Blankets on a Hot Day

I have my usual summer doldrums, where my passion for knitting wooly things wain, and my indifference towards little knitted tank tops and such causes me to rethink my projects. I am working on a new design for a boat neck tank, but it will be done start to finish in about 3 days, so meanwhile I plan a bigger project. I have never made a full size knitted blanket. I have made lots of quilts. I like quilts and the effort it takes to make them is worth the results. Here are two that I have made in the past... one for a single bed that used to be in my sewing / guest room. See the sewing machines on it? It now sits on the end of the guest queensize bed. The other is a star and log cabin squares quilt that I made twice. Both were queen size and I think are quite stricking with the tan, burgundy and black theme.

So what to do with a knitted blanket? I search Ravelry and discovered some lovely finished projects, and also the major danger in blanket knitting... the dreaded 'hibernation' blanket... ones that get started, but never manage to get finished. Is it boredom? Or just the sheer volume of knitting. I think it is like quilting. You need to steel yourself for a long haul and revel in the accomplishment of one quarter, one half, etc.

I have ordered some funky dyed cotton from Elann. I have two colours and 10 balls of each colour, and a new Addi Turbo circular in 3.5mm to inspire me, on the way by mail. The vague idea right now will be some form of Moderne Log Cabin Blanket, from Mason Dixon Knitting. I will swatch it when it gets here to see if I like the look of it in garter stitch....

Quilts take about 100 hours of labour to make, could knitted blankets be that much more?

Stay tuned as I test my stamina.

Thursday Night after Knitting Night.

Here is the photo of an almost finished hoody sweatshirt in Tweed Seta silk from Ram. The Addi Turbos hold the hood stitches that have been picked up from the neckline and knitted up to the top of the head. A few increases along the back of the head create a gentle curve to the back of the hood, and a few decreases at the same center line will curve it back in before binding off all stitches and sewing the top of head seam. I am thinking the classic pouch will still be knit and added in place at the end, as I still have lots of yarn. This yarn goes on forever.

Here is a photo of Susan's latest quilt. The colours pop even more than the photo shows and it is made of many, many, many small squares, all colourful prints in an amazing design. Susan brought it to show the StCG&CC Knitters last night. I love it when our talents spill over past the yarn to other mediums. She does exquisite quilting, does our Susan! Last night we discussed felting techniques, yarn shop sales dates, wedding showers (one last weekend, one in 2 weeks), assorted family doings, and possibility of a 5 day fibre tour (or knitting camp as I want to call it...) That one is still up for further discussion.