I decided I wanted to knit the next blanket but I’ve got a stressful few months coming up so I needed something mindless. Knit blankets always take longer than crochet ones – at least they do for me but I have a feeling this one is going to take even longer than usual. Typically, I usually just knit baby size blankets but this one is larger at 44 x 60. I may cut that down a few inches … we’ll see. This is stockinette stitch with a garter stitch border so I hope I don’t get bored but I really wanted something I could pick up and put down without any thought or needing to refer to a pattern. And I was ready to knit something. I need to remember that it’s not a race and that it’s OK if some projects take longer than others.

• Simple Striped blanket – free from Lion Brand.
• Needle size – 6
• Yarn – Lion Brand Mandala – colorway is Spirit.

Thanks to the Masters tournament this weekend, I managed to finish this blanket. I’ve even got the end woven in.

• Shell Stitch blanket – found free on Ravelry.
• Yarn – Caron Cotton Cakes – I used about 2.75 skeins. Colorway – Blush and Bloom
• Hook size = H
• Chained 133 and the finished size is approximately 40 x 51

I’ve decided that I’m not buying any more yarn for now even if it is on sale. Right now I seem to make about 1 blanket a month plus various hats, and the occasional scarf ….I don’t regret my purchases, I love finishing a project and having the supplies here to choose from for the next one but my yarn stash is large enough to keep me crocheting and knitting for several years (or more) and I’m running out of storage space. I’ll start with a goal of not buying any more yarn the rest of this year and hope I have the willpower to extend it into next year. Wish me luck holding firm to my resolution.

Now I’m off to find my next project!

I usually stay pretty focused on my goals but I’m on track to meet the ones I set in March so I’ve given myself a break today. After not sleeping last night, I was up early and got my first COVID shot. I feel fine but just not in the mood to work when I got home so I read a while, took a very short nap, enjoyed the evening with Keith and after he went to bed, picked up the Afghan I started last night. I finished the blue blanket stitch Afghan but set it aside without weaving the ends in and immediately started a new one. Tomorrow, I’ll need to try and finish up the quilt on the longarm and I’ll get back to weaving those ends in soon, in the next few days.

• Pattern – Shell Stitch Baby Blanket, found free on Ravelry
• Hook size – H
• Yarn, Caron Cotton Cakes – colorway is Blush and Bloom
• Chained 133

I can be a bit boring …. when I find a yarn and pattern combination that I love, I tend to repeat it. It’s time to start another blanket and I pulled some yarn from my bin and got started.

• Pattern – Blanket Stitch – found free on Ravelry
• Yarn – Lion Brand – Big Scoop Ice Cream, colorway is blueberry
• Hook size – H
• Chained 150

I’ve already made one of these in yellow…

And in pink so I know it will turn out great!

I made progress today – the linen stitch blanket is finished and ends are woven in.

• Chained 140
• Hook size (I)
• Yarn is Lions Brand Mandala Ombré – colorway Happy – 4 skeins used
• Linen stitch pattern is from a kit but you find find a similar one online at this link.

I also finished up the doll quilt and the shamrock coaster set. More masks were sewn – 9 just need ties or elastic now but I have another 8 to sew I think and then I’ll be able to get back to the problem quilt.

This is my favorite stitch for this Mandala Ombré yarn and this colorway is aptly named Happy! The yarn is super soft and works up beautifully. I’m using a pattern from a kit I purchased a while back but you can find a similar blanket at this link.

I made good progress on the hourglass quilt too. All the blocks are made and I’ve begun to assemble the top. I’m sure I’ll drag it out the rest of the week especially since I plan to hike some more if the weather holds.

Finn’s trying to convince me it’s time to go to bed ( he won’t go when Keith goes). He finally gave up and curled back up on the foot of the recliner.

Same hat, same yarn, same mistake! The only thing I did differently is cast on fewer stitches for a snugger fit and yes, I deliberately made the same mistake with my purls lining up rather than being offset.

• Pattern – Cobblestones – found free on Ravelry. 
• Needles – size 7
• Yarn – Lion Brand Basic Stitch – colorway Garnet
• Cast on 88 stitches

Now I’m ready to start another blanket – I think I’ll crochet a linen stitch one. It’s one of my favorite patterns and very easy to stitch.

I knit a hat this week too. I made a mistake by not paying close enough attention to the pattern, I’ve made this hat a number of times but I like the “mistake” so much that I’m going to knit it again the same way. The purls should be offset but I kind of like them lined up like this too. It makes a nice variation.

• Pattern – Cobblestones – found free on Ravelry.
• Needles – size 7
• Yarn – Lion Brand Basic Stitch – colorway Garnet
• Cast on 100 stitches per pattern but it was a little loose – will try 88 next time for an adult hat. Hopefully that won’t be too tight!

I put the last stitch in this easy Ripple Afghan this afternoon and wove in all the ends. I’m not happy with this colorway and as you can see from the photo below, the dye job was “messy” with colors bleeding on to each other however when I sit with it across my lap and don’t study it too closely, It looks fairly nice. At the very least, it will provide a warm blanket for someone in need and I’ll be a little more choosy about which colorways I use in this yarn.

• Pattern – Easy Ripple found free on Ravelry
• Hook size – (I)
• Yarn – Caron Big Cakes, colorway Citron Fizz – I used 2.5 cakes
• Starting chain = 130 and the blanket is about 42 x 65

No sewing on Saturday – I’d let the cleaning slide too long and it was past time to give the house some attention. Keith helped as always – I’m so lucky that way! The rest of the day was spent on laundry, walking, and football. Since I did not get the 2nd binding ready for stitching down on Friday, I spent my time after the football game crocheting.

I started this ripple afghan on the 28th of December but since I’m still binding and sewing some at night the progress is slow but steady. I wasn’t thrilled with the colorway but I’m less unhappy with it as the blanket grows. Some might stop working on a project they weren’t happy with but I believe even the blankets and quilts that don’t turn out as pretty as I’d like have value for their warmth. Someone will be grateful to have it to cover up with.