Usually, I have one or two designs on the needles. Typically, a project that is a little more complex like a lace wrap (these are my favorites) and something that is easier to take on the go like a baby blanket or socks. However, "usually", is not what's happening right now.
I have 5 projects on the needles.....4 new designs + 1 gift......
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN????
It all started with two projects.....which is completely normal....
- a Lacey Wrap project in a beautiful aqua color tencel/alpaca blend lace-weight yarn and
- a Baby Boy Reversible Blanket in a navy blue superwash merino wool in DK weight yarn.
Then it happened, I decided to make a big throw blanket for my sister's 50th birthday. So I designed a special reversible pattern just for her. Of course, her birthday is in July and even after promising myself last year, that I wouldn't make a big throw blanket in June again, like I did last year for my nephew Nolan, ......OOPS I did it again. Could I have started it earlier?.....sure......But did I?......of course not. So that is project #3.
A Claret colored Blanket in an Aran weight yarn. To make the deadline, I had to put the other two projects aside until this birthday blanket is completed.
Making a blanket in the summer can be challenging or rather just plain HOT. Aside from cranking up the air conditioning to the point of freezing everyone in the house; other creative methods are needed in order to meet the deadline. Once the blanket gets large enough to lay across your lap and you become sweltering, I recommend working at a table, where you can lay the majority of the blanket on the table and off your lap. Using the table to keep the wool off your legs, makes all the difference. It's still cumbersome, but more tolerable.
Now for project # 4. A dear friend of mine's niece is having her first baby (a girl) and she asked me if I would make a baby blanket for her....I love knitting baby blankets, how could I refuse? The good news is that the baby is due in October.....so I have lots of time. But I couldn't stop thinking about the project and eventually couldn't resist the temptation and put aside the birthday blanket to work on a new design, which led to swatching and eventually casting on. Do you see where this is going?
My friend chose a hand-dyed yarn, which was a bit of a challenge to come up with a pattern that did not get totally lost in the color changes of the yarn.
Since I like to have samples of my Baby Blankets for Trunk Shows.......I will be making this blanket twice, project #5. Knitting one in a solid pale pink color for the pattern sample and again in the hand-dyed yarn my friend chose. I have cast on both yarns, to make sure the design will work with the hand-dyed yarn. Since I have till October for the gift blanket, I chose to work on the pink blanket as my travel project. The pink blanket is a little over a third complete on the solid color yarn and after ripping out several times on the hand-dyed yarn, I have the border completed.
Yet the birthday blanket is not finished....YIKES!
The pink baby blanket has been my travel project, while the birthday blanket is definitely my at home project. Once the birthday blanket is complete, I am looking forward to getting back to and completing my lace wrap.
Here's to staying focused.....if only I could....hahaha
Happy Knitting!
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