Pi Blankie

I have decided I like knit blankets.  Something about the weight of them is very soothing.  This one was sort of fun to knit, the flower petals are really pretty and easy to work.  I do wish I had chosen a less variegated yarn but because the pattern itself is so simple they don't compete.

For those interested, the pattern can be found for free on Ravelry.

I think the main thing I would do differently next time is using a regular wool yarn rather than superwash.  Even with an aggressive block, the wool bounced back enough that the increase rows create some funny ruffle effects that I do not find pleasing.  It's worse on the last section, laid out it almost looks like I knitted a ruffle.  Or tried to.  That might just be the nature of Pi shawls, this is (amazingly) the first time I did one so I'm not sure.

Even with this yarn, I kind of wish I had knit a little tighter.  The drape is lovely but I have 2 small dogs who seem to love burrowing under this blanket in particular and they keep snagging things.  It's fixable and not that big a deal but seeing something that took that long to make get snagged is a little traumatizing.

Over an successful project.  It's an easy knit and the end results are quite pretty.  I think done up in a lighter weight yarn (not worsted) this would be a really beautiful shawl.

Panic and the Never-ending Socks

Panic attacks suck.  There are certain things I really need to get done that send me over the edge every time I even think about them.  Remembering what I need to accomplish in a given day is hard enough as it is without those tasks sending me running for cover under the nearest quilt.  So I get behind, and that makes the whole situation worse, adding one more thing to the list of things I can't stand to think about.

Thank God for Xanax.

I have been getting some knitting done, and finally finished a pair of lace tabi socks that I started in 2008.  Only 4 years to knit a pair of socks!  That's actually pretty good for me, socks are not my favorite thing to knit and I will do just about anything to avoid knitting the second sock.  Sadly, most people like wearing socks that match (I do to if I am being perfectly honest about it), so my one-sock knitting thing isn't very useful.  At least I got this set done.  The second sock is a tad looser than the first, but I think it will be ok once I wash them.  I'm quite happy with how they came out and am looking forward to wearing them with my flip-flops on my way to aikido.

Since I managed to finish this pair of socks, I started another in a fit of irrational sock-optimism.  I had gotten the yarn for this pair in 2005, possibly earlier, and I meant to knit them for my then-SIL.  That relationship broke down, so the project languished.  I've got one done and just finished the patterned cuff for the second, so I have some hope that I might actually get them done before the moths get to the first sock.  The color (pink!) is fun and the cuff bit was interesting to knit and very cute, which seems to be keeping my interest.

Next up will be sweaters for the fall and winter!  Sales and sewing orders are starting to pick up, which means I will have less time for knitting but if I start now I should finish one or maybe two before the holidays.  So far this year I have no major holiday knitting planned, which is sort of nice.  There are a couple of sewing projects, which I really need to start now.  If business it like it was last holiday season I won't have much time to work on anything for myself after the end of October.  Here's hoping!