Saturday, August 18, 2007

We All Live in a Yellow...

...baby blanket. Yellow, yellow, yellow. Have I mentioned that I am not a fan of yellow, all on its own? With other colors, I can appreciate it, and this photo isn't showing the solid, baby yarn YELLOW I feel I'm drowning in. Better than school bus yellow, but still. I won't use Lion Brand's Pound of Love yarn, ever again, no matter how easy I think it will make blankie care for the mom to be. I just don't like it, and there are plenty of other wash and snuggle baby acrylics out there. (Aren't there?) What are your favorites? Help me out here, because I've never had a baby to try to keep blankies and clothes clean for, but I do know that this working mom to be needs machine wash and dry. That's what she's getting, but surely she can have that and I can have a yarn I like to knit with too?


The pattern? Lydia's Baby Cables from Knit Along with Debbie Macomber : The Shop on Blossom Street. (Look! Wee little baby cables, repeating all over this ding dang blankie!) Now that I'm on my second repeat (there are two of those kinda' diamond thingees per repeat), I'm getting the hang of the pattern and picking up speed. It's surely not one I can memorize, but that means I'm not getting bored either. When it is done, it will look like a yellow version of this, I hope. The finished dimensions in the book are 32" x 41" (don't quote me, but something like that - I'm too lazy to walk back and check), but I don't know that I'll go that long. Those of you whom endured the three blankies in a row this spring know that probably somewhere in the 20" range, I'll be looking for an excuse to wrap it up. So, I'm thinking as soon as I get to row 21 of the repeat (the stopping point for the last repeat, the book says) and I'm past 30", I'm heading home and wrapping it up.

You very nearly had no photos. I don't know what's wrong with the HP Photosmart program, but it has a seizure when I try to upload. Corel Photos had no problem, so I guess I'll be using that until I am inclined to dig deep and figure out what troubles HP. I did have a frantic moment though, until my gooblette noggin' recalled that Corel existed!


But back to knitting. My box from JoAnn's arrived yesterday. Strangely enough, that Total Tote wasn't packaged as well, but it's going back for a refund anyway. (Thanks again, R! I've already used the one you sent earlier this week, and I like it very much.) However, I finally found me some 2.25 mm circs.! The picture says it all. The tips look pointy enough, and I'll be casting on - again - for the June Tofutsies Sock of the (not quite every) Month just as soon as I either finish Baby Cables (I'm a cable knitter, no matter how simplified they are!) or at the moment just after I realize that I cannot knit another stitch on that gag me with not even weak sunshine yellow blankie. You see, I not only have to finish the blankie before said baby makes his/her way into the world, but the sooner I get that on the FO list, the sooner I can try out some of that Maizy sock yarn.
It's all about socks with me, I know. I'm about to try lace too, but that will be a Christmas gift for someone known to stop in here once in a while, so mum's the word. I might sneak a peek when I get to a place where I think it's innocuous enough, because after all, you won't know that I'm really doing the lace thing unless I show you, right? Wow. What a world. Cables, lace, and there's still entrelac out there too.
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'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam, 1850, line 27, stanza 4English poet (1809 - 1892)
And thanks to all of you whom showered us with kind words and supportive thoughts. My favorite poet said it best here too, so I'll leave it at that.
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9 comments:

KSee said...

I think you will like the Susan Bates. I use 1 addi and 1 SB for my socks. Help me keep my ADD in order. Really like the pattern for your blanket.

NH Knitting Mama said...

For the baby yarn, I like the Caron's Simply Soft. Has some nice colors, and the yarn is soft and easy to care for. AC Moore with the 40% coupon is nice, too.

vegasangelbrat said...

I think thats coming out pretty, but I'm not the one working with the yarn :) I know there are lots of others to use, knitting mama hit it, I hear everyone saying Caron Simply Soft is great for baby stuff!

Bubblesknits said...

One of my LYSs carries this:

www.cascadeyarns.com/kingcole-yarns.asp

You might have to copy and paste. It's a division of Cascade Yarns and I've made several baby things out of it and love it. I don't know where you can buy it online, though. The blanket looks so pretty!

Virtuous said...

The baby blanket is coming along nicely I like the pattern!

You could try any of the TLC yarn for baby stuff. But yeah that 1 pound stuff is Yak!

I never heard of Corel. But my HP Photosmart is acting right.

Now I am so clueless but why was it important to get a 2.25?? For the thickness of the needle??

Hope you are feeling better!

Lapdog Creations said...

That baby blanket is on my "to do" list - but I'm waiting to hear from the intended couple that they are indeed pregno first... I was ready to cast on, but didn't want to jinx or send bad karma...

Surviving said...

I used Caron's Simply Soft when I made baby blankets for my kids.

Cass said...

I just love you.

Nancy @ the Jersey Shore said...

I add on to the Caron's Simply Soft votes. I made 2 baby blankets with it, they're way back in the beginning of my blog.