This Entry is 100% Baby Blanket Free!

The self-imposed blanket break has been awesome. Simply awesome. Knowing that I can knit on something that has increases and decreases and complicated stitch patterns, or fine yarn, it's like I've discovered a whole new world! And not only that- but I am getting some much needed progress made!

Behold- Grandma's socks... (only 3 months late!)


Pattern: Anna's Socks from Throughtheloops
Needle Size: US size 1 (let's just resign ourselves to the fact that I'll probably never convert to mm)
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in "Spring Frost"
Thoughts: This pattern was particularly fitting given that it shares a name with the intended recipient. Not only does it share a namesock but the colors of the yarn remind my of spring frost that my grandmother would fret over every year and that would typically happen after she'd plant her famous, and massive, garden. I love the result- and will definately knit them again!

They just look so good that I can't help but show them off... enjoy a few shots! (Also take some time to "oooh and ahhh" over my new sock blockers that I got for my birthday in January. Socks just look so good on blockers!!)

I've also made quick progress on the "super top secret" project - and a have a intentionally bad teaser photo to show. I'm hoping that you still don't 'know what it is!

And- to reward myself for the progress, and the fact that I still have two weeks left of the self imposed blanket break- I also started a guilty pleasure of mine... self striping socks. (YAY! stash yarn!!!) I'm trying the recently discovered "Crosswalker" pattern, and hope that it's going to make a nifty little quick knit.


Anyways, time flies and I only have 2 weeks left on my hiatus... there's much to do between now and then! Ciao!

Knockin' Em Out of the Park

Yup! I'm knockin' em out of the park! That's two blankets in two months! Blanket #2 is done and I'm officially giddy about it!

Pattern: Sunny Cables and Crowns from Leisure Arts Baby Blanket Book

Needle Size: US size 9

Yarn: Bernat Sating in Lapis (5.1 balls)

Thoughts: While the yarn can be a little messy to work with, (leaves fuzzes on your clothes, nothing too intense mind you), the finished product is always worth it. This blanket looks outstanding- the cables pop and the blanket is one of the softest I've made yet. This pattern was great to knit- easy to memorize, yet the cabling kept it interesting and engaging. It's hard to find a pattern so short, that you repeat so often and yet don't want to gouge out your eyeballs from boredom. You'll probably being seeing more of this one.

With the blanket off my conscience, and the promise of a short blanket hiatus, I find myself pretty fired up to make something that does not resemble a long rectangle. I've promised myself a three week break from blankets- just to do something else remotely interesting and engaging. (Not too long, got another baby coming in June and we wouldn't want it to be cold!) My mind is full of things that I want to cram into this hiatus....

The hats continue at a good pace- three more for the month of March to add to the list... (Although according to the hospital they're pretty good on hats at the moment, might have to find a new hospital who wants baby hats since I don't feel like knitting the requested afgans. (I'm sure you understand why.)

And even grandma's sock if finally looking like it could be a PAIR... (I'm really hoping to finish this project while on hiatus... it's time to knit a different sock!)

So, with the promise of spare time, and the desire to do something fun and the excitement of new! and exciting! projects- I've started something "super top secret". Ravelers can check it out on my Ravelry page- but non-Ravelers will have to wait until the super top secret project is in the hands of the desired receipient... who may or may not read this blog! Below is a little teeny clue- but you'll have to trust me... all recealed about this project in time. Stay tuned!

One Step Forward, TWO Steps Back

Good News! It's done! The Downer Blanket is complete! (AND, might I add, the final product is anything but a downer...)

Pattern: from Leisure Arts Our Best Baby Afgans "A Shower of Love" by Brooke Shellflower

Yarn: Bernat Baby Softee in "Antique White"

Needles: US size 6

Notes: This pattern, despite having a rough start for myself, was a fun knit. I rarely got bored of it, which is so often the case with baby blanket and the finished product just looks outstanding! Just look at it close up!

I can't wait to give it to the new parents!

But- just as I was able to cast one blanket off and come closer to the end of my blanket purgatory I got an email from the husband yesterday that read:

Managed to catch up with Runk, Mart-A and GPG. Runk and his wife are having a boy, expected in early June. Do you think we (read: you) can fire a blanket up for that?

