This year for his birthday, E didn’t want another pair of socks.
He bought himself new seating for our library and requested a blanket. This began life as Northeasterly by Skeinanigans but as it took me 8 months to finish the second stripe we realized it was not a good plan so after being heavily influenced by reading Mix + Match Modern Crochet Blankets and changing my design orientation I reworked the blanket.
I’m still working stripes and decided I should get started joining them so it’s not too overwhelming. I’m also hoping to tempt dot to sit in his lap. It’s slow going on both stripes and sewing but I think it’s beginning to come together. I hope he likes it!
Now that I’ve completely my first shift cowl I’m trying to focus and finish the blanket by the end of next month. Apparently I’m unable to stay on a single pattern. Shortly after this picture I gave up on the design and it became ribbing for the second half.
After the incredibly boring stripe last time, this one is holding more of my attention. It’s a stitch pattern that still requires my attention. That means I’ve been highly distracted by every other project. The texture is fun and I think it’ll make for a really good bit of the blanket.
E’s birthday is early next month, and I have an ambitious idea that I will be able to complete the blanket by then. Ok, back to knitting!
I decided to work modular blankets so it would be less overwhelming and easier to work on. However, I have not set myself up for success. For months now, I've kept this blanket (and all the others) in a large project bag. I have to schlep around all of it, not just the next stripe. I'm working to adjust my method so that I'll make progress instead of thinking of making progress. I do not like the stitch pattern I chose for this dark brown stripe. It's hard to see, boring, and requires me to count -- on both sides. What was I thinking? My plan is to try to finish it this afternoon so I can move on the better and more exciting designs. It's at 32cm and each stripe is about 79cm. Nearly halfway! Good thing I checked out several audiobooks from…
I decided to work modular blankets so it would be less overwhelming and easier to work on.
However, I have not set myself up for success.
For months now, I've kept this blanket (and all the others) in a large project bag. I have to schlep around all of it, not just the next stripe.
I'm working to adjust my method so that I'll make progress instead of thinking of making progress.
I do not like the stitch pattern I chose for this dark brown stripe. It's hard to see, boring, *and *requires me to count -- on both sides. What was I thinking? My plan is to try to finish it this afternoon so I can move on the better and more exciting designs. It's at 32cm and each stripe is about 79cm. Nearly halfway!
Good thing I checked out several audiobooks from the library. There must be something I want to listen to.
Finished this lace section ... jokingly called it the air conditioning panel. It was less straightforward to work than I expected as I kept neglecting the final YO for the (k2tog, yo) rows. Trying not to make the whole thing garter stitch. Will the next stripe become brioche or will I finally finish the other not-tv knitting row that is a purl stitch diagonal. Debating if I should've made wider stripes but this seems a good fit for my current night time tv or sitting in traffic attention span.
I finished the first new stripe in moss stitch. It’s about 31 inches (79 cm) and 72 slipped stitches at each edge. This next one is a diagonal garter stitch design that I’m finding a challenge to work on ws rows. I’m only about 8 inches (20 cm) in. I may set it aside to work on another stripe.
Extreme traffic provided more knitting time than I expected. I find moss stitch, the pattern for this stripe extremely challenging to work. It either turns into seed stitch or ribbing. I’m not completely sure where the final length will be. I think I’m aiming for around 92cm (36 in).
as I look at the blanket with the second stripe completed, I recognize that it doesn't work. So ripping and reworking with a better plan and more involvement from E on colors and examples of layout. Unsure exactly if this will work but it feels better right now. But first to wind (or rewind) 980 yards. Whiee.
Finally finished the second stripe of E's blanket. Rethinking my choice for long stripes (especially after reading Mix + Match Modern Crochet Blankets. but this was designed by past-penny. It's ok. I'll carry on. I want to finish... and it's getting chilly so E would like me to finish. It's good to knit up to Midsomer Murders, Luna + Sophie, *and *Anika. I still may rip back and rework on shorter stripes so I can toss in some color sequences and use up yardage better. Going to discuss with Eli later today.
Made it to 172 cm. Next yarn (dark browns) wound and begun.
Next goal: target width. That might take a while.
Each (unblocked) stripe is about 11 cm, the goal is around 90 cm for a lap blanket. I'll go further if I am not too bored and have enough yarn.
Less than 10cm from target length. Good because it was starting to bore me.
Errands and not being the one driving lead to progress. Even with my inability to count and needing to redo or fudge rows more than I should.
Current length (of first stripe): 107 cm (42.25 in).
Target length 168 cm (66.25 in) - 183 cm (72 in). E wants some options.
Target width is 61 cm (24 in) - 91.5 cm (36 in). It's a lap blanket for him.
Another blanket begins. Tonight I’m knitting to Broadchurch season 3.