I have knit eight log cabin blocks. To be honest, I haven’t knit on this project in a few weeks. However, I plan to knock out at least one block weekly until I desire to knit more, or once I’m finished knitting the Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood.

Both blankets are still in their baby stages, however, I can already start to feel their weight and so I know they’ll both be heavy once they are finished. I do believe the Shale blanket will be the heavier of the two. I’m not overjoyed about knitting the blankets in July/August heat, however, I’m in love with this stitch pattern of the Shale blanket and the colorful log cabin blocks. I would like to have the Shale blanket finished by the time that fall arrives and the log cabin blanket by December, and so… I knit.