It appears the end of baby blanket knitting is not so insight as I once thought. *sigh* (Although MiL's comment of "maybe he can learn to "fire up" a blankt or two" definately made me giggle.) It appears that my intended baby blanket break will be cut short with another project to cast on. I think I will still plan to take part of April as a "sanity break" and finish up some socks, but I guess it's back to the baby blanket drawing board for me.

Working Day Off

I took the day off today. I knew it had to be done to keep up to the knitting. Being away last week I knew I was going to need a day to catch up on the knitting that went undone. I set some lofty goals- and I was worried I wasn't going to be able to achieve them, but I didn't too bad!

1) Finish and or come respectably close to finishing the Downer Blanket (respectably close is 38 inches in mind- a good place to be that will allow me to finish sometime this upcoming week.)

Not bad eh? There is the downer blanket, in it's 37" glory. I know it's not 38", but after some thought I figured it was best to do the last pattern repeat here and begin the edge to cast off. According to the pattern I should only have 38" anyways, so I'm not cheating! I should hopefully have this burden off the needles by next Sunday. (squee!) I cannot even tell you how many times I've thought to myself that this should already be done- given the whole "ripping back for nothing" incident, but I choose to marvel that I'm very close to being on schedule with this blanket.

2) Get to the 10 inch mark on the new Blue Blanket of Boredom (I am currently sitting at 5")

Okay, so I'm going to be honest here. You're only looking at 8"- but I still see this as a victory. Considering the amount of knitting I did this weekend, being two inches shy on this puppy is still something to be proud of. I'm in good shape to have this done by the end of March as long as we don't hit any incidents like the downer blanket.

3) Finish Grandma's sock, cast on second sock. (I literally have not even a half hour left on sock #1, it is time to move on with this project!!)

Done! (Although it was more like an hour... but still felt good to take it off the needles!) Not only is sock #1 done and ready for the blockers, but sock #2 is cast on and half way thru the cuff.

4) Knit at least one baby hat. (Two would be dreamy, but I'm trying to be realistic here.)

YUP! Done and done and done! I still am a bit behind on the one hat a week plan, but at least I'm sort of keeping up. Once the blankets are done, I'm expecting a bit more hat knitting room.

So there you go- not too shabby on the plans. I'm pretty proud of myself for getting so much accomplished. Knowing that I've only got a month left on blanket purgatory is getting me through the long knitting days. I'm ready to move onto a new project, like socks and sweaters. I am vowing a month long blanket break once this is all done. (The break can't be too long- I want to have another set and ready for the inevitable wave of babies I constantly find myself under.)

Lofty Weekend Goals

As many motivational speakers will tell you, it is important to "dream big". And so in the pursuit of all things knitting- I'm dreaming a big to do list for this weekend. I am posting this for posterity- I have Monday off and in that time frame I hope to complete the following goals:

1) Finish and or come respectably close to finishing the Downer Blanket (respectably close is 38 inches in mind- a good place to be that will allow me to finish sometime this upcoming week.)

2) Get to the 10 inch mark on the new Blue Blanket of Boredom (I am currently sitting at 5")

3) Finish Grandma's sock, cast on second sock. (I literally have not even a half hour left on sock #1, it is time to move on with this project!!)

4) (oh yes... FOUR) Knit at least one baby hat. (Two would be dreamy, but I'm trying to be realistic here.)

To see where I end up- stay tuned to the blog on Monday for photographic evidence of the knitting marathon. (If I become cocky... you'll probably get short burst updates as I succeed.)

The thing is- I am sick of blankets. SICK. The weather is getting warmer and let me tell you, the last thing I want draped in my lap is a baby blanket. The sock yarn is calling to me-- begging me to sit down and play. I ACHE with my desire to knit socks right now-- but I must be strong. I must get these gifts out of the way so I can declare the summer of socks! (But will probably add another blanket deadline in there too- I have to stay better on top of the blanket demand. {I have visions of very close friends announcing next-- they absolutely must have a special blanket-- and I don't want to be ill prepared!!})

Stay tuned for all of the gory details.