Friday, May 11, 2012

Friday Mishmash

Dear Kip,
I know you are a cat and act on your instincts, but when you actually catch a bird, I DO NOT want to see you with it in your mouth.  That muffled meowing that I can hear is bad enough!  And please, do not bring your prize to the back door.  Although maybe I shouldn't assume you are showing me your fine hunting skills...are you trying to tell me something?
(image from this hilarious quiz)

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So did anyone happen to hear the angels singing around 4pm CST on Monday?  See a rainbow, perhaps, or even a unicorn?  I'm just wondering, because it was a magical moment for me, as I FINISHED THE BABY BLANKET!!!  Yes, the bulky baby blanket, that I thought was so cute and wanted to knit it for my cousin Jill and her new baby - me, the new knitter, taking on a project like that - I actually finished it!  I swear, my hands were shaking from excitement when I was done...the edge on this was quite a challenge, and I spent three separate days last week, for a total of 10 hours, at the knitting store, getting help with it.  Plus I worked on it at home.  The last step was to fold the edge over and pick up the stitches on the other side of the blanket and attach it as I cast off.  I read and reread the directions over the weekend, and decided to try it on my own on Monday - and wonder of wonders, it worked!  Here's the blanket - it measures 24" x 25.5" - almost a perfect square:
This will work as a squishy place to lay the baby, as well as a blanket to cover her (it gets pretty cold where Jill lives).
I loved the edge of the blanket when I first saw it - luckily, I was too new of a knitter to realize how much of a challenge it would be, or I probably wouldn't have taken on this project.  I'm really pleased with how it came out, though.
Backside of the edge - the way the pattern had you do the attachment/bind off, it looks braided, which I think is cute!  The knitting store woman thought I'd crocheted it, but no, it's knitted.

This was a labor of love, for my cousin, and her soon-to-be labor of love!  My uncle (Jill's dad) will be here this weekend, so I'm going to wrap up the blanket and send it on with him as he travels to Jill's place.  Nothing like a hand-delivered baby gift, right?

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I'm looking for my next baby blanket to knit (I have two more babies coming up - how exciting!).  While I love love love how the bulky baby blanket turned out, that edge took a lot of work and I'm not ready to do that again anytime soon.  However, what I loved about the blanket, though, was the edge - well, and the chunky look.  I know, based on remembering what it was like with my babies, that I don't want to make anything "holey" as their little toes and fingers can get caught in the blanket.  I also would like for the blanket to be fairly simple so I can knit while watching TV and not have to concentrate too much on the pattern.  But I don't want it to be boring.  Here's a couple that I found on Ravelry that I'm considering - any thoughts/suggestions from my knitting readers?

 Chunky stripes - cute, and I'd get a lot of practice with starting new skeins/changing colors.
 This is called the "eight-hour blanket" - somehow, I don't think I'd finish it in that time.  I do like the edge stitch, though.
 Seed stitch blanket - looks cute, right?
 This one is called the "very easy" baby blanket.  Again, I would not take that name literally, but I like the pattern.







And just in case you weren't entirely sick of reading about knitting, here's a shot of my windmill bag - this Tuesday we have our last class on it, and we'll learn how to sew up the sides and graft the handles - et voila, eet vill be dun!  (no idea why I turned French there...really, with a windmill bag, I should be speaking Dutch.  Fran, any help?)
Sigh.  Well, I THOUGHT I was almost finished with this bag...notice anything wrong?  The stupid handle on the dark pink is on the wrong side, and I didn't see it until I laid the pieces out for this picture.  You know, this is pretty much par for the course with the way I knit...one little distraction (in this case, a rain-soaked Kip trying to climb into my lap) and BAM - I'm off.  I'll undo it and make it right.  This is also why I like to have a few different projects going at the same time, so when I get frustrated with one, I can set it aside and move on with something else for a while.

Speaking of knitting (oh WERE we???), you'd think that with all this knitting I've been doing, my Sit and Knit diet would be working wonders and I'd be all svelte and such.  I'm very sorry to report that you would be wrong...even though I've been too busy to eat much, apparently knitting burns so few calories that it doesn't seem to be making a big difference, dang it!!!  There goes my great diet plan, and my claim to fame.

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Remember when I called Jeff and Will "twins" on Monday's race recap?  Further evidence exists in the official finish line shot:
I'm thinking they should take up synchronized swimming since they're so good at synchronized running!

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Not much else to report on today, as this week has been all about two things for me - running and knitting.  Jeff and I are going to run 4 miles tomorrow, just for fun.  I know, it even sounds a little crazy to me!  Our goal is to get me up to a good 5 mile long run base by mid-June, when running club starts back up.  And then?  More running!

Have a great weekend!

30 comments:

  1. I love your knitting photos but good grief when you start taking about this stitch and that count and backwards and well, it's like you with the statistics - I fuzz over and read "blah, blah, blah". But the baby blanket is so pretty and I'm sure Jill will love it!

    You need to show Jeff and Will this photo and tell them the #1 rule for races is always look good for the finish shot and turn the Garmin off later!

    Have fun running this weekend!

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    1. How funny that you glaze over on the knitting talk...but now you know where my head goes when numbers come up, lol!

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  2. The blanket looks so pretty!!! Good job!!
    I like the seed stitch blanket, it looks like one I had when I was a baby!

    Have a good weekend!

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    1. Yep, the seed stitch is cute. Plus the texture might be appealing to a toddler's fingers as they go to sleep?

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  3. Okay - in my new commitment to eating at meals only, I'm going to start your sit and knit diet in earnest. I often leave my knitting bag in the car because I mostly knit at meetings. Now it's going to be in the house where it mocks me if I don't sit and knit.

    Okay - I love the border on the blanket too - different than any I've seen. Does it start with pick up and knit around the edge? Also - I love the seed stitch boarder too, and well as the seed stitch stripes. You're inspiring me in more ways than just trying to get this damn weight off, and for that, I thank you!

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    1. I picked up all the stitches (240 in total) around the border and then began to knit, with some lean to the left/lean to the right (stand up sit down fight fight fight!) at the corners. And a purl row that became the edge. It was challenging but so cute!

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  4. Wow!! That baby blanket is GORGEOUS. It looks so soft and comfy! You are turning into a knitting machine! :)

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    1. Thanks - I am so pleased with how it came out!

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  5. I don't know much about knitting, but that blanket looks very professional! I like that 8 hour blanket, too.

    LOL at the twin photo!

    I took that test and there is a 97% chance Pixie is going to kill me. Very comforting.

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    1. That test cracked me up - but how could Pixie plot your demise? Who would give her belly rubs then??

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  6. Oh Jeff, such a bummer to get caught stopping your watch at the finish line. I hate it when that happens.

    I like the "8 hour" blanket. Have a great run tomorrow:)

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    1. I wonder if I could combine the edge on the 8 hour blanket with the body of the striped blanket?

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  7. Dang it. I got distracted and my long comment disappeared before I hit publish.

    Okay. I love your baby blanket. It is so professionally done!

    I love to purl, so the 2nd blanket with the seed stitch edge would be my choice for mindless knitting. It has a right and wrong side though--would that bother you? I love seed stitch, but am very slow in knit one, purl one, so the rows of seed stitch would bug me. The color stripe one would be the most fun and easiest of all. Think of the variations you could do!

    The icord boo boo? Done that so many times! Especially with that shape, it is easy to get confused. At least it is something that is fun to do. I like doing icord.

    Your fun run sounds like a good idea. And I know you guys always go out for something good to eat after, so extra fun!

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    1. Haha, busted on the going out to eat after the run! We were just talking about how we missed our egg/bagel sammies since we've been racing. Tomorrow, we'll be back to that yummy routine. :)

      OK, this is why I need opinions - I didn't realize that there would be a right side and a wrong side to the seed stitch blanket. And I'm not a huge fan of purling - good point, that would take me a loooong time to finish. I do like the striped one, but they didn't have a good color selection at my local store to do it. Field trip may be in order...

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  8. Blanket is gorgeous. I started a cross stitch baby sampler for my first born and really should pick it back up and finish it. He'll be 31 on June 26th!

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    1. Mary, that made me laugh and laugh...only because I recognize myself in your project!

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  9. The baby blanket turned out awesome sweetie! I couldn't knit to save my life but that is ok with me, I get bored really easy (think scatterbrain). Have a great time on your 4 mile run sweetie!

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  10. I think the blanket turned out amazing!! Your niece will absolutely love it!

    Hooray for a fun run tomorrow - Tony and I are going out to lunch and grocery shopping - not sure that will burn as many calories as you guys!

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  11. I am absolutely thrilled about how your blanket turned out. That is absolutely gorgeous! Brown and pink is a perfect match! I can't wait to see your next project!!

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  12. Wow, that pink blanket is just fahhbulous! Wow! Love it.

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  13. OMG....NOW I know why the angels sang and the harps played on Monday!!!!!!! :) Gorgeous blanket!!! And Kip? Naughty!!! I took the quiz, there is an 87% chance that Neva is plotting to kill me. Hilarious. Have a great weekend Shelley!

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  14. Beautiful blanket! Great job. This is the first baby blanket pattern I used & I loved how it turned out and so did the recipient (http://home.comcast.net/~hakuchodesigns/Circle_Baby_Blanket.pdf)

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  15. First that pic of Jeff is hilarious. They really look like twins with the same habits :)

    I love how your blanket turned out. I like the 8 hour and the seed blankets. The edge of the 8 hour indeed is cool. And I don't mind you talking about knitting, you inspired me to pick it up again. I got a new book with patterns and my next project will be a challenging one I think but I first have to finish the sweater and not there yet. I put the new book in a closet so I won't be tempted to start before I finish :)

    And now to the French: I don't speak it so no idea what your talking about. But windmill in Dutch is: windmolen (wind is wind, mill is molen) We use et voila sometimes in our language too, it means the same.

    If you meant: et voila, it is done I would say: et voila, het is klaar.

    Have a great weekend my friend.

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    1. Well, that was really English written with a French accent, lol. Thanks for the Dutch translation - I will be saying that about everything - a run, a meal, a post - all week!

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  16. Your knitting looks so good!! And I can't wait to see the Windmill bag finished. So cool :-)

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  17. Awwww, that baby blanket came out GREAT! Really nice job. Look at you ready to tackle another. When will it be time for a grown-up blanket? I think you are ready!

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  18. I am the mother of the recipient of the baby blanket - and I can say that it is absolutely beautiful. I have been remiss in my blog-reading duties so I didn't know she'd posted this. The washcloth is so cute and so well-made too. I really can hardly believe you only started knitting a few months ago!
    Thanks, Shelley!

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