Progress

I've made all five of my Pines Hexagons and three of my Blue Jean Hexagons for my Nectar blanket.  The pattern is easy, but not something I've memorized; and I can do a hexagon in a couple hours easily.  

I'm not weaving in my ends as I go (which I should be), but I will probably sit down with them soon.  I also haven't blocked anything yet.  It is a long term project after all, so I'll get it done when I get it done.  In the meantime, I'm finding the hexagons relaxing!

A New Blanket

I have started another blanket, but unlike the two I already have in progress, this one is knit.  Eat.Sleep.Knit brought back the long term Craft-A-Long blanket project again this year, and initially I wasn't going to participate (seeing as I already have two blankets going, even if I haven't touched either of them in a while), but then I realized that I already had the Nectar blanket pattern, and I was pretty sure I had most of the yarn I'd need already in stash.  It was like it was meant to be!

I went stash diving and pulled out all my Malabrigo Rios leftovers and realized that yes, I could practically get a blanket without buying anything.  I'm using Pines (which is what I've started with on the hexagons above), Holly Hock, and Purple Mystery for the centers of the hexagons, and I'm framing them with Whale's Road, which I also plan to use as the border.  If I make a smallish blanket, I won't use up all of my center, more solid yarns, but if I use up more of those yarns, I'll probably need more Whale's Road to border the whole thing.  I've clearly got some decisions to make!

At this point, I'll just make some hexagons and see how many I have when I start to get tired of them.

Oh, and in case you're wondering my two Blankets-In-Progress are the Battenburg Blanket and the Mystical Lanterns Blanket.

Time For A New Scrap Buster!

Periodically, when I go stash diving, I notice that I've got a lot of little partial balls of leftover yarn.  Not the kind of leftovers where I've got more than half a ball left - those are Leftovers With Potential.  The kind of leftovers that are like 10-20% of the original ball: not enough to really be useful, but too much to toss.  This is when it's time to start a scrap buster project.

 It's time.

I chose the Battenberg Blanket (another free pattern!) for this scrap buster because the squares are fast and easy, I memorized the pattern pretty quickly, and you can make all your multicolored squares first and then go back and join them to the background color at the end.  That way I can arrange the colors any way I want to!  

I'm making it in fingering weight leftovers and once I finish with a color I'm weaving in the ends.  Right now I'm just working in cool colors, but I'll probably add in my warm colored scraps later as well - I think having the background squares makes it possible to combine as many colors as you want!  I don't know if I'll use a creamy white or go with a gray or use something else entirely.  I don't have to figure that out just yet.  This will be an ongoing project and may start and stop periodically, so it won't be all over the blog constantly moving forward.  I'll just show you what's going on when there's actual progress.

Have a great weekend! 

A Finished Blanket!

I finished Caleb's Aggie Stripes blanket!  This was a fun project, perfect for brainless TV watching, and he was happy about it when I gave it to him.  I followed the directions for the Attic 24 Granny Stripe blanket, but I used my own stripe pattern- seven stripes of gray, one of maroon.  Just a note, this pattern is written using UK terms.  Switching to US terms isn't a big deal, but I thought I'd mention it.  By the time you've worked a few stripes you'll have memorized the pattern and the terms won't matter.

I used Cascade 220 Superwash in 1946 Silver Gray for the main color and 879 Very Berry for the Maroon.  I actually tried to match the maroon from the Texas A&M website as closely as I could, and I'm happy with it.  The colors in the photos for today's post are the closest I've gotten as far as accuracy goes.  For the edging, I followed the pattern directions for a round of granny pattern, but then I worked one round of single crochet to finish it off.  I didn't want anything too fussy for a border, but I wanted to finish it off nicely.  The finished blanket is 48 inches x 55 inches, which is a nice size to sit under on a sofa or a desk chair.  Caleb has already given it a spin while online gaming the other night.

Of course, the second I finished taking the first two photos and measured the finished blanket, the Quality Control Cat went to work.  He burrowed right under there and fell asleep until dinner time.  It was good to know that the blanket was working properly before I gave it to Caleb!

Blanket Update

I'm still working on the Aggie Stripes blanket.  I've got the fourth maroon stripe done, and I still haven't taken a good picture of it.  Morning light is very warm!  I've slowed down on this blanket a bit because I was finishing the Ebb Tide capelet and my third Ambiente, but I hope to spend more time on it again.

I'm not hiding this project, but I think Caleb is so used to seeing me messing with yarn that he just doesn't pay attention anymore.  I'm pretty sure he doesn't even know I'm making it.

Have a great weekend!

Blanket-ing Along!

I'm moving along on Caleb's Aggie Stripes blanket.  I had to take a break because I was messing up my shoulder again, but I remembered enough from the last time I overdid it with crochet and I stopped.  I'm about to start working on it again, but I will be alternating with knitting, and I'll be watching my posture and arm motion.

