The Thing About Babies

I’d figured out about a month ago that the log cabin blanket would be bigger than your usual baby blanket. OK, I figured it as soon as I started. The pattern is called Log Cabin Throw — no mention of “baby” at all.

But I really liked the color combination, and I’m a fan of the log cabin pattern, having made a couple of true baby blankets in a log cabin variation before (nine years ago?!).

One of the marvelous things about babies is that they grow. Baby Sawyer was born about two months ago, but I’ll get to meet him later this week. Someday he’ll be big enough to wrap this blanket around himself. Until then, his loving mama and papa can snuggle up with him.

Although it’s not my first choice, I used acrylic yarn for this blanket. I figure — and really hope — this gets many years of use and want to be sure it survives regular washings.

WIP Wednesday: Log Cabin for Baby

Since it’s now too big to be a traveling project, the Log Cabin Throw hasn’t been getting much attention lately. Every day, I tuck my latest sock into my bag as I head to Mom’s home and spend at least a few hours knitting.

She’ll often knit her latest garter stitch scarf or will putter about the apartment or go through the mail. Like many things in her life these days, the mail is both a burden and a routine that brings consistency to her otherwise confusing world.

Although it’s nearly all fundraising appeals, she often reads each piece, not comprehending much of it, before either tearing it into small pieces for recycling or “responding” by placing the appeal letter into the reply envelope and tracing the stamp location with an orange marker.

I remind myself often these days that many of her actions are her way of exerting control over what she can control, even if the action doesn’t really make much sense to me.

The intended recipient of the Log Cabin Throw was born about 10 days ago. I have it from very good sources that he is absolutely lovely. Hannah, who held him in his second day of life, declared him “flawless.”

He’s got lots of growing to do, and the throw, modeled here in the cool spring sunshine, will get there eventually.

WIP Wednesday: Log Cabin

When I started the Log Cabin Throw, the intended recipient’s arrival seemed far off. Probably because it was. But Baby-to-Be is due in just about two weeks, so I’d best pick up the pace.

Since it’s knit from the center out, each segment is about seven inches longer that the one it’s “stacked” on. The entire piece will be much bigger than the usual baby blanket, but I envision a loving adult wrapping her- or himself and the baby in this cozy item.

As predicted, the second Frasier Fir Sock is moving along quickly. I’ve just started the cuff bind off. On the theme of trying new things, the pattern calls for the Invisible Ribbed Bind-off for some extra stretch at the cuff.

I’m heading off for a sock knitting lesson later this morning with dear friend Barbara — she of the beautiful Eleventh Hour Marled Blanket. Today’s lesson plan: heel flap and turning the heel.

What’s on your needles today?

WIP Wednesday: Log Cabin Throw

I’ve got two projects for babies-to-be going at the moment and am this close to casting on a new pair of socks with some lovely yarn that I got at the knitting guild yard sale. But baby knits have deadlines, so the socks shall wait.

As would be expected with bulky yarn, the log cabin throw is the faster growing of the two.

The back and front sections of the Patches Baby Sweater are done and blocking. I’ve started the first sleeve and decided to modify the pattern by knitting it in one piece rather than two segments.

Mom finished another garter stitch scarf yesterday. As you can see from her clothing, she’s quite partial to the crimson, fuschia, pink color range. Malabrigo never disappoints.

Knitting Amnesia

I generally don’t pay much attention to the occasional “memory” that Facebook sends (because they care about me, of course!). But yesterday’s caught my eye:

While I vaguely recall knitting this bright, log cabin blanket, I have absolutely no memory of who I gave it to — what new life sparked my desire to create something.  The information in my post, way back in 2009, was minimal and unhelpful: “log cabin baby blanket.” Duh, obviously!

I’ve got plenty of yarn in my stash that I look at and think: “What project did I have in mind when I bought this?” But until yesterday, I didn’t think that I’d forgotten a finished project.

Am I the only one? Have you ever forgotten a knitted creation?

 

Wrapped Up in Knitted Love

Since she joined my knitting class in the fall, Tracy has proved herself an intrepid and very generous knitter. Her very first project was a lovely GAPtastic shawl for her teen daughter.

Her most recent finished project is a super cozy, very soft garter stitch baby blanket. It’s made with a super bulky acrylic yarn, something that can stand up to months (even years) of spits, spills, and washings.

I always love to get photos of finished projects from students, friends, and family. There’s nothing quite like seeing a new item, something that has love knit into every stitch, in action. Like this lucky baby boy, wrapped in love.

#BabyBurrito

Wash and dry knits

Via my wonderful friend Cathie, a lesson in the resourcefulness of knitters and the durability of knitting. Picture this:

Skilled attorney, frequent flyer, intrepid knitter Cathie in the airport lounge where she’s passing the time during yet another Air Canada flight delay. Cup of coffee and suitcase by her side. In a perfect example of the domino effect, suitcase tips, knocks over coffee, which spills into open knitting bag at her feet, soaking her knitted baby blanket.

After some choice words (I wasn’t there but I’m pretty sure she wasn’t silent during said event), Cathie calmly takes blanket to wash room, rinses in sink (cool water, of course), squeezes excess water, and returns to lounge,

where the beautiful blanket is draped over the offending suitcase to dry.