Block Party Weekend

Today, while out furniture shopping (read about it here) I picked up some t-pins. That means that today was the beginning of a blocking extravaganza. Here's a baby blanket that I had finished a few weeks ago (pre-blocking):

I made it from leftover yarn. The red is deep red Red Heart that I used for the Simple Scarf. The blue is a Red Heart sport weight in Skipper Blue (loved the color!). The multicolored yarn is Red Heart super saver in Mexicana. I originally got the pattern from www.nancyhearne.com. But the pattern is no longer available. I've included it at the bottom of the page if you want to use it.


This is baby blanket during blocking. It's a "preemie" sized blanket at about 15 inches long.

And...I finished all the rectangles for the preemie sweater! I knit the last panel up while waiting for the high school band to perform at a concert on Thursday night.

And here it is pre blocking and before I sewed in the ends but it's set up in the way that it will be pieced together. I like how the purple in the yarn made these interesting tiger stripes in the sleeves. I think I'm going to make a hat and booties to match.

My friend Jenn is already begging for one when she has a baby. I was going to block this tonight too but I decided to wait since I wasn't sure if I had enough t-pins. The sweater should be done by the end of the week me thinks. I can't wait to be done with this cutie!

Raised Garter Stripes blanket:

Materials:
1 oz. each of 3 colors of yarn
US size 5 needles (the original pattern calls for size 6 needles)

Rows 1 and 2: With color *, K across
Rows 3-6: Work stockinette stitch (K on right side, P on wrong side)
Rows 7 and 8: K across; change to color *
Rows 9 and 10: K across; change to color *
Rows 11-14: Work stockinette stitch
Rows 15 and 16: K across; change to color *
Rows 17 and 18: K across; change to color *
Repeat rows 1-18 continuing to change colors for pattern.
*= colored yarn, you want to continually cycle through the colors. First A then B and then C. This makes the color changes different each time through the pattern.

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like...Christmas?

I'm having mixed feelings about the weather here in the South lately. On the one hand I'm very excited that it's so mild and feels like spring is around the corner (I hate cold weather). On the the other hand there are 12 days until Christmas and it is 80 degrees outside...how am I supposed to get in the holiday spirit when it feels like I should be at the lake?!?!

In the knitting world I have been working on the final front panel for the preemie sweater. The only difference between this panel and the other one is that the cables go in the opposite direction. I don't have pictures but you can imagine what that looks like. I'm hoping to finish the preemie sweater (well, all the parts at least) today.

I teach a knitting class at the very beginning of the day at the school where I work. Today the little darlings were learning how to bind off so they could take their "finished" projects home over the Christmas break. They were supposed to be using a garter stitch and making a scarf. However, I had several variations on a scarf that look like amorphous blobs, some that looked like Swiss cheese, and one who gave up completely and decided knitting wasn't for him. All in all, out of the 10 kids in the class I would say we got five good scarves. But at least they learned how to knit and I'll be sending them home with instructions for making other things if they like.

My list of knitting projects is growing. And on top of that I have one cross stitch WIP that really needs to be finished just so I can say it's done. Smart one here picked up 3 more very involved cross stitch patterns from a fellow teacher the other day though I have no idea when I will start and/or hope to finish these things. My knitting "To Do" is as follows:

1. Finish preemie sweater, block, and sew.
2. Block multi-colored baby blanket (pictures to follow).
3. Finish faggot stitch scarf.
4. Make a present for The Boyfriend (I know exactly what it's going to be but I want it to be a surprise for him).

Speaking of The Boyfriend... he gets major props from me. He came over to my apartment after our Bible study last night and helped me make muffins. Then he actually acted somewhat interested in my knitting projects. The thing that wins the major points though is that he helped me clean my living room. I despise cleaning in any and all forms and have seriously considered hiring a maid to clean my apartment. He's a sweetheart and I'm not letting him go. Sorry girls.

P.S. I have just discovered an awesome blog written by the Yarn Harlot. I know that some (if not most of you) have already heard of her but I love her blog. And the fact that she has a fluffy cat and, from what she writes, a fairly "lived in" house just like me.

To Do List

My cat, Penelope, does not like to sleep in. Not when I'm home. As today is Saturday, I was trying to sleep in for the first time in ages. At 6:30 Penelope climbed onto my stomach and began kneading my belly and swishing her fuzzy tail in my face. Then she feel asleep, which is ok for about 5 minutes then she starts to make my back hurt (she is 10 pounds of pure fuzz). At 8:30 she walked across the pillow and stood on my hair. When I yelled she jumped off and positioned herself so close to me that I couldn't even roll over. By 10:00 she had given up on me and went to sleep on her side of the bed. By then I was ready to get up so she climbed over and took the warm spot where I had been sleeping. So is the life of a cat owner.

Through all of Penelope's escapades this morning something productive did occur. I, in my half awake stupor, was able to work out a plan on how I wanted to attack the cabling of the preemie baby sweater. I plan on finishing both panels today and sewing the thing together. We shall see how that goes.

Over the past week or so while I was at work I made of list if around 110 scarf patterns (give or take 4 or 5) and, coincidentally, one baby sweater from Knitting Pattern Central that I want to use. I have an idea of what I'm going to do with 110 scarves but I will tell you more about that later. I've already started on a faggot stitch one that is looking cool and showing off some textured boucle yarn that I'm trying to use up.

Today's plan is to finish the preemie sweater, do some shopping at Target, read some from my great new book, Girl in a Cage, and clean the apartment (boo).