2016 FO #4: Dreams of Granada Baby Blanket

A while ago, I wrote about a baby blanket that I'd finished but wasn't happy with. This is a picture of it unblocked:

Here it is blocked:

I was originally concerned about how raised the centre section is. It definitely deflated a bit after blocking but is still clearly raised:

I considered ripping it back but in the end decided to leave it as is. I figured that a) a non-knitter will probably think it's supposed to be like that and b) it's going to have a baby spew and wee on it, so                                         

it's not worth getting too het up about.

The other problem I have with this blanket is the yarn. I bought the same yarn in the same colour used in the pattern, KnitPicks Brava Worsted in Tide Pool. It was cheap! Like $20 for all the yarn needed to make this quite big blanket (I made the smallest size and it is over a metre wide). It was nice to knit with - soft and with good definition. But after only two gentle washes, it is already looking a bit worn. I have enough of the yarn left to make a hat and scarf set, which I want to because the colour is lovely, but is it worth going to all that effort if it is going to wear out halfway through the season? I really wish I'd gone with my first instinct and made the blanket in BWM Luxury.    

What we have here is a mediocre result for a lot of knitting. Next time I make this blanket - and I will be making it again - I will only knit the outside cabled border, not the inside one, and I will knit it out of wool or a wool blend. 2 out of 5 stars.

Addicted to Stress

Dear Reader,

The more I blog, the more it becomes clear to me that I am hopelessly addicted to deadlines. The proof is below.

Exhibit 1: WWFY Henslowe

The unusual construction of this shawl makes it an interesting and different knit. Different, yes, but certainly not hard. However, it is kicking my arse - today I had to rip back the lace section for the second time for the exact same reason!  It's due by the end of April and there is no way I'm letting a simple garter-stitch triangle beat me. I'm going to get the lace finished by Friday and the edging done by next weekend.  Shawl, you shall not defeat me!

Exhibit 2: Tofutsies Spring Forwards

Since I needed a portable project, I started these socks last week. They were intended for me, a project with cheery yarn and 'spring' in the title, to remind me that even Melbourne's winter will finish one day and if I just keep pushing on it will be spring again and I will have a handy new pair of antibacterial sleep socks. However, the further I got through the calf I realised that these socks don't belong to me - the fit, colour and style are totally that of my friend Cara.  So, I thought, why not give these to her as a birthday present? Excellent idea! Except that her birthday was last week... I'm seeing her next Friday night and I want to have them finished and blocked by then so the present is at least a tiny bit respectable late.

There - proof that even when  no external deadlines like Christmas exist, I will invent my own to add that extra frisson of stress to the otherwise peaceful process of knitting. I am clearly totally fruit-loops.

Yours sincerely,
A Crazy Person.