the blue blog archives: four square and seven skeins ago

After gray days and everything being all yellow, I spent an evening with the brown manos - the only color I didn't bring with me to Germany - and have three more squares to add to the afghan pile. I think I may like the brown best of all so far.

That takes me to a whopping total of seven skeins used and 20 squares knit. That's almost a third of the squares done - I can't believe it! What I can believe, however, is that making these squares is hurting my hand. It just occurred to me that by knitting only mitered garter stitch squares and short-row socks recently, I haven't purled in weeks. Nothing but knits. Can you spell RSI? Ouch! So despite the fact that all I want to do is crank out more squares, and the fact that I've found two more colors to add to the blanket,

I have to put the Manos (and the Regia, sniff, sniff) aside for a bit and start something new. Something with purls.

posted by alison at 8:25 am | in an afghan

Comments

Can't you knit the garter stitch squares "the other way round"? If you do purls only, you would end up with garter stitches as well. The only thing is if you can do the middle turn-thingy with purls as well... but it might be worth a try!

Posted by: Dorothee at March 8, 2006 8:38 AM

FYI, if you need any more Manos it's on sale at Fabric Place this month. If I remember correctly it was about 20% off. (www.fabricplace.com)

Posted by: Laina at March 8, 2006 9:21 AM

I had the same thought that Dorothee had!

Posted by: Chris at March 8, 2006 9:29 AM

sorry you're hurting a bit... the squares are looking great!
can't wait to see what you decide will be next :)

Posted by: rebecca at March 8, 2006 9:46 AM

RSI - repetitive stitch injury

Posted by: gleek at March 8, 2006 9:56 AM

i'm diving in right now - loooooooooooooove all those manos, baby!

Posted by: jennifer at March 8, 2006 9:59 AM

good to see your making tons of progress on the blanket. you'll have it finished way before christmas!

Posted by: melissa at March 8, 2006 10:49 AM

Is Fabric Place not working for anyone else? I want to see that yarn!

Posted by: Gloria at March 8, 2006 11:28 AM

Have you ever tried knitting back backwards? In this case it would be purling back backwards. I'm working on a mitered square bag right now, and that's what I'm doing. It might seem awkward for a square or two, but you'll be ambidextrous by the end of the blanket!

If you want to know how, you can teach yourself. Turn your work to the wrong side after a right side row and put your needle thru the first st as if to knit. Then turn your work around and observe what is where. Turn back to wrong side and wrap your yarn around your needle. Turn back to the right side and observe what it looks like from this side. So forth and so on. Then you can knit your squares from right needle to left needle and from left needle to right needle without even turning your work! Cool, huh?

Posted by: Amy Lu at March 8, 2006 11:35 AM

Those squares & skeins are so adorable...inspiring, even!

Posted by: libraryliz at March 8, 2006 2:26 PM

Fabric Place is working for me but there's no Manos, only Patons, Plymouth, and one other brand I'd never heard of.

Posted by: Alison at March 8, 2006 3:42 PM

"four square and seven skeins ago"

lol!! i also love the brown manos. it's got pretty colors, and that subtle variegation. great progress!

Posted by: emily at March 8, 2006 10:34 PM

The squares look awesome!

Posted by: amanda at March 9, 2006 8:05 AM

Just purling, knitting backwards, wow, you folks know some good knitting injury work-arounds!

I couldn't get the Fabric Place to show me it's yarns either. I had no idea that they had Manos! I may have to take a little trip out there. Thanks for the tip.

Posted by: alison at March 9, 2006 8:42 AM