Rocky Mountain Cabin Blanket

You know that adage about the best-laid plans of mice and men?  It also applies to women, as it turns out. I very carefully selected pictures and uploaded them for today’s blogging activities.  I planned to then move myself to the desk-top computer, where I am easily able to link websites.  It seems the cat had other plans, as he is firmly ensconced on the desk chair and showing no signs of moving soon.  I even rattled his food bowl …

The big mystery project upon which I knit this past summer is this lovely blanket —

This design is called the Riding Mountain Cabin Blanket, and was designed by my friend Mindy Dykman of Raven Knits Designs.  (Imagine that there is a link to the specific pattern, followed by a link to her designer page, both on Ravelry.). Mostly worked in garter stitch, this blanket features intarsia — which is not nearly as difficult as folks would have you believe — with some slipped stitches to create ribs.  I used Gathering Yarns Haynes Creek Heathers for this little beauty, all knit on a 5.0m needle.  (Again, please imagine a Ravelry link to the appropriate yarn.).  This yarn has become my favourite worsted/aran wool yarn.  It is lovely to work with and I absolutely LOVE the heathered colours. 

Speaking of Raven Knits Designs … Mindy came and hosted a trunk show at the store yesterday to help us celebrate the 15th anniversary of our opening.  It was a lot of fun, and hard work.  Barb and I stripped the store of our samples so there would be room for Mindy to display hers.  We had a tent erected in the parking lot in case of rain, so that folks would have a place to wait their turn in the store.  We are still following the Covid-19 guidelines requiring masks, hand sanitizers, and 6-foot distance between guests, so shopping in-store had to be limited to one customer or bubble at a time. 

The picture does not do justice to Mindy’s designs.  I have long admired her designs … and purchased some and even test-knit for her.  I have to say, tho, that seeing them in person was even better.  She has one design that I was a bit “meh” about … until I saw it and heard the history upon which it is based.  I may not recreate her design in its entirety, but that design will soon be landing in my library for certain. 

Another of her designs which I knit is Estel, a design drawn from the lore of J.R.R. Tolkien.  (Imagine there is yet another Ravelry link here, as the cat has still not moved.)

I knit this in Berroco Ultra Wool DK, using a 4.0mm circular needle.  (Again, another Ravelry link should be here!)  Some of the cable crosses require two cable needles, and row 20 particularly stretched my brain.  Once past that row, however, the knitting just sailed along.  There are two more rows very similar to row 20, and they were achieved without even breaking a sweat.  So, while not an easy design, I would encourage folks to give this one a try.  It was a lot of fun, and a beautiful design as well. 

And did you catch the bit about a 15th anniversary celebration?  Yes, Never Enough Wool has been open 15 years now.  I have no idea how that happened, since it seems like only yesterday I was filling the shelves for the first time.  It was a delightful day at the store, and I owe it all to my lovely customers/friends.

Happy knitting!

Monogamish

Turns out that keeping a blog is an awful lot like having a journal. For it to be of any use in tracking your projects, you must make entries on a regular basis.  Like a habit.  Do it regularly and it becomes second nature.  When one is in the midst of a pandemic and not going anywhere, or seeing anyone, it is difficult to find things about which to talk.  Especially if you are heartily sick of the pandemic, vaccinations, and politics. 

Anyway, on to other more salient topics ...

I have been monogamish ... sort of.  (Please understand monogamish to be defined as 'being faithful to two projects, but no more.)  At the store, I was faithfully knitting on a test knit for a local designer.  The design is not mine to show as the pattern has not yet been released.  So I have not been at liberty to talk about it ... and besides, how boring would it be to see repeatedly that "I knit another 20 rows on the test knit."   The release date is rapidly approaching, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.  

The other project was this commissioned afghan.  Mary Maxim design and Mary Maxim yarn.  The lady has been a steady and reliable customer of the store for many years, and the commission came with a good story.  I promised her I would finish it by the end of August.  Little did I know that August would bring with it an amazing heat wave!  But I did persevere and finish it on time.  I used 5.0m needles, as specified in the pattern, and knit to the length specified.  I think the client may have wanted to make it a bit wider than the pattern planned, but I didn't figure THAT out until I had frogged her work at the beginning and gotten three or four skeins of yarn into it.  Once finished, I contacted the client, only to discover that she was in the midst of moving into assisted living and could she wait until the end of September to retrieve it.  Oh well.  It is finished and a lovely finish at that.

 

Previously I had posted a pic of my ankle injury.  The doctor prescribed the wearing of an air cast for two months.  I am usually a compliant patient, and this was no exception.  Wearing the cast meant that I couldn't swim, sail, ride my bicycle, or walk.  (Not that I really wanted to do much walking -- it hurt!)  The cast finally came off mid-August, to my great relief.  I have since then been to physio and acquired a nice set of exercises designed to strengthen the feet, ankles and legs in an effort to avoid having this injury reoccur.  And I have been doing the exercises diligently.  To the effect that I went TWO WHOLE DAYS without pain!  Yay!  

 Sunday (yesterday) I had a delightful sail, did my exercises, hung laundry, chased the vacuum and dust mop around, and had a little walk.  The ankles and legs are telling me all about the excess of exercise they endured, but I have told them to get over themselves.  Summer is for doing things, and I WILL do things. 

That's about all the knitting news I can disperse today.  I hope to have more ... soon!  As well as creating a blogging habit.