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november 20, 2007
one square at a time The big knitting project for this holiday season is.... well, it's the same big knitting project as last season, only that I'm going to actually try to knit it this year... the mitered square manos afghan for my in-laws.
This is where I was last March: twenty squares. After a 20 month pause (I did write a book and have a baby during that time!), I've finally picked up the yarn again. Two more squares completed and I hope I'm back in the rhythm.
I had originally planned on making 80 (yes, eighty!) squares. They're only 6 inches square, so that makes a good 4 x 5 ft. blanket, not humongous or anything. Still, given my total lack of progress and the remaning time until Christmas, I've revised my goal a little. Now I'm shooting for a minimum of 48 squares, which would make a 3 x 4 ft. blanket. I'd be thrilled to get 64 done, making a 4 x 4 ft. blanket. And I get a gold star if I manage 72 or, unthinkable, the originally planned 80. You see, we're actually going to visit the in-laws this year for Christmas, so if I get it done, that means I can bring it with us on the plane. No expensive shipping, no worries about it getting lost in the mail, no worries about the in-laws paying any customs fees, blah, blah, blah. Nope, this is THE YEAR. Twenty-two and counting.... posted by alison at 10:26 am | in
a crafty christmas
,
an afghan
Comments
That is totally do-able is you set your mind to it, and it will be beautiful. Posted by: becky c. at November 20, 2007 10:34 AMnice! but, why don´t you knit them together? it will be a lot of work in the end to sew them all together. when I make blankets from mitered squares I knit them together; see here: If you crochet the squares together, you can add almost an inch for every join. Crochet loosely. I lay everything out and stack my squares in the order I'm going to take them, sometimes even pinning a number to each square, and giving myself other clues. I do them in a step-wise fashion to get the greatest distance (and fewest ends to a piece of yarn.) Posted by: Gillian at November 20, 2007 11:43 AMGood luck! You can do it! Posted by: Kat with a K at November 20, 2007 11:44 AMI'm sure you can do it. The mitered squares are a good pick up and go project. It's always nice to have something readily portable for waiting in lines (or at the doctor's office). Posted by: Seanna Lea at November 20, 2007 11:50 AMCheering you on from Rockport! Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport at November 20, 2007 1:09 PMGo, Alison, go! You can do it! Posted by: Sarah at November 20, 2007 1:11 PMGood Luck Alison...it will be a wonderful gift. You go, Girl! Posted by: Jacqueline at November 20, 2007 3:38 PMOh, I've been waiting to see this project again! I love the colours you picked out and I know the finished product will be beautiful. Good luck!! Posted by: Adrienne at November 20, 2007 4:04 PMLap blankets are good, very good in fact! Just don't tell anyone it was supposed to be a bedspread for a king size bed! Posted by: gail at November 20, 2007 4:57 PMYou are a brave, brave woman. Can't you add more later? If you decide to go for the 80 you could still do the squares and the next visit or the next or next you could just add the extra squares. They'll be delighted with the first blanket and blown away by the final one. Posted by: Anita at November 20, 2007 5:13 PMGood Luck. I made my nephew one last Christmas with 64 squares. The actual sewing it together was the problem for me. I was still working on it on Christmas Eve. I had the squares all done earlier, but didn't start putting it together till after Thanksgiving. You will get it done and it will be gorgeous, I love the colors of your yarn. Posted by: Suzanne at November 20, 2007 6:54 PMHi, Alison! I thought these squares were the 4-mitred style like the Rowan pattern but without the stripe...now they have a different character..? (I have been watching this project with deep interest, being 84 squares--with stripes--into the 1st of 2 afghans (120 each) for my 5 yr old identical-twin grandsons...plan to have them done for NEXT winter.) I know how you feel. I'm knitting a blanket for my daughter and her boyfriend out of Sarah Dallas knitting. I'm about two thirds finished and must be done by Christmas! Good luck! Posted by: Alison at November 20, 2007 8:42 PMas brenda dayne's entro says: knit! knit like the wind! Posted by: minnie at November 21, 2007 12:20 AMI know how you feel. My grandma's blanket is on indefinite hold because I simply cannot find the will to knit any more of those blasted squares. Posted by: Chelle at November 21, 2007 5:43 AMGood memory, Susan! Yes, that Rowan pattern is what inspired me (you all can check the archives for this project to see a photo of the pattern we're talking about). I made about four or five starter squares and ended up deciding that I liked the look of the one-mitre square best for this project. Susan, do you have to sew up the last mitre in that project? Am I remembering that correctly? I feel like I couldn't get mine to look that nice and that may be why I nixed it. I really do love those stripes though. I'd love to see a picture of yours! Posted by: ALISON at November 21, 2007 8:37 AMI started Rambling Rows back in March, then it sat in my bag....just finished it this week. I'm sending you my finishing mojo. Ü Posted by: Marcia at November 21, 2007 9:22 AMInstead of going all the way to January 18, 2006 like I did, just click on an afghan. Posted by: Anita at November 21, 2007 9:53 AMYes, that last seam is funky. I've tried 2 or 3 ways and decided that it looks neater on top if I seam 1 stitch in from the edge, though it does make a bit bulkier seam. It's also stronger, and since I think these blankets may serve as ships, tents, etc for the kids, stronger is better. I will send you a photo by email soon! Posted by: Susan at November 23, 2007 6:25 AM |
