My, how it has grown!

If I had to write another one of those “What Does Summer Mean To You” essays for grade school, I’d now say baseball and knitting blankets.

Blankets?

I know, the last thing on most knitters’ list of summer projects is a big heavy blanket.  (And trust me, Pastaza makes for a heavy blanket). But happily, we’re under the Pacific Ocean’s influence, which gives us cool evenings.

As a matter of fact, my poor neighbors planned a fantastic Fourth of July party one year. They knocked themselves out getting their yard ready for dinner and dancing outside under the stars. Dinner was catered. The band was the best you could hire… We knew we were in trouble when we all donned overcoats and sweaters at 6:00 in the evening, just for the drive over. By 8:00, everyone, bundled up as we were, was shivering and heading for home. I felt so bad for our hosts! You just never know about California. 

But I digress…

My husband loves watching baseball, and I love to keep him company and pretend I love watching baseball too. A big project like the Girasole blanket is just right for long innings. And it’s warmth is welcome by the time the cool evenings come around. Its repetitive nature offers enough serenity to counteract errors, foul balls and disconcerting calls by umpires.

As with my Mitered Square Afghan , the goal is to complete the blanket by the end of the World Series.

It takes 100 yards! Isn’t that a nice round number? Twice now I’ve started a flight at the beginning of a ball of Tonatlita, and ended at the just-enough-to-weave-in end. It works for all kinds of yarn. I can get a half a sock completed. Three-quarters of a sleeve.  A third of a scarf.

If you’re lucky enough to be heading for somewhere other than Cleveland, just figure on 1.75 inches per mile between cities.

I would go no-kidding bonkers if it weren’t for knitting. I see other passengers eyeing me enviously, like “She’s got something fun to do, and we just have to sit here. Lucky girl!”

Or they’re just scared of someone as harried looking as me holding sharp objects. I must look a bit crazed; after all, I’m sitting there figuring out how many inches of yarn per mile it’ll take me to arrive at my destination.

Here, the deer make themselves at home in our front yard. When we re-landscaped after the earthquake, I made sure the plantings were wildlife friendly. Enough grows here that we don’t miss whatever the wildlife munch on.

The deer don’t eat the lavender, but they love to sleep next to it, although I haven’t seen them there for some time. This was in spring before they had their babies, so maybe it’s a pregnancy thing, like craving ice cream. Or maybe now that they’ve given birth they’re just too busy chasing after the youngsters to nap.

Whispering sweet nothings.

Nonetheless, here are the socks I created using Sockotta Sock yarn and some leftover Regia 4-ply. I adore knitting with jacquard-patterned yarn like the Sockotta. The ever-changing colors keep the knitting entertaining.

I find the Sock Wizard software a handy tool for making socks. Once I do a swatch, it’s easy to plug the gauge into the software and come up with a pattern that is exactly the size I’m looking for. I’ve used it often enough to know that I always need to make the heel length longer. And I always put some sort of ribbing into the leg. Even with a good cuff, the legs fall down when I knit straight stockinette.

I’m not sure I’m crazy about the afterthought heel. What is your favorite heel?

  A good cozy corner can transform stress into calm in an instant. A pretty chair next to a view filled with trees… fluffy pink mohair on the needles… Ah, it reminds me things are pretty darn good.

My cousins were kind enough to invite my husband and me over for dinner.  The game of catch-up went (more or less) like this:

Me: Gosh, Blake, it’s been years since we’ve seen each other. What have you been up to?

Blake: I’m excited about the medical treatment I invented. It’s in final clinical trials at a world-renowned hospital. The results are promising – it looks like we’ll be able to cure one of the leading diseases plaguing America!

Blake: How about you, Audrey, what have you been up to? You haven’t been just sitting around knitting, have you? (Chortling, as if this is the lamest thing he can think of.)

[This, followed by my trying to think up an honest response that also wouldn't embarrass the heck out of both of us. I mean, this was his house and all. And my husband watching me with a bemused look on his face, like "Oh, this should be rich. How's she gonna answer this one?"]

Me: Why yes, Blake,yes. In fact I have just been sitting around knitting. (And then in a desperate attempt to sound legitimate), I recently had a pattern published. Isn’t that great?

Blake: (Looking as if he had mistakenly invited an alien from Jupiter over) Uh, let’s eat the salad now.

Or crow.

I couldn’t wait to get home and check in with my Ravelry family where I could feel normal once again.

I have a Japanese Maple that leafs out red in the spring. Doesn’t it look like fall?

I appreciate Knit Pick’s including me in their Independent Designers Program. You can read more about it and see other patterns here.

Many thanks to Susan Claudino for doing an awesome job knitting the sample for the Knit Picks Smock Top Sweater! She’s a talented knitter, and you can admire her work on her NoKnitSherlock Ravelry page.

For anybody who’d like a refresher on how to knit smocking, I’ll remind you I’ve posted a YouTube video that demonstrates the technique.

I thoroughly enjoy the yarn. It’s Rowan’s Felted Tweed - the DK version. I was worried that the yarn would be scratchy, but I wore the sweater with just a shell on underneath and it was fine.  It’s the perfect spring sweater – light and just warm enough for cool mornings.

The color I used, Shade 141 Whisper, has been discontinued, but Rowan has come out with a bunch of other enticing colors. I can’t wait to use one of them to make another of these cardigans!