Friday, July 31, 2009

Thea's Rambling Rows Afghan

The summer has been great. I have been reading and knitting and really enjoying some down time.
The last time I posted I put up a picture of a sweater and cap that I knit and I was all ready to send it off and the cap disappeared. It is one of those annoying things that seem to happen to me every once in a while. So I sent off the sweater without the cap and I still can't find the cap. I have looked every place that I could think of and finally decided to give up in the hope that when I am not looking for it I will find it. I am so bummed.
I seem to need a bunch of baby gifts all of a sudden and I get so tired of making the same thing all the time so I decided to dig into my stash of odds and ends and on the suggestion of a friend I am working on the Rambling Rows Afghan from Cottage Creations http://www.patchworkfrog.com/cottagecreations.html. Most people think of the Wonderful Wallaby sweater by Carol Anderson, owner and designer of the Cottage Creations patterns but if you haven't looked at some of her other patterns you are in for a treat. the patterns are well written and easy knitting and easy to follow. This particular pattern is offered in three sizes and is knit in a series of 3 different sized blocks , each created by picking up stitches from its neighboring block so there is now seaming at the end. By stopping every few blocks and weaving in the ends when you compete the knitting you are DONE! I decided to dig into my stash of baby yarns and I picked out 5 colors of Sirdar Snuggly when I only had one or two balls left and I am working on a #6 needle although the pattern calls for worsted weight and an #8 or 9. I think that my blanket will be about 30 inches wide before I add a border which I think is a nice size for a baby blanket. Since I don’t know the sex of the baby I am working in shades of yellow (one having some flecks of orange and greeen color, a cream and an aqua. As soon as I am a bit farther along I will post a picture. I like this because I have a sense of accomplishment as I complete a square. I also love that there will be nothing left to "finish" as long as I am good about weaving in the ends every few blocks.