Socks, shawls, swaddling blankets

(aka afghans or Large baby blankets)

Having a bit of knitting in my purse is marvelous.  I can sit patiently through meetings, waiting for a concert to begin, and oh, yes, the DMV office.  I have made several pairs of socks that way.  The first pair, I think it took two years of on-again off-again knitting.  It went to Washington where there were MANY meetings.  Used Paton's sock yarn, in shades of blue or sherbet, greenish and flecks, and my favorite, Cherry Tree Hill low micron, tight twist, super wash merino.  In woodsy shades of brown, forest green and russet they are soft, warm, and with ribbing down the instep, very comfortable.  So much so that two pairs got "adopted" by dad and then mom.  Very good, if startling.  MY socks!  I always think I will wear them around the house to stay warm, but 1.  House is warm, and 2.  I'm not ready to be slippers and socks yet.

Making the E-Z Pi shawl, a great lacy circle in purple mohair and a bit of sparkle, is lovely and warm and wonderful, whether it's resting draped over your lap or wrapped around your shoulders, working end dropped into a shoulder bag.  Warm.

And we are still making baby blankets out of Lion Brand Homespun, variegated shades that sometimes make stripes, diagonally when using the dishcloth pattern.

K4
K4
K2, YO, K to end.  Making an eyelet and an increase at the beginning of each row.

then decrease along one side and increase along the opposite side on alternating rows, this lengthens the rectangle, or you could go right to decreases and make a square.

Decrease row
K1, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K to end

Increase row is the same as before (K2, YO, K to end)

Alternate these two rows until the length of one side is long enough.

Start decreases
Decrease tow is the same as before, K1, K2tog, YO, K2tog, K to end.

Square, this makes a potholder..
Rectangle, this makes a baby blanket 3 feet by 4 feet which will be useful for many years.

5 skeins of Homespun:  2 to increase, 1 to extend the length, and 2 to decrease and finish off.

!  Eyelets all around !




Knitted on garter stitch border:  At least 8 stitches deep.

Cast on (cable or provisional), turn, knit back knitting the last stitch together with the body of the shawl.  Turn, knit out, turn, knit back and knit the last stitch together with the body of the shawl.

Hem of a Rowan Cotton Tape summer sleeveless top.  Pretty.  Hard to coax to lie flat.  Hope it blocks well!  When I finish it some year.