Bad Netter. Didn't knit a stitch all weekend. Worked out to be a good thing, though. I'm all jazzed up to finish the last few inches of the second striped panel and to start in on the middle panel. I'd like to be completely done the whole thing by the time I get back from Vermont next weekend. We'll see

Then, I'll need to start on something else. Still thinking about cornmeal cotton.

Things are moving along. I've gotten about 22 inches done. I've also got my letters charted on knitting graph paper. I have to re-do the chart, but I at least know what they're going to look like. At this rate, I'll be starting the letters this weekend if I get the chance to knit at all.

Time to start thinking about what to do next. I'm in love with a color of cotton at Lion brand(check out cornmeal under kitchen cotton). I'm thinking tank top. I'd buy the big cone of it and make placemats, too. The color just screams summer to me.

I've also got a chart of things in mind. On that list:

a striped pillow for my friend KG
Pumpkin afghan for Aunt Lindy
New sweater for Molly
teddy bears for various cousins at Christmas
Christmas garland for my mother-in-law
throw pillows for my in-laws
new blanket for my Dad
sweater for my Mom (or a blanket if she wants one)
I've also got 1800 yds of beige chenille to make something for myself

I should probably start with the things I have yarn for, my sweater, Molly's sweater, KG's pillow will be scrap pillow. But, I really want to buy some yarn. I have a Joann gift card from Christmas. I may have to do some shopping when I'm in VT (easiest access to a Joann store). Things to think about.

Up to nearly 17 inches in length. I need to pick up the pace! Not really. At this pace, I'll be done this strip by this weekend. What I really need to do is keep a better eye on my gauge. The width varies up to a quarter of an inch! Not much of a problem with this project, but it will be an issue when I start making sweaters.

The second strip is up to 13 inches. Go me. It would have been longer, but I had to spend time taking a few rows out and re-doing them. I screwed up in some funky way. Looking forward to getting a few more inches done at lunch.

Had a pretty productive Saturday in the car. I've got about 6 inches done total. This strip is slightly narrower than the first. I'm sure the dog won't mind. I've also decided to not match up the stripes; that will make my life easier.

I haven't been too productive. I had to re-cast on the second panel and I've only got a few rows done. I'm looking forward to getting a big portion done today and tomorrow.

Less than a week and the first panel is completed. I do have a ton of edges to weave in, but I'll do that later. I want to get a jump on the second panel today. First task is to write out the sequence of rows so that I don't have to drag the first panel around with me. I should be casting on at lunch. Woo-hoo!

I overstated the length of the panel yesterday. When I measured it again at lunch it was just over 17 1/2 inches. Now, it's just under 21 inches. Just about 5 more to go.

I'm looking forward to starting the second panel this weekend. I've been debating with myself whether I should follow the same pattern of colors or do a different sequence. I've decided to put the same size stripes in the same places but to do different colors. My next debate is whether or not to make the letters in the middle panel all the same color. I had been planning on doing them different colors but then my friend KG asked if they were going to be the same color and she got me thinking. I guess I'll play it by ear.

What a productive weekend. I've got just over 18 inches done on the first panel. At this rate, I'll be onto the other striped panel by the end of the week. I had thought that this project would take a while and I'd be working on it on the plane ride to VT (more like in the airport waiting for the plane ride), but I might have to pick up a different project! (Of course, weaving in ends and sewing together are going to take a bit of time.) I'll have it done just in time for her to not need a blanket. It was nearly 70 degrees here yesterday!

In two days, I have gotten over 8 inches done. So I'm about 1/3 of the way through 1/3 of Molly's blanket (not counting weaving in ends and stitching it together). This morning on the subway I started calling it Molly's triptych. It's turning out pretty well. I really should start measuring to make sure each row is the same.

I wore my new scarf yesterday. I received a number of compliments on it. I must say it's very warm and snuggly. I'm glad I was able to get a couple days' use out of it before it warms up for good.

I'm having a great time knitting. It's been a lot easier than I remember it from the last time I tried. Of course, I could be screwing it all up. I am concerned about how the edges are turning out, especially with the stripes. I'm going to have to look into it to see what I'm doing wrong. But, all in all it's turning out well. The stitches all look pretty uniform. I haven't checked my gauge, yet. I'll do that when I'm about ready to change colors again. I brought all the balls of color I'm using with me today. It's going quicker than I expected and I don't have a set pattern in my head so I'm not sure which color I'll want next. I do wish I had used the colors I have more of first, I could have put more stripes of those colors in. Oh well. Maybe I'll just use some of the colors I had rejected and not repeat any!

I wish my scraps included purple. But, I inherited a lot of the stash from my grandmother and she hated purple.

Let me just say that I love cable cast-on. It's so much easier than the long tail cast-on I was using. Of course, it's not good for every project but The Knitter's Companion says it's good for afghans, so it fills my bill today. And the circs fell much more natural than straight needles. I must say I'm pleased with my progress. I've gotten 4 plus rows done and have even managed changing colors for the first time. I should have a whole stripe done this evening. Woo hoo.

I still have to decide which is more comfortable English or continental. English feels more natural. I wish I could remember what my grandmother did. I really wish I had taken advantage of her knowledge when she was still around. She was a fantastic knitter, crocheter, sewer, all around crafter. It would have been nice if we could have shared this more. She taught me to knit once when I was a really little girl. I made tons of blankets for my Barbies.

