The Emma Knitted Blanket

Its finally finished what I call The Emma Blanket, for  my grand daughter Emma who is all of 14 months old. I thought it would never end...literally...all the stripes and weaving in all the end. Yet here it is...I have to say it's not one of the best yarns I have ever used Cascade 220 superwash sport. It had a tendency to split a lot especially the Strawberry color. I also didn't care for how it made the edges which is why I added a crocheted border. Which on the wrong side is so, so, I am a bit picky I guess. I just hate it when a project is disappointing to the creator. 

 I used number U.S. 6 circular knitting needles, and 8 balls (50gms) of extra creme cafe and approx. 4 balls of Strawberry in a garter stitch which I love. Maybe, I should have gone down a size for a tighter stitch, who knows, it was my first time with Cascade sport weight yarn. I have used Cascades before but surely will not be using this again. Oh wait, I have already purchased colonial blue, and extra creme cafe. Arg! 

Another Blanket on the Needles

Hi all, hope your weekend is really awesome...

I am watching my Eagles play football and knocking off a new blanket.

This one on my circulars is a blanket for my grandson, William, made using Paton's Classic Wool which I love in the garter stitch. Although, right now, I am snagging some quality Alpaca and Cashmere yarns off the net. I can not tell you how warm my blanket I promised I would finish before another project truly is...oh so large, and comfy I am so happy I did it! This one I plan on backing with a nice coordinating fabric I am thinking flannel and a high end one. There are times when as an Empty Nester and I am sure for anyone just getting by...where you say "Crap on it all" I need to dive into something nice for a change. Even if it sets me back a bit...there are times I've just had enough. I wanna splurge and say take that life...I'm fighting back. I can't take money with me at the end, and surely am not leaving it to have my children fight over it...so I dumped it into college funds for the grand babies. No one can touch it until they are 18 and it grows in dollars with interest as they do. I say ha ha to my children fight over something else...I've go the G babies covered. And for anyone who read this please, please, educate your daughter's on finances they really need to know everything they can...I had my daughter read every book of Suze Orman's I could and trust me she thanks me every once in awhile. Not only do they have there house nearly paid of at ages 28 and 32 she also has a bank account just for her...she started it at 21 to protect herself. My only daughter, a radiographer who is constantly working whenever she can, and, her SWAT guy that spent 4 tours in the early days of the Iraq war as an American Sniper. I am proud of all my children thank goodness I finally have time for me HA HA!

Summer Knitting Project...

Not to long ago I showed a project I started recently. It's my summer project, the only one I am working on, and making a point to finish. I absolutely refuse to pick up something else until this one is done. This gal needs more self discipline and plans to make a point to finish what I start before taking on another.

I started it due to the weather, which has been kind of odd off and on which thankfully hasn't damaged any of the veggies in the garden. It's been so cool some days I could feel fall settling in saying it was time to knit. 

I am not one to knit throughout the year, I find it most soothing during the fall to spring season. Usually in the spring and summer I garden, the veggies and the lavender which is growing nicely. 

Being warm blooded it's hard to work the yarn in the warm season, at least for me. So I guess one could say I am a seasonal gal when it comes to the hook and needles. The blanket I am working on is done with Lion Brands Thick and Quick although it's not going as quickly as I thought, even working on it daily. I do know I am enjoying the process, love the colors that match my living room and will keep me warm in the winter months. For those who are curious it's a simple garter stitch that offers a soothing rhythm. On #13 circular needles I did a cast on of 190 stitches working back and forth. The plan... simply knit charcoal stripes throughout. 

Thank you for stopping in to read, have a lovely day and enjoy August 1st hardly seems possible fall is not far off.

Garter Stitch Knitting....

 

 

 

I've been spending time walking a lot lately and finding myself at our local Craft Shop. Although the days have been cold and dreary, I find walks refreshing...sorta like when spring hits, we open window and doors to refresh the stale air...well that's me lately, blowing off the stale me. I like the cold weather..as the saying goes it's easier to get warm then it is to cool off. I do love all the seasons, but, there is something about a nice cold walk that is clearly refreshing not to mention rejuvenating.

At the Craft Store I came across this book called "Garter Stitch for Baby" Go figure another baby post. How could I not with all the babies showing up around grandma. Of course this ripple blanket although for a baby just says...autumn doesn't it? A rippled garter stitch knitted blanket, yummy, hey!

 

 

The book also included this adorable baby hooded jacket. Although I am not considerably fond of the garters stitch design...the endless knitting back and forth this jacket is too darn cute. I guess it's also the stretch this stitch contains, that for me, isn't really thrilling. Not that I don't or haven't used it, I think I would add a bit of the k2, p2 ribbing at the cuffs on this jacket. It was these patterns in the book that had me purchasing...but the biggest reason was...this...

