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 : )