• Time to knit…

    It’s winter.  There are seven inches of snow on the ground.  I’m recuperating from ear surgery.  What other reasons do I need to sit and knit?!

    I found this delightful blanket pattern on Etsy a couple of years ago and purchased it.  I followed her suggestions for the yarn colors (I really like what she did!) and ordered the requisite number of each color.  I ordered the necessary circular knitting needle.  Then life got in the way and I got sidetracked.

     

    Pattern from MamaInAStitch on Etsy

     

    Recently, I found this little wooden container for the yarn.  I mean, I’m ready to knit.  So I need to go back to the instructions and refresh my memory.  I have knitting books – plenty of them.  There are always tutorials on YouTube from much more experienced knitters than I am.  I can knit and purl.  I’ll have to look up the other stitches to remember them.  This looks like an easy enough pattern with good instructions, so I need to cast on 105 stitches for the throw blanket size (52” x 57”) and get started!

    One hundred and five?!

     

  • Knitted patchwork baby blanket…

    I began this patchwork knitted baby blanket over a year ago for my youngest granddaughter.  I have worked on it from time to time over the past year.  It was a happy day when I realized that I had finally finished all THIRTY-FIVE squares!  I am still a novice knitter and basically have only mastered “knit” and “purl”!  Okay, maybe “knit two together”.  The sight of a knitting pattern with complex directions baffles me.

    It was certainly a baffling day when I realized that I NOW had to figure out a way to join all 35 of the squares together and weave in all lose ends – in a manner that satisfied my “perfectionist” streak.  “Perfectionist” and “beginner” don’t exactly go together!  I watched youtube videos about joining squares and read knitting books.  I tried a couple of the suggested techniques but still wasn’t satisfied with the way it looked.  One video suggested crocheting them together…except I don’t know crochet!

    There must be a way to finish this that will look good and make me happy.  Any suggestions from you master knitters out there???  I confess to being frustrated and at a loss for what to do.  I love the colors and I think it will be adorable if/when I can ever get it finished…

    p.s.  5 of the squares are on the sofa where I’ve been working on them!  😉 

    UPDATE:  I found a particularly helpful youtube video which I will post later with pics of the finished blanket.  I have now joined the first row of squares!  Looking good so far!

    patchworkblanket

    The finished product above…each square finished neatly with an invisible mattress stitch.