As you can see, I've just worked my third maroon stripe.  I think there will be seven maroon stripes total in the blanket, but I'll have to double check my yarn amounts when I get there.  When I bought yarn (2 skeins of maroon, 15 skeins of gray) I kind of just guessed.  I hope to use most of it, if not all, so who knows how big this will be?

Aggie Stripes

For the last two years Caleb has lived in the dorms at Texas A&M Galveston.  This fall he will be in his very first apartment at Texas A&M College Station.  That means he'll have a sofa!  (In addition to a kitchen and washer and dryer and all sorts of other amenities.)  So I decided he might want a throw blanket for his sofa, so I ordered some Cascade 220 Superwash and got to work!

I decided to use Lucy of Attic 24's* Granny Stripe Blanket directions, but switched up the stripe pattern.  I decided to make him an Aggie Stripe blanket, but making a white blanket for anyone (let alone a 21 year old and whoever comes over to hang out) sounds like a nightmare.  So while I'm fully aware that A&M's colors are maroon and white, I'm using maroon and pale gray.  I decided to make the majority of the blanket gray and use narrower maroon stripes.  It's overcast this morning, so the maroon looks darker than it is, but it's a good match for the maroon used on the A&M website.  I'm almost finished with my second wide, gray stripe.  

The way the pattern is written, each color is worked for two rows and I'm keeping things in pairs as well.  I'm working seven pairs of gray rows and one pair of maroon rows for each repeat.  I've just carried the gray up the side since the maroon is so narrow, but I'm cutting and restarting the maroon.  I haven't decided if I'll add a border or not, but I'll probably do something narrow for stability.  It's going to be a very simple blanket, but I think that's the kind of blanket Caleb would prefer.

*I've said it before and I'll continue saying it, she writes the BEST crochet tutorials!  You need to know the difference between US and UK crochet terms (she always states which one she's using), but she uses very clear pictures and good directions to walk you step by step through a pattern.  If you ever want to learn to crochet, Attic 24 is a great place to start.

A Big Project

At the first of the year, I showed you the above photo of yarn.

I also showed you the same yarn skeined up.  (So.  Much.  Winding.)  It's time to talk about what all that yarn is becoming! 

I've started a Mystical Lanterns Blanket.  I love this design and purchased the yarn ages ago.  Then we got Mr. Noodle, who tends to steal wool blankets, but I decided to just go ahead and make it.  Mr. Noodle is maturing so maybe by the time I finish it, he'll stop his thieving ways.  Maybe.

Anyway, I'm making my blanket a little bigger than the pattern blanket and I decided to start with getting all of the center rounds done in all the colors.  At this point I've only got four or five (maybe six) colors left to go (I'm using 18).  Once I have all the center rounds done, I'll mix them all up and pull them randomly from a bag to add the next rounds.  I'm trying to be random here.  Mostly.  I've already decided that no motif should have the gold and one of the pinks in it.  Those colors will be what jumps out in the finished blanket and what moves your eye around, and I'm pretty sure that having more than one of this in a single motif would be like a giant bullseye and be the only thing anyone can see on the finished blanket.

This is going to be a long project, but I'm looking forward to it!

(Oh, and I just realized I forgot to mention, all the yarn is Dream in Color Classy.)

New Year, New Projects, New Photos, No Words

Tying Up Loose Ends

As much as possible, I like to finish up as many projects as I can by the end of the year.  I've finished spinning the gradient yarns (so much fun!) and I've also finished a blanket!

This is the finished Mohave Turquoise:

this is the finished Antelope Canyon:

and this is the finished Peacock Feathers:

all three started as gradient batts from Fellview Fibres.

I also finished my Sherlock blanket (Sherlock's Great Afghan Adventure).  I joined the blocks together with a crochet stitch that gave a raised ridge.  The blocks don't have much of an edging so there's no "breathing room" between them if they are sewn together invisibly.  I can't remember exactly what stitch I used because I played around with a couple of things and then kind of ended up winging it.  I did several rounds of single crochet around the whole thing as a border to stabilize the edge and just to finish it off neatly.  It's for Caleb.

This leaves me with my Fireworks handspun pullover and my Nuvem shawl to finish by year's end.  At this point, I think those are both possible, but we'll see!  It's still 2020...

Another Block, Unblocked

All I have to show for today is the ninth block in Caleb's Sherlock blanket, Queen Anne Way.  For some reason, while this block wasn't difficult to knit, it felt like it took forever - black hole knitting, where you knit and knit and get nowhere.  I guess it's been a while since I've had black hole knitting, so I was probably due for some, but it was just weird. 

