Monday, April 10, 2017

Knitting Status

Indeed the epic baby blanket is finished.


It feels divine, but it was definitely a labor of love. The final edging didn't turn out exactly as I wanted it too, but I'm hoping after I block it, it will be a little less annoying. My measuring skills were wonk city.


I will not lie, as soon as the last end was woven in I couldn't wait to cast on for a new pair of socks. Socks glorious socks. Just something simple I said. I sort of blindly threw my hands in the stash and pulled out a perfectly purplish ball.

I was on auto-pilot for the cast on and ribbing so that dictated what non stockinette pattern I was going to do. It was a 60 stitch cast on so I went with just a basic ribbed stitch.


It's giving me the happy. I secretly plan on knitting on this by headlamp as much as possible this week.

And that brings us to what I REALLY NEED TO DO.


Remember these? I knit them for my friend Annie. She gave them back to me with a small hole, wondering if I could repair it. I thought, hmm. I should learn about this.

That was almost a YEAR ago.

I started trying to repair it, maybe a little too late at night. It didn't work. But when I pulled it out ... I made the hole bigger.

Sigh. Any advice or reference for hole fixing is greatly appreciated.

Good knits and good things to you and yours.


36 comments:

  1. That baby blanket is divine, all that gorgeous pink. I'm knitting a tiny blanket for the sofa at the moment and I'm definitely going to put some pink in it, there is almost no pink in my life at all. CJ xx

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    1. I didn't know I was missing pink until I started following Andi's blog, my sister's knitter. She always had bits and bobs of pink it seemed on the needles. Now I love knitting with pink.

      I only have one boy, but there is a lot of neutral colors usually in our apartment. The kids are allowed to wear black "track" or for your football pants to school as part of their uniform. (Public school - try to be a little more flexible for equity purposes) My son for Christmas requested a pair with pink adidas stripe. I said, they might be from the girls section, he didn't care. I think he loves the pop of happy bright color. Let's him feel a little more unique at school.

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  2. The blanket is divine!
    As for that hole...Is that the work of a moth? If so they weaken the fiber so the hole will get bigger. I'd just knit her another pair and call it a day. I have never had any luck fixing socks without an ugly bump and I've fixed plenty thanks to Daddio.

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    1. I don't know if it was moth work, but it was definitely weak fiber. I am definitely feeling a stronger love for sock yarn w/nylon for actual socks vs. sock yarn that's all wool fiber. That's better for shawls and other pretty things, I suppose. I'm planning on knitting her another pair of socks regardless since it's taken me so long to try and fix these!

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  3. I just finished that same blanket (mine used raspberry colorway)....but the gradients on mine were so close that you could hardly tell i switched colors. Yours in much prettier!!!
    I used to try the pick up a couple stitches above the hole with a dp...do the same below the hole and weave between but i finally decided they are simply socks and i now embroider around them and fill in the space with sort of satin stitch and no one is the wiser because the repair is usually hidden. (probably not the answer you were looking for!!! I've pinned several better repairs from pinterest).

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    1. Steph, I saw a similar method by Cookie A. picking up and then sort of knitting a patch over it and then sealing it close via kitchener. Hmm. must try.

      I had the luxury of picking out my kit in person and did notice some of the color changes were super subtle, which still looked very nice. i just chose this one because it told me too. hehe.

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  4. Excellent baby blanket! It is indeed a larger if love.

    If the socks were knit from the top down, I'd take out the tour and reknit that section, using as much of the original yarn as possible and then a "close enough" matching color.

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    1. Oh I didn't even think of redoing it! It is a little intimidating getting all those stitches in proper shape!

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  5. I think the baby blanket is just gorgeous. Congrats on finishing it.

    SOCKS = YES!!

    I think any of the repair suggestions here are better than anything I could contribute. Let us know what you decide to do.

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    1. Thank you Bridget! I like everyone's suggestions. I'm going to need some top notch brain cell usage for this, meaning: not late at night. lots of light. no wine. hahahaha and a block of time where I'm not pulling things out of ovens and switching loads of laundry. That means the weekend. Wish me luck ;)

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  6. Good for your wonderful baby gift finish. The last baby blanket Al knit nearly did Allison in. She Loathed the thing in the end. THe momma and baby, however, loved loved loved it. I have no sock repair help. Darn. Dont Darn. Make her another sock. Or take it to your LYS and see if they can fix it for you. :?????

