with packing, moving back to school, and starting classes, my section of the blanket has taken a little bit longer than i had intended, but it's finally done! while looking at the different sections (which are all gorgeous!), i noticed something very peculiar.... a total lack of stockinette stitch. every square (with the exception of abe-hap's) is done basically in garter stitch! i decided that no blanket could be complete without all the little v's so characteristic of stockinette. i used rice stitch, with the "wrong side" as the front to look somewhat like stockinette without quite as much curling. i think it turned out pretty well. : )

(please ignore the nasty dorm carpet!) kim has just gone on vacation, but when she returns i will be sending the blanket on it's merry way back to oregon. yay!

it's here!

the blanket has arrived in sunny florida along with wonderful goodies from The Bon.

now i just need to decide what to do for my contribution to the blanket! thanks again for the goodies, bon!

On It's Way Again

The blanket made it's way to the post office this morning so it should be heading east to Ren, the next knitter. Newlywed life isn't any less busy than pre-wedding life, I'm not entirely sure why I expected that it would be, but I apologize for the amount of time the blanket spent with me. Figuring out how to work with what was already there was a little trickier than I expected. The blanket is awesome folks, but I couldn't get it to fit in a photo, even on my giant couch, so here's the best that I could do:



I had to squinch up the top square, with it's stripes and bobbles, it's somewhere between 2 and 3 times as long as it looks.


My square:



Was knit with Debbie Bliss Rialto, 100% superwash merino on size 6 clover circular needles. I decided to make it mirror itself so I reversed the cables in the middle of the blue stripe, after leaving out what would have been a crossing. It is squidgey and soft.

Kyle joins the cause (Howdy Y'all!)

Thanks Jodie for adding me to this fun - here's my questionnaire filled out - I can't wait to get the blanket and add to it - I'm very excited!

you can see my blog at www.kyleknits.blogspot.com to know lots more about me - I'm also on ravelry.com as kunnecke :)


What are your Favorite Colors? - I love fall colors - anything "natural" or

Do you prefer Solid or Multi Colored Yarns? I prefer multi colored yarns (hand dyed or patterned yarns are my favorite; I seem to always knit with brown/blue or green yarns that are hand dyed)

What fibers do you prefer? I prefer natural fibers; wool, alpaca, angora, etc.

Any Allergies? - not really - I even have had yarn spun out of my cat and dog's hair (thanks to www.vipfibers.com) :)

What do you enjoy knitting the most? (socks, mittens, sweaters, etc.) I love knitting sweaters - I have never tried mittens or gloves, and I'm still scared of socks (although I KNOW that I don't need to be scared; it's not that hard!)

What are your favorite yarns? I love handspun or hand dyed yarns - I also love Debbie Bliss - and Noro Silk Garden (working on a blanket of Noro) - weight wise, I have been using lots of dk or sport weight lately - maybe it's just because it's summer :)

What do you enjoy doing outside of knitting? I love playing with my cats and doggies- I have 2 rescue cats - one is missing a leg, the other is missing an eye - both were at rescue groups for months before I got them - I took them home because noone else wanted them - they're the most wonderful pets I have ever owned! I also have 3 dogs - 1 is a rescue (she has issues but we love her) and 2 others that have been in the family for a few years... I love antiquing, I love painting and decorating - and working to help out others - either through charities or just with friends - although I don't do as much of it as I'd like...

Favorite foods or candies? chocolate is yummy - I love peanut butter - I'm not really picky - :)

Art or Music you enjoy? I love experimental and installation art - music wise, I love musicals, country music, pop, 80's, bluegrass, etc. - really almost anything except hard rock or funky 60's bands...


What inspires you? the triumph over struggle, folks who overcome adversity, broken and lost objects that somehow find a new purpose, the restoration efforts of individuals who work to renovate historic properties, the stories and history behind any craft or a person's journey through life and how they came to be who they are - (did any of that make sense?)

Anything else you want to share? if there's anything else you want to know, just email me :) I live in the Los Angeles, CA area - I work full time.... my family is from the south (Indiana/Kentucky area)... I guess that's all for now..

Arrival!

The blanket arrived today and I have to say that Carolyn totally went crazy on the gifts for me! What a thoughtful and wonderful package of goodies for me, including some super funny balloons that say "Just Married." I'll take a photo later but I have to tell you those bobbles are quite awesome in person and I am just planning my next move now.

Jodie's Questionnaire

I realized I hadn't answered my own questionaire! The blanket looks awesome, and I know it will make a great addition to the rooms that the kiddos spend so much time in . We are about halfway through our list of destinations!

Here's the Questionnaire to get to know your swap partner better.

What are your Favorite Colors?
Purple and Green. I tend to like earthy colors and like to expand my spectrum.

Do you prefer Solid or Multi Colored Yarns?
I like both for different projects. If it's multi colored I prefer only slight variations.

What fibers do you prefer? Any Allergies?
I like and use everything.

What do you enjoy knitting the most? (socks, mittens, sweaters, etc.)
I always have a pair of socks on the needles, usually some lace, and at least one sweater. I have also really enjoyed doing mittens, hats and scarves, but they haven't been my main focus.

What are your favorite yarns?
So many! I love Lorna's Laces, Socks that Rock, Malebrigo, Ultra Alpaca, and anything unique. I definitely like traditional yarns more than novelty.

What do you enjoy doing outside of knitting?
I love my job as a violin teacher, kayaking, camping, riding my awesome bike, reading, and drinking coffee.

Favorite foods or candies?
Anything with chocolate, especially dark.

Art or Music you enjoy?
I'm a huge Rufus Wainwright fan. I like celtic music, classical, jazz, and Pink Martini.

What inspires you?
I get inspired by the world around me. I really like imitating nature in my knitting (the reason I'm a huge Norah Gaughn fan) and older fashsions made contemporary.

Anything else you want to share?
Thanks for helping make this blanket. If you need more info on me, my blog is the best place to check.

My story, thus far

No doubt, some are wondering what I've been up to. Friends, I cannot tell you how many times I have frogged my square(s). My "multicolored bobble extravaganza" was not, repeat not, a smashing success. (It turns out that a gazillion bobbles may look okay on a wall hanging, or on the hat of a person with strange taste in clothing, but for a blanket...well, it just doesn't work. Totally.)

So...(sniff, whimper) - back to the drawing board. (Whatever could I do??) I tried diagonals. No good. Intarsia. No...still looks bad...OMG, the clock is ticking!

Finally I knew that I had to stop fussing with this, or Jodie will come over here and yank it out of my busy, busy hands.

So. Now. As the last rays of sunset gently illuminate our yard...I think I almost have enough time for a quick photo of Our Blanket, as it is today. Behold, and click to enlarge:



It's Yikes, Stripes, in Mission Falls 1824 superwash merino. And on one end, a little row of...you guessed it. A few bobbles! They look like little mulberries.

Dear Bon, I'm sorry I've kept this so long. (Although I notice that you are enormously busy with other things now!)

And you know what? I wish I could add another piece to this blanket. But I've already kept it for weeks. It is long past time for it to move on.