WIPs and counting...

I know that I’m not unique among most knitters and having a basketful of WIPs is pretty typical.  But my WIPs seem to be growing and yet my stash is not dwindling. Hmmm… 

Flowers in the Snow Afghan

Now that I've started my Year of Projects, I have to be even more disciplined than I usually am which probably is a good thing so that I won't have knitty projects stashed all over the house and in various bags.

Shrug

Granny Square Baby Blanket

I'm still working on Xia which has been a very interesting experience since I'm knitting a large (maybe even an extra large) size, unusual for me since I have always knitted for my size (which is small petite).  Perspective is so important in knitting and I'm having to re-adjust the way knitting feels in my hands.  

I've put aside my Abalone cardigan to continue working on Xia and am anxious to cast-on the Make Up Your Mind tank.  Yep, that's right -- I'll be adding yet another WIP to my stash by the weekend.  I just can't help myself (do you think I need knitting therapy?)!  Happy knitting everyone.

If it's Friday, it must be...

Swatch: Stash Day
Granny Square

I’ve written a fair amount about how much I enjoy knitting and crocheting gifts for friends and family but another thing I recently have come to enjoy is contributing to charity efforts to make afghans and blankets for those in need or those in difficulty. I'm part of a few different groups that are led by kind and generous women and men who bring out the best in those of us who want to help.  With this year's disasters in Japan and the American South, there has been a huge call to knit/crochet cozy items that will both warm and comfort those who have lost so much.

Being new to crochet, I wanted to choose a stitch that I could learn quickly and that would move fast into an afghan. These are granny squares and flowers in the snow motifs that I crocheted in dozens to be made up into afghans that have been sent to people recovering from an illness or natural disaster.

The granny square is really versatile -- it can be done in a variety of colors, in a single color, chunky, lacy -- and it grows and grows really quickly.  

This afghan went to the Binky Patrol and the update I got recently shared the good news that 137 blankets (binkies) were delivered to the recent tornado victims in the U.S. I am thankful to have been able to participate in making these afghans and invite you to consider knitting up a little something for someone who could use a little hand-made happiness.

If it's Friday, it must be...

Swatch: Stash Day
Revisiting Norfolk Shells 

I've been steadily working on my first commission, and I'm happy to report that it's coming along nicely.  After I finished this swatch two weeks ago, I grabbed my notes and pattern and headed to my LYS where I consulted with the very helpful Bridget. 

(Caron Simply Soft)

I'll confess that I practically handled every machine-washable yarn in the store, but it was a great way to get to know yarns that I tend to overlook when I'm at the shop.  While I was very tempted to use some beautiful all wool yarns in Cascade or Malabrigo, I think it's kind of mean to have a new mom or dad handwash their baby blanket -- don't you agree? I eventually settled on Berocco Vintage.  I know, I know ... I just seem to keep returning to this yarn for my projects.  In all seriousness, I was determined to get something that I've not used before but Berocco Vintage has all the characteristics I'm looking for.  Color, weight, washability (is that a word?), and yardage. 



(Dewberry and Blush)

I know for a fact that Natalie loves the color choice and I'm really pleased (and relieved!) that the afghan is turning out so nicely.  I had my concerns -- this is a complex pattern that requires my full attention.   It is a repeat of rows 3 - 6, each of which has a different set of stitches and count.  But I'm now in the groove and this sweet gift is almost half-way completed.


(when I started to get my groove)

If it's Friday, it must be...

Swatch: Stash Day
Sunshine Lace

In progress - Berocco Vintage

Isn't this elegant? I guess I can call this a swatch even though it's really a crocheted block.  I wanted to try my hand and hook at something a little more challenging than the granny squares I've been making.  I also wanted a chance to write a little something about this book that I originally borrowed from my local library.  I fell in love with the photographs instantly -- so many designs, so many colors -- and started dreaming about all the afghans I would make mixing and matching the various blocks and colors.  My own copy arrived in the mail yesterday so now I'll have infinite time to drool over the 200 designs.

