It’s been a bit since we got all face to face with the blankie. I don’t like to show it off too often, because it feels like the progress is awfully slow and I don’t want to bore the world with each and every new miter. Laying it out for pictures every couple of weeks makes me feel better because I can see actual change since the previous set of pictures and know that one day it will be big enough to call finished. So, here’s the area on which I’ve been working the last couple of days:
And here’s the whole thing spread out. It took a bit of effort to tuck all the loose ends to the back, which means it is way past time for an end-weaving session around here. If I work on it when Sophie is awake, she loves to grab at them.
Okay, I hope I have caught the attention of everyone who is even mildly interested in the blankie. Ready? If you want to knit it, scroll down on the right hand side and look for “Blankie Tutorial”. I get people asking for information about the pattern every day, and it cuts into my knitting time responding individually. This is my own version of the general mitered square idea floating around out there. Go read the tutorial entries and I explain all about it. No, there is no printed pattern and not likely going to be. You have my permission to print it out off the blog for your own personal use.
Also, I’d like to take this opportunity to brag on some of the other people knitting blankies of their own (and to nag on some of them – you know who you are – to share some more pictures on their blogs – all in a very friendly manner, mind you!)
I got an e-mail today from Meg, who is blogless, sharing this photo of her blankie. She says much of what’s in it is her own handspun. How cool is that? Very.
Andrea just posted an update on her blankie as well. I think it is so cute how she keeps adding on to it and making it into a triangle. You know, Andrea, you’re going to have to bite the bullet and work up those edge miters one of these days. They’re not that bad – really!
I’ve had what feels like a lot of other people tell me they are going to start blankies. I would love to see pictures, whether on a blog or via e-mail. If you want to be added to the knitalong list, let me know and I’ll put you up.
Changing subject, and interesting thing happened today. Both girls took naps, and were sleeping (albiet briefly) at the same time. I don’t think this has ever happened before. Julie doesn’t usually nap any more, but I forced her to today because she was super tired (she has a bit of a cold, and pre-school really wears her out). Then, I nursed Sophie down for a nap, and realized I had a photo op on my hands.
When I opened the bedroom door, I found Julie laying on the floor, snuggled under the duvet at the end of the bed. Not sure why she chose that spot, but it apparently worked for her.
The simu-napping lasted only about 20 minutes, but it was long enough for me to take a shower.
Okay, one last thing. Or, maybe two. First, thanks for the apology, Anonymous. I’m glad that you realized I’m not as horrible as you thought. Why don’t you stick around and think up some pseudonym to use if you’re not comfortable using your own name – just call yourself Betty or something so that if/as you make more comments we get used to your voice and know who you are a bit. Second, Allison left a comment on yesterday’s post that left me a little floored. I’m sorry, but I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say entirely. I totally want to avoid shutting of anonymous comments because I DO understand the many reasons why people don’t want to sign up for Blogger accounts. Not everybody should have a blog, and the reasons Allison listed are all valid ones. I have, in the past, made comments about being sad that certain people are blogless, only because I wish we could all share them online, not because I think it makes them any lesser. I believe Allison and I mostly share the same attitude, I’m afraid I must have said something misleading, and I apologize for any confusion.
I’m glad yesterday’s comfort food was – well – comforting. Now, off to bed for me – I’m exhausted!
Horray for Blankie!! Everyone’s blanket is looking so cool! I would start one, but I have started “IT” early. I only have 15 socks, 2 mittens, and 2 arm warmers to go. It might take me a while yet. . . I will join after the holidays, or when “IT” is over. Which ever is sooner.
Several comments: adorable pics of the girls. If I could fit under the end-of-my-bed I think it would be a great place for a short nap. Good thinking, Julie.
Blankies. Hmmm. I don’t know anything at all about said idea, so I’ll have to catch up by reading your tutorial. Do people give these away or keep ‘em? I’d think having put all the effort into them they’d want to keep them to pass down to their grandkids, etc.
Thanks for the identity, Shelley. And for welcoming me to the community. I’m truly surprised and pleased with your response. I think it speaks volumes about you.
Better close. Thanks again. P.S. Your blankie is beautiful.
Hi Shelly! This is Tara, grateful recipient of some of the sock yarn. My daughter and I have started working on our blankie, although she has decided she doesn’t want to do mitered squares, and wants to just knit garter stitch squares. We will figure it out somehow! She is just 8, anyway.
I have finally gotten a few pictures up on my blog, including a picture of one of the 3 miters I have done. Check it out, if you wish!
