Pattern for Stealth Baby Square #1

For our SnB's Stealth Baby Blanket knitting project, here is the pattern I used for the first Baby Square:

Used: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn in Rose Mist (1/2 skein, approx. 72.5 yds)
#9 (5.25 mm) Needles
Gauge: 4 stitches per inch in Stockinette
Square should measure 10" square after completion


Cast on 44 stitches

Begin pattern:

Row 1: k
Row 2: k2, p4 -- repeat to last two stitches, then k2
Row 3: k
Row 4: k2, p4 -- repeat to last two stitches, then k2
Row 5: k2, C4F -- repeat to last two stitches, then k2
Row 6: k2, p4 -- repeat to last two stitches, then k2

Continue this pattern until the piece measures 10".

Bind off (sewn bindoff or bind off in pattern).

With the RS facing you, pick up and knit 38 stitches along the side of the square. Knit two more rows, then bind off.

Repeat for the other side of the square.

Weave in all ends.

Pattern for Stealth Baby Square #2

For our SnB's Stealth Baby Blanket knitting project, here is Square #2:

Used: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn in Rose Mist (1/2 skein, approx. 72.5 yds)
#9 (5.25 mm) Needles
Stitch Marker
Gauge: Just shy of 4 stitches per inch in garter. The gauge is not important, as you will be increasing until you have 10" for each side of the square.

Cast on 2 stitches

Row 1: K
Row 2: Increase in the first stitch, put a stitch marker, then increase in the last stitch.

You should now have 4 stitches on the needle, with a stitch marker after the first 2 (in the middle).

Now:

Row 3: K
Row 4: K to one stitch before marker.
Increase in stitch just before the marker (kfb).
Slip marker.
After marker, increase in next stitch (kfb).
K to end of the row.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until each side of the square measures 10". I achieved this with 38 stitches on each side of the marker, but your gauge may vary.

Bind off loosely.

More stealth baby items...

Yes, once again, I’ve been diverted from my Rune Sweater to knit up more stealth baby items. This time, someone from our Stitch ‘n’ B group has decided that it would be a great idea for each of us to knit up some squares to put together for a baby blanket for an acquaintance whose wife is expecting. My fellow SnB-er is from the South, of course. It’s actually been good to get acquainted with someone south of the Mason-Dixon line, as I never realized before just how selfish and narrow so many of us are up north when it comes to reaching out to our fellow humans. Some of us (okay, me) get so caught up in our day-to-day lives, struggles, and general drama, that we forget the basic Golden Rule “Do unto others...”

Now, I can’t say for whom we’re making this blanket, as it’s supposed to be a surprise...

I swear, at this point, I’m really beginning to think that perhaps I should just perpetually have something on the needles--or on the hook--all the time for babies, as women right and left seem to be just dropping them like calves. Lest you think this is original, I get this expression from my dear late aunt “Arnie,” who used to declare in a voice loud enough for the entire restaurant to overhear, “Well, good heavens, when is she going to drop that calf???” Arnie, bless her, had slight control issues, and nothing made her crazier than things not going her way—like people who weren’t having the baby fast enough for her liking or on her timetable—especially a family member. My mother’s nickname for her was “The General.”

I still think there’s something in the water up here in these parts...anyone wanting to drop a calf, or any other form of baby, should just move to CT. I’ll be waiting with the needles and yarn...

The Baby Set is FINALLY done!

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Hooded Duck Blanket FINALLY Done!

Yes, I'm happy to report I'm finally done with the Hooded Duck Blanket. I used the pattern by Susan Backus Starr.

I initially had a bit of difficulty with this, as the pattern says to knit until you have 150 stitches and then decrease. If you do that, you don't end up with a 35" square. I got gauge, so that wasn't the issue. I ended up adding some extra rows to get the blanket up to 35" - I had enough yarn. I also decided to frog what I'd done so far at that point, as I wasn't wild about how the blanket was looking, doing bar increases. It was causing the sides to tighten up too much. I just did the backyard yarnovers (a la Elizabeth Zimmerman) instead, which worked out beautifully.

I'm happy to report the recipient was thrilled with the final product. I've been telling a fib for months now...I led her to believe that I was knitting this for a coworker. It worked, because she had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA until she opened her present at the shower this past weekend!

Knitting in Technicolor

...or why does my right eye keep twitching???

I've just completed the cuffs of the sleeves for my Rune Sweater. I always like to do the sleeves together, as it makes it easier to keep track of increases and to keep them the same size and gauge.

My morning gripe, though, is about the process of two-color knitting. Some call it "fair isle," although I don't think my pattern quite ascends to that exalted level. I'm actually working with three colors here (navy blue, gold, and silver), but I made sure that I only used two for each row. I decided to keep the sleeves somewhat sedate, and to save the more complicated pattern for the yoke. I just wanted a small bit of accent near the cuff. The whole idea was to make tiny little Thor hammers, but you can't really see that in the design. That's okay...I figure I can refine this a bit more once I get to the yoke.

We have a woman in our SnB group who's just fantastic at two-color knitting. She knits the most beautiful things, and makes the process look effortless. I can never quite master holding a strand of yarn in each hand and knitting with both. I also always screw up and knit either too tightly and end up with a puckered finished product; or too loosely, and end up with weird, baggy stitches that have to be tightened up after the fact. Our expert at the SnB insists that all you have to do is to just make sure you stretch out the stitches on the needle to keep a steady gauge. Well, I'll admit it works for her, anyway...my method this morning consisted of me taking a spare DPN and cursing under my breath as I re-threaded and tightened up each stitch. In my defense, I've never attempted "fair isle" knitting on DPNs before.

Thankfully, I finally got the sleeves to look presentable. The question I'm now asking myself is: Do I REALLY want to go through this for the 26-row yoke pattern??? Actually, 28 rows, once I correct for the mutant Thor hammers and what are probably going to be the anemic Goddess figures, if the hammers are any indication. I'm almost tempted to try duplicate stitch for the entire yoke, but I don't know...

Will my twitching eye then require a trip to the local walk-in clinic???

New Afghans for Afghans Campaign!

Afghans for Afghans has just announced their new Youth Campaign! See link:

http://www.afghansforafghans.org/youthcampaign2010-11.html

The due date is December 2010 - January 2011.

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