This morning is just dragging by. I'd love nothing more than to pick up my knitting. But, my blogging about knitting wouldn't be encouraged, I highly doubt my knitting at my desk during office hours would be.

Scarf is done. I finished fringing it last night while watching the Devils game. And, of course it is too warm today to wear. Fortunately, it'll be back in the low 30s tomorrow. Don't know when I've ever said that before!

I've got yarns and needles picked out for Molly's blanket. I'm obsessing about intarsia and how to plot the letters, but that can wait. I'm doing the stockinet section last. Today, I need to cast-on for the first garter section. I'm really looking forward to lunch time today so I can get started. It's too awkward to try to cast on while riding the train, especially since I'll need to constantly refer to my book.

AH HA HA HA HA!!!

I rock!

I finished the blue hex last night. Done, finito. 60" of crochet warmth and cuddliness done in 6 weeks. The last thing I made this big took me over a year to do. And, and, and, and, I'm not going to see my sister for three weeks.

My new scarf is wearable at this point. If I weren't insisting on fringe, it would be done as well.

Time to get going on my next project. I've started designing a crate blanket for my dog. It's going to be 21" by 26". I'm making it in three 7" panels. The outside panels will be garter stitch with horizontal stripes. The main color will be off-white (I have tons of it). The stripes will be done in many, many colors. I need to go through my stash. The middle panel will be stockinet stitch in off-white with her name, Molly, running vertically. Cool, huh? I've decided to try intarsia for the letters and colors will again depend on what I have in my stash. Same with needle size, etc. I think I'll be using circular needles because I've heard they're easier, especially on trains and things.

I'm just so excited!

The blue hex is nearly done! I finished round 60 Saturday night and started on the edging right away. The edging's became a bit of a road block. The reverse double crochet wasn't turning out like it did the last time I used it. Well, I should say, the last time I thought I used it. Referring to one of my crochet books, I was doing the stitch correctly on Saturday, but it wasn't what I wanted. So, I fiddled some more then and again yesterday and decided to do a reverse slip stitch in the back loop. It adds no height and not much bulk to the edge, but it does give it a more finished look. A seed-stitch almost (of course a seed stitch probably looks completely different). I'm about half done the edging.

Needless to say, I really need to learn to do more types of edging. Actually, there's a ton more I need to learn. The stitch book I ordered last week will be shipping Wednesday. There should be lots of cool stuff to learn in that!

My scarf is moving along; I'm at about row 94. I'll have it just in time for the weather to warm up for Spring!

Yesterday's finger soreness was a good excuse to lay off the crocheting. I've barely touched the scarf since. I think I've hit that point in a project where I completely lose interest. It never happened with the blue hex, but I usually get completely sick of something and stop working on it for a while. Besides the soreness and the boredom, the weather can't decide if it's still winter or not. Yesterday morning, it was raining when I left my house, snowing when I got off the subway in Manhattan and down right icy when I walked home. It was freezing this morning, but they are forecasting 48-50 for the weekend and more snow next week! I thought I couldn't make up my mind.

I ordered a great book yesterday. I hope it's released Monday like it's supposed to be (I work in publishing I know how these things go). Then it will be in my hot little hands later next week. I haven't told my husband, yet, but I don't think he'll care. He wouldn't have any grounds to be bothered, he just bought tickets to 6 Springsteen concerts this summer. And, I still have money left over from my Fantasy Football win. (Yes, I the only woman and complete novice kicked all the boys' buts!)

I'm in a very crappy mood this morning. Edgy and cranky. Don't know why. I wish I could have given my husband an answer after I had bitten his head off, but I can't think of one.

The scarf is going to have to be longer than 48 inches. I've gotten to the low 40s and it barely fits around my kneck and face. Urgh.

The fingers on my left hand that I use to hold and move the yarn are getting stiff and sore. I don't know if I'm over doing it or if it's the weather change this morning. Perhaps I should take some time off the hook and see. I'm not feeling all that enthused about the projects today anyway. Not feeling enthused about anything. I sure hope this passes quickly.

I had a good time last night and Chicago was great. I highly recommend it. I nearly clapped after a few of the numbers. Acceptable on Broadway, not so in the movie theater.

I shall have the blue hex finished by the end of the week if I continue at this pace. (I'd say tonight, but I'm supposed to be going to see Chicago with a friend from work and tomorrow the hubby's out, so I'm solo with the puppy.) I made the turn into round 60 last night. Round 59 went pretty quickly so I hope 60 will, too. Then the reverse double crochet edging.

This is a really boring blog without pictures or anything. I should probably at least start linking out to displays for stitches and so on.

On the scarf front, I also hit 60, made the turn this morning. Only 36 rows and fringe to go.

I just made the turn into round 55. Lunch hours are great.

The blue hex is going swimmingly. I've made the turn into round 59. Two rounds and some edging to go and it's done. I worked on it quite a bit over the weekend and last night. It now looks as though I'll be heading home the first weekend in April (if I can stand to be away on my puppy's first birthday) so I'll be done in plenty of time. I'm thinking of shipping it home. It's going to be awfully big to carry onto a plane or train, especially if I'm carrying another project. I want to be there when my sister sees the blanket for the first time, so if I ship it, I'll mark it "do not open." That might work.

I'm about at row 48 on the scarf. I haven't picked it up much since Friday's commute home. At home, I'd rather work on the hex and I went to a trade show yesterday and didn't bring the scarf with me. I'd like to get it done while there's still a chance of needing it this winter!

I'm still trying to decide exactly what will be next. I need to go through my stash.