Congrats on your resolution of the Anonymous thing, and your sleeping kid pics are so adorable…sleeping children always look so sweet.
Shelly you have inspired me to make a blog! I’ve been reading yours for quite some time and decided to be brave and make my own. Please drop by sometime. Thanks for all the great recipes and inspiration. Most recent sleeping-angel pictures are so cute.
YAY! What service….I begged you just yesterday for a pic of the blanket!
I started one as well and would love to be in your knit along (uh….there’s no die-hard end date, right??? lol! I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be so good with a dealine for that one!)
The sleepy girls are just too cute!
Yikes, I was just reading your comments from yesterday, and I realized I called you Julie! Sorry, senior moment there, Shelly.
Blankie is looking great! Much bigger than last time. I have the same problem blogging about socks; seems like I am always showing half-finished ones, but it takes me a while to finish a pair.
And is there anything cuter than a sleeping child? Even my teenagers look angelic when they are asleep.
Hey Shelly. Blankie looking gorgeous.
Welcome Betty. Glad you’re along. I agree – all that work in a blankie, it should be passed down. I have quilts of my grandmothers, which I love. Even one my greatgrandmother pieced with the names of her children.
Guess I should be starting a blanket for my daughter !
Love the blankie pictures!
Jimmeny Cricket! I’m not checking the web for a few days, and look at what all I’ve missed! The blankie looks great, you’re getting along so well! Even with as little time as you have to work on it. Props to you!
As for Andrea’s blankie, it almost looks as if she’s working corner to corner, rather then bottom to top, maybe that would explain the traingle-ness of hers? Would make it look a bit different, wouldn’t it? Kinda cool, really….
*hugs* I’m sorry about all the shabang with the ano-comments and accompanying frustration. Sucks when that happens. I’m glad that you’ve got some awesome people around who can balance things off for you ^_^.
Now I’m off again, I’ve got a ton of crafting to do before the weekend…yikes!
P.S. I finally found someone who’s going to try and help me with those darned socks! Hopefully in the next week or so, yay! And maybe, if I’m really lucky, I’ll even have a digital camera by then, so I can show them to you!
I love how your blankie is looking!
I actually have a plan for mine, which is why it’s a triangle. I’m going to make four equal sized triangles and then sew them together. That way I’ll have at most 25% of a blanket on my lap at any one time.
Ok, this is not fair. I’m trying to finish a cabled sweater and a lave shawl and some socks, and you’re forcing me to make a blankie? Evil!
Here’s an explanation of my triangle blankie:
http://noricum.blogspot.com/2006/09/blanket-explanation.html
Okay, everytime I come here this little voice in my head says “you should make a blankie…” Considering I just finished one and have two others to finish, I’m trying so hard to tune it out! I can’t let myself be so nuts as to have three going on.
20 minutes of dual nap time and you didn’t knit? I’m impressed:-) On the rare occasion that happens I take my breastmilk-spit-up-stained-messy-haired- self and try to plough through a few rows:-)Like that ever happens though!
While I’m here, filling up your comments… does your blog have a feed? I forget to read blogs unless they’re in my bloglines.
the blankie is looking great!! – Nikki
Do you realize that you’ve got me knitting socks like a madwoman just so I’ll have enough leftover sock yarn one day so I can make a blanket as gorgeous (I hope) as yours? Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
Shelly!
Trust me, the blankie has been on my mind for quite some time now! I am finishing up a few projects and I have decided that since I signed up for socktoberfest I am going to dedicate all of October to making socks and starting the blankie…there may be a few other projects thrown in, but that is what I have promised myself.
I have so many projects going and so many promised to others I have to justify to myself that it is OK to start this new project. I promise that you will see pics of the blankie in the beginning of October.
Thanks again btw for sending me all the beautiful yarn, and for writing such a great blog, now that I am engaged I cant stop thinking about having a family of my own!
One thing at a time though!
Shelly,
A question about the blankie. Are you working from one side of the blankie to the other, or from the bottom to the top? Sorry if you answered that early on — I don’t remember, and I’m being too lazy to look it up!
From the latest overall picture, it looks like it could be either way.
Thanks,
Jan
Hi Shelly, I found your blog through Yarn Harlot. I love the blankie design adn will be making myself a sweater in this kind of design – once I finish all the other stuff on my needles! If you have a squiz at my blog, you can see some of the hand-dyed wool I’ve just done.
Shirley in New Zealand