I can see a pattern emerging

Last week I was going to post a blog and then a watch a TiVo'd episode of Castle. I'm doing it again. I've got a photo to post, and a cup of warmed over coffee (from this morning's pot) ready to drink. I know I'm getting old when my routine doesn't alarm me, but comforts me.

Ok, so here is the finished blanket for my son. I'm really pleased and surprised that it doesn't look hideous after all. I thought it would.

Just to sum up, the yarns are all hand spun and there are a variety of types; angora, alpaca, shetland wool, romney wool and maybe some camel (the red-brown).

The days are getting shorter and I am not able to spend any time really outside after work. So I guess I'll be doing a little more knitting. The next project is probably going to be a scarf for my husband, but first I have to find a pattern.
The obvious choice would be a rib pattern and logically a fisherman's rib or half rib. The problem is that there is not enough wool yarn to make that work. I've only got two skeins (it's home spun of leftover colors so that's all there is) of the color we talked about and making the scarf any 'thinner' or lighter, using a less bulky stitch, will not give it enough drape. It would end up looking like an old lady's lace curtain wrapped around his shoulders. So, it may be that I'll find another yarn. Or choose another stitch pattern.

He commented on a large afghan my aunt made years ago. Crocheted of acrylic yarn, that probably weighs 20 lbs. It's cream and looks like a cable stitch. I may start looking at crochet patterns, now.

Plans

As I piece together the panels and tuck away the stray ends of thread, I begin to think about my next project, and my pea-sized brain overloads. So many projects, so much yarn, and only one thing can be worked on at a time.

So I daydream about what my next project will be. I know who/what's in the running. I could make the Almost-Mountain Dew scarf for my hubby. Or...finish the socks I was working on in the summer......or start some cute little sweater. With all the rain, there's lots to imagine and plan.

I have been spinning the new silk hankies and they are lovely. I will take them to our upcoming spinning meeting which will be a tie-dye session.
Here is a single hankie before spinning (one cocoon). You poke a hole in the center and pull out until you have a long strand for spinning.

This is really a true ecru color - not white.
Lately as the G-8 summit and other UN meetings are taking place I am reminded of Jer. 29:7 that says to pray for the city where you are, for in it's welfare, you will have welfare. We must pray for our leaders; those in authority where we work and every level of government. It behooves us to lift them up; for wisdom, insight and integrity in all that they deal with. Amen?

All about Eve

Eve has nothing on me. That’s my conclusion. I am aware that we all face some sort of temptation every single day, and often, all through the day. When I am in traffic, I want to speed. When there’s pie in the fridge, I want to eat it. I am constantly passing and failing where my weaknesses are concerned, and to think that Eve had a fruit tree in the yard, day after day, looking at her, tempting her and she finally gave in and took a bite just seems like such a small thing. Yet the consequences are enormous, even to this day. Tonight I'm tempted to not knit, because I've completed all the panels of my son's blanket. They need to be blocked and sewn together. (see post below) I'm also tempted not to exercise tonight. I usually get on the treadmill 4 or 5 times a week, but tonight will not be one of those times. Instead I'll probably watch a couple of TiVo'd episodes of Castle and eat a bowl of cereal.

I feel the need to post a few pictures of things I've seen lately so here goes.

These girls are my friend's daughters - adorable and precious little children of God.

My family eating Sunday dinner with a guest, my son's new girlfriend. Lovely. And later, a lightning bolt struck the tree across the street; top to bottom and the picture shows the smoke coming from the roots below the ground. Next door neighbor saw it and said the whole tree glowed! (don't ask me why this font is different - I can't fix it)

And finally the construction of our church's new building - this is the preschool space where I'll be.

Venti Quad – Size 6

I have been introduced to the term Venti Quad of late; it means 4 shots of espresso added to a drink, in a Venti size cup (which means large). A work acquaintance of mine gets a Venti Quad Mocha each day before work. She’s smaller than me and I’m a size 6, so I can’t imagine where all the caffeine goes. I figure she just doesn’t eat the rest of the day. Caffeine subdues your appetite.

I learned about that one summer when I was a teenager. My girlfriend who lived down the beach from me told me that she would drink coffee until she was sick and then had no appetite the rest of the day. I tried it and it worked pretty well for me, but most of the time I wanted something sweet to go with the coffee. Still do.

OK, I have completed the five panels for the blanket I’m making for my son. They are all garter stitch and have approx. 30 stitches per panel. I have used a variety of wools for this project and have been working on it for over a year. The yarns are similar in color and all have about 3 plies. Since the beginning of the project, my inspiration was the Moderne Baby Blanket (Knit Picks and Mason Dixon versions).

This simple blanket has just taken forever and I don’t know why. Maybe I just needed a deadline, ‘cause now it’s done!

Here is the mattress stitch join. You can see the bumps on the edges that I catch with the thread.

I decided not to make a border for each panel, although it would have made the joining look better. It just seemed like it would bog things down.

I have blocked the pieces and tried my best to make them fit together, but I am human and imperfection is inevitable.