It’s finally done:
Project Details:
Yarn: Knitpicks City Tweed Aran weight, in Snowshoe and Brocade. I used 5 skeins of the former, less than 3 of the latter.
Pattern: Brooklyn Tweed’s Baby Blanket pattern, roughly. I started knitting based on a previous blog post, and then he released the pattern. The original pattern used the DK weight of the same yarn. I just started knitting away, and had finished most of the center before the “real” pattern was available. I just figured out how many pattern repeats would go around the outside and picked up that many stitches.
Needle size: Denise 10 1/2. Though when I got to the I-cord edging, I pitched them and used a large Addi instead. The Denise needle tips kept unscrewing as I was doing the edging, though I have never had them do that before. I suppose there was some twisting action of the I-cord that caused this.
Started: June 1, 2009
Finished: August 29, 2009
For: My first grand-nephew, Jacoby!
What I Learned: Start baby projects early. Seriously. They come faster than you think. Also, I love this yarn to pieces. We’ll see how it holds up. It’s softer than soft, so I’m thinking it might pill, but you could wrap it around a barenaked baby without any qualms. It’s not superwash, so those of you thinking this would make great baby clothes might think about that a bit.
I also learned that I’m not so fond of doing I-cord edging, though it is mighty pretty once it’s done.
Credits: Sweetpea, the stand-in baby model.
I’m sure it will be loved! And you are so right about babies coming sooner than it seems they will – you think you’ve got plenty of time, then — poof! There’s a baby! (And Sweetpea is an adorable stand-in for Jacoby.)
Applause ! Applause!
Especially for edging it all in icord. That is a herculean feat, And it came out so gorgeous!!
and those dang Denise needles. I borrowed my Mom’s once when I was on vacation, and they kept coming unscrewed in the middle of a lace shawl. I pitched them and went and bought needles. Never again will I use them.. pflteeectch.
My Denise needles have never come unscrewed, but they have just… pulled apart. Haven’t used them since.
Beautiful blanket! I was wondering how that tweed yarn was to handle. You like it, huh?
Beautiful, unique. I know what you mean about they seem to appear faster than we knit. Our residents have a slew coming along and I can barely keep up.
It’s so nice, that bear isn’t going to want to give it up!
Lorette, it looks beautiful. I like it because to me (at least) it looks old-fashioned, like an heirloom.
BTW, Sweetpea did an excellent job …
It’s gorgeous! And looks so warm!
I know she has new colors up–and I bought some, sigh. Can’t resist her batts.
Very nice blanket – I love that it is in non-traditional baby colors. I have found children to be the most appreciative recipients of knitted garments. They seem to intuitively grasp the love that goes into them. I rarely knit for adults but have knit lots of hats & gloves for my great niece & nephews. I found a really cute pattern for a toddler girl’s top that knits up quick as a wink & my granddaughter loves it. Her 2 big brothers love nothing more than hand knit socks (even after the unfortunate sliding on hard wood floor into brick fireplace incident.) I am making Wonderful Wallabies for each of them in their favorite colors for Xmas. I had intended to give them for their fall birthdays but then realized that, since the middle one’s birthday was Labor Day & they insist on wearing them immediately, it would be risking heat exhaustion to give them before Xmas. I have one purple one completed, one pink one about a third done & I’d better get started on the red one soon. Making their Halloween costumes will take up a good chunk of knitting time. I agree with Bridget that the baby blanket has an heirloom feel to it – I think it’s the lovely neutral colors.
That looks lovely.
I always hedge my bets with baby projects, and make the 18-month size! Most of the time, I manage to finish before the baby is 18 months old.