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Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Joining In

When it comes to knitting I can be easily influenced. Ginny's Yarn Along is a great source of inspiration, new ideas and, oftentimes, distractions! I enjoy looking at other people's projects and planning my own version. Often I will have my knitting queue set and then see something new which changes the whole sequence. This happened last summer when another yarn alonger made a gorgeous blanket, and I fell in love. I immediately favorited the pattern and made a note of the yarn used. It took a month or two before I bought the yarn, but I knew I wanted to make a blanket like the one made by Lori.

That yarn has been sitting in a little pile waiting for me to start. I kept coming up with other projects that needed to be done first. Honestly, I wasn't sure I really wanted to tackle a blanket. Last week I had just the nudge I needed to begin. Lori mentioned a knit along starting for the Leaves of Grass pattern she used for her blanket. I immediately knew I had to join. It was the little push I needed to change the yarn from skein to project. I quickly signed up before I could make any more excuses. I even bought the pattern that same night.

With the disappearing loop tutorial in front of me, I cast on this week. It took a few times of ripping out and reknitting before I felt like I was making progress. Part of this may be that I tried knitting Chart A while at the park with my kiddos. It isn't easy watching kiddos climb an adjacent butte while trying to read a knitting chart. I prevailed and am halfway through the first chart. I love it thus far. It is really beautiful. I know I won't finish this any time soon, but I now have a great project to work on while we drive across country again!

As far as reading, I have been focused on a pile of financial and lifestyle books. Dave and I know the life we want to live; we are just trying to figure out how to better fund it. For entertainment, I am listening to a good audiobook entitled The Newlyweds. It is about a woman from Bangladesh who marries an American she met online. It is quite good. I am nearing the middle and things are getting quite interesting. Hopefully I will finish it soon and be able to give a full recommendation.
What it looked like last night spread out


19 comments:

  1. Looks great so far! I think it is a bit to complicated for me, but some time in the future I would love to try it. Do you have to change to circular needles later on?
    Enjoy your knit along with Lori.

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    1. It truly isn't hard at all. I will change to circulars of increasing length eventually. I think Lori's was 5 or 6 ft across!

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  2. Perfect!!!! Love the color and the lace :)

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  3. That is going to be so pretty. I can't wait to see it finished!

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  4. that's a really nice pattern

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  5. So lovely! Good luck with your knitting. :)

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  6. oh, Heather.....this is going to be gorgeous!!! In for the long haul....me, too!! Different blanket.....but blanket just the same. Worth the time and effort, though!!!

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  7. i am so excited to see how this comes out. it looks so beautiful. how much yarn do you need for that blanket?

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  8. Lovely!!! Can't wait to see it progress!

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  9. Anonymous2:59 PM

    love circle blankets, must add this one to my list....

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  10. I love this blanket! I have wanted to start a blanket for some time myself but feel intimidated by how much yarn I might need to buy!

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  11. Its a gorgeous blanket, and I totally agree about being motivated and inspired by other bloggers, its one of my favourite things about blogging!

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  12. LOVELY!!! I might have to make one. :)

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  13. Anonymous9:36 PM

    My goodness, it is going to be lovely! I can't wait to watch it grow :)

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  14. Wow so beautiful. I am amazed that you could do that while watching children scramble around. I can barely knit in my own house while my kiddos are awake. ;)

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  15. No, Heather! Now I'm all distracted. It's breathtaking. And terrifying.

    I'm only beginning to read charts, I'd better stick to my simple cowl. But I have the wool Lori used and now it's taunting me...

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  16. looks good so far! Beautiful yarn!

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  17. Wow it looks beautiful!! I love the pattern but have never read a chart. Maybe some day!

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  18. it's a beautiful start heather, i'm so happy to see you making this, i think you are going to love it! it really is a simple knit but oh so satisfying and gorgeous when done!

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