I'm joining Kat & the Unravelers today for Unraveled Wednesday! After last week's off-the-chart excitement, things are back to normal around here, and I'm…
KNITTING:
A blanket.
More like a throw.
My Temperature Blanket is on hold while I whip this up! I've been posting about it on IG/FB — I even took it to Mexico — but I've been cagey about saying exactly what it is… because the recipient, a certain young man who graduates high school this year, follows me over there and has "liked" most of those posts. Just wait until he finds out it's his!
When I learned that his favorite color is blue, I knew that I finally had a use for the bagful of mini skeins I'd purchased… in 2019. They were test skeins for someone working out dye formulas, so each skein is a slightly different color, but they all "go." I decided to split them into lights & darks, and I'm riffing a bit on Kay Gardiner's A Light in the Window (Rav) pattern. I wind a skein into a ball, knit until it runs out (usually), knit between one & five garter ridges of natural/undyed yarn (there's sort of a pattern), wind another skein into a ball (alternating light & dark), knit until it's time to make a "window," then carry on… using the remainder of the previous light or dark ball to start the next square.
It reminds me, in a very abstract way, of indigo tie-dye, and if that isn't one of the most perfect unintended happenstances for a project ever, I don't know what is!
So, I'm halfway through the fourth row — each row has five squares — and I'm hoping for six rows altogether! Seven would be great, but I'd be OK with six. I have a few more skeins of light than dark, so visited a new-to-me yarn store when we were in Fond du Lac on Saturday in search of supplemental yarn. (Be Prepared!) Knitty Gritty Shop is a very nice store, dangerously located right off the interstate, but not at an exit which makes it just a little bit less perilous. heh. Eventually, I'll knit a border around the whole thing (supplemental yarn may come into play there, if not in the squares).
READING:
I'm still reading The Miracle of the Bells, by Russell Janney (only a couple chapters to go!), and still listening to A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life by George Saunders. Thankfully, I just finished "The Nose" section of the Saunders book and hope there aren't any more stories like that! Just over three hours of listening to go.
What can I say? Life is busy.
Pretty sure I'll be watching The Shipping News again rather than reading it for the upcoming discussion…
I looked up after taking the blanket photo in the Garden Room this morning and just had to take another! It'll be dark again next week at leaving-for-work time but, as I recall, it won't be for too long. Don't forget to "Spring Forward" this weekend!
Discover more from knitorious
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I’m obsessed with knitting mitered square blankets! Love your color combo. I made nine of them during the pandemic, mostly crib size and lap size. The pile is slowly dwindling as gift giving occurs. And I didn’t buy one skein, all out of my stash😜
I can hardly believe that a certain young man will be graduating this year, but it seems entirely appropriate that you, the Queen of Epic Blankets, should knit one for him. I love the different shades of blue and your garden room sunrise!
Love where the blanket is going — the recipient is going to be so excited to get it!
That blanket is just stunning! And I think a certain-young-man is going to love it!
That’s a handsome blanket. I like your casual, yet thoughtful, approach to the color placement. What a beautiful morning photo.
I do think that blanket has the look of all the shades of denim – brand new, worn a few times, and well worn old friends! And I think it will be perfect for that certain someone who graduates soon!
A Swim in the Pond… oh my! I just loved that book so much I purchased it… because I think going to class with Mr. Saunders is exactly the thing some days! 🙂
I, too, cannot believe that certain young man will be graduating!!! But what a perfect, perfect gift. It’s a terrific blanket, Vicki, and will be such a wonderful way to send him a big hug as he makes his way to the next step in his journey. XO I adore your garden room! What a restful, perfect spot — even more glorious with that morning light. And I think watching The Shipping News will be the perfect thing! 🙂
Oh my! That blanket is just wonderful. Someone is going to be thrilled!! Your sunroom – I want to go there and read/knit/nap. What a beautiful spot.
Oh my that “throw” is such a wonderful project … I wondered why your temperature blanket was on hold and this is a great reason! also, the light in your garden room is amazing. wow!
I love your blanket. Colors, pattern….the whole thing. I have not knit a blanket in a long time…Maybe when I retire. For now I stick to projects I can get done in a week or month or so. Can’t wait to see how it progresses.