CAL: week 9

Can you believe we’re already at week 9?  It doesn’t seem like that long!  Are you ready for week 9?  Let’s get started, and remember that we’re using US terms!

Last week, we left off after finishing row 62:

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row 63

With new color, hdc across.

row 64

With new color, dc across.

rows 65-67

Another set of granny stripe rows!  Click here for the original detailed pattern.  Here it is so far:

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row 68

With new color, dc across.

row 69

With new color, hdc across.

row 70

With new color, dc across.  Here’s all of this week’s rows:

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I couldn’t get a picture of the whole blanket that looked blog-worthy due to bad lighting, and I’ve started next week’s rows already, so I’m sorry there’s not a picture of the whole blanket this week.  Hopefully next week I can get a good one!

Thanks to everyone who’s been sharing the CAL (we’re still getting new participants, which is great) and posting their progress on the facebook/Ravelry pages.  It’s really neat to see everyone’s progress!

That’s all for this week, thanks for stopping by!

CAL: week 8

Hello everyone!  I’m getting my post done at 12:01 anyway, despite thinking I’d be a little late.  I hope you guys are ready! And remember, we’re using US terms!

Last week we finished with row 54:

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row 55

With new color, hdc across.

rows 56-58

Using another color that you have a lot of, repeat the three rows of the bobble pattern.  If you need a refresher, check back to week 4 for the instructions.

row 59

With new color, hdc across.

row 60

With new color, dc across.

row 61

With new color, hdc across.

row 62

With new color, dc across.

Here’s all of these rows in a close-up:

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And here is the whole blanket:

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It’s getting harder and harder to photograph the whole thing!  And I do apologize for not having photos for each row; I mean to, but I really get going and I forget to stop and take them!  I’ll try harder to remember next time, haha.  However, if I’m crocheting at night, there’s not really a point as the lighting is so poor and makes for very oddly colored photos.

We’re still getting new participants who are working very diligently to catch up.  Welcome, newcomers!  If anyone has questions, feel free to ask.  You might like to peruse my post “how the CAL will work” for the basics.  All of the CAL posts can be found (in reverse order) in the CAL category, which can be located in the top menu bar of this site or by clicking on the button in the sidebar on the right hand side of the page.  Also, we’d love to see your pictures on the facebook page, the Ravelry group, or with the hashtag #nyaccal on Instagram — it’s so cool to see everyone’s blankets progressing!

Also, a huge thank you to everyone who’s shared this CAL on their own blogs, on forums, on facebook, or any other way you’ve spread the word.  I really appreciate it and I know that without you sharing this, we would not have nearly so many participants!

That’s all for this week’s CAL post.  I hope you all are still enjoying both the process of making the blanket and the way it’s turning out!

CAL: week 7

How did ya’ll like doing stitches that you’ve already done before last week?  Hopefully it was easier but not boring.  We’ve done all the stitches we’re going to do so it should be smooth sailing from now on!  Let’s get started, and don’t forget we’re using US terms!

Last week we left off with for 46:

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row 47

With new color, hdc across.  Remember to crochet between the stitches below like we did above the star stitch last time.  Count your stitches at the end, just to be safe.

row 48

With new color, dc across.

rows 49 – 52

With 2 colors, do the Catharine wheel stitch pattern.  Feel free to refer back to the post in which we first did this if you need a reminder.  And don’t forget to keep your stitches very loose!  Someone suggested going up a hook size or two for these rows, so you could try that if it’d make you more comfortable.

row 53

With new color, dc across the same way we did after the last Catharine wheels.  Count your stitches when you’re done.

row 54

With new color, dc across:

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That’s all for this week!  Don’t know why that picture turned out so extra red… my floor is brown…  Anyway, here’s the whole thing:

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When you finish, I’d love to see a picture of yours on facebook or Ravelry, or on Instagram with the hashtag #nyaccal also.  Everyone’s blankets are looking great!  I’m really astonished and pleased at the number of participants — it’s all way bigger than I thought it would be, and even now people are jumping on board (welcome so very much!).  Hopefully you’re all enjoying this CAL as much as I am.

