I had(/have) tonsillitis last week and spent three days at home instead of at work – as a result the commuting knitting time was severely cut down and I did not get as much knitting done as I would have liked to.
I did manage to do some tidying in our room, however, and put together eight more bags of things to give to charity. I’m having a huge clearout as we are moving (AGAIN) this year – see what craft books I’m selling on my Amazon shop here.
This has been a bit of heartbreak, because I love my books – but at the same time, we are low on space and I need to have a clear out. Realistically, I will never have the time to do all the things I want to do, and with the internet as a resource, I don’t necessarily need physical books – so until I have my own house and am retired, I’m trying to cut down on possessions!
Two-At-A-Time Socks
Progress on the socks has been very slow because while I’ve been sore and tired, working the magic loop with two balls of yarn on a slightly-too-short circular needle with two different stitch patterns on each side has all been a bit complicated. Nevertheless, I have made some progress, as shown in these before and after photos.
I made a few comments on the pattern last time – nothing more to add, really!
Gigantic Blankie
The Gigantic Blankie has seen some real progress while I’ve been sitting on the sofa as it is real simple, pleasurable, fun and relaxing knitting. I’ll be generous and do another before and after.
My plan now is to knit until it is the length of the bed. I am then going to be ambitious and do one of two things to make it wider, as at the moment it is not comfortable as even a single.
Option 1: Knit another Gigantic Blankie and sew them together.
Option 2: Pick up the stitches along one of the long edges and knit out until I am happy with the size.
I favour Option 2 at the moment – I really like the idea of the perpendicularity of the stocking stitch going one way and then the other….but there are a few technical issues. The most important is that my cable is struggling with the width at the moment as it is barely long enough for the blanket now. Picking up stitches will leave me with substantially more – and a bulky join – so I will have to buy new needles (if I can find cables long enough) and figure out a way to sort out the join.
I’d be interested to know what you all think?
I’m kind of free-forming this pattern as I go, but I got the idea from Danielle Alinia’s Giant Snuggle Blanket.
Anyway, that’s all for today!
Much love,
Corrie xx
I think I’ve thought of a third option. Cast on for a second blanket the same width as this one, and then every time you get to the ‘middle’ pick up the outermost stitch of the original blanket and knit that together with the last stitch of the new blanket. That way you’ll be joining it up as you go along, and you can make sure they end up the same length without having to count hundreds of rows. You also wouldn’t need to buy a second needle, or get to the end of the second blanket and then summon the motivation to sew it up. Does that make sense?
xx
I think Vix has a great idea. I was going to say option one but joining as you go is even better
Vix’s idea is great but before doing this I would knit a big, chunky cable in the middle, joining with the first part, and then the other half joining row after row. In this way you could always add other cables, if you like, and make it HUGE!
That 3rd option is a brilliant idea!
Although I do like Perpendicular Stockinette as well. :-)
love the projects I need to learn how to knit to help with the stress thanks for sharing visiting from flaunt it friday have a great weekend.
ooooh, I’m liking option 3 too!
Love the socks.