In kitten news, Newton is treating Logan the same way he treats us, by walking all over him.  Max never walked on Logan so he's really not sure what's going on.  It makes him (Logan) really nervous, but I think there's probably a good chance that if Newton is walking on Logan, he might curl up with him and cuddle.  They're both being super sweet to each other, but we are always right with them and watching closely when they're together (which is why we don't have a lot of pictures of them yet) because while Logan would never purposely hurt Newton, he could easily do it accidentally because of his size.  Poor little Logan just has no clue how big he is.  If you asked him, I'm pretty sure he would say he was smaller than Newton.  Silly sweet marshmallow dog!

Have a good weekend and stay safe!

Still Knitting and Spinning

Although there has been a super cute interruption around here, I am still knitting and spinning!  Over the weekend I finished the fifth bobbin of Raspberry singles spinning.  This means I've got one more bobbin like these, and then three final bobbins that will each be about half as full.  I'm getting there!

Newton has seen the spinning wheel in action when Mickael brought him into the room where I was spinning.  (He doesn't have full run of the house yet.)  He was only allowed to watch and Mickael didn't set him down, but judging from the size of his eyes, he's really fascinated by it. 

I also finished the eighth block in Caleb's Sherlock Blanket, Tavistock Hollow.  I finished this a week or so ago and have actually started the ninth block, but it feels like it's taking forever to knit.  I have no idea why, and it might not be true in reality, but it feels like I just knit and knit and knit and get nowhere.

Since little Newton doesn't have full run of the house, it gives me a chance to spend some quiet time with Logan and knit or spin.  Logan enjoys getting me all to himself and I think watching me play with string makes everything feel more normal to him.  Even if he knows there is a tiny, pointy kitty who tackles doggy tails and walks all over him in the other room.  He's been an amazing big doggy brother!

Once Upon A Time

A couple of weeks ago I decided to make a blanket.  I picked out my colors and ordered them.  While I was waiting for them to come in the mail, I played around with the pattern using some stash yarn, just to make sure I understood it.  The pattern I chose is the Virus Blanket, and while I haven't found a chart for it (I really like using charts to double check my understanding of crochet directions), the pattern has a link to a very helpful video that cleared up some confusing parts.  I used some Malabrigo Mecha in English Rose for the "test drive" of the pattern.

Once the official yarn got here I was ready to wind it and start crocheting.  I used Malabrigo Rios in Sand Bank and Aguas with Squoosh Ultra Worsted in Mocha. 

My finished blanket is about 33 inches square.

Why would I make such a small blanket?  For our newest family member!

We've gotten a new kitten.  He's another Tonkinese, this time a Natural Mink color (for those of you keeping score, Ramius was a Champagne Mink and Maximus was a Platinum Point). 

We're still working on his name but will hopefully have one for him soon.  At the moment he's responding to Kitty Boy and Massive Beast (he weighs in at a whopping four pounds).

He's super loving and sweet, has mad ninja skills, and has everyone in the house in love with him.  Even Logan.  They've touched noses and sniffed butts (as you do), but he's spent most of his Logan time tackling Logan's tail.  Logan can't stop wagging and it's just too tempting for the little kitten.  Never mind that Logan's tail is bigger than Kitty Boy, he's going to eat the dog from the tail up.  It's got to help that Logan is 10 years old and super mellow.  He's also had enough experience with Max to know that kitties are pointy and sharp, even if they are fun to play with.  He definitely respects the kitty!

So now you know what's going on here at Chez Pink Lemon!  I'm obviously not getting a lot of knitting done, although he has seen knitting and was more interested in the bag than the actual knitting itself.

He seems to like having his picture taken, so he'll definitely be back here on the blog in the future.  I'll also let you know when we figure out his name!  In the meantime, stay safe and stay healthy!

Still on Track

I finished a seventh blanket block over the weekend!  This one was back to cables again and I really enjoyed knitting it.  The block's name was Winchester Road.  I haven't blocked it yet, but I also haven't blocked the previous two blocks - I'll get to them.  Even if I block everything right before I join the blocks, they will be blocked at some point.  (There are a lot of blocks in this paragraph.)

I haven't decided for sure how I'm going to join the blocks, but I'm thinking of crocheting them together and then working a simple crocheted border.  I probably shouldn't get too far ahead of myself at this point - I have a long way to go!

Yesterday there was some pretty big news around here - I finally got a haircut!  I was fortunate to have had one just a couple of days before everything shut down around here, but it's been over three months now and that's just way too long.  I had her take off almost four inches!

Have a great weekend and stay safe!

It's Hip To Be Square

I've finally gotten back to a mental place where I can concentrate on more than just stockinette stitch and the occasional increase.  I've just finished the sixth block for Caleb's blanket and this thing involved charts!  This is completely unblocked and wonky looking right now because I just bound it off and photographed it last night before dinner.  I'm planning on blocking it and the previous block later this morning.  (For some reason I like to block them in pairs.)

