#6. Finally. Pictures.

Madison's Blankie

Finally getting around to posting the pictures of Madison's Pinwheel Blankie. I really need to get this in the mail pronto as the due date has come and gone. I am such a horrible procrastinator.

The pictures really showcase the errors in my knitting. My knitting teacher calls them Character Flaws. I call them Screw Ups.

Someone told me that the Amish purposely make mistakes in their handmade goods - with the tribute to God being the only one able to create something "perfect". I am certainly not in the same league as the Amish - much less God.

Well, it is what it is. And I am a beginner knitter.

#5. Round And Round - Madison's Blankie.

I don't know what it is about updating this blog. I certainly waste enough time during the day, I have plenty of time to type some babble in this little box.

I have been knitting. I just finished a pinwheel baby blanket for a gift. The baby is due in 3 weeks and the fact I got it completed before the birth is nothing short of a miracle. I made lots of mistakes - especially when it was time to do the yarnovers. I finally got the hang of it half way through - so the outer sections of the blanket look much better than the inner ones. It's not perfect - but that's okay too. I wouldn't want to overshadow the beautiful baby girl that will use it. (grin)

Specifics:

I got the pattern from: www.ravelry.com
Link to free pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/round-or-pinwheel-baby-blanket

Yarn - Baby Soft sportweight by Lion Brand in 3 colors - White, Pastel Pink and Pistachio.
Needles - Size 4 Harmony circulars by Knit Picks.

I have to admit that I didn't cast on for this blanket. If I had, I am sure I wouldn't be here talking about a completed project. I tried. And tried. And tried. I took the yarn, needles and pattern with me to Knit Night at Books-a-Million. I pulled the pattern out to see if someone could figure out the cast on and one of the wonderful knitters there said she always wanted to make one. I tossed her the pattern, yarn and needles and asked her if she wanted to practice! Lindsey handed it back and told me I was now on row 8. Awesome! Thanks Lindsey!

The edge is a simple garter ridge to finish it off neatly. I did 2 purl rows, 2 knit rows, 2 purl rows and then 1 knit row. Bound it off knit wise. I really love the simple look of the edge stitches. I wanted to do a more decorative edging, but I was so ready to have this blanket done. It was a GREAT project to carry with me and work on when I had a few minutes here and there. It was easy to stop knitting anywhere and not have to worry about getting to the end of a row before stuffing it into my knitting bag. It is also an awesome project to take to a knit night. Just knit.knit.knit.knit. No counting.

I kinda fudged when I said it was a completed project. As of right now, the yarn ends all have to be woven in. And there are a lot of them. At first, I was going to make it a solid color in Pastel Pink. Then I saw a picture of the nursery and found their colors of choice included my favorite shade of green. That is when I opted to make it striped round with white and green. Every change of color means more loose yarn ends.

My daughter - Jana - has volunteered (cough cough) to weave in the ends for me. I am not very practiced at that little knitting procedure. Yes, that is because I very rarely actually FINISH my projects. I will though. I am going to get better at that.

Recap:

Best part of the project - binding off. Since this was knit on circular needles, as the blanket got larger, it was bunched up around the cables of the circs. It was hard to see exactly how big the finished project was going to be. As I bound off, and the blanket began to fall from the cable - it was so neat to see the actual size of the blanket.

Worst part of the project - casting on. I would love to make another one just to learn how to accomplish that round, tight cast on. Well, maybe I don't want to make a whole blanket - just want to learn the cast on.

Disaster avoided - Gidget gnawed the end off one of the needles. Apparently my lil Yorkie likes Knit Picks Harmony needles also. My bag was sitting right next to me. The needles were poking out the top of the bag. I looked over and caught Gidget chewing on one of the needles. She took the tip completely off one. Fortunately, it was one of the interchangeable ones. I had just received my set of the new Zephyr needles from Knit Picks and was able to switch out one tip. Gidget was allowed to live.

Pictures to be added as soon as the edges are woven in.

#4. New & Improved?

I'm back. OK, I didn't really go anywhere. I have been knitting! I actually finished my first pair of socks. Well, technically, it isn't my FIRST pair of socks. I finished the SECOND pair of socks that I started. Soon, I will finish the FIRST pair of socks that I started. Does that make them my FIRST pair or my SECOND pair? Oh, the dilemma.

Anyway, back to the socks. Whether they are the first pair or the second pair - they are done. And I like them! I used Mountain Colors - Weaver's Wool Quarters - in the Winter Sky colorway. Knitted with Addi Turbo size 5 needles - the size made it much easier for these old eyes to learn to knit socks. They are nice thick socks to wear around house when the weather gets cold again. I think I have a huge foot - size 10 wide - and I almost made the men's size medium. Glad I didn't as they are a tad large. Some would say I should have made a "swatch". mmmm....okay.

I just love my knitting teacher. Marie has the patience of Job and the sweetest spirit to teach knitting. She runs her classes very differently - staying with the pupils as long as they need her. This is where the patience comes into play. Every Saturday morning, I join her for what I call Round Table Teaching. (The table is really rectangle, but Rectangle Table Teaching sounds weird.) Eager students sit around the table - knitting on various projects and all at their own speed. Some are making socks, some scarves, some afghan squares. Marie is there to help anyone with whatever they need. One minute she could be teaching someone how to do a yarn over (YO) and the next, she is ripping out someones mistakes. (Usually mine.) Did I mention she has a LOT of patience?! Some mornings, everyone is knitting away without problems. Other days - Marie is very, very busy. And she always has a smile and a funny little quip to keep us laughing. It's a good group of knitters. I am glad I found them.

Still working on that other FIRST pair of socks. One is finished and I am working the toe decrease on the other. I have also started 2 other pairs! I have also started many other projects. Too many. Must.Finish.Some. Details and pictures soon.

#3. 90 Days Then & Now

Wow, I have been gone a long time. It wasn't lazy-ness or busy-ness that kept me away from all my readers. Not at all. It was all just a test. A simple little exam. Just to see if my devoted followers really cared about my painful attempt at learning to knit. Obviously you do. You are still here. Both of you. Thanks. Your patience is overwhelming.

Anyway, it's good to be back.

What has changed in the last three months? Let's see. I learned what PSSO and K2TOG mean (and I can even do them!). I became an orphan. Spring sprung. I signed up for my first (and second) sock class. I completed my first sock class. I finished my first sock. (note singular) I finished a couple more squares for my Learn to Knit Sampler Afghan. I started a Log Cabin Blanket. I got a new truck. I inherited a newer truck. I discovered free shipping on KnitPicks website. I took advantage of free shipping on KnitPicks website entirely too often. I got a new compact camera. I started my Spring cleaning.

What hasn't changed in the last three months? Well, I still don't know how to pick up gusset stitches. I don't even know what a freaking gusset is! I haven't completed a knitting project. (Because I possess two feet, I don't believe sock (singular) counts as a completed project.) I haven't used that new camera to document my projects in progress. I haven't adjusted to being an orphan. I haven't seen the Grand Canyon. I haven't finished my Spring cleaning.

What is planned for the next three months? I am going to take pictures of my knitting projects and post them on my fantastic, reader inspired blog. I am going to start entirely too many new knitting projects. I am going to take advantage of more free shipping offers. I am going to organize my stash of yarn. I am going to own several pairs of completed hand knit socks. I am going to finish some knitting projects. I am going to blog more often. I am going to learn how to SSP and pick up gusset stitches. I am going to finish my Spring cleaning.

Let's get started...