Month: January 2014

On the Needles – January 24, 2014

2014-01-24 15.37.10I totally forgot to post last week!!  I haven’t done ANY quilting lately, I’ve been devoting all of my free time to working on the blanket for the baby.  I’m making lots of progress, I can get a row done in about 20 minutes now instead of 30.  I’ve had some issues along the way with doing wrong stitches and then not being able to work backwards to take them out.  I have an entire row that should have been taken out, but the stitches were SO tight that I just decided to leave them in.  It was a lot less stressful for me!  I’m ok with some flaws in the blanket, I’d rather it be done than be 100% perfect and it’s still something special that I’m making for my baby girl!  I added a second skein of yarn the other day, that was WAY easier than I thought it would be.  I found this on YouTube and it was quite easy AND you cannot see the knot in the knitting. Since I ran out in the middle of the row, I thought this would be the best way to join the new yarn in.  I know there’s a lot more ways to do it, but this was the best for me at this time.  I’m proud of how much I’ve finished considering I’ve only been working on it for 3 weeks!  I know I’m not going to be doing the whole pattern, this 2nd skein might be enough to make it big enough, we’ll see as I get more repeats completed.

2014-01-24 16.09.14

I was at Walmart this week and saw some real cute Caron yarns.  I couldn’t help myself and bought them.  Have no idea what to do with them, but I bought them!  Each of them were under $5 so it’s not like I broke the bank for them!

Linking up with Patchwork Times.

On the Needles – January 10, 2014

2014-01-10 22.52.49
26 rows completed!
2014-01-10 22.53.17
Detail shot – excuse the shadow!!

I am very happy with what I have accomplished on my daughter’s blanket so far.  I messed up in a few places on the border, but because I know it would take me forever to get back to where I’m at if I took it all out and started over, I’m leaving it where it’s at.  It doesn’t bother me too much, and I’m pretty sure that if I didn’t say anything no one would notice.  Well, unless you are a knitter! 🙂  I’m still trying to figure out the best way to keep track of where I’m at on the pattern, I’ve been keeping a paper copy of the pattern on my lap and my iPhone next to it with StitchMinder running to keep track of the repeats in the row and the number of rows I have completed.  I’m thinking of installing it on my iPad Mini and see if that helps any.  Also, I downloaded an app called KnitCompanion to the iPad, but from what I can tell if I want the row counters, etc to work I need to pay for the full version.  Looked like that was on the expensive side, so I’ll have to see if I can find another app or just install StitchMinder on the iPad Mini and keep using the paper pattern.  I’m going to keep working on this as much as I can, just because I have a deadline!  I really want this done so baby girl can use it on the way home like Alex used his blankie from mommy on the way home.

Linking up with Patchwork Times

On the Needles – January 10, 2014

2014-01-10 22.52.49
26 rows completed!
2014-01-10 22.53.17
Detail shot – excuse the shadow!!

I am very happy with what I have accomplished on my daughter’s blanket so far.  I messed up in a few places on the border, but because I know it would take me forever to get back to where I’m at if I took it all out and started over, I’m leaving it where it’s at.  It doesn’t bother me too much, and I’m pretty sure that if I didn’t say anything no one would notice.  Well, unless you are a knitter! 🙂  I’m still trying to figure out the best way to keep track of where I’m at on the pattern, I’ve been keeping a paper copy of the pattern on my lap and my iPhone next to it with StitchMinder running to keep track of the repeats in the row and the number of rows I have completed.  I’m thinking of installing it on my iPad Mini and see if that helps any.  Also, I downloaded an app called KnitCompanion to the iPad, but from what I can tell if I want the row counters, etc to work I need to pay for the full version.  Looked like that was on the expensive side, so I’ll have to see if I can find another app or just install StitchMinder on the iPad Mini and keep using the paper pattern.  I’m going to keep working on this as much as I can, just because I have a deadline!  I really want this done so baby girl can use it on the way home like Alex used his blankie from mommy on the way home.

Linking up with Patchwork Times

On the Needles – January 3rd, 2014

I know I mentioned a couple of months ago that I was beta testing EQ for the Mac.  They released a blog post today with more details on the final release.  Can I just say that I can’t wait???? 🙂

2014-01-03 15.59.51Anyway, on my needles today I’m happy to say is my first knitting project. I’m making this blanket that is a free download on Ravelry for my coming daughter.  I cast on last night and started working on the first row, but didn’t realize what time it was and wasn’t able to finish working on it.  I have until mid-March – here’s hoping it’s enough time for a newbie knitter to finish a blanket!

Linking up with Patchworktimes

Almost a finish!

2014-01-02 18.23.19I didn’t have time yesterday to start quilting this, but I did get it all pinned up before we left to go to my mom and dad’s for dinner.  I did manage to get it all quilted this afternoon, just simple straight line quilting. I first posted about this on December 23rd, and I will be putting the binding on it tomorrow.  At least on the front, I almost always hand stitch bindings to the back, mainly because I like the relaxing hand work.

2014-01-02 16.57.45I did a few more rows on my test piece and now I’m seeing the pattern I should see.  The group was right, I was doing just fine – I’m good at second guessing myself!  So I unraveled the whole thing and put the yarn away, I think I’m ready to start casting on for the baby’s blanket. I have to cast on 235 stitches, that might be all I get done tonight! Hopefully I’ll be posting soon with another finish!