Yarn Along

 

Ta-dah! My biggest knitting project to date, the Camilla Blanket, is finished. And I'm so pleased with how it looks and feels. It still needs blocking, but today is the first sunny day we've had in quite awhile and I couldn't wait to share it with you. So please feel free to use your imagination.

 

I love it. I still love that deep purple wool from Bendigo Woolen Mills. I still love those fan patterns. Despite looking at them for the past five months. I hope that Emerson will love it too. Her Mama made blanket. Her first birthday present. (Only four months late.)

 

There were quite a few times when I considered casting off sooner that I had intended, because I was keen to start a new project, or just because I felt I was never going to get to the end of this blanket. I'm glad I persevered. It's a great size - bigger than a cot blanket and big enough for the toddler bed Cohen is growing out of and Emerson is growing in to. It should also be big enough to use on a single bed one day too. Fifteen repeats in total. Cohen has already requested exactly the same blanket in exactly the same colour. Hmmm, how about a vest or a hat instead.

 

It's been a light week of reading. My nephew has been staying with us and I'm yet to get this months book club book. Instead I've been dipping in to the new Country Style magazine and day dreaming about a lounge room make over. Nothing major, just a new lounge, new coffee table and new buffet for beneath the tv...

 

What are you knitting and reading?

 

Joining in with Ginny.

Raverly notes here.



Weekending

1. I'm over half way now on Emerson's Camilla Blanket and I am still in love with knitting it. It is my biggest project to date and I was worried I would fall out of love with it along the way. So far so good. I love watching those fans forming.The nights are getting cooler now and I hope she'll be using it by Winter.

2. We've had a week of rain, with another week forecast. There has been Lego, play dough and balloons to keep a certain boy amused, as well as rain coat and gum boot jaunts in the garden.

3. We visited the Qld Art Gallery and the Museum yesterday. Another perfect rainy day activity. I brought this $10 print home with me from the gallery store. Cheap, beautiful art. (The framed picture in photo 2 is another gallery store purchase.)

4. My cheeky little laundry helpers, who played 'throw the cloth nappies at Mama' and rolled around laughing.

5. My veggie-store-brought sweet potatoes sprouted, so I'm growing slips from them. I recently harvested my first sweet potatoes from the garden and I'm hoping for an even bigger harvest next time!

6. Cut flowers from the garden. My dream of filling the house with flowers I've grown is slowly becoming a reality.

7. And they smell amazing.

8. These delightful roses change from pink, to peach, to yellow as they open.

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My second eye surgery is today. Hopefully I will be able to be back in this space in a couple of days. In the meantime take care.

Yarn Along

I admitted to myself recently that it would not in fact be possible to finish the Camilla blanket in time for Emerson's first birthday - which is the 27th of this month - without giving up my mothering and household responsibilities. (I thought of suggesting the above to my husband, in lieu of a Valentine's present, then thought the better of it. Dave briefly took over from me after my surgery and he is still recovering.) Once I accepted that it would not be done in time I decided to make the blanket bigger than initially intended. I purchased an additional 400 grams of wool. Doubling my blanket budget (which I have 'forgotten' to inform my husband) and well and truly ensuring that it will not be finished in time. 

I like the idea of a bigger blanket though. All that knitting. I don't want her to out grow it too quickly. The pattern required 6.5 mm circular needles, though I had 7 mm on hand. This increased the width of the blanket from 30 inches to 35 inches. By the time I've stitched up all 800 grams of wool I believe the blanket will be big enough to make the move from cot, to toddler bed, to single bed with Emerson. I am determined to finish the blanket before beginning any new projects, lest it hover in limbo like another blanket I have known that will one day be completed... Will endeavor not to bore you too much with it in the meantime. Promise.

Reading is still limited while my eye heals. I've mostly been reading blogs and commenting occasionally. I read far more blogs than I comment on. Something I intend to rectify once my eyesight improves. Do you read more often than you comment?

What are you knitting and reading?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Raverly notes here.

Yarn Along

While pregnant with Emerson, and in the weeks after her birth, I knitted a simple striped garter stitch blanket for her. For the past year it has gone everywhere with us. Unfortunately that dear blanket came to a sad end after our disastrous camping trip (two words - tummy bug.) Yes, that lovely little blanket managed to get thrown in the washing machine with the acrylic blankets. Unlike the acrylic blankets, it turned to felt. I was horrified when I pulled it out the machine. But what is a knitter to do, except knit another blanket?

Thus I had in mind to knit Emerson a new blanket for her first birthday. I ordered the wool and already had the pattern, before I found out about my naughty eyes and the required surgery. Now, two weeks post surgery, I have been working on it little by little for the past week as my eye allows, hoping to have it finished by the 27th. There will be a wrapped book (once I choose the perfect one) and this beautiful hand knit bonnet by Greer at Typically Red as well. Surely no one will notice the missing blanket should it not be ready? 

While my eyes can not bear to read for very long yet, I am listening to 'The Happiness Project' on audio book, read by the author Gretchen Rubin. Once again, thank goodness for audio books!

And you? What are you reading and knitting?

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Joining in with Ginny.

Raverly notes here.