Squares Six Through Nine

Square Six -- Twisted and Crossed Ribbing:





Seven -- Garter and Rib Pattern:





Eight -- Rose Fabric:




The pattern is a little hard to see, so here's a closer view:





Nine -- Horizontal Chain:





I don't think I like mosaic knitting . . .

Birthdays Coming Soon

I think I told you, but maybe I didn't, that a lot of the knitting from last summer went to one Baby J, who was newly minted in early October of last year.

Which means that the one-year babiversary is coming quick, and J's parents have decided to have a celebration. Which means gifts.

Long ago I started a patchworky blanket of cotton garter squares (Rowan handknit cotton dk -- someone was getting rid of their collection on eBay some two years ago) for J.

It is finally done, but I'm ambivalent.

A quarter of the time I think it is really cute. And the rest of the time it seems just *awful.* Too much orange, not enough blue, shouldn't have made multicolor blocks, shouldn't have sewn it up with whipstitch, shouldn't have seamed with contrasting colours, &tc.

But here it is:




Because of the ambivalence, I've started something else for J:




A Dale of Norway cardigan from the No. 8101 reissue "Favorite Baby Designs." (Also including Rutelilje, as seen on the Yarn Harlot!) There are at least three designs I'm itching to make in this booklet. (No, I haven't finished the hoodie yet. I was concentrating on that (one sleeve half done!) before I realized J's day was coming up and the hoodie would be *way* too small in the 9 month size I am making.)

With any luck, it will be done in plenty of time. (Then, need to see about something for Mum -- her day is also rapidly approaching.)

Ever notice how lovely the sunset can be when viewed through fair-isle coloured glasses?

Some Catching Up

That "Rosebud" baby hat (from the "itty-bitty hats" book) I started back in January. Never again! Too many ends to deal with!





And a "jacket with seed stitch bands" from Debbie Bliss's "baby knits for beginners":





Perfect buttons!



More later . . .

Square Five

Diagonal Ribbing:

Square Four

Lattice with Seed Stitch:

Square Three

Basketweave:

Square Two

Striped Stockinette Stitch:

Square One

Literally.

New Project.

(I'll get around to telling you of the old-to-me-but-new-to-you-stuff eventually. This one is a truly new project.)

I've got all these random balls of Baby Cashmerino that I've picked up here and there, starting well over a year ago, with the idea of making a patchworky baby blanket. Originally, I was thinking garter stitch mitres, but since I've already got a decent stack of stockinette mitres (in denim, not cashmerino) . . .

I've also been wanting for over a year to do a sampler afghan -- not because I actually want such an afghan, but because I think that all those different squares would just be really fun. Each is a separate low-pressure little project, a few hours at most, no worries . . .

So.

Baby Cashmerino, the Barbara Walker "Learn to Knit Afghan Book," and we'll see how it goes.

No, still not planning an afghan.

The idea is to make all the squares, but use them for two to four baby blankets instead. (Hence, the baby cashmerino. Sooooo soft. I knew I would need it for something!) As there are 63 squares in the book, this will take a bit of jiggery pokery. 63 squares won't make anything at all except the 7 by 9 full sized afghan. 64 would make 4 tiny blankets (about 30 inches square, plus borders). 60 would make either 3 or 2 larger blankets.

I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Always best to save the underhanded dodges till the end of things, when you know they're really necessary. Probably I won't come to it at all, what with my severe deficiency of stick-to-it-ive-ness. (Where *are* my vitamins?)

Square One: Striped Garter Stitch

Er . . . Hello, Again.

I will make no excuses, except to say that in the past I had a job that required me to be in front of a computer for hours on end, and that I have not had that job for some time. (*Good* thing.)

Decided to take some time to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up (though that moment *must* be long since past, mustn't it?), I further decided that for a while I would do nothing that I did not wish to do while I was doing it, but that I would definately make the effort to keep blogging, as I enjoyed it so well.

Well!

During the first week of the new regime, I was so busy with other things, and being not constantly in front of a computer, no blogging.

And somehow, what with this and that . . . the ill-advised purchase of a Playstation 2 (TOOL OF THE DEVIL!), Harry Potter (last opportunity to fully enjoy the first six before embarking on the last), Big Love (who knew?), Jane Austen, traveling, new computer that I *cannot* understand, and who recalls what else . . .

After a while, what can I say, but most times I forgot I had a blog at all.

Well you may wonder.

When I was knitting, I did think about it quite a lot, missed it and you, and as I finished projects and started new ones, I mentally composed many and long blog entries. Which, as you know, were never posted.

EZ insists that one may read and knit at the same time (which may be true if one's book lays flat), but I am near certain that *I* at least cannot simultaneously knit and blog.

&c.

But something happened yesterday that determined me finally to write.




Unfortunately, I can't seem to get a good photo of the whole of it. Bigger than I expected.

Also in the way of an update, St. Brigid is long since finished:




Not sure I like the collar, but I'll have to wear it a few times to figure that out, and it is far too hot for wool just now.

Oh, and Posy, too, finally:




Definately wearable, although not as I imagined. I should not have cut out all those inches -- she would not have been too short after all. Contemporary pants styles are so low cut! Not that I have a problem baring my midriff in appropriate circumstances, but between the lacey holes and the missing inches, the poor girl is not suited for, er, respectable work. I still like her, though. She's cheeky.

So, so much more, but probably the first entry back should endeavour to not overwhelm either the writer or the reader (assuming any remain!), for fear that there shall never be another.

Cheers!