Grab your knitting needles and come relax with me.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
I Got's Pictures
I unearthed my husband's camera today, so I can share the pictures of the FINISHED mediation rug! I finished the edging yesterday morning and blocked it.
It came out perfect!
I am trying to find some quick test knitters for my pattern. Since, although I am happy with how it turned out I do really want to make the edge a bit less tight, BUT I do not want to rip it out to alter it. It took ME 2 months to knit this, but I am knit slower than a snail.
The Details-
Pattern: A Birdy's Knit Original, pattern forthcoming. The final pattern will be priced at $2.50 and will include instructions for a Christian themed rug. Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Undyed, 100% wool 4 skeins (100 grams a piece) and KP Wool of the Andes in Black Cherry, 100% 2 balls (50 grams a piece) Needles: KP Interchangeables in US size 8 and DPNs US size 6 Misc: The rug measures 45 inches in diameter.
The cabled edging took ages--about 3 weeks. It's about 8 feet worth of edging.
I LOVE the edging though.
Here's close ups of all the runes. They are Eldar Futhark runes and they are arranged in order.
It was done just in time too...it's really getting too hot to have what is essentially a wool blanket covering my lap. Now it's exclusively lacey things and socks (if I ever let them out of time out).
Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone! Hope everyone had a pinch free day, or got their pinches if you swing that way.
No pics today, as the camera is still in hiding. I am however about 4 rows from being finished knitting the rune chart on the meditation blanket. I am beginning to debate my cast off. My plan was to knit a five strand braided cable as am edging--in a contrasting colour: red. But now I am wondering if I should just go simple and do a rolled edging and a regular (albeit loose) cast off. Fancy or plain?
I am good at worrying about things that are in the future-something I can't realistically deal with at the moment. Grin.
I have had 5 baskets of clean clothes waiting for me to fold them (kids will put away) for well over a week. I put on my big girl panties today and decided that TODAY I would fold them all up. No more excuses, no more procrastination. And as a reward: after every basket folded I get to knit one round of the rug.
Woot three down: 2 more to go!!
(I really wish I could show you the progress on this rug, because it does look awesome. The runes are coming out just as I envisioned.)
I am so sorry I have been neglecting the blog, no fear I HAVE been knitting. I just kinda forgot about updating the blog. Things have been stressful at Casa Birdy...car shopping and sickness.
Last week I was able to chart the entire Elder Futhark runic alphabet, so I could knit the border of the meditation rug. I am about 9 rows into the chart now. Only 21 more to go!! And then there's the cabled edging!!!!
I picked up the snowflake blanket for easy/mindless knitting at church. Kim's baby is due in June so I thought I should start working on it again.
I've also been working on the Unnamed Shawl...I pushed past the creative block, woot. I really want to get it finished but I also NEED to get this rug done. The Lilac Bloom scarf is also being worked on intermittently...lol. I really do need to grow a few more pairs of arms (or knit faster).
I improved my continental technique, so hopefully that will lead to faster knitting.
Sorry about the lack of pictures, but the knitting is rather blobby.
I have ten inches left of knitting left on the meditation rug. Right now: 382 stitches per round. Depending on how things work out, I think I will have 764 stitches for my border and then I will make a knitted on edging with intricate cables.
I will be lucky if the main portion of this rug is done by closing ceremonies of the Winter Games. I have 90 rows left, but all of this garter stitch is the boring part...the border and edging is the fun part! That will be thrilling...if I can decide the order and placement of the runes. lol
In other knitting news: I think I will be taking my socks out of time out. I am feeling the sock itch again. (No there is NOT a cream for that!) Not sure which sock I will take out first...prolly the cute bees kness knee highs...because I don't beed to seriously rework them like i need to rework the Cat Bordhi socks I am working on that refuse to go over my heel.
Refresher pictures!
These are super cute no thinking required (not my pattern afterall)
Like the cute strappy, but it's pulling the instep too tight. Must solve the puzzle, but I do not, at this time, want to spare the brain cells.
These (I forgot to mention them above), need more design work. I am stalled creatively on these.
Right now my brains is stuck on a few other things more lacey in nature. It's a good thing because I have a new project that I welcomed into my lap (Super Secret though) and my knitting bunnies have been working over time weaving a pattern in my head.
I actually haven't knit on the Citron shawl this week, but I figured it was about time I took pictures. I have been concentrating on the meditation mat and when I need a break from that monotony I knit on the Lilac Blooms Scarf.
Yes lace is my go to relaxation knit.
Anyway, the mat.
I haven't made that much progress really...but it's bigger, but haven't increased at all. I have about 22 more rows till I can increase again. I also realised a few rows ago, it's a good time to practise my continental skills. It's a little stressful on my shoulders (it's cause I am tensing them), but that'll pass once I get better and stop being so tense about it. Grin. Maybe someday I'll be ready to use it in my lace work. I can knit fine continental, it's the purling that I really need to work on.
I am almost done with the first ball. I am so far into it; I am wondering if the 4 hanks of wool was way too much? Not sure, at this point as circles are tricky to work out yarn amounts.
So tonight while I "rest" my shoulder I think I'll knit some lace. That'll be nice and relaxing.
This has pushed it way to the front of my knitting queue.
I have been wanting/needing a meditation mat (or rug) for quite some time and lately the need has become pressing. I came up with the idea last month and finally got the yarn, Knit Picks Bare Peruvian Wool.
It's my pattern, knit from the center out using Pi shaping and I am going to knit runes in cables along the border. The plan is for it to be about 36 inches to 45 inches across. I will be offering the pattern for free once it's finished.
Oh and I started this bad boy on Friday (I got the yarn that afternoon and it was wound up in time to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremonies). It's already nearly a foot across, I am hoping to have it finished before the Closing Ceremonies. Of course, it's going so quickly because it's only the center...just wait until I am on row 197.
I guess I AM knitting an Olympics project after all. ;-)
