I’ve been working on a few projects recently :) One you already know about and two are new. Well, new to the blog, anyway…
The Vortex Blanket you have seen before. I reached a desirable diameter (that is, I got to a point where I felt that another trip around the circumference would render me a blithering idiot!) and decided to start the border. You may remember me dithering about a border some time ago? I did try a couple of things - lacy things but they didn’t work for me. I could work them just fine but somehow they didn’t look right to me. Then I tried a crochet edging which was even worse. So the whole thing lay in my work basket for quite a while as I was annoyed with it - well, with myself actually :)
Then a few nights ago I thought about garter stitch, probably because one of the newer projects is in garter, and decided to give that a try. As you can se in the above photo, it seems to be working out quite well. My only issue (and it’s a very, minor quibble) is that I’ll need more yarn to work this all the way around the circumference of the blanket. A lacier stitch might have been satisfied with the yarn I had on hand, but this wants more - at least that’s my belief. So I picked up a bit more this week at Michaels where the Patons wool I’m using was on sale for about half price!
And, of course, for that kind of savings, I bought more yarn to dye and a bunch of beautiful eggplant purple that I have no idea what to do with yet. I just couldn’t resist the color :).
The garter stitch project is this:
It’s a very basic shawl/scarf type of thing, similar to the Meanderthal Shawl. The darker yarn is the one that was dyed here plus some radiant Spunky Eclectic sport-weight that Rob sent me some time back. It has been ageing in the stash and when I started thinking about this project and what might be interesting to combine with the dyed stuff, this started jumping up and down and yelling “me-me-me-me-mmmME!!”
The idea is that the colors look like (to me, anyway) either sunrise or sunset - depending, I suppose, on whether you’re facing east or west. The dark parts have stars (randomly placed beads) and even the occasional constellation (not-so-randomly placed beads). It will end with a lacy pattern around the bottom, meant to represent the suns rays as it either rises or sets. I have begun the lace, but you can’t see it because it’s all scrunched up on the cable :) I’d like to think I’ll have this done soon, but Christmas is coming and I have started my holiday projects - which will take precedence for a while, I’m afraid.
Which leads me to the last project :)
...and…
This is intended to be a throw, or a lap blanket. Of the color arrangements pictured above, I prefer the one with the variegated border. Of course you have to do it both ways so you can see which one looks better. I might do three more of the aran colored border square for the corners of the throw. I haven’t decided yet - and I won’t have to decide for a little while :) The squares are 11” on a side, so I’m thinking a 4 x 6 grid would make a reasonably sized throw.
I’m using Red Heart SuperSaver here both for utility’s sake (washer/dryer) and because I fell in love with the colors. I have, however, noticed a change in the yarn. It is spun much more loosely than before and while that gives it an interesting “textured” look, I fear that it’s longevity, for any given item into which it’s made, will be impaired. It’s also quite splitty. Sigh… I guess everyone’s feeling the pinch and more and more things are degrading in quality so the price point can remain stable. Semi-stable…whatever. This has been such a good, work-horse yarn, for so long, that I’m really saddened to see the change.
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love the look of the new shawl:)
amber -
I also love the look - but I’m more a shawl-maker than a shawl-wearer. I guess, when it’s finished, I’ll have to wait until it tells me who it wants to go to :)
Well if you have seen my blog you would know that I too am more of a maker than a wearer:) Trouble is I adore making shawls, and Elsewhere jacket but thats a whole new other thing:))
I think the garter stitch border looks fabulous and any excuse for a tip to LYS eh?
Lynne -
I’m glad someone else thinks it looks good too. It’s going to take a loooooooooong while to get around the edge of the blanket so I had <i>better<i> like it :)
I actually went into the store for yarn for the throw - the sale on wool was entirely coincidentally, but happily and deliriously on sale!
i’m usually not a real fan of garter stitch, but that edging looks nice- maybe it’s the contrast against the pattern stitches-
ah, i’m a shawl wearer- a certain much-loved periwinkle shawl is one of my year-round wardrobe staples!!
you are certainly being productive with the *big* projects- lately i manage a few rounds of a sock and get called to other things- fortunately this is the year i am doing lots of really plain ribbed socks so i don’t lose my place due to interruptions- yarn lust got hold of me, so i’ve indulged in some really nice indy yarns and am letting the colors speak for themselves-
how is the captain?
stay happy-
Barb - Captain Cranky is somewhat frail, but still holding his own :)
Dunno what it is about the big projects? I just can’t (at the moment) seem to muster any enthusiasm for hats or mittens or scarves. You know, sensible things that would be useful projects for this time of year!
All the projects look great. I especially love the “stars” in the night sky of the shawl—that’s such a creative idea!
You know the economy is tanking when Red Heart Super Saver gets chinzy. That’s what I used exclusively when the boys were babies, and twelve years later, the afghans are still going strong. But finding wool on sale is definitely cause for celebration! Yea, Michael’s!
Greta -
I bound the shawl off last night - now to get it blocked :)
Yeah, there’s still an afghan floating around my father’s house that I made, probably 25 years ago out of Red Heart. In fact, it outlasted the sofa I made it for.
