WIP: Baby Blanket 2

I’ve been able to spend some time playing with my new toy the Addi Express King Size.

I’ve made many hats on it but I’m tackling my first panel project.  It turns out panels are a lot more tricky for a few reasons.

  1. When turning to reverse directions the stitches like to slip.
  2. The counter is flaky with panels
    1. If you’re trying to catch or fix a potential dropped end stitch you can double or triple count by accident
    2. If you’re feeling frisky and mastering your turns you could turn before the counter has a chance to register.
  3. I’ve also learned to start and end my projects with waste yarn so picking up the stitches later is a snap.  That way I can bind off using my own techniques or add other stitches like ribbing.

Here’s my first panel which is one of 2 and then I’ll finish the blanket with a nice crochet border.

On a funny note here’s a photo of my herd sire Alejandro.  He had managed to belly crawl under the fence and went over to use his new pickup lines on the ladies.  Unfortunately for him all the ladies have been bred already and well the spitting ensued.  Apparently he wasn’t taking no for an answer because by the time I found him he was covered in spit.

WIP: Skein Challenge and Baby Blankets

Well I’ve almost finished with my 8 skeins by this Friday challenge.  I just have to fill up the rest of this bobbin and do one more to complete my task!  Phew!

The reason for the mad rush to spin up so much yarn is because I have a vendor show at the Victor Arts & Crafts festival on Saturday.  I wanted to add some freshly spun up alpaca dyed in fall colors since the trees are at peak right now in WNY.

My second project is a baby blanket for my boss.  They are expecting in December.  Since they chose not to know what sex the baby will be I’m working up this lime green and purple stripe blanket.  With all the spinning I haven’t made much progress but so far it’s 80 stitches wide and 42 rows long.

WIP: EZ Blanket 5

So I’ve finally finished my first turn in the EZ blanket after many naughty words.  This knitting thing is hard!  Crochet is so much easier and faster.  But, I’m committed to this blanket and I’m going to finish it, someday.

T’is the season for shopping and I’ll be going to a few local Arts & Crafts shows over the next 2 months so my stash needs to grow considerably.   My goal is 8 skeins spun, dyed and dried per week.  It’s only Wednesday and I’ve actually done 6 skeins so far, the other green one for some reason isn’t dry yet so I didn’t photograph it.

WIP: Baby Blanket 1

Guess what?!  We finally had a live, healthy cria birth!  YIPPY! I’m so excited and it got me out of my fiber funk.

Here she is,  Calypso of Dutch Hollow

3hrs old.
6hrs old, at the vet. 2400 IgG!

But you’re here because of the latest project I’m working on.  2 of my office mates’s wives are expecting babies themselves late this year and early next.  So it’s time to whip up some baby blankets.  Blanket number one is for an un-sexed baby.  I’m told the nursery is a lime green so I’m thinking this quick and easy 80 stitch wide garter blanky will fit right in.

I’m using James C Brett Marble yarn which is an easy wash acrylic.  Boy I’m spoiled constantly working with alpaca.  Acrylic feels like crap to me and it’s so, well, synthetic and fake feeling.  But, for a baby, it’s all about easy care and washability so acrylic it is.

Be sure to check out our link-parties tab up top to see what other folks are up to today.

WIP: EZ Blanket 4

I’m in a rut again.  Not only am I still stuck on the fist of 4 pieces but I haven’t even finished the corner yet!

What happened is I was mindlessly knitting away and when I observed my seam I noticed a hole.  I ripped back to the boo boo and tried to fix it.  In the process I ended up making things worse and had to frog a good ways back to fix it.  Errrrr!

So, after all the fiddling and then re knitting this is where I am right now.  Pathetic.  I need to get moving on this thing.  I want so much to have the 1st section finished by now.