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    1. LOL I am definitely feeling all the Allison feelings. I can't even block it yet b/c I don't want to look at it too long.

      Darn it, Kathy! I'm going to have to try and darn it. Oh i love this joke. hah! I feel like the challenge must be accepted.

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  7. The blanket is lovely!

    No sock repair help here - I just makes new ones!

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    1. Thank you, Valerie. I would knit her 3 pairs if I had your knitting talent! I will knit her a new pair as well. :)

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  8. Beautiful job on the baby blanket!! That was a Lot of stockinette. ;-) I'm no help with the sock repair as I haven't had much luck with it. I would just knit her another one.

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    1. Thank you! The knitters are all supportive of another pair of socks. She kind has big feet. shh.

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    2. Oh wait, that's her daughter LOL

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  9. Gorgeous baby blanket - love it...but I'm sure it was driving you crazy at the end. No sock repair help - sorry. Any time I've attempted to darn socks they look hideous (and don't feel great either).

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    1. See Vera? This is my fear, that they will be all lumpy if I do not completely reknit the section as Nancy suggests. However I think she mainly wears them about the house. I can knit her another pair for actual shoes.

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  10. Such a sweet little blanket and the new sock start ....well, that yarn is awesome.

    As for the hole ....I'm no help. I've not tried to repair a hole yet. I'm sure there must be a gazillion You-Tube videos about it though.

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    1. I found this one youtube video using a method that felt ... doable, except that they did not zoom in enough for the demo it was making me crazy!

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  11. I would rip it out...

    your blanket is beautiful!!! love that sweet pink :)

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    1. I am too impatient, not sure I have enough to redo the toe. I am going in for the patch ...

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  12. Look on Pinterest; I know there are pins of how to darn socks. If you don't have the original sock yarn, I say use another. It's a memory. I love the bottom baby blanket. And thanks about my bro's card. Yeah, I need to orjanize more. I started a bit with my supplies but need to refigure what goes what in what bin. I used to have photos of my yarn but I deleted them all b/c I didn't like the way they had turned out. The perfectionist in me. I may make a photo box. We'll see.

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    1. True confession: I do not Pinterest. My sister is a big fan, but I go down the rabbit hole enough as it is between blogs & twitter and my recipe internet hunting adventures. I think psychologically the Pinterest is unhealthy for self critics like me. I am that child in your class that you do all you can to encourage "focusing". LOL And don't get me started on organization. Eegads

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    2. It is understandable why your boy won't go to tea with you. I can't remember if I've ever gone to tea at the Fairmont, maybe the Ritz for sure but it was so long ago. My mum and I have done Crown and Crumpet a couple of times. We have a tea room here that I'd like to try. A chocolate version of the thumbprint cookie sounds interesting. Do you find it weird how jam needs to be refrigerated but the cookie doesn't need to be with the jam in it? C's recipe had her put jam in after the cookies baked.

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  13. Interesting info in this post. Thanks! Love that blanket and I'll bet the little one who receives it will, too!

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  14. Great job finishing the blanket. It's beautiful! Gotta love the pink! And yay for new socks on the needles. Here's a detailed tutorial on patching up a hole on socks: http://jackie-es.com/the-designing-day/repairing-a-hand-knit-sock-with-a-knit-in-place-patch.php

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    1. Thank you SO much! This is EXACTLY what I'm willing to do. LOL

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  15. Your socks are going to be lovely and loved! If you find a not so difficult way to fix that hole I hope you will do a tutorial on your blog because I have never been able to do it! I really hate to admit that because I have been knitting for 50 plus years. Okay plus, plus. I still haven't figured out how to pick up those ends and fill in a hole with neat little precise stitches. Please do share!!

    Your baby blanket is gorgeous!! Why do baby blankets feel like they take forever to knit?

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    1. I am pretty sure the only reason I'm being so obsessive about "fixing" these other than my friend really liked THESE socks and she's such a go-getter in so many aspects of her life, that she spurs me on in all these ways she'll never know. This is probably one of those times, ha!

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  16. I love seeing you back! Now I can drool over all your beautiful projects.
    That blanket makes my heart swell!

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    1. Aww Andi, you know your true love for the knit and the community constantly excites me to knit every time I come to visit you. I think I'll need to get to Mid May both professionally and personally to have a good chunk of work to show, but I'm happy every time i get a chance to do a few rounds.

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