 

I wanted to make a pair a few pairs of mitts for new baby, Will. Currently the owl sweater is on the block board and the hat is about finished. Then we will see what I put on the needles next. I am really having a blast knitting, learning so much as I go. Soon I will be working in pinks for the new baby girl due in April. Gosh, I am so blessed to be surrounded by new babies. I hope you, my readers, are just as blessed by things in your life, everyday.

 

Over the past week the images of John F. Kennedy has been every where and reminds me of this song...

Anybody here seen my old friend John?

Can you tell me where he's gone?

He freed a lot of people,

But it seems the good they die young.

I just looked around and he's gone.

 

 

I was in grade school and remember exactly what I was doing that dreadful day. Then there is this man.....I remember that day too.

 

 

Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed a lot of people,
But it seems the good they die young.
I just looked 'round and he's gone.

 

If you were born in that era you will understand how much they did, how hard they fought, and the great things they achieved in there short lives. If you weren't study them, they were truly great Americans with an Awesome Cause.

 

Have a blessed day....thanks again for visiting.


Frustrating Creative Knitting Days...

 

Hello all, nice to have you visit!

It's been a couple days of consistent, frustrating, exhausting, yet needful, creative days.

 

 

It all started with this pattern... a simple little easy to follow receiving blanket drove me CRAZY. With my daughter's due date for the little one to arrive, I've been frantically adding to the collection of things in her surprise package, which needs to go out real soon! I can not count how many times I started this blanket with this lovely cashmere ivory blend, so dreamy soft, 50gm skeins. I've been collecting them over the past two years little by little and really dug in when they were discontinued by Lion Brand. I had plans to make myself a blanket or sweater coat, yet as the pile gathered, nothing seem to come of the skeins. OMG...stop, my brain has derailed, and I am having trouble spelling the most simple words!! Note to self...start writing and reading more...note from brain...I'll create when I want, buzz off with the lets read and write stuff...the hands want to move. LOL!

Needless to say the blanket starts never lead to an end..Why..the yarn although worsted feels more like a DK weight and doubling it was too much for this pattern. Actually for me!

So I moved on...

 

 

rightly so, I was not about to begin that darn pattern again. Although not a quitter, frustration was the best indication to drop it and move on... and that I did right to this adorable pattern by Tot Toppers by Kate Oates. I just love her patterns and this one, whee, was off the charts for me. Actually I think the baby being so darn cute really added to this adorable Stipey Duffle Coat. It's it the bee's knees? Just makes you want to pick up that little one and squeeze the cute right out of him. Oh how I love newborns the epitome of what nature can do, the innocence, a pure soul untouched by society, so fragile, yet so undeniably loved by everyone.

And although adorable it drove me more CRAZY than the first one...oh how I wanted to make this sweet little coat. I gave it my all, my best, my time, all of it and nothing :0(

 

 

Why...take at close look at the yarn..it's roving, that's right roving. Worsted yes, but, roving. It made me miserable and it wasn't just that..nope...if you don't follow my blog and have just stumbled across it well let me explain...I have trouble reading patterns, well the ones that are for the really experienced knitter. I have to really sit down and treat it like a school Theseus. Literally I have to re- write it in my own language so I can comprehend what I need to do, and with this one, well, lets just say it didn't happen.

 All that really happened was more frustration...and me yelling darn...well kinda darn.

And as the saga continued where did I end up?

 

 

 

Right back at square one, yup that's right, square one and what a dozy. I decided to go back to the blanket idea where all this frustration began and design my own. That's right, you heard it right! Now it's not a huge deal, nope, a simple garter stitch with the colours of the babies room. Not being a fancy, frilly, girly, flowers, and jewlery gal. It's hard for me to do fancy...and rightly so the baby is a boy so it was easy. Yeah right, okay, whatever...stop the insantity, of knitting back and forth, and back and forth...now I am going really CRAZY. But I am sticking it out and going to finish this one with every frustrated back and forth rhythm in my body.

 

 

And while I'm doing it, my brain is screaming give me a challenge, please! So as I knit, I am jotting things down on how I can make this something more than a blanket, yes, something more interesting, useful, not that blankets aren't, but, I need a challenge. I just don't know what it will be, yet.

 

Although the back and forth is so boring at times...I do it all for love and that makes it worth the painful, back and forth mentally. You see, when we have children, no matter how crazy they drive us, or how painful it is when they are hurting at any age, we do what are heart tells us. And more so, when they are at an age, when they're building there own family, do we focus more on the love, we are not so much teachers, we are humbled by life, our jobs now handed over to there next journey, are we able to focus on just the love. And that is awesome!

 

The blanket is going to see it's end, how, who knows...just as when I bought the cashmere ivory yarn..did I know it would all be used on a little boy waiting to meet his, mommy, and daddy.

 

My life seems to go that way...so I'm not surprised that when I pick up something and keep it for years, it already knows what it's to become. Wouldn't it be nice if life was that easy for us, to be born, and already know what we are to become. Then again, that might be... boring.

 

Have a creative week and when frustration sets in...just keep on keeping on...it's all we can do!

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