I knit a couple of squares for Kat's blanket project, and I have to admit they nearly kicked my butt. They aren't terribly difficult, especially once I was able to orient my miters correctly to start knitting the log cabin frame, but I had difficulty with picking up stitches neatly and consistently along edges. There are both cast on and garter edges, and I need lots of practice with both of these before I feel comfortable, things look good, and I contemplate a blanket of my own.
Janelle has finished seaming her epic sock yarn blanket, and as with all of her knitting, she is taking the time to complete the blanket edge the right way. After much experimentation, she found that on one long side of the blanket she'll have to pick up 480-496 stitches, so my complaints about picking up 54 stitches on the longest edge of these squares were not valid! She did share this helpful Very Pink Knits video resource with great information about picking up stitches, weaving in ends (smiles and umbrellas!), and seaming in garter stitch. Next time my squares will look much better, Kat!
It felt good to finally finish up my squares, so I made myself finish two books that were dragging, Night of Miracles and The Overstory. Both were three-star reads for me, but just barely. I happily started fresh with two new books, Farsighted and The Art of Logic in an Illogical World. They are both nonfiction, complement each other, and are just what I'm in the mood for reading right now.
What are you making and reading this week?
Your finished squares look great! even that little bit of unraveling isn't all that bad ... and thank you for the new non-fiction titles. I'm going to need something good when I finish Braving the Wilderness.
ReplyDeleteYour squares are awesome, Bonny! And, I am in absolute awe of Janelle's amazing blanket!
ReplyDeleteI finished a couple of very good books this week - perhaps one or both might be of interest to you! The Master Butcher's Singing Club and 40 Autumns... both excellent in every way!
I think those squares look fabulous! I'm feeling very ambivalent about The Overstory after reading your review and knowing that Kym didn't love it either.
ReplyDeleteYour squares look wonderful to me! I'm on hold (Overdrive) for the Overstory...but if you didn't like it and Kym didn't like it either...I'm not sure it will work for me either.
ReplyDeleteI think you did a marvelous job picking up the stitches! WOW. Bonny I am not reading much but blogs as baseball season is nearly done and we are in the hunt for the Division title. GO CUBS
ReplyDeleteThank you! The devil is definitely in the details, picking up stitches neatly and consistently and making sure that all the miters and lines are square, and I need more practice. I'm not much of a sports fan, but I'll be glad to cheer on the Cubs for you!
DeleteGorgeous squares... I am very. s-l-o-w-l-y knitting a 9-patch/log cabin blanket so the tutorial! totally is win! Thanks! NonFiction always grabs me first so I'm checking out your two recommends.
ReplyDeleteCheers~
I had a really hard time making my squares look "even," Bonny. The best word for how they turned out is . . . "wonky." But I think they'll look nice, all knit up in a blanket! (My heart kind of aches for Kat. All that seaming. And edging.) :-)
ReplyDeleteYour squares look perfect!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on finishing The Overstory. That looks like quite a slog!
It was! I had to make myself finish it, and that's never a good sign of an enjoyable book for me!
DeleteI'm sure your squares will look perfect, and kudos to Kat for doing all that seaming! YUK I would recommend The Hidden Life of Trees if you want to read about nature. I found it very interesting. I'm not sure it is about the same subject as Overstory.
ReplyDeleteBetter watch out... the log cabin square (or any garter square) could be your next Hitchhiker-like obsession!
ReplyDeleteThe blanket squares turned out well. Like you I am not sure I'll ever make a blanket myself but the squares were fun. The Art of Logic in an Illogical World sounds like just the ticket about now. I also like the look of those blocking combs or pins or whatever they are called. Maybe next time I order or buy yarn I'll pick some up. I have seen them before but forget about them.
ReplyDeleteDo you slip the first stitch and knit the last stitch through the back loop? It makes the edges "neater" and easier to see where to pick up. Love the colors on your squares. So classy!
ReplyDeleteYour squares look beautiful and will work into the blanket seamlessly (if only, right Kat?) :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Bonny, they do look great! I'm in a reading frenzy as raising a dog means no one is talking to you and a good book is a great way to fill the silence.
these finished squares are lovely!
ReplyDeleteyour squares are gorgeous!! I have a hard time getting through slow books so yay for you!!!
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