The Stash

The stash.  Every knitter has one.  It starts out innocently enough but then grows.  And grows.  It's all those leftover balls of yarn from projects, and yarn that you bought for something in particular but then you either don't get around to knitting it or the yarn just doesn't work out for the pattern.  And it's that yarn that was on sale and well, you could use it for something.  And then there are the pretties that just jump in your basket at the yarn shop.

Back in the summer, my stash was threatening to take over.  Part of it was in bins, all tucked away nice and neat.  But the rest of it looked like this. 

Bags of yarn, stashed here and there around the house.  I decided that it was time to not just get things under control but to enter my stash into Ravelry.  But before I could get even halfway through, I was distracted.  Well, more like overwhelmed what with all the picture taking and entering of each skein.  And then Thanksgiving weekend, I became determined to finish and by doing small bits almost day, I had it finished by the end of the year.  I'm proud to say it now all looks like this:

Before I started this project, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what was in the stash but I quickly found out that I was wrong.  Way wrong.  I found some surprises along the way like that second skein of Cascade 220 in black that I didn't know that I had (I was wanting to make a hat) along with some other happy finds.  And I found some surprises that can only be described as "what was I thinking???"

I'm so glad that I finally took the time to organize my stash into Ravelry.  A few weeks ago, I wanted to make Churchmouse Yarns' Walking Rib Cowl.  I consulted the pattern and since I didn't have the called for Rowan Felted Tweed Aran, I did a quick search of my stash in Ravelry and there it was, a suitable substitute, Berroco Blackstone Tweed.  I pulled it out of the bin and was soon on my way to a new cowl.

I  have to confess that I still have a basket of Peaches and Crème to enter into Ravelry.  But that will have to be another day.

The Blanket of the Ages

 

After months of knitting and tracking down Noro #269, My Mitered Crosses Blanket aka The Blanket of the Ages aka THE Blanket is finished. 

 

Here it is with one of my Dad's tractors.  I was getting ready to do photos on Sunday when he suggested that we do like Elizabeth does and hang it on the barn but only if I'd take a picture of the blanket with one of his tractors!  So, Dad, here you are......

 

The squares have been finished since the middle of May but it has taken me all summer to get it sewn up and the border on.  

 

As always with any blanket, I leaned a lot.  My friend, Martha, and I did a private lesson in seaming back at the first of June.  I sort of thought I knew how to seam but wanted to learn the proper way.  And I had read about applied I-cord binding, which for some reason, I thought it would be hard.  As with a lot of things in knitting, if I somehow have the idea that it will be hard, it isn't.  Applied I-cord, in my opinion, is not hard, just fiddly.

 

I have to tell you though that while I was seaming this, I got to thinking that 24 squares wasn't exactly one of my better ideas.  But really the seaming wasn't too bad after I got into the rhythm.  But then while I was doing the border, with the A/C turned down to accommodate the blanket in my lap, 24 squares was perfect again.  And as Martha pointed out when she saw the photo, those extra squares were worth it.  And she is right.

 

When finishing a blanket, at least for me, I look at the finished piece and I see much, much more than just a blanket and lots of garter stitch.  There's a trip to Kentucky to see the fellas and Walker kindly posing for a photo holding a square, knitting at lunch with Martha, knitting in the ER with my Mom (once she and Daddy got so bored they wound yarn for me!), knitting in the hospital with my Mom.  And then my Mom's last days when the I couldn't seem to pick up the correct number of stitches, so I put it down but having it there with me was a comfort.  And afterwards, the endless rows of garter stitch became comforting.  There's also lots of laughter while visiting with family and friends.

 

Someone asked if I'd do this again.  And I would.  I think I'd like to try it in a different yarn and maybe a different weight (fingering weight anyone?) and I'd like to do one without changing colors in the miter.  But I think I'll wait a bit before I start another one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seen in.........

Hayden, AL

The Never Ending Blanket

Remember the Mitered Crosses Blanket I've been working on since back last summer?  Well, I'm still motoring right along the highway of garter stitch.  Right now, I have big stack (22 squares worth) of Noro goodness.

I keep thinking that this thing is taking FOREVER and then I remember that it's my own fault. You may recall that the original pattern calls for 10 squares.  I knew from the beginning that I wanted 12.  And then I decided that 12 squares was a little smaller than I really wanted so I added just four more  to make it 16.  Then before I knew it, I was up to 20.  And a couple of months ago, I decided that I really wanted it big enough to cover me so I added four more squares for a total of 24.

I am happy to report that I am on square 23 and I can see the light!

Now that I'm nearing the end, I find myself both looking forward to finishing that last square and missing the knitting of the squares.  This blanket has taken me through a tough time this winter and spring.  It has been my friend and my solace. 

Seen in........

Gardendale, AL

Gone Home

As many of you know, my sweet Mother passed away on February 26th after a long illness.  She died peacefully with family surrounding her.  My Dad, brother, her sister, two nephews, her niece, and myself were with her when she died.  She was 76. 

She was a woman of deep faith.  She was a wonderful wife, Mother, and friend. But she was best known to family and friends for her Southern cooking.  Many people have shared their memories of her with us and not surprisingly, most of those memories have involved food and sitting at her table.   

My family has been overwhelmed by the love and concern shown to us in the days before and since. We are so grateful for everything - the flowers, food, and cards.  The visits, hugs, and phone calls to check on us.  And we thank you.  From the bottoms of our hearts.

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! 

One of my goals for the New Year is to blog more.  Somehow I’m rather surprised that I haven’t blogged since the end of October because I blog a lot in my head.  But unfortunately, blogging in my head doesn’t count, does it? 

I’ve been knitting a lot or it seems that way anyway. I made six pairs of fingerless gloves as Christmas presents.  Five pair were the Welted Fingerless Gloves and one pair was the Ferryboat Mitts, both excellent patterns from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.  I can’t disclose all the recipients yet since a couple still haven’t received their gifts but the ones who did have seemed to really love them.  Here’s a photo.  These were all knit from Rowan Felted Tweed.  Mother has a pair knit in a cream color Rowan Baby Alpaca DK. 

The Ferryboat Mitts are knit in Cascade 220.

I also made a Honey Cowl for my niece Lindsay.  It's made with Madelinetosh Light in Well Water.  I made the medium length and it took every bit of my one skein.

 

I’ve  made hats and scarves for the Fellas but I worry that the hats will be too big even though I measured their heads at Thanksgiving.  These will finally go in the mail this weekend.  I was hoping to have mittens made by now but I’m having a hard time finding a pattern I like using worsted weight.  Anyone have a favorite pattern for worsted weight for a 2, 4, and 6 year old?

And finally, have ya’ll seen the Jolly Wee Elves from Churchmouse?  They’re just the cutest little things and are like Lay’s Potato Chips.  You can’t knit just one!  Here are three of the six I’ve made so far (the other three are just like these).  These will be Christmas gifts for this year. Nothing like getting an early start!

Have a good rest of the week everyone!