Lap Blanket and Baby Blanket

 

This lap blanket went to the Prayer Shawl Ministry at church. I started it as a stash buster but, of course, had to purchase more yarn to finish it. I used 'Loops and Threads" yarn and a size H hook to make block 97 from Jan Eaton's book, 200 Crochet Blocks, with the diagonal pattern as the basic block. I then made a few different patterns to break it up a bit.

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Here's my grannified baby blanket for great nephew Benjamin with a peek-a-boo owl in one corner--just for fun! Another stash buster that required a purchase or two is a collection of basic granny squares in white and shades of blue and green with some variegated here and there. Most of it is Bernat DK weight worked with a size G hook.

I'm now using more stash to crochet a shawl for our Prayer Shawl Ministry. How did I acquire so much blue yarn?

Great Grand Blanket

 The blanket for my first great grandchild is now finished and ready to mail for the baby shower.

 I used this pattern as my guide, though I don't think either blanket appears to be plaid. The baby is a boy to be named Andrew Michael. As my friend commented, that's a good, strong name.  :)  This is made with Plymouth Encore and some mystery yarn from stash. I hope it will keep the little bundle nice and warm, wrapped in love and prayers.

Great Grandchild???!! Me?? How can that be??!

Frilly Crochet Squares

I'm still working my way through stash left-overs. I like the look of this square so I decided to make it in two colors with white as the constant color. It will be a baby blanket or throw or afghan. I'll know when I finish. I am joining the squares into strips and have placed them beside each other to decide on the final placement.

The white is Plymouth Encore. The colors are Plymouth Encore, I Love This Yarn, and a few assorted others here and there. I'm using a size H hook and worsted weight yarn.

I'm joining Wonder Why and Plum's Life . Go visit them to see more projects.

Baby Blanket

A sweet baby girl named Ashley Elizabeth was born to dear niece and her hubby, which means it is baby blanket time.  I downloaded Exclusive by Sandra Brown to accompany the knitting. The premise sounds interesting, but I am not far enough into the story to venture an opinion.

 The "I Love This Yarn" left-overs work well for this blanket--pastels, very soft hand, and oh-so-cuddly. I used this yarn for 8-year-old DGD's Christmas present, a throw.

 Why did it take me SO long to decide on a pattern? I don't know! I started to crochet motifs for a baby blanket, then decided I didn't feel like doing that. So, I dug out an old copy of Knitting Digest dated September, 1997, and came upon the "Rainbow Crib Cover" on page 22.

 

 The stripes run length-wise in a repeating pattern on size 9 circs. The four row pattern stitch is simple and provides a lacy appearance. I am not a fan of fringe, so I plan to crochet a scalloped border around the edges. Then, I'll send it off across the country to sweet baby.

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What are you reading? What are you knitting? Join in at Yarn Along and let us all know!



FO and New Yarn!

Star Ghan is the FO. Well, I'm calling it that, although I am going to add picot trim in pink or blue when the baby is born. This crochet pattern is interesting to make as well as being a quickie-crochet! Interested in the pattern, Beth's Little Star Afghan? It is a freebie at http://www.angelfire.com/va3/heartfeltangels/littlestarafghan.html I used oddments of
left-over acrylics with a size G crochet hook.


I love you, box-o-yarn! Here are my 13--count 'em, 13!--skeins of Berroco Comfort yarn from www.kaleidoscopeyarns.com which arrived with its usual speed! Yaaay! Kaleidoscope Yarns has excellent service and sends a little thank you gift with the order. See the packet of Hot Cinnamon Spice tea in the pic? Isn't it so thoughtful of them to send along an unexpected giftie? For a while, they sent a tiny plastic bag with three Werther's candies in it. It's enough to drive you right back online to buy more products!

The oatmeal-colored yarn will be used to make this gorgeous, luscious "Cream of the Crop" afghan for nephew and his bride. The pattern was originally in Winter 99/00 Family Circle Easy Knitting.

I found the pattern in this book that I purchased at Border's. My super long size 8 circs are waiting for me to cast on the 219 stitches to begin this project. Something I plan to do forthwith! Happy knitting!

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But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

Baby Surprise Sweater

This is the Baby Surprise Jacket (BSJ or BSS) from The Opinionated Knitter by Elizabeth Zimmerman made with Mission Falls 1824 cotton and size 7 needles. I did it as a KAL mentioned in a previous post.

Having completed the knitting, I'm ready to do the oragami-like folding to transform this piece from blob to sweater. Lay it out with wrong side facing you.


Fold the left side toward the center. Note the green marker is moved from lower left toward the center.

Pull the side with the green matker toward the top of the sweater.

