Posted in Project: In Progress
So, it's now April and my famous afghan is only about 5 inches long. But I HAVE been working on it! Mind you, this project is on needles that I can barely get my hands around, and with three different yarns. So while it does get bulky fast, it is REALLY hard to tell exactly what I am doing, or not doing, or pick up dropped stitches, or see the pattern. I started with a really odd pattern on which I kept losing my place, and no way to count the stitches or fix problems, so I ripped it out several times. Then I came up with my own pattern, much simpler to do and keep track of. KK-PP-KK-PP all the way across, then on the return journey PP-KK-PP-KK, so it will basically be a long rib-knit afghan. I still had to frog it twice before getting it started to my satisfaction, but now it IS started, and it IS growing, and I AM proud of it, thankyouverymuch.
Posted in Project: In Progress
Why did I do it? I was at Walmart yesterday and saw an afghan that was absolutely the perfect color for my living room. Since it has been chilly, a variety of throws that do NOT match that room have been dragged in there. So I was tempted by this chunky knit afghan in an olive color. But when I picked it up, I didn't like the feel, and looking closely saw it was poorly put together and would fray and pull easily. (For less than $20, what do you expect?)
But the idea was in my head, so I came home and looked up free knitting patterns on the Lion Brand Yarn website and found a very simple knit throw (so simple gauge doesn't even matter, since it ends up being very stretchy anyway). The Lion Brand website is set up quite nicely - for their sales department! When you look at a free pattern, it shows you all the yarn and needles needed to create that project, and allows you to click a box to change yarn colors if you wish. So without allowing myself time to think about it, I changed the colors and clicked! ... like I need ANOTHER project lying around!
I just learned to knit a couple of years ago. Our homeschool group started a craft club and one lady was teaching us all to knit. I made two squares for a Linus quilt, then did a simple sweater for my 3yo daughter. That one is finished, but has yet to be assembled. I retaught myself to crochet and made a really cute string bag. I have a couple of other projects in various stages of completion - so what did I need another for? Not to mention the unfinished cross-stitch projects from years past, and the jewelry-making tools I purchased. And we aren't even thinking about all the pictures yet to scrap!
