Zombie Blog!

Remember when I said I wasn't cut out for blogging? Apparently I'm also not cut out for mindless knitting. Possibly as a result of seeing my aunt's actually amazing quilts, or possibly as a result of discussing it with a friend, I finally decided to finish the border and sew it on. It took me all of about five days (probably less). But at least it's done. And all of my ends are sewn in too.

In my defense, we've been using the blanket since I finished sewing all of the squares together, just with loose strands hanging off the back and lacking a border.

I'm not so cut out for blogging

I knew when I started this that I wouldn't update it very frequently. It's just not my style. But I tried… In any event, working off and on (and off) on the blanket, I'm currently knitting the border. It’s slightly less mindless than the background for the sweater square, but considerably larger. To be fair, however, because I'm only making this as an anniversary present, which isn't until November, I'm not really rushed to get it done.

More Openwork

Wow, you know what that is? It’s lace. Yes, it’s only a very little bit, but it’s the worst possible kind of lace: yo k2tog every alternate row (okay, it’s p2tog on WS, but still…) And it's contrasted with everyone’s favorite irish braid. We’ve all done it umpteen times, and can practically do it in our sleep. I do want to point something out, however.



You see this:

The openwork twisted rib cable has, for my eye, a problem. It’s mirrored on each side, and I, thinking the design was done normally, just followed it blindly. Well, the way it's designed, one side of the openwork has a “normal” stitch, while the other has a “twisted” stitch. Okay, design decision. I figured when we get to the cable, the “normal“ side will stay on top of the cable and switch to the other side.  Not so. According to the pattern, it stays on the same side. I find this unbalanced. So I fixed it. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice it until after the first cable, so I start this pattern with what, to my eye is just a mistake. Whatever. I’m the only one who has to live with it.
If you make this, know that the right side, which is k2, yo, k2tog (p2, yo p2tog) is fine. But the left side, which is k2tog, yo, k2 (p2tog yo p2) looks a bit more balanced as ssk, yo, k2 (ssp, yo, p2).

That’s it for the rant.

Now, since this include everyone’s favorite irish braid, having done this umpteen times, I know that it pulls in a lot. More than most of the other cables in this, so I decided to pin it down and block it hard. I had to stretch it about 4" horizontally. I think it looks good, but I’m generally not a fan of overly hard blocking, and especially not with cables. I like the fact that they pull in. But if I want to get anywhere near the 12" it’s supposed to be, I know that I have to.

latticework

So, I finished the lace square. Well, the first lace square. And actually, I finished it a couple of days ago. Here's a fun fact: I measured it, unblocked, of course, but measured. 11.5". And it's the largest square. Blocking this thing is going to be fun.

In other news, I made a scarf for a coworker's daughter, and a pair of socks which will be a giftmas present for someone. And, since I love lace so much, I've started the next square that has an openwork rib.

I'll just say it now. I don't like lace. I find it fiddly. I think the amount of work for yarn overs and k2tog and p3togtbl just not worth the end result. I'd rather cable, or k1below, or strand, or anything other than knit into a yarn over. It's just not fun.


Just for fun. I don't understand why people like instagram. I mean, all you need is poor lighting…

…lace…

In the incredibly wise words of ravelry, ugh.

Lace can suck my left one. (Pardon my unseemly language.) But really, If I never see another yo or k2tog or skp or sk2p or any of these things for the rest of my life, I’ll be perfectly happy.

Unfortunately, this isn't the last we’ll see of these horrible design decisions. As near as I can tell just from scanning the other patterns, there are about three or four more of these hateful, despicable, spiteful things.

Maybe one day I’ll get around to discussing how much I don’t like lace.

Finally one done right…oh wait

So I finally got a square done the way I wanted to. Cast on properly, got the ridges down, the sizing is good, (went down 2 needle sizes) then I decided to compare it to the previous squares. Funny, it’s a slightly different color. (You’ll never be able to tell from the photos, we have horrible lighting, and the flash muddies the stitch definition—what, it’s a cheap point-and-shoot camera.) This is all odd, because I know I’m using the same yarn—it must be a really big difference in the dye lots. I’m generally against matching dye lots. I like the look of things as the colors fade at different rates. I go and grab the band just to check. Oh, this isn’t the Allround I’m using for this. It’s Universal. It’s 100% polyester. That would explain why it’s so shiny. And you know, I spent the entire time knitting this thinking, “wow, this is really shiny. Like it’s polyester or something”.
Le sigh.
I’m definitely going to have to re–do this one. I couldn’t take having one square be a completely different color/fiber.
Le sigh.
At least it’s easy to knit.

bobbles and twists

This isn’t particularly difficult. I think I spent more time figuring out where to put my increases to start the main part of the square (it’s an increase of almost 50% more stitches) than I did actually knitting the dang thing.
Now if only I hadn’t used the suggested needle size and had a square that was remotely the same size as the previous one. I may frog it and re-knit. We’ll see how I feel about it (and the sizing problem) once the rest of the squares are done. I’ve left my entire yarn ball attached should I decide I want to re-knit. Who knows.