Bug presents: Hemlock Blocked

Hemlock Ring Blanket
Cascade Ecological Wool, color 8087 (478 yards per skein), ~2.3 skeins
US 8 Knitpicks Options circular needles (up to 60" cables)
US 8 dpns

This was a great project, though I didn't find it to be as quick a knit as many others have described. As I tend to knit loosely, I used smaller needles than suggested.

The pattern Jared links to has an error in round 35. This version of the pattern has the correct instructions for the round. I used the expanded chart offered on the Hemlock Ring Blanket KAL until it ran out on Round 121. Then I increased during Round 122 following the methodology of earlier chart increases and worked through Round 126 before following the instructions in the original doily pattern (Round 87) for binding off (whew! that took awhile).



I used approximately 1100 yards of yarn. Post blocking, the blanket measured 58 inches in diameter. I'm guessing I should have used larger (US 9 ?) needles if I wanted my blanket to block out flatter (not to mention larger, for the same quantity of work). As it is, there's quite a bit of what amounts to ruching in the feather and fan portions of the blanket. I don't really mind this - I think it's quite pretty, actually.



I'm very happy with how it turned out!

When you hold it up to the light, it looks so airy...

but don't worry - it's nice and warm : )

Here are some close-ups:




Once again, Moana tried to play coy for a while, but eventually she succumbed to the call of the wool...



And then... Bug knocked me over so he could enjoy the Hemlock Ring Blanket with me (he was clearly wondering when I was going to put the camera down).

The jellyfish has landed.

I finished the Hemlock Ring Blanket! Unblocked, it still looked very much like a coelenterate drifting along in the ocean currents...



Here are some close-ups of the jelly's lovely details:


Spread out a bit, it looks more like the blanket it is. Of course, Bug wanted to check it out (WARNING: Gratuitous quantities of cat/knit photos ahead).










Moana didn't want to help with the photoshoot. She sat staring out the window instead...


Finally, she decided to come take a look (and a sniff):


Then she got a little too cozy with it for comfort:



Umm... that's quite enough, Moana! Step away from the Hemlock Ring Blanket, very carefully...

Eventually the cats let me block it. Here it is all pinned out.

Note that it hangs over the edges of our guest bed (which is a double bed, not a queensize, for reference)

It's been unpinned for a while now, but I haven't had the chance to take post-blocking photos yet. I have to keep it away from Moana when not in use (she can still smell the sheep in the wool), lest she massage it to death with her sharp, pointy claws : )

Hemlock pattern wrap up and post-blocked pictures to come...


Prize Yarn!



I won this amazing, sparkly handspun yarn made by Jess in Knittymama's Flood Relief Contest. Thanks Knittymama, for running the contest, and Jess, for offering her handspun yarn as one of the prizes!


Kasia's Earrings

In addition to knitting (and sewing) amazing things, Kasia of Morgiana's Manifesto makes lovely, distinctive earrings that she's selling in her Etsy Shop. I bought her Path of a Serpent earrings. They're really beautiful (and I need to take a photo of them now that they're in my possession) - Thanks, Kasia!

Also, Kasia tagged me for 8 Random Things, but since I did that fairly recently, I'll just link to that post here (scroll down a bit).

After an otherwise wonderful visit with my brother in law, his wife, and their 15 month old baby, my husband and I have both succombed to a nasty cold the little guy passed on to us. I hope you are all managing to avoid getting sick this fall! Have a good week : )

Hemlock Ring jellyfish, Minimalist Cardigan, and 7.5 random things about me!

Thanks for all your comments on my Mystery Stole, the Hemlock Ring Blanket, and the potential dangers of letting cats play in your knitting (insert evil purring from Bug and Moana here).

I have been home sick with a cold, and not getting as much knitting done as you might expect under the circumstances, so Moana has (very generously) been trying to "help" me with the Hemlock Ring Blanket again.

This is Moana's version of helping:



Awe... isn't she cute?

Luckily, she's also easily distracted.


I like how the "wrong" side of the blanket (while on the needles, at least) looks kind of like a brain.


Looking at the "right" side, I see some sort of jellyfish or deflated and spineless sea urchin.

Ooo! For a second there, I thought it looked like an eyeball!

I swear, I don't have a fever (though my stuffy eustachian tubes can contribute a mild sense of dizziness at times).

...Hmmmm... doesn't the first photo in my post look like Moana is emerging from a walnut?...

