Continuing the Mitred Square Blanket

Photo as of February 7, 2016 - total squares 261

Pretty much the only knitting I've been doing for some time is on my sock yarn/mitred square blanket.

The picture to the left was taken yesterday (Feb. 7) and the total number of squares is now 261.  I've since added about 3 1/2 more squares since I took the photo.  I'll also be working on it again tonight so will get a few more added.

I really do enjoy this project.  Yes, it will take awhile to complete, and I'm not entirely sure of how I'll do the border - or even if I will do one, but I have awhile to think on that.

I'm on Instagram, and I follow several knitters, many who have been working on socks. Seeing their photos, both complete and in progress socks, I've been thinking of starting a pair of socks myself.  I have made lots of socks in the past, many for children and some for myself.  I have some sock yarn in my stash that I could use, though it's taking a lot of will power to not use it just for my blanket!  I know if I have some left over, which I should have, I can use it then.  I'd need to find another set of DPNs in the right size first, however.

But, until then, I will keep knitting on my blanket!

Sock Yarn Blanket Knitting Continues

There are 78 squares added in this photo

Just a short post this evening. I've had a rough/tough week (including spraining my ankle on Tuesday) and I'm rather drained tonight.

I have been knitting a lot on my sock yarn blanket. This past weekend, Thanksgiving, I didn't get anything knit on it as I went to Halifax and knew I wouldn't have time to work on it.

The picture is the most up to date photo I have of this project, and it has 78 squares showing (not counting the individual squares that will be added on to the ends throughout the process).  Since the photo was taken yesterday, I have added another eight squares which brings the total up to 86!

This project is certainly addictive!

Mitred Square Sock Yarn Blanket

The very beginning of my blanket

I finally jumped on the bandwagon of knitting a mitred square sock yarn blanket!  As this post is being written (Friday afternoon), I have my first square completed (see below)!

In my head, I had imagined these squares being much bigger than mine turned out, but that could be because any photos I've seen of these squares and blankets were close up with nothing to help determine the size.  I don't know if I'll continue with this size (I likely will) or if I'll go up a size or two with my needles to get bigger squares.  I suppose I could make a few larger ones to add in here and there.

First completed square

Offhand, I'm not totally sure what the needle size is that I'm using. It could be a 2.5 mm or 2.75 mm, which is what I was using for some socks some time back (no, I didn't get the sock finished and I am not sure what pattern I was using).

The yarn I used in the first square is Knit Picks Crayon.  I was able to look back on Ravelry to my projects and found the socks I had made with this yarn.  I have enough left over that I can get at least one, maybe two more squares from this yarn.

I likely won't be posting pictures of every single square I knit for this, but when I get several or start to sew them together into the blanket, I'll post pics that way.  Then you (and I) can see just how this blanket grows.

This should be a project that I can take with me and knit on the go when waiting at doctor's offices, and what not.  The only thing I need, now, is a pretty project bag to keep it in ;) !

Dedicated To Krissy

My best friend gave me heck this past Sunday for not updating this knitting blog for awhile, so Krissy, this post is dedicated to you!

Ok, so since the time of my last post, I have been busy making some baby items for a friend's first baby. She had the baby a couple of weeks ago, but I've just been slow in finishing things up and mailing it off.

I wanted to make a baby blanket, so I started crocheting (my favourite way of doing baby blankets) a giant granny square blanket in yellow and green. It looked fine (I need to photograph it and post it to show you), but I thought afterwards that I'd like something a little different than that.  So, I proceeded to do another one, also with yellow and green. At the time I she was still pregnant and I didn't know what she was having, so I wanted to play it safe with the colour choice.  Unfortunately, that blanket didn't turn out.

Oh, I should mention that I had also started knitting a blanket first (pictured a post or so ago...the one with the book in it), but I somehow ended up knitting it backwards - don't ask me how that happened! I figured it would have taken too long for me to start knitting a new one with this particular yarn as it was a light worsted weight. The yarn I chose for the other blankets was a lot thicker, and was easier to work up.

Above is a photo of the completed blanket I finished crocheting using Bernat Baby Bubbles yarn (from my stash, and I haven't seen it on shelves for awhile so I don't know if it's even available anymore), in the Pretty Bubbles colourway. I used a 5.5mm hook. The pattern is pretty easy and uses double crochet for the entire blanket.

I also decided to knit up a few bibs (to the left) using the Grandmother's Favourite Baby Bib pattern (on Ravelry). It's pretty  much the dishcloth pattern and then you bind off until there are five stitches left, and then do the strap. Very easy!

The bib in the middle (yellow one) is made with Cotton Tots, and the other two are made with Bernat Cotton that's used for dishcloths.


The last pattern (below) I made was the Oh So Soft Baby Washcloths found on Ravelry as well. These were made with Cottontots, and is done in crochet. Again, this is a very easy pattern and crochets up quickly!

I'll try to get a photo up soon of the granny square blanket I mentioned earlier. Aside from all these baby items I've been working on, I haven't done much else in knitting. I do have another bib on the needles, and I'll make more of those as well. These will go with the items I make for the mitten tree at church.

Ok, well, that's all for now. Happy knitting!

Yarn Along Wednesday

So I finally remembered to do a post for the Yarn Along (after visiting Kelly's blog).

The link to yarn along can be found by clicking HERE.

The book in the photo is called 90 Minutes In Heaven by Don Piper. I haven't actually started reading this book just yet, but I will be in the next couple of days.

This book is "a true story of death and life". Don was on his way home from a conference for pastors when he was in a serious car accident - his car was crushed by a semi truck! Medical personnel declared that he died instantly. While he was dead, he "experienced the glories of heaven, awed by its beauty and music."

Here's part of what the back of the book says:

"Ninety minutes after the wreck, while a minister prayed for him, Piper miraculously returned to life on earth with only the memory of inexpressible heavenly bliss. His faith in God was severely tested as he faced an uncertain and grueling recovery. Now he shares his life-changing story with you."

Don Piper spoke at the Christian university here last fall, as well as at a local church. My BFF was in the audience at the university and said it was an awesome talk. She said Mr. Piper focused more on what happened before and after his heavenly experience, and chose to not focus on Heaven. I had friends who heard him speak at the church, and they were in awe. The book actually belongs to my BFF, and she has read it and enjoyed it. I'm really looking forward to reading this - will try to let you know how it is!

As for the knitting, I'm working on a baby blanket for a friend who is expecting her first baby this month. I need to get cracking on it, as I'm not even 1/3 of the way through! The pattern I'm using is on the yarn label, so there is no real name for it. I'm using Bernat Baby Coordinates yarn in the "natural" colourway.  The pattern is easy - 4 rows repeated for the entire blanket. The pattern is knit on the first and third rows, the second row is purled, and the fourth is knit. No doubt I'll have better photos of the finished product posted on here at a later date!

Well, must go work on the blanket now. Happy knitting!