Yarn – Yards of Happiness

Blanket Knitting, Piece by Piece

When I first learned how to knit I did what every knitter does, I made a million baby blankets. I’ve even made a few lap blankets and couch blankets for loved ones. And after a bit of time I started to loathe knitting blankets. But I’ve always wanted a blanket for myself after some of the really pretty and fun ones I’ve made. So that got me thinking…what if I made a blanket piece by piece?

Knitted Triangle Sampler Afghan by Karen Baumer

Clearly I thought of this before because as I searched my library I realized I purchased the Knitted Triangle Sampler Afghan pattern YEARS ago. So I pulled it out and realized they have a lovely blank chart for you to create your own color palette and pattern if you don’t follow theirs, so I spent a few attempts coloring and this is what I ended up coming up with.
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It was inspired by a quilt pattern I saw on Instagram and I decided that I wanted to do some bold pops of neon colors and ground it with some black and white. I should also note I’m making this blanket with acrylic yarn. Why you might wonder? It’s what I make all my baby blankets with, specifically with Caron Simply Soft, but I also know with two dogs I want something I can wash and dry a million times over and just not worry about it. So I dug into my stash and went with the following block combos:

- Neon yellow and teal
- Neon pink and purple
- Black and white
And it will only take me 1 1/2 skeins per color combo to finish the blanket. I whipped up a couple of blocks over the weekend and I liked the color combos, so I’m going to keep it going. I need 81 squares total, 27 of each color combo. And on average it takes me about an hour to complete one square. So I’m down 3 squares and have 78 more to go, LOL. But I also know this is the kind of thing I can totally do when I just need a mindless knitting project. I don’t have a crazy pattern to memorize, they’re garter stitch blocks made with simple decreases and increases and I can always just throw a color combo in a small project bag and always have it with me when I need something quick to do.

And Cher has already claimed one square for herself. This is exactly why I knew I needed to just make it with the acrylic I had in my stash. Anyone else work on a blanket like this? Any tips?

FO: Rose Gold Togue Pond Tank

Remember when I started a new Togue Pond Tank way back at the end of May? No…yeah I forgot it too. I got so caught up in knitting my Guthrie tee that I just kind of let this tank fall to the side. I decided it was the perfect plane/vacation kind of knitting so I packed it up with me and took it to Chicago and finished it on my trip (and started my latest secret test knit).
Pink Togue Pond Tank
Despite the fact that I don’t love my arms, what I really don’t love is being hot in the sweltering heat and humidity and the Togue Pond Tank is pretty much the perfect summer knit piece. I’d rather have my arms out and wear a pretty top than try to hide my arms because I want them to look like Michelle Obama’s arms. Hence why this is my third for myself and I’ve made one for Jessica. I was actually replacing my very first Tank, it was a pale grey that had a big old stain on it I just couldn’t get out so I decided to make a new one for this summer.
Pink Togue Pond Tank
I decided to go with a fun yarn I like to use as a replacement for Quince & Co. Kestrel yarn. To be honest with you, I don’t always have a budget for the expensive yarns (who does), despite wanting them. Instead I find fun alternatives. This is Patons Metallic, you’ve seen me use it most recently and in this same color on the Baldric sweater for Jessica. It’s a tape yarn like Kestrel but it’s made of Nylon, Acrylic and a tiny bit of wool. I love the metallic colors and they’re forever putting it on clearance and then bringing it back to the regular line up (it’s currently on sale in the clearance section for $3.40, it’s regular price is $6.79). When you compare the two yarns, Kestrel costs $10.25 a skein for 76 yards and Metallic costs anywhere from $3.40-6.79 for 252 yards. This tank was less than 2 skeins of yarn, I know I got it on sale but not clearance so at most I paid $10 for the yarn to make this tank. It would’ve cost me about $40 or more with Kestrel. Now you understand why I like this as my substitute, but I also like the colors and the drape of the fabric. Jessica has already asked for me to make her a new Togue Pond Tank in the metallic black (black is her favorite color to wear…it breaks my heart LOL).
Pink Togue Pond Tank
The only modification I did on this one was to not do all of the short row shaping (I didn’t want it as high in the front) and I added more length before beginning the armhole shaping. It came out exactly the way I wanted. YAY! And since I mentioned Chicago…
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Our trip was lovely. I did not take many photos at all. My cousin did take this great pic of me with my husband before we got on an architectural boat tour on a beautiful morning. I also took this pic.

Totally got to wear my Durumi tee while I was there AND I found insanely bright knit Cole Haan wingtips with the Nike soles so I was super comfy walking through the city. It was so breezy and light, loved it! And the dogs…well they missed us. And Jellybean yelled at me all day Sunday and made me carry her everywhere as my punishment.
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By the end of the 5 days we were apart she had wiggled her way into Cher’s bed at their pet hotel and made sure her sister snuggled her as much as possible. They got all the belly rubs and treats while I was away but it’s always good to come home.

July 11, 2018July 11, 2018 by IamDWJ Categories: Cher, Color, FO: Finished Object, Jellybean, Knitting, metallic, My Dogs, Patons, pink, Tees & Tanks, YarnTags: #yardsofhappiness, knitting, metallic yarn, Patons Metallic, summer knitting, Togue Pond tank, Yarn 28 Comments

FO: Boardwalk (Test Knit)

Remember that test knit I finished way back in May but couldn’t post about? Well, the pattern has been released and I can finally share the Boardwalk sweater with you.
Boardwalk test knit
I know at first you’re thinking, okay it’s a nice sweater but what’s special about it? Well…I’ve been wanting to knit a sweater with buttons down the back and this pattern is for a cardigan you can choose to knit to wear the buttons in the front or in the back. They just alter the shaping a bit depending on how you wan to wear it. And honestly, you could wear it both ways in my opinion regardless of how you knit it.
Boardwalk test knit
I knit this entirely with Miss Babs Yowza (it really is a favorite yarn of mine for it’s durability, softness, the colors AND it has 560 yards per skein). The body is knit with the colorway Spread Your Wings that I bought at the 2017 Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and had been holding on to for something special and the ribbing was all done in the colorway Rainforest. It’s really pretty teal blue that I originally used in my Technicolor Dream Coat. I love when I can finally use a yarn I’ve been holding on to and the color and the pattern turn out beautifully.
Boardwalk test knit
I was sad that I was knitting this sweater and wouldn’t be able to wear it until the fall because I love the fit and style. It has a split hem, it has a bit of ease built into it and I just love the buttons down the back. I decided to pick up the flecks of purple in the Spread Your Wings colorway and do varying shades of purple going from light to dark down the back.
Boardwalk test knit
I enjoying doing a few test knits a year. It’s fun to see the process for designers and I always enjoy helping making a pattern clearer. Plus I get a sneak peek at what’s coming down the pipeline! I’m actually working on another test knit right now for a different designer that will be released in August so you’ll see more secret projects soon! Does anyone else enjoy test knitting?