Projects
A Baby Blanket in a Week?
Dear Kay,
I am gobsmacked that you cranked your Main Squeeze Cardigan in one week. You said you were going to do it, and I was all “That’s a great goal, Kay, sure whatever. We all have dreams.”
And then I ran into you in New York at the Merle Hazard gig at WNYC last week and there you were, swishing around all the economics millennials in your cardigan. Count me DAZZLED.
For me, I can’t stop thinking about those little color nubbins on the Bobble Throw from MDK Field Guide No. 12: Big Joy.
I’ve got a baby to knit for, so I think I’m going to dive in on a Bobble Throw that will let me fool around with those bobbles. Jen Geigley’s design has all the things I’m in the mood for: a long stretch of blanketizing, a border, and a bunch of bobbles that are added after finishing the blanket.
The amount of Rowan Big Wool required for the Bobble Throw is 10 skeins for the main color, 2 for the border, and tidbits for the bobbles.
It’s about the same amount of yarn as your Main Squeeze Cardigan, so I am challenging myself to a goal as audacious and wild as yours:
A Bobble Throw in a week.
Please stay tuned.
When a Shawl Gets Real Big: A Tip
I’ve been loosening up for this sprint with my Dionne Shawl by Jeanette Sloan. Feeling all stretched out and limber.
I’m into skein number 5, and the end is only 28 rows away. That is, 28 rows of 300+ stitches. It is a gigantic hug of a wrap—I’m loving the scale of her fingering weight shawl sized up with Winterburn Aran.
My TIP OF THE DAY comes after a scramble around the toolshed for a size 7 circular needle long enough to hold five feet of shawl.
It’s simple: if you don’t have one long size 7 circ, but you do have other size 7 circs, just add a second needle to hold half the stitches. Knit with the two tips of one needle until you arrive at the second needle. Drop the first needle, pick up the two tips of the second needle, and off you go.
I’m going to miss knitting these teardrop-shaped blurbles, now that I’m good at making them. It has really given me a jones for more lace, I’ll tell you that.
And the blocking! I’m knitting faster to finish up so I can give this thing a soak and really spread it out.
Love,
Ann
Love the bobble blanket. I have two baby blankets to knit before next year. One is going to be patchwork and I think the other will be one with bobbles.
I call that ‘piggy-backing’ the needles. If you need more just add another!
I did that in the round with a stuffed animal when I didn’t have enough DPNs to get the job done!
I have a set of interchangeable needles with cable connectors. I haven’t needed to use them yet,but you can connect two 40 inch cables and make an eighty inch needle. Give or take an inch or two.
I have those too, and have used the connector! Works like a charm for a big long needle.
That Dionne shawl will be stunning. I can hear the compliments already. Looking forward to the Bobble blanket as well. I love it when I so enjoy the knitting of a project that finishing it seems bittersweet – like leaving an old friend.
I got that feeling too, for the first time ever! It was while knitting Dangling Conversation scarf;) Guess that means I need to knit another!!
What a good tip! Every once in a while there is a tip that is so sensible and useful that I think, ‘Why didn’t I think of that’ ! Thank you!
Have done that with 2 long circs and messed up, works well with 3, one knitting to the next.
Agree with you on the use of multiple circular needles. Just like loooog DPNs
and there is no ladder-effect when you use two circs like that?
Interesting ….
and let’s hear it for shawls knit in a heavier yarn and gauge …. super cozy and warm. Perfect for morning trips to the bus stop.
Great tip about the circular needles! The shawl is looking good — soft, warm, comfy. Kermit will love it! (You know everything in the house is his, don’t you?) Lastly, I have no doubt you’ll do a Bobble Throw in a week. . .and spend the rest of the decade putting bobbles all over Nashville!
This is the way I knit socks!I hardly ever mess up and get them all on the same needle. I think with 300 stitches I’d notice.
You “ran into” me—like I’d miss a Merle concert lol!
I also knit my socks with 2 circa, I find it much easier than dpn’s or 1 long circular (magic loop). Your shawl is beautiful.
I love the Bobble Throw too! Good luck with your self-imposed deadline!
“Blurbles” — just love it!
I knit baby items for various charitys, i just love knitting, i can crochet blankets but sadly have never been able to understand an actual crochet pattern, id love to be able to crochet a wee cardigan or something simelar. Also i have never been able to suss out how to use a circular needles. Any tips please. Thanks in advance xx
Brilliant tip! I never would have come up with that solution (I would have gone and bought a 60″ cable). Thanks!
I received my copy of Field Guide No. 12 today, I’m so happy. There is always one pattern that I especially look forward to in each guide (I’ve collected them all) and this time it’s the Bobble Throw. This will be the perfect, easy baby blanket. I’m delighted to discover Jen Geigley’s how-to videos on MDK that demonstrate how to make the bobbles! Very helpful! xo
Thanks for sharing this, I absolutely love your page. Such a great inspiration for me to do more handcrafting!