A preview

I came home all ready to photograph my knit stuff today, and discovered the battery on my camera was dead. By the time it was charged, it was dark outside. So I've got photographic evidence, but it ain't pretty. So I'm calling this post the preview.

Blanket:

Airy tank top:

The tank top isn't finished yet - it still needs some ruffles and some modifications to make it fit me the way I wanted. I tried it on earlier and I think it'll look about the way I was hoping...it's super feminine, though, even for me.

Tomorrow in the sunlight I'll take a few more photos...and maybe also have an idea or two for the next thing to put on the needles! I've been browsing my queue on ravelry trying to decide what to make next. I need to knit some stuff out of my stash, but it's tough to knit wooly things when it's 85 + degrees outside.

I'm actually thinking Eunny Jang's Print 'o the wave stole will be next. I've got the first repeat of the wave pattern already on my needles in laceweight baby alpaca, and I've been thinking that I might actually like to finish it. I'll be my first lace project! Very exciting! ...I hope.

Turning over a new leaf

In celebration of the finished blanket and my return to knitting for pleasure rather than obligation, I've created a new layout for my blog.

Pictures tomorrow - I'll have the blanket and an airy mohair tank top to show you! I've been busy getting this layout up and going (my coding skills are a little lacking), and spaced out on the picture-taking scene.

Check back tomorrow evening!

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

I am extremely pleased to announce (finally) that the blanket I've been working on for months is finally done. When I took it off the needles and spread it out, I suddenly realized why it had been such a pain for me to work on.

When I made my swatches before casting on for the blanket, I did some calculations to determine how many stitches I would need to achieve a 4 foot by 4 foot square. I cast on this number and knit merrily along for all these months. It got tougher as I went and more and more draining.

When I pulled it off the needles and stood in front of a mirror with it held out in front of me, the reason for my challenge became apparent.

I had miscalculated. By a lot. I'm extremely confused as to how I managed to miscalculate by such a huge number.

I ended the blanket a little bit earlier than expected - I ended at what I though was 4 feet by 3 feet.

Instead, I currently have a 3 feet by 6 feet "baby" blanket. It could almost cover a twin mattress, I think.

I don't have photos yet because I need to weave in ends and also possibly add a little lace border to the piece for a little extra frillyness. I'm not sure if I'll do that because I want to get it to the recipient ASAP.

But it's 6 feet by 3 feet. The crazy part is, every row I knit, I was knitting across the 6 feet. No wonder it was so agonizing to work on! It certainly explains a lot! I'm very happy it is finished...I hope my auntie doesn't mind terribly that it's not the size she asked for. I'm very sorry about that. But on the bright side of things, the baby will be able to use it for the rest of his or her life!

Also exciting: I've got a summer job working as a customer service girl for an airport shuttle service. When the phones aren't ringing, I'm allowed to knit and surf the internet.

I knit all day.

And then get on ravelry.

And knit some more.

I'm halfway through a summery shirt from drops right now.

After that, I'm going to do a project for the knitting olympics.

It's the best job ever.

I mostly just wanted to post so that I could reclaim my status as a knit blogger. I know my updates have been sporadic, but it's because I was always being pulled back to working on this blanket, despite wanting to finish something else. Now that that's out of the way, I can go back to doing things I really want to do.

I hope there are a few readers left out there!