The Blanket

[photo later--technical difficulties]

Here's a photo of autumn in Shangri-La, aka the SF Bay Area. I love living in this place with perfect weather, and the colors of fall are my favorite of the whole year.

On to knitting news: I haven't done anything on the blanket since the weekend really because I am up to my eyeballs in alligators. Grades are due tomorrow a.m. and student comments (what they're doing well, what they are struggling on) are due Friday. So I am a woman with a mission, and unfortunately it ain't a knitting mission. But I am thrilled with the look, the drape, and the cushy-ness of the blanket so far. DH helped me create a good pattern for a 12 "square" blanket, with as much variety and balance as possible. I'm onto the third of four blocks for this strip, and it's straight garter stitch so it will go fast.

I'll have to post it later today because the camera needs fresh batteries. :^(

Happy knitting, those of you who are lucky enough to have some time today.

Feeling Halloweeny?

Here is my latest time-waster and it's totally addicting fun. Make sure your volume is on so you can appreciate the sound effects. I'm fully aware that you may not come back to my blog, but [sigh] it's all in the name of making the world a more enjoyable place. OK, click here.


Now, as for moi and the little knitting penchant I've been feeding, I made a 2x2 rib scarf from that orphan ball of green stretchy mystery yarn I got last summer (turned out to be GGH Solitaire). It is not flawless [hysterical laughter here] but will be a lovely ribby thing to wrap around a neck on a chilly fall afternoon at school.


I also started Rachel's college blanket. I have been lurking on Knitting Novices, reading about baby blankets and other throws, and I decided what I will do. I'm using Lion Thick and Quick and cast on the fisherman beige for the first section, in multiples of seven, for a total of 56 stitches.



Then I just did K7 P7 until I ran out of that skein, and on a knit row I started the next block, I switched to the burgundy skein and am doing my favorite purl ridge stitch. It's in four row sets, first a row of K, then a row of P, then a K1 P1 row, and finish with a P row. I've done several things in this stitch and as you might guess I like it! My next skein will be in black, and I am not sure what pattern I'll use but am thinking of something plain since it will be black--reverse stockinette or garter perhaps.

What then? you ask. Good question to ask Stacie Newman since I have a proven tendency to make it up as I go along. Well, I'll see how long it is and perhaps add one more skein to the end of it, and then I'll do another whole set just like it and sew or crochet them together. If it's not wide enough, I'll do another whole set and add it on. :^)

Now back to knitting since it's what I'm doing to avoid paper grading (again). Then I'll probably have to buckle under and actually do my real work. Knitting is so much more fun.

Ennnhhhhhh--Not what I was hoping for

[Big sigh.] Well, I have felted my monster knitting three times now, first with the twine, then with yarn, and then (after cutting the three pouches apart) with an edging seam in what I thought was feltable yarn.



Here they are in all their misshapen ugliness. Yes, I washed them the last time with other stuff (um, I KNOW not to do that) so now I get to trim off the white fuzzies along with the other excess fuzz.

I want to give up! But then I realize that I probably keep learning good information while I flail away. So here is my next plan. I'll remove the edging seam and redo it using truly feltable yarn, and then I'll wash them again. And I will stretch and shape them very carefully for evenness before drying them. BTW, I really have created a monster because the seams in some cases are my way of felting into integrity gaping holes that cutting them apart created along many spots on the edges.