Then fold the two extended pieces to form a sleeve. Can you see the sweater taking shape?

Do the same placement on the right side of the sweater. There are many ways to seam the top sleeves. On this one, I decided to single crochet the seams on the right side using the red/orange to add some detail.

I did a simple single crochet around the neck line.

A crocheted picot finish on the sleeves added a sweet touch. Note that I added a band of stockinette amidst the sea of garter for some stitch contrast.

The buttons were in Mother's button jar from a red and white sundress that she wore in the '50s. Now her great grand-daughter will wear them. It has been slightly less than two years since Mother passed.

And, yes, it becomes a sweater!!

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Excel in showing respect for each other. Romans 12:10 b

FYI: EZ BSJ

I am currently needling Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket in The Opinionated Knitter by EZ and the KAL notes from knitbabysurprise@yahoogroups.com What? You don't think this looks even remotely like a one piece sweater? I AM shocked!! Stay tuned, oh ye of little faith! I love making these sweaters--a surprise every time! I am using Mission Falls 1824 cotton on this one. The main color is off-white with an orange/rust shade as the second color. With my size 7 circs, I am needling an EZ BSJ.

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Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. 2 John 1:6

Wordless Wednesday --- FRIGHT!

WIP - ing

The B4 bag in Noro is my activated project right now. The pattern has interesting handle placement for this bag, which will be felted. I am making this to send off to one of my sisters who needs a little boost right now. You can see assorted B4 bags and get info on the pattern at http://b4bag.blogspot.com/ It is a fun and fast knit! I am using size 10 needles. This is going to be smaller than I had expected, but I don't feel like ripping and restarting----onward and upward we go!

In basket #2 we have the Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket for DG#7. He is an active 2-year-old, so this hardy garter stitch is perfect for him! I'm using red for the main color and only white for striping. I decided to make fewer stripes than indicated in the pattern. My pattern is in EZ's book The Opinionated Knitter and is also available in other sources available at http://www.schoolhousepress.com/. Here is a page with notes for the BSJ: http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Baby_Surprise_Jacket

Oh, and yesterday morning...you know, the day after the Sox not the Rox won the World Series...it was time to check on ticket refund$, cancel the hotel room in Denver, cancel our reservations to board the dog-n-puppy show, and think...wow! the Rockies just saved us some serious $$$ !

"There is no joy in Mudville, Might Casey has struck out."

Logging

It's another very hot day, so I am knitting, reading, and enjoying Max and Lailah. I am using odds and ends of acrylic to add a few more "logs" to the log cabin blanket for charity. I am using 7s and WW.

I'm not as compulsive as I had been, but I had to get up and straighten that lamp shade as soon as I opened this pic! Most of my pix are taken in my home office because everything I need is right here!! Well, the food is in the kitchen so I do have to walk down the hall for that!! ;)

My friend K delivered the pretty yellow azalea---oops! begonia, make that begonia!!-- to me last night, bless her heart! The last two weeks have been very difficult RE: the effects of my West Nile and problems with my most recent immuno globulin infusion. (I have another one in the morning.) So, K took time to bring me a touch of beauty and love to cheer me! I don't blog about my health very often because they are chronic conditions. I guess the last two weeks have gotten the better of me so I'm blogging to release it. I covet prayers for strength and calm. Any way...the Lord has blessed me with thoughtful friends who mean the world to me!

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I say that anybody whose life keeps tangling up with yours for no logical reason is likely a member of your karass, a team God has formed to get something done for him.---Kurt Vonnegut

Easy On the Sherbet

Does this not look like someone became violently ill after eating a variety of sherbets? Just asking.

This is the Crocheted Log Cabin Baby Blanket from Crystal Palace using the recommended yarn. Now, about this Kiddo yarn. It has a luscious hand---perfect for baby. The colors are...well...EXHUBERANT! It is so-so for knitting/crocheting because of all the fluffies that obscure stitches. BUT...and it is a BIG one, after being knitted or crocheted into fabric, it looks like something Max dragged in! I mean, really, no kiddo-ing here. It's matted and somewhat used looking! There are wonderfully soft baby yarns that are much prettier. So, once I use all of this Kiddo, it will be adios, Kiddito!

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Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
--William Butler Yeats

And Then She Found Me

The Rambling Rows baby blanket is finished, wrapped, and ready to deliver to my neighbors and their first child, a precious daughter. I decided to add a ruffle trim to soften the angles. Doing the final row in purple is a pleasing way to unify the bolder colors with the pastels.