I chose to swatch this square because of its simple elegance but fairly complex pattern.  I'm not typically drawn to lace but this design really did remind me of the sun and I liked the openness of the inner design. And I left it "in progress" to photograph because I like the way it shows how the circle becomes a square.  Sometimes I feel like a magician when I crochet.

Berocco Vintage is perfect for this pattern as it has a nice weight but isn't bulky.  I plan to try a few other crochet square patterns from Jan Eaton's book and see which ones work well together and turn them into a small afghan.

If it's Friday, it must be...

Swatch: Stash Day

Norfolk Shells 

My lovely friend Natalie has commissioned me to make a baby blanket for someone special in her family.  I am so touched that she trusts me with this very special gift, one that I know she hopes will serve as a family heirloom (what, nervous? me?).  We had a great talk about how much hand-made gifts mean to us and how we can’t help but feel extra special knowing that someone took that extra time to make it.  

As someone who is constantly knitting and crocheting FOs that I then give away as gifts, I do think a lot about the person I’m making the piece for as I’m working. I imagine them getting the package (in the mail or in person), opening it up, and feeling the texture of the yarn, soaking in the color.  It’s such a great feeling.

I shared some ideas with Natalie and after poring over many samples (too many, probably), she settled on a stitch that has real personal meaning to her. Right then and there I thought about how choosing the right stitch, pattern, color, and yarn is all about what personally moves us.  When I look around and see what other great knitters are queing up to work on, I’m always curious as to what caught their eye about that pattern or when I’m in a yarn store and I see other knitters’ purchases, I’m always wondering what drew them to that color.

Norfolk Shells spoke to Natalie right away … she managed to single it out among hundreds of other beautiful patterns and it was clear that this gift is as much about the giver as it is about the receiver.

This is an intricate crochet stitch, and I find it pretty challenging.  Each row requires counting, skipping, and different types of crochet stitches so I’m going to be on my toes. But I’ll confess and say that I’m actually loving the feeling of being pushed.

I’m only at the swatch stage but over the next month, I’ll be working on this commission and am really excited to contribute to Natalie’s vision of love and family.

On a plane, on a beach...

I am one lucky girl!  We just returned from a brief but fantastic excursion to St. Lucia to enjoy a break from school and work.  It was our first family trip to the Caribbean, and I have to say, why had we not done this before?!  We arrived to sunshine, puffy clouds, and 90 degree weather — oh, a far cry from the weather we’ve been having in NY.  

Anyone who knows me knows that I am never without a knitting or crochet project and traveling is no exception.  I decided a crochet project would be best — one hook, some small skeins from my stash, and something that would grow as I worked and not need putting together in the end.  After scouring for patterns, I settled on a granny square baby blanket — eventually, someone I know will be having a baby, right?   

This was the PERFECT project.  Fun to crochet, compact, and extremely portable.  

(upon take-off from NY to St. Lucia)

(yes, pool side!)

Almost done … and I’ll have to write a special note to whoever I give this baby blanket to that it was made in the midst of one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world!

Swooning over color...

I’ve always been happy knitting in one color. I find it soothing to watch a single color spread across my project — especially when the color is so gorgeous that you can’t take your eyes (or hands) off the yarn. But then I began to see projects that made me swoon … projects made with MULTIPLE COLORS!

I have to thank Julie at knittedbliss for this when she mentioned in one of her recent posts that she wanted to tackle this beautiful crochet project. And then days later, Tanis at TFA posted her progress on the very same afghan. I couldn’t wait to get started. I ran to my LYS and bought an armful of Berroco Vintage yarns in six different colors.

But … hmmm … I didn’t crochet! In fact, every time I picked up a hook and tried, my brain froze. There’s something intimidating about crocheting. The quick wrist action, the use of that one hook. Oh, and did I mention that my mother is faster than fast when she’s crocheting?

I sat myself down, poured over patterns and instructions, chained, frogged, chained again and after an obsessive weekend of determination, I can now say I crochet! My 80 flowers are finished, and I will spend this week turning them into squares. I’m almost half-way done and think they look great. In the midst of these off-and-on rainy, gray northeastern days, these blooming “flowers” are brightening my spring!