More Blanket

It's getting bigger. I'm now using the 60-inch cable on the circular needles if that helps give an idea of its current size.

But since I add 4 stitches each time around, it takes longer and longer. Thank goodness it's striped or I'd get too bored to finish.

The Blanket, It Grows

Behold! Front and back.

Baby Hats & Blanket

The shawl is taking a break for now. We moved to a new apartment a few weeks ago, so no energy for complicated knitting.

But it's just as well, since a couple of friends are going to be having babies. One is due around Hallowe'en, and the other in mid-January. So lots of baby hats! These 5 are for J.'s kid. I may be making more hats for for P.'s.

The hats are knitted from the top down, and I made up the patterns as I went along. They were all done on US 10 1/2 size needles, using the magic loop method. I used Vanna's Choice 100% acrylic in various colors, although the yellow is in Vanna's Choice Baby, also 100% acrylic. The two blue hats are actually a bit darker than they appear in these pics.

P.'s kid will get the black and white blanket that's on the needles right now. (See last pic.) This blanket is from this spiffy pattern: Op Art baby blanket pattern.

I'm doing it on US 7 size needles. I started it with the magic loop method, switched to knitting in the round on two circular needles, and now am working on one circular needle. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn, Dreambaby D.K., 50% acrylic microfiber, 50% nylon.

Click the link for videos of the magic loop method and knitting in the round on two circular needles.

Example of what the border will be...

Here's an example of what the border will look like. Maybe. Depends on if I figure out how to do it. :-) Also, notice how the leaves in her shawl are all open and airy? Mine will hopefully look that way too after blocking. That's how it is with lace.

Example link.

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Lace (Myrtle Leaf Shawl) 3

More 'in progress' pics, as requested. Sorry that they're kind of blurry - I'll have to figure out what to do about that.

Here it is at a little over 8 repeats:


And here it is at a little over 11 repeats:


I pinned it out for the 2nd pic, to give some idea of what it will look like after it's blocked. Pinned out, it currently measures 15" across and 18.75" long.

Only 35 repeats to go, and then the border!

Lace (Myrtle Leaf Shawl) 2

Moving along. I think my gauge is a bit smaller than the pattern recommends, but I'm not starting over again. I may end up with something between a scarf and a shawl, which will be fine. Also, I forgot to mention in my first post on this, the pattern is from "Victorian Lace Today." (See the book here. Read a review here.)

More Felting & Sis-in-law's Purse

Test swatch in Paton's Classic Wool Merino, needle size US 10. Hand-felted, took forever:

Coaster in 3 colors of Paton's Classic Wool Merino, needle size US 10.5. Hand-felted, took even more forever:

Sis-in-law's cool purse (she crocheted it, not me):

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How I made the coaster:

Cast on 80 sts. in yarn color A to US 10.5 DPNs using long tail cast on method.

Cast on counts as round 1.
Round 2: P all sts.
Round 3: (K1, K2tog, K 14 sts., SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 4: P all sts.
Round 5: (K1, K2tog, K 12 sts., SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 6: P all sts.
Round 7: (K1, K2tog, K 10 sts., SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 8: P all sts.
Round 9: Switch to yarn color B. Then (K1, K2tog, K 8 sts., SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 10: P all sts.
Round 11: (K1, K2tog, K 6 sts., SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 12: P all sts.
Round 13: (K1, K2tog, K 4 sts., SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 14: P all sts.
Round 15: (K1, K2tog, K 2 sts., SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 16: P all sts.
Round 17: Switch to yarn color C. Then (K1, K2tog, SSK, K1) 4 times.
Round 18: P all sts.
Round 19: (K2tog, SSK) 4 times.
Round 20: P all sts.

Bind off by running yarn through remaining 8 stitches and pull to close.

Weave in ends then felt, felt, felt. Block in spiffy octagon-ish shape.