I have also started working on the Minimalist Cardigan from the Fall Interweave Knits. I'm using Valley Yarns Colrain - which is a really gorgeous, soft yarn (50% merino, 50% Tencel) with an amazing sheen - in the color Chestnut:


I tried really hard to want to use a non-reddish hue for this (the original is done in a lovely red, and I usually like to use something different), but alas, I just love it in red! Here's a close-up of the moss stitch / 2x1 ribbing interface:


I haven't gotten very far yet, just about 5 and a half inches up the back (still on the first ball):


Not too long ago (I hope!) Tammy tagged me for 8 Random Facts about myself, while Kerry tagged me for 7, so to compromise, here are:


7.5 Random Facts about me

1. I love to bake, cook, and eat.

2. I broke my nose in elementary school playing softball (it's still crooked today!). Yes, I caught the ball with my face. That's the only bone I've ever officially broken (though I'm pretty sure I broke my big toe, playing basketball, a few years ago).

3. I like to watch tv shows like the various CSI's, "Bones," "House," and "Numbers" at least in part because I get to laugh (or stare in dumbfounded disbelief) at their frequent misuse of scientific concepts and misrepresentations of the limitations of certain scientific instruments, not to mention their sometimes bizarre portrayals of how "scientists" behave. (Yes, I'm a scientist.) I do find them entertaining, and that's all that matters, right? Edited to add: (Actually, I'm pretty concerned about what effect these portrayals have on the public's understanding of science and scientists, so my "that's all that matters..." comment was meant to be sarcastic. Can you tell I'm torn?)

4. I'm not a vegetarian (though I don't eat much meat), but I definitely would be one if I had to kill my own food. (I also really dislike killing things in general. I catch spiders and insects I find roaming the house in an overturned glass and free them outside.)

5. In addition to knitting, I like to draw and paint (and I dabble in photography, although I have no real clue what I'm doing).

6. My favorite color is... I can't decide. I don't like to choose favorites (never have).

7. As you may have noticed, I have a major problem with using too many parentheticals (really!).

7.5. I think Bug and Moana are pretty darn cute (major revelation, I know, but hey, this one's only a half...).

If you would like to participate, consider yourself tagged!



Moana says: mmmm.... sheepy...

Mystery Stole 3 is totally done! Hemlock Ring Blanket has just begun...

First, I wanted to say "thanks" for all your wonderful comments about Fifi!

My Mystery Stole has been finished, washed, and blocked... and draped around cats (again!):




Here it is on me:



Mystery Stole 3 (Pink Lemon Twist)
Misti Alpaca Lace, "Sea Mist" color 7120 (437 yards per ball), 1.6 balls
US 3 24" addi-turbo circular needles
US 3 32" Knitpicks circular needles
US 11/12 (1.0 mm) steel crochet hook
size 8 beads

I had a lot of fun knitting Melanie's pattern (though it definitely would have been more of a mystery if I had kept up with the clues)! The yarn was also great -- soft and lovely, but strong (I didn't have any breaks).



I knit the pattern as written, but added my own bizarre twist by switching to the much pointier Knitpicks needles (which I had just received in the mail) in the midst of the second chart of Clue 4. Apparently I knit much looser with the Knitpicks needles... I could have blocked the last half much wider/longer than I did. Ah, well! I knew it was a risk, but it's not too horribly noticeable (as currently blocked) unless I point it out.

Here are a few more photos for you...

After blocking:


Some wing close-ups:
"wrong" side
"right" side




HEMLOCK RING BLANKET

Ever since I saw Jared's Hemlock Ring Blanket, I've been wanting to make one. Well, I've succombed!

I went to Webs on Wednesday evening to see Norah Gaughan (of Knitting Nature fame) talk about her new pattern book with Berroco (and I forgot my camera -- brilliant, no?). Norah was great, as were the sample garments, many of which I tried on (there are several more things I will be adding to my too long knitting queue). She showed us all how to knit a hexagon (Webs supplied the yarn -- they had warned us to bring needles). Fun stuff!

While I was there I picked up two giant skeins of Cascade Ecological Wool in a lovely chocolate brown color.


The version of the Hemlock Ring Doily pattern that Jared links to has a typo (the last repeat of Round 35 should end with a k1, not (k1, O) twice, as the pattern states). Also, rounds 35, 39, and 43 are written in such a way that I get easily confused. I learned through the KAL that this version is better has these Rounds written in a clearer fashion (for me, anyway).

Here's my progress so far.


Bug was impressed with the size of the yarn ball created by one skein of the Eco Wool (I had to wind the last bit by hand, as my ball winder could no longer rotate with the huge ball in the way).


He thought the yarn smelled delicious, so tried to take a nip (don't worry, I didn't let him chew through it -- but, oh, how he wanted to):


Moana found the yarn ball intriguing, too. The yummy sheepy smell drew her in:




Ah, hah! Moana pounced the flatish-lacey sheep and inhaled deeply, maybe probed it a little with her sharp, pointy teeth: