Check and check. Man, I rule.
I even have pictures, because I am just that awesome.
First, the blanket. I did not use a blanket pattern for this one, just a stitch pattern and some simple math. I used the feather and fan pattern, which is, for this blanket, multiples of 18 + 20. My major mistake with this was GAUGE. And a gauge swatch that lied. This isn't a baby blanket so much as it is a small rug. But by the time I realized "oh crap, this is too big" I was almost out of variegated yarn and was over halfway done. No way was I going to frog that much work. So, it's an all-purpose, take-it-everywhere blanket. Use it while kiddo is playing on the floor, use it while kiddo is playing outside, use it when kiddo gets a bigger bed...okay maybe not the last part, but you get the idea.
Another mistake I made was mixing and matching my yarns. I used Caron Natura Baby Rainbow Ombre yarn for the varigated, and Red Heart SuperSaver for the solid. No, the problem isn't that acrylic melts babies. No, the problem isn't that Red Heart SuperSaver is actually the devil incarnate. The problem is that Caron Natura and Red Heart SuperSaver aren't exactly the same yarn weight. So the needle size I picked (US 10.5) was a bit too thick when it came to the SuperSaver, even though it was perfect with the Natura. Live and learn. Next time, either a- don't mix and match Natura and SuperSaver, or b- use a smaller needle size. That would have solved the overall size of the blanket too. Oh well. Anyway, so along with the Baby Rainbow in Natura, I used SuperSaver in Petal Pink, Pale Green and Light Blue (oh, what original names!). I had initially planned on panels of yellow, but see aforementioned "running out of variegated yarn" and that is why there were only three solid panels. :) Aside from the things I'd change if I could re-do it now, I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out and only hope the recipient likes it too.
The two best pictures I got of the afghan are just before I finished (a few more rows to go):
and just after I finished and folded up the blanket.
To accompany the blanket, I made two quick burp cloths out of Peaches & Creme worsted weight cotton in Spring Meadows. The first one I used a pattern called Plain & Simple Burp & Wash Cloths (ravelry link). The medium called for 36 stitches and the large called for 41, but I settled on "medium plus" and cast on 39 stitches. Quick, mindless knit. I like this color scheme for baby girls.
And a close up to show off the colors a little better:
The second burp cloth I made using a dishcloth pattern and just continuing to knit it to make it a long rectangular rather than a square. This was made using the Waffle Knit Dishcloth pattern from Homespun Living. Again, a pretty mindless knit. My trouble was actually getting the hang of the P2, K1 for the first few rows, for whatever reason I was having a difficult time with that particular row. Aside from that, the pattern was, I think, a success. I like the texture of this one a lot, and I will probably make some dish/wash cloths using this pattern.
And another one to show off the whole cloth:
All in all, I feel pretty successful in completing these projects this week (and last!). Hooray for me! Now, I am going to try and make some baby hats for Laura & Elizabeth so I can ship off that baby blanket as well. Then my project choices are wide open!
Oh, and what kind of a Wisconsinite would I be if I didn't send off some Green Bay Packer onesies along with the blanket and burp cloths! Not a big Packer fan here, but the recipient's parents sure are....
Now I need to find two more skeins of the Red Heart Super Saver in the colorway Magenta. I have located it online at Joann's and Knitting-Warehouse, but not locally. I only need two skeins, I'm not gonna pay shipping. I am going to have to do another craft store round next week in my question for this seemingly non-existent yarn. Who saw that one coming??
No comments:
Post a Comment