This means I'm halfway through the blocks on his Sherlock blanket, but I don't plan to rest on my laurels here.  After I get blocks five and six blocking, I will be setting up the next two blocks in KnitCompanion so I can start another block later this week.  It only takes two or three evenings to get each of these knitted, so it seems to me that if I work on one each weekend, I can have the blocks finished by mid-July.  Then I can work on whatever else I'm working on during the week.

Before I can do anything else though, I have to straighten my sewing/craft room.  It looks like overcaffeinated squirrels have been in there having a party!

Another Block

 

I've knit another block for Caleb's blanket.  This is my first block for March and it's an unblocked block.  I like to block them in pairs, so it will get blocked when I have the second March block knit.

This block has cables (which pull the knitted fabric in horizontally) and seed stitch (which pushes the fabric out horizontally).  In order to have something that will block to a square I knit the cables loosely (this was suggested in the directions) and I knit the seed stitch section using combination knitting.  I just tried to explain combination knitting but deleted the whole thing because it was just a really bad explanation (so bad).  Also, I'm not caffeinated yet.  If you're curious you can find information on the Internet.  I learned about it in Ysolda Teague's Little Red in the City book.  I use it sometimes in ribbing and seed stitch but not in stockinette.

Also, the plying continues around here.  I'm about halfway through and I have 1,250 yards of three ply fingering weight.  I'm hoping to get it finished over the weekend but I'm not spending all my time plying either.

Have a good weekend and don't forget to wash your hands (and them moisturize them - they're going through a lot right now!)

February Blocks

Last night I finished the second blanket block for February and immediately blocked them both.  In fact, they were still a little damp this morning when I went up to get their blog photos.  Since I block them together on the same blocking wires, I had to cover up the edge of the one I wasn't photographing.  I know, first world problems.

Anyway, here is Horsham Circle:

And here is Goodge Corner:

This makes four completed blocks out of a total of 12.  This project is probably going to be the only time you ever see me knit bobbles, so enjoy it.  I know some people like bobbles and I've noticed that bobbled sweaters seem to be showing up again lately, but I'm not a fan.  I just don't like the way they look, but I decided for a blanket they wouldn't be too bad. 

Whatever your stance on bobbles, I hope you have a great weekend!

One Block At A Time

Every year the ESK Yarnathon has both quarterly KAL's as well as a year long KAL (and random Flash KAL's too).  The year long KAL has been a blanket for as far back as I can remember, but I think the only one I participated in was the Carson throw back in 2016.  This year they're doing a Choose Your Own Adventure Stitch Sampler and I've decided to jump in with this one and make Caleb a blanket.  He loves blankets and takes care of them, so I showed him a couple of patterns and the ESK page of Cascade 220 Superwash and let him pick!

He chose the Sherlock's Great Afghan Adventure, Mystery KAL pattern (it's not a mystery anymore, it's a regular pattern with photos) and Cascade 220 Superwash in color 904, Colonial Blue Heather.

There are 12 blocks in this blanket, plus a border.  I might change to a crochet border to finish it at the end, just to add some stability, but I don't have to make any decisions yet.  I have until Christmas Day to get it finished for the KAL, but I'm trying to get it done faster than that.

I made two blocks in January and I've started the third block.  The first two are blocked (they blocked to 15 inches square), but the third is still in progress at the moment.

A New Blanket

 

I've finished my Granny Goes Large Blanket!  It took just over a year, which is pretty quick when you take out the four months or so that I was unable to crochet due to my shoulder injury.  The pattern is free and except for adding a few more rounds (I added eight or ten rounds, I counted but I can't remember what the number was now - I crocheted until I had just enough yarn for the edging), I followed it completely.  It's made in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in the worsted weight.  Cotton Fleece is 80% Cotton and 20% Wool.  I used a 4.0mm hook.

Granny squares (which is all the center of the blanket is) tend to twist and kind of rotate.  This is because of the way crochet works.  In order to keep it square, every round I swapped which side was the right side, meaning every other row actually switches direction in the way it's crocheted; and I also changed starting corners.  Doing this worked and the blanket lies flat and square - about 72 inches square when it was all finished!

I'm thrilled to have this finished as I think it's going to be great around here this Spring.  A cotton (mostly) blanket should be perfect for Texas!

Progress

 

I'm still working one side of my Granny Goes Large each evening.  It's not super fast but it is forward progress and I'm not injured.  I've worked five rounds since you last saw it.  I haven't measured the blanket lately but it's getting to a decent size.  I plan to just keep crocheting until I run out of all my yarn except the border yarn, and then I'll finish it off with the border.  As I run out of colors, I'll just drop them from the rotation (I didn't have equal amounts of all the colors when I began).  This particular repeat will be missing a color that was in previous repeats, and the next repeat will lose at least one more color.  This probably isn't the most scientific way to make a blanket, but it's working and I think it will be a happy, bright blanket when it's finished.