I finished reading And Then She Found Me by Elinor Lipman and truly enjoyed it! There were surprising and unexpected turns in the story along with a good bit of humor. Delightful to read! The description on the back cover says, "April Epner teaches high school Latin, wears flannel jumpers, and is used to having her evenings free. Bernice Graverman brandishes designer labels, favors toad-sized earrings, and hosts her own tacky TV talk show: Bernice G! For 36 years Bernice has followed the life of the daughter she gave up for adoption. Now she's ready to be a mom. And she's hurtling straight for April's quiet little life..."

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Don’t ever become so busy that you fail to realize how very happy you are! ---Kathryn Hiller

Rambling Rows

Skulking along our side of the fence in the back yard, hiding among the vines draping our pergola, I am avoiding my neighbors! Most especially, I am avoiding their newborn, precious daughter. I feel awful! Here is the reason for my nefarious actions:



It's the blanket I am making for the baby! It is preventing me from cuddling their first born! Did I mention that she is about 5-6 weeks old? No? Well, she is!

Does anyone else do this? I mean the I-can't-visit-the-baby-until-I-finish-the blanket thing. I mean, they live right. next. door. I've thought of visiting them and telling them I'm making something for the baby that is not quite finished yet. Then I think no, I want to have a gift with me when I see her for the first time. You can see, given world events, just exactly how Earth shaking this is! Now I'm thinking--knit faster!!

And then, there's the other problem I have as I close-in on completing an item: I find something that I dislike about it. Ev-er-y time! My original idea about the color for this was to use the girlie-pink as the main color along with the other pastels, add a couple stronger colors for visual stimulation, and there's my baby blanket!! Although I like the lime and purple, I am now thinking--oh my! Those are bright!
This Rambling Rows ghan is fun to knit-- just wishing I were completing it a little faster! I am working on patch #36 of 46 total patches. Darn! I can see in these pics that some of the slanted lines are at the wrong angle! There was a time I would have ripped and redone, however that time is not now!
The Caron "Simply Soft" is nice to work with and good for tossing in the washer and dryer. So, instead of typing-typing, I'd best start knitting-knitting with my size 8s.

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. --- Proverbs 15:30

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

God has blessed us with this beautiful earth. I was snap-happy this weekend!

Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs

Scrub pine twisted by years of strong winds

Castle Rock

Sign in the parking lot at a Red Robin Restaurant

As I rode, I knitted my feather and fan throw with the Interlacement yarn that was on the swift in a previous post.

For a change of pace and yarn weight, I worked on my wobbly KAL in Lamb's Pride. (See button at right.)

Failure To Launch is a fun movie! If you haven't seen it and feel like laughing, collect your $200 and go directly to a theatre showing this movie!

Beethoven's Hair by Russell Martin was a challenging read, but one that I ultimately enjoyed. It is part documentary, part forensics report, less a novel, yet held my interest despite the lull in the description of the WWII years. The lingering sense from this novel is that there is no privacy-- even in death. A striking journal note written while reading this work is "huge improbabilities and little miracles that...link lives." One month before his death, Beethoven scrawled, "Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est" --Applaud friends, the comedy is finished.

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Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. ---Carl Jung

Speaking of Valentine's Day...

Since it's hearts and flowers day...and yes my dearest-dearest gave me hearts (a huge balloon), a heart shaped box of Russell Stover chocolate, and a rose....Have you seen the knitted wedding site? No, really!! Have you? Here's the link: http://www.castoff.info/wedding.asp

My five-hour sweater is now into the second week. I'm no mathematician, but I think that's way beyond the requisite five hours. Mini-Max models the little bit that is complete.

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
---Hans Hofmann

Did I knit a blob?

Maybe if I look at it a different way......

...nope, that doesn't help!

Still unrecognizable!

It's all about the folding!

Hey! Look! It's a sweater/jacket! Not a blob at all! Whew!

Here's a look at the garter stitch and stripes!

Back View

Starry, starry buttons

The finished Baby Surprise Sweater (BSS) has buttons and a collar. This pattern by Elizabeth Zimmerman can be finished in a variety of ways, such as with a hood, without the collar, with added ribbed cuffs. The colors and striping possibilities make each a unique creation! In addition to all of this creative freedom, it is such fun to knit! This one was done on size 9 needles with Plymouth Encore WW yarn. Lighter weight yarns and smaller needles yield smaller sizes. However, it can be made as an adult size as well. Did I hear versatile?

If you enjoy the feel of libraries and book stores, there is a good chance you will enjoy reading Shelf Life by Suzanne Strempek Shea. I am currently reading her nonfiction account of her experiences in publishing her novels, confronting cancer, and returning to the world by working part-time in a book store. Her humor, energy, and positive attitude contribute to the very good vibe of this book. I highly recommend it!

Life's most urgent question is: what are you doing for others? ---Martin Luther King, Jr.