Well, that’s all for today.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  And don’t forget to weave in your ends!  🙂

CAL: week 6

How did everyone like the chevrons last week?  Everyone’s blankets are looking fantastic — I’m so excited to see this project really taking shape!  Are you ready for this week?  We’re just repeating what we’ve already done now, so any frustrating bits are hopefully over and done with!

This week we’ll be doing 9 rows, just because I didn’t want to end the week in the middle of a stitch pattern.  Next week we’ll be back to 8.  Don’t forget we’re using US terms!

Last week we left off after finishing row 37:

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row 38

With new color, dc across.

rows 39 – 41

With new colors, work these three rows in the granny stripe pattern.

row 42

With new color, dc across.

row 43

With new color, hdc across.

row 44

With new color, dc across.  Here’s a picture of the back of the blanket (don’t know why I didn’t get the front):

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rows 45 and 46

Make sure row 45 is a right side row.  Do the star stitch the same way you did it before:

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And that’s it for this week!

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Hope everyone is enjoying the CAL so far.  Don’t forget to share pictures of your progress on the facebook page or the Ravelry group, and also on Instagram with the hashtag #nyaccal as well.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

the many moods of knitting

It’s been a while since there’s been a post about knitting, probably because there hasn’t been much knitting done around here lately (largely because of the CAL).  When I get the urge to pick up the needles, however, the actual process of knitting and the feelings I get from it usually matter more than the finished product.  Here’s what I reach for and why.

straight needles

straights

 

These are grabbed when I want to work with something that looks pretty, but is knitting at it’s most classic. (It’s hard to pass up a pretty pair in the store, even if I’ve already got 5 of the same size.)   They are pretty portable and easy to work with, and there’s just something about that back and forth, back and forth repetition of motion that is so soothing.

circulars or DPNs

dpns

 

These really do make you look fancy when you knit in public — people can’t believe that you can work magic with so many tiny sticks or those large twisty loops!  They’re a step up in complication from straight needles because they take some finagling, but still easy enough to manage without too much trouble.  Just make sure your project is securely on your needles before putting it back in your bag.

something garter or stockinette

garter

 

Simple garter or stockinette projects are a great stress reliever because I can just let my hands do their thing and release all that anxiety.  The repetitive, almost mindless quality of projects like this make them perfect for working on while doing other things at the same time, such as watching TV, having a conversation, or listening to lectures.  It’s so easy to put these down and pick them up because you don’t have to follow a complicated pattern, making these projects ideal for a quick 5 minute knitting session on the go.  They work great with textured or novelty yarns, too!

something with lace, cables, or colorwork

lace and cables

 

These projects require concentration but I always get a sense of great accomplishment when it turns out right!  It’s a proud feeling you get when you can say “why yes, I made it myself!”  They can also be incredibly frustrating, at least for me, because I don’t know how to go back multiple rows when working with lace or cables; this means that if I make a huge mistake, I have to start over.  Small mistakes tend to get left there in hopes that nobody will notice.

a small project

small project

 

Small projects are ideal for trying out a new technique because if I mess up, I haven’t wasted a zillion hours on something I just have to unravel.  I also reach for a small project when I want to see “fast” results (“fast” is in quotation marks because it is only fast compared to larger knitted projects; a crocheted project of the same size would be much faster).  Also of course they’re quite portable!

a big project

large project

 

I haven’t been brave enough to take on a knitting project bigger than a cardigan, because that’s big for me!  I know there will be a great feeling of accomplishment when I finish my first cardigan, but it does get a bit monotonous when using a thin yarn and small needles (making it take a long time to see progress).  Also, picking such a big project in stockinette can be a bit dull.  To be honest, I’d choose crochet for the biggest projects like blankets or rugs because they would take less time and you can see fast results, and therefore I’d be less likely to get bored.  When working on large projects, there tends to be a bunch of smaller projects littering my coffee table at the same time that I can grab when taking a “break” from the big item.

So, does any of this ring true for you as well, or do you feel differently?  Do any specific projects, techniques, or tools evoke strong feelings (good or bad) for you?  I’d love to hear about your knitting moods, too!

As always, thanks for stopping by!