Peaceful Afghan

I’m in afghan-making mode, again.  A combination of upcoming events, new yarn to try, and anticipation of cooler weather (not happening yet) has put me in the mood.

This is Peaceful from the Leisure Arts “Big Book of Quick Knit Afghans.”  I’ve made this afghan before, and I’ve knit from this book many times.   The afghans are beautiful and (as advertised) quick to knit, primarily because you use regular sweater-weight yarn knit with two strands held together.  It makes for a lofty, generous result.

This piece is knit with Plymouth Yarn Company’s Encore Tweed in color Oatmeal – another go-to product for afghan projects.  It’s a nice and durable yarn and easy to work with.  I like the tweed effect, which gives the piece more interest and depth.

This afghan is a wedding gift.  These days, with couples marrying later in life and not really needing the normal “house starting” gifts, an afghan seems like a nice option – everyone (in my region, anyway) can use an afghan, and it makes a lovely hand-made gift.

Tip – I usually include a yarn band with a gift, so the recipient knows how to clean and care for the item.

Peaceful Afghan.jpg

 

 

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Quick and Easy – Thunderstorm Scarf

Another “one-skein scarf” marketing.  This is Lion Brand Scarfie Yarn in color Charcoal/Magenta.  Of course, intended as a color blending/self-striping scarf and, of course, perfect for a quick and easy project.

I’m starting a couple of afghan projects (stay tuned for posts), so used this project to “warm up.”  Quick, easy, and fun.

The pattern is Thunderstorm Scarf published by Michaels’ and free at the store.  I unintentionally purchased some yarn at Michaels’ when I was at the store for some other, completely legitimate, purchases unrelated to knitting.

The pattern was very easy to memorize – actually, the tough part was not getting distracted from the pattern, it was so easy.

I thought it turned out very nicely, and will make a nice, warm, and cozy gift.

The Future of Knitting

This Gizmodo article includes information from other recent articles on the subject.  The time-honored skill and technique of knitting is being incorporated into more and more refined and technologically advanced.

Personally, I prefer my hands and circular needles.  I knit to relax and to use a different part of my brain than my day job.

The Future is Knit:  Why the Ancient Art of Knitting is High-Tech Again.

TGIS Socks

This was a Ravelry Knit-a-Long, by Yvette Noel, and other than the fact that the author really should re-post the pattern as a single pattern, instead of a series of “clues,” it was a fast and mostly-easy project.

The yarn is Cascade Heritage Prints in color 46 Camo.  It took me a few tries to get going (doesn’t it, always?) because I was using a needle size too large and it wasn’t working.  Once I got going, it moved fairly smoothly.

A rather time-consuming stopper came after I finished the first sock and started on the second.  Note that a single skein of yarn has 437 yards, which is more than enough for two socks (and I had plenty left over for another sock, maybe).  Unfortunately, I took this project with me when I traveled, and the yarn ball did not fare well over time.  Eventually, it tangled thoroughly enough that I had to stop and rewind the skein into a ball.  It took three evenings of mostly-patient tugging and winding.

Finished Socks
Tangled
Untangled!