Better Than Coffee (For Keeping You Warm At Least)

I managed to tick another blanket off of my list, leaving only four left for the year (knock on wood).

This one was a wedding present for my cousin. He just got married this past weekend to an absolutely wonderful girl who I think makes a fantastic addition to our family.

Anything But Neutral by Cori 2012

Pattern: Iowa Throw Afghan by Frances Burgess (from Blue Ribbon Afghans From America's State Fairs)
Yarn: Red Heart Classic in Shaded Browns (12 skeins)
Hook: US J

I will note that the dimensions weren't exactly what I expected for a throw--it ended up at about 72" by 40", which is a lot longer than I would have expected for that width. Something to remember for the next time I make this pattern, to be certain. Also, apparently (as you can see in the pictures) for just about one skein the variegation lined up with itself instead of staggering. I, of course, did not notice this until after I had finished and was photographing the blanket. I think it's okay, it just makes it a little quirky, not unlike the couple to which it was gifted. Still, a good reminder that working with variegated yarn on a large scale can have unexpected results.

Overall though I am really happy with how this turned out. As I mentioned in a previous post, the colors remind me so much of coffee and cream, and that makes the blanket seem extra warm and cozy, which should be perfect for cold Midwestern winters. Also, the really really cool thing about this blanket is the texture. It is all double crochet and front-post double crochet, so it has a fun tactile aspect. This was actually the reason I chose this pattern, because my cousin has severely impaired vision and I wanted him to be able to enjoy the feel of the thing.

All in all, I'd call this one a win. I am cruising along through the last baby blanket on my list and after that only three more full-sized blankets to go for the year. By which point it will be time for me to start thinking about what kind of holiday gifts I might be planning to make...

It's a never ending cycle, but at least it's an enjoyable one.

Baby Blocks

As I mentioned last week, I finished a baby blanket recently. As it turns out, I was just in time, since the baby in question arrived the same week I sent the blanket to the office with my husband (it was for a friend of ours that he also happens to work with). My husband kept forgetting to ask when the baby was due, so I kind of thought I was handing the blanket over way early, but figured it was better safe than sorry. Turns out I got it done just in the nick of time! Whoo!

I am pretty happy with how this one came out, too. The proud parents also enjoyed it quite a bit. Hopefully the baby is digging on it by now as well! Anyhoo, here it is:

Alphababy Blanket by Cori 2012.

Pattern: Baby ABCs Afghan by Coats & Clark (Available in Blue Ribbon Afghans from America's State Fairs)

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Sage (6 skeins)

Hook: US G

I loved this pattern! It was pretty simple and easy to do, it just required me to keep count of my stitches pretty much the whole time. I think it is super fun for babies because the bobbles give them lots of extra texture to play with, plus, you know, it's educational. Win-win. The really cool thing is that it would be super easy to take the pattern for each letter and make your own design up with a name or whatever you want it to say too. I can see myself playing around with that at some point in the future for sure.

In other projects, I actually managed to finish the next baby blanket in line this past weekend. I am not sure how that happened. So this week I am going to give my socks a little TLC before I move on to the next, full-sized, blanket. I went ahead and picked up the yarn for that and the pattern seems pretty simple, so hopefully that one will go quickly too. We shall see.

Wishing you all a wonderful yarn-filled week! 

One Down!

Kicking off 2012 with a bang, I am already done with my first blanket of the year, huzzah! I finished it up this past weekend. Here, take a gander:

Earthstar by Cori 2012.

Pattern: Granny's Ripple by Jean M. Roush (available in Blue Ribbon Afghans From America's State Fairs: 40 Prize-Winning Crocheted Designs)
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Aran (one skein), Buff (two skeins), and Cafe (two skeins)
Hook: US N (9.0 mm)

As I mentioned before, I really do like the construction of this blanket. It starts out with nine small granny squares, but you attach them as you make them, so there's no sewing together of squares. Then the body of the blanket is worked in the round after that. It's spiffy. Here's a closer look at the center detail.

The border is a series of small (one-round) granny squares, again attached as they are made, and then a row of single crochet around the granny squares. Here's a detail on that for you.

All of the rows done in the round are done in the back loop only, which gives it that cool ripple effect (hence the name). I have to say, I really love this pattern. I could see easily scaling it down for a tighter weave too by simply using a smaller hook and adjusting the number of rows and border granny squares. This one is really light and open and came out to be about six feet across at its widest spot. Should make a very cozy blanket for curling up on the couch.

