Looking Forward to 2011 - Happy New Year's !

Although I would like to post 3 times a week, this has been impossible for 2010, but I hope you'll bear with me.  There has been a lot for me to process this past year, and sometimes that processing gets the best of me.  I've had 3 surgical procedures, my mom has leukemia, and a close uncle suddenly passed away.  I have plans for this blog, but either my emotions or my physical healing seems to get in the way.  I will continue, even if it is at a slower pace than I originally planned.  I'm hoping 2011 will be less eventful.

I have had a lull in knitting ideas, but I think they are starting to roll around in my head again so I hope to share more.  I have made several cowls, and they are so much fun to design (playing with stitch patterns), make (knitting in the round) and wear (no scarf to come undone).

I have 2 more to take pictures of, and I have one still on the needles and I have another one in my head.  I've seen several cowls in catalogs and on television.  Do you think they'll still be around next winter?

Once these are finished, I've plans for 2011 involving at least a couple of cardigans, and the Missoni Inspired Chevron Blanket.  What yarnin plans are you making for 2011?

Basketweave Baby Blanket

I knit this cute blanket with Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash in Fruit Smoothie. The yarn was very easy to work with and Superwash wool is great for baby projects. Superwash can be washed although I usually don't put it in the dryer. Also, wool is naturally flame retardant which is a great feature.


I looked at several basketweave patterns and then decided to make my own using the features that I preferred.


Any worsted weight, smooth yarn would work for this pattern.  I'm in the process of knitting this same  blanket using Caron Simply Soft. Size 7 needles produced the fabric that I wanted, but I didn't measure it before I gave it away so I'm not sure of the gauge or size of the end product.  In general, I go down a needle size or two as I tend to knit on the loose side.


Cast on 139 stitches using the long-tail method.


Row 1-6: Knit 1 TBL, Knit 1,Purl 1 across row until 2 st remain then K1, YF, Slip 1 Purlwise
These 6 rows are a seed stitch border.


Row 7: K1tbl, (K1,P1) 3 times; PM, (K5,P5) across row, ending with K5 followed by PM, then (P1,K1)3 times, YF, Sl1P
* The first and last 6 stitched are form the seed stitch border.*
Row 8: K1tbl, (K1,P1) 3 times; (P5,K5) across row, ending with P5 followed by (P1,K1)3 times, YF, Sl1P
Row 9: Repeat Row 7.
Row 10: Repeat Row 8.
Row 11: Repeat Row 7.


Repeat Rows 7-11 until blanket is about an inch shorter than you would like.


Repeat Rows 1-6 and bind off loosely.

Crochet Hexagon Blanket

A friend of mine had her second baby last March, and I wanted to make her a blanket.  Many times first babies are given lots of gifts, but after that, they aren't always given much.  Also, if the baby is taken care of, then I want to give the Mom a gift because she does all the hard work.  So I've been working on this blanket more for my friend than for the baby.  It is a lap blanket size, and usually I can get one out in a month or so, but crocheting causes my injured wrist to ache after about half an hour so it has taken me a year!  I'm working on building up the strength in my hand so hopefully this won't always be the case.

The pattern for the hexagons was found here.  I finished the edges by single crocheting several rows around the whole blanket.  I used Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Green Apple, Crocus, Terra Cotta & Fedora.  Shine is a yarn made out of cotton and modal.  It is soft with a silky texture and a good weight to it.  

Shell Baby Blanket - Crocheted Shells

Yarn: Bernat Baby Boucle in Dust of Pink and Violet Blossom

Pattern: Crochet Shell -- I improvised this pattern. I alternated single crochet with 5 double crochets in one stitch.

This boucle yarn is soft and nubby. It is easy to work with although it is difficult to pull out if you make a mistake, and if you pull too hard, it will break.

This is a fairly mindless pattern repeat. It was a great project while watching tv.

Baby Blanket Blues

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft, various shades of White and Blue

Pattern: Moderne Baby Blanket found in Mason Dixon Knitting

I made this blanket for a dear friend and her baby. It was fun to make, and it just looks so beautiful. I'm very happy with the way it looks. Towards the end of the blanket, I did get a little tired of knitting row after row.

The edging is called arch and it is from Crocheting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein. It was simple, but I liked the way it completed the blanket. Since this blanket is for a boy, I didn't want the edging to be too feminine. Also, I don't like baby blankets to have too many holes where tiny fingers can get caught.


Also, I've been knitting through a bit of stash that consisted of Caron Simply Soft. I do like Caron Simply Soft because it is soft, washable, and inexpensive. It is sturdy and makes a blanket that can be used!


On the other hand, I have some beautiful yarns that I have waiting for me to make some lovely sweaters for myself. I've started to get a bit antsy to start knitting that yarn. I'm so looking forward to making myself something after months of knitting for everyone else. I love making things for the people I love, especially the ones who appreciate it. Since the cold weather has descended, I just don't have enough sweaters to keep me warm. The Malabrigo is calling my name.

The Beginning of the Mitered Blanket

When I finished the Pink & Green Elephant, I started making these squares. I visited the Going-Out-of-Business Sale for FiberWorks Knitting & Weaving in Toledo, OH, and picked up quite a few skeins of yarn to get me started. I plan on this blanket taking me quite a while to knit because I plan on doing other projects at the same time.

Here is the yarn (all in DK weight) I'm using so far:

Debbie Bliss Cathay (Cotton, Viscose Microfiber & Silk)- gold

Debbie Bliss Cathay - white

Louet Gems (Merino Wool) - Fern Green

Karabella Margrite (Merino & Cashmere) - Deep Berry Red

Berroco Comfort DK (Nylon & Acrylic) - Turquoise

Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo (Wool & Bamboo) - Forest Green

I've found a mitered square blanket that was designed in sets of 3, and I'm thinking of using that configuration, instead of the set of 4, like I have in the picture. Once I've knitted enough squares, I'll lay them out and show you a picture of what I mean.

Let me know what colors you can envision me adding.

Mitered Square Blanket

We've been in and out of town for most of July because my husband's job is relocating us, and a couple of short vacations. The good news is that we found a house and I've started one a Mitered Square Blanket to soothe my nerves. The above picture is just an example; I didn't knit that one. I'm still picking colors, but I got enough to start. I have used gold, white, a deep red, a deep green, a sage green and a turquoise. I would like to add several greens and reds and whatever else strikes my fancy. I want to make it as large as a queen size comforter or about 90 x 90 inches. This will probably take me forever. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Starting from the Center

I've started a new baby blanket for my future nephew. It is a crochet pattern of a star (Click here for the pattern). It starts in the center and goes round and round. Whenever I start a new pattern from the center, it takes me 2 or 3 tries to make sure the center is just the way I want it. I think the start of every project is important to get right, and it is worth the effort because this is the foundation upon which you are building your entire project. It is even more important when you are starting from the center because your eye will always be on the center while your eye doesn't always go to the bottom of a sweater. Also I prefer to crochet blankets, especially bigger blankets. The reason for this is simple: when you knit a project the entire weight of the project is on your needles while with crochet, only one stitch is on your needle so your lap carries the bulk of the weight.

Back to the Star Blanket, it is going well, and I think it will turn out really cute. This particular project didn't start with a center circle that you are crocheting into. When you make a hat from the crown down or a granny square, you often make a chain, join the chain ends together to form a circle and then crochet into the center. I recently found a great way to start this which makes the neatest, tight center circle. The answer is an adjustable circle. Click here to find out how to make it.