Sunday, March 1, 2015

Repeat

I don't often knit multiple iterations of the same pattern but my two go-to projects right now are repeats. Sounds like I'll need to add Scrollwork and Wee Wildflower to my go-to project list (joining Habitat and Pomander Baby Cardigan - two of my absolute favorite patterns).


I had a hard time giving up my mom's Scrollwork set so I cast on for a similar cowl for myself several weeks ago using a different colorway of Malabrigo Rios (Vaa, probably my favorite of all of the Malabrigo colors). I had picked this for date night movie knitting and cast on during the car ride to the theater. I was pretty good about keeping to the ribbing pattern but got hopelessly off kilter partway through the movie (Selma, which was fantastic) and set this one aside for a while in the hopes that if I ignored it long enough, my mistakes would just fix themselves. Unfortunately, that didn't happen but I only had to rework parts of the ribbing and didn't have to frog the bit I had started.

I started knitting on the train again last week and now the cowl is really moving along. I should knit on the train more often!


This next piece was better movie knitting. Last week I was here:


After a date night to go see Kingsmen (good but not great) I was ready to bind off for the arm holes.


I finished the left front this afternoon and, while I don't think I'll have a finished sweater ready for Tadpole's birthday later this week, I should be able to have it ready during her birthday month.

I bound off my Luna Viridian cowl sometime in the last week or so, too. I can't put this one in the finished pile yet since it still needs blocking. I'm not enamored of the shape in its umblocked state so I doubt I'll feel inspired to block it any time soon. It looks uninspiring on me but pretty nice on the girls. (Sprout has insisted that this one go to her.)


I've added it to the "needs blocking" pile, tucked away behind my desk along with this lovely scarf.


I'll get around to blocking one of these days, probably when I figure out how to look good in a silvery grey.

In the meantime, I finally finished laying out the squares for my half-square triangle sampler quilt!


I even had a helper while picking the squares back up. They're all in order and I just have to remember what system I used when stacking everything up into a single pile. Wish me luck!


It'll probably be a while before I finish this one (and I'm nervous about cutting long straight pieces of fabric for the borders so I may procrastinate for a while on that step). But while I still had momentum, I put the first block together this evening.


The points aren't all perfect but this still looks pretty good to me.

4 comments:

Jennifer said...

I love how the kiddos are participating in the crafts. I can't believe how much they've grown. I love repeats. While I love to forge ahead and try something new, I also find a repeat to be soothing, calming and reassuring. Sometimes you need to knit something that you already know how to knit. Then you can knit on autopilot (because that phrase sounds so much better than mindless knitting). Keep up the great work - in parenting, knitting and quilting. I can't wait to see the first projects made by the next generation. :)

Stephanie said...

Quilt layout looks fabulous! And glad to see you are making a cowl for yourself. It is Malabrigo March. ;-) What do you not like about your Luna cowl? I know people wear all sorts of cowls or infinity scarves inside, but I was thinking this would work with a pea coat for cold but not super cold weather. (sjn821)

Rachel said...

Okay first, with that color of Rios, you may have convinced me to buy a skein. Or two. Or... So beautiful and love that this one is for you.

Second, oh, you have to block that cowl because I need to know if that style/shape would be a good one to knit. I was counting on your perspective. No pressure or anything.

Third -- how cool is it that you guys do date night!!! I was so happy to read this and so impressed that you make that a priority in your busy life!

Oh and fourth (so much goodness in here)...I am so excited to see this finished quilt. I adore it already!

Jodi said...

I missed this post somehow. Oh my goodness, you've been busy! I absolutely love Luna Viridian and now must knit one for myself. Your girls are looking so big! What cuties.

Maybe we should do a zoo or arboretum outing sometime soon... would be great to catch up. I'm traveling a lot in the next three weeks, but after Easter we're staying put!