Now, this is the second blanket I have made using a pattern out of the Blue Ribbon Afghans book, and I do have to register one small complaint. For some unfathomable reason, when listing the required supplies to make each pattern, they only specify the weight of yarn (sport, worsted, etc.) and the number of ounces. No brand name is given, nor the yardage. This is driving me nuts! If you are not going to give me the yardage (which gives you a much more accurate idea of how much yarn to buy), at least tell me what brand the creator used so that I can look up the yardage/ounces ratio and make an educated guess when purchasing my own yarn. I mean, yes, I still highly recommend this book if you are looking for some awesome crochet blanket patterns to add to your library. But I do want to make you aware of this eccentricity at least. Maybe this doesn't mess with other people as much, but it is throwing me off. For instance, when I made this blanket, I ended up needing to buy three extra skeins of yarn despite checking my gauge faithfully. I also know I didn't get in as many pattern repeats as the instructions called for. Now, with this second blanket, I followed the ounce requirements given, and this is what I had left over after finishing the blanket:

For those counting at home, that's four full skeins (28 ounces), and three remnants. That's a lot of leftover yarn. I'm not complaining too much about that though, I am sure it will all come in handy eventually. I actually think I already have a project in mind for at least some of it. So there's that. Still. Weird.

Anyhoo. Still working on the scarf (of course), and then I've got two little quickie projects I am hoping I can get done this coming weekend before I jump into blanket number two. I am enjoying the forward momentum. Fingers crossed that I can keep it going.

Approved By Kitties and Coris

Despite the two unfinished projects lingering in my yarn cubby, mocking me, I have actually been making some progress on the yarncraft front.

There is, first and foremost, this beautiful item:

Hearth and Home by Cori 2011.

Pattern: Irish Afghan by Nancy Sheck (available in Blue Ribbon Afghans from America's State Fairs)
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver in Buff Fleck (15 skeins)
Hook: I (5.5 mm)

Here is a closer look at the pattern:

Bobbles, bobbles, everywhere!

This pattern was not hard, but it was time consuming, and it rather involved paying more attention than I like on such a large project. Still. Holy cow, worth it. I was almost sad to have to give it away, but not really. I mean, yes, I will probably never make this pattern again (at least not in a blanket, although I think it could be adapted for a really nifty vest). It is possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever crocheted. But how can I be sad that it went to a home where it is already loved this much?

It has clearly gone to a good home. For those wondering, this was a wedding present for my youngest brother-in-law and his new wife, who were married the weekend before last. (As far as I can tell, they seem to like it too.)

The pattern itself wasn't difficult, like I said, it just took a lot of time. This is primarily because the whole thing is basically single crochet all the way across. It was a row of single crochet, then a row of embellishment on the right side of the blanket, then single crochet, then embellishment, and so on. All of those bobbles and front post single crochets and puff-stitches don't add anything to the actual length of the thing. I will note I made two modifications to the finishing of the blanket. Well, three. First off, it called for twenty-four pattern repeats. I think maybe I had sixteen or eighteen, but it was definitely long enough. I also modified the border, just doing two rows of single crochet around instead of the one row of single crochet and then switch to a larger hook for a fiddly bit. Lastly, the pattern called for fringe, and I don't do fringe. (Unless I am making a reproduction of something specific, as in a scarf from a movie or show.) As it was, I barely had enough yarn to finish and I bought three more skeins than the pattern called for. I swear my gauge was right on, but I still didn't come out with the same amount of yarn required by the actual pattern. Sigh. Oh well, such is life. I had enough to finish the blanket I was making, and that's the important thing.

After I finished that I made some pretty decent progress on that project that I wanted to finish by the start of December, though I am still nowhere near finished with it. Sigh. The problem is that it is a scarf and it is knitted. Apparently knitted scarves are my kryptonite. I can get in about a week of working on them diligently and then I have to just put it somewhere that I can't see it for a while. I get bored, I get annoyed, I get distracted. I go buy more yarn when my closet is already overflowing with the stuff...yeah. I had to set it aside when the month started in order to begin a Christmas gift. I was feeling pretty badly about that, until I realized that the recipient's birthday is early next year, but still a few months away. So. New goal. That will be her birthday present. I will work on it for a week or two in between bigger projects, or as a break from things I need a break on, and hopefully it will get done in time. Then, I will ask you all to kindly shoot me the next time I say I want to knit a scarf. (Except for when I finally get around to making myself that Gryffindor scarf....)

The Christmas gift is, thankfully, crocheted and is already working up quite nicely (as I write this I am about 3/4 done with it). The pattern seems simple but has a really nifty little catch to the primary seam. I am using a wonderful yarn, and it calls for a blessedly huge hook. I seriously almost cried tears of joy when I saw that the pattern called for a size K hook, I kid you not.

So that's where I am on the crafting front. Things are looking optimistic (unless you happen to be my poor KAL sweater, which is still only about half of a back--but it will get finished one day, I swear, hopefully before it gets too warm to wear it again).