I’ve been knitting a super secret project for the past few months but now it’s been gifted and I can finally tell you about it.

It’s the Hudson Bay Baby Blanket and I made it for the woman I work with who is having a baby. You remember the baby shower, right?

When the plan was announced for the baby shower (a board book and $$ from everyone) I had already started this blanket but I thought, well, I can still give her the blanket – just not at the shower.

I’m happy to say that I finished it last week and it has been given away and it was very well received. And I am so so glad to be done with this.

I enjoyed the knitting very much but, my friends, it was miles and miles of garter stitch. Easy and soothing but also bo-ring. It saw me through a lot of football and television, I’ll tell you that.

The yarn, for those who want to know, is Valley Yarns Haydenville, a superwash merino blend that is very very soft and smooshy. Perfect for a new winter baby to be wrapped in and snuggled tight.

Now we just need the little guy to show up. I’ll keep you posted.

I finally got my act together and took photos of my finished Algiers Shawl to show you.

Here it is in all of those glorious blues. The yarn kit that I got from Woolen Rabbit isn’t exactly a gradient and I played around a bit with the colors, going from light to dark and then back out to light again. I felt like such a rebel doing it that way.

Let’s get in a little closer and look at those blues. I honestly can’t decide which stripe is my favorite, I just love them all. And look at all of those yarn overs. Lots and lots of yarn overs.

How about if we get even a little closer. I want to make sure you see that beautiful stitch pattern.

I truly enjoyed knitting this shawl. The pattern is easy to follow, as are all of Kirsten’s, and the design is simple and beautiful. That crochet bind off took a bit of time – that’s a lot of loops – but it was totally worth it.

And one last look of the whole piece. It’s been quite a while since I finished a shawl like this and I’m so excited to have it for the fall.  In fact, I’ve already worn it and it’s warm and soft and lovely and goes with jeans and a blouse perfectly.

Sure, it took me all summer (and then some) to knit the thing but it’s done and ready just in time for cooler temps, outside fires, apple picking and more.

 

You guyssssz. I finished a hand knit. I know, right? I mean, it’s not really finished because it’s not blocked yet but the knitting is done and that feels like a small miracle these days.

It’s the Zick Zack Scarf that I started wayyyyyy back in May and Monday, while staying cool and catching up on Game of Thrones and Outlander, I finally finally finished it. It’s colorful and soft and I think it’s going to be very wearable. Once it’s blocked and, you know, actually cold enough for a scarf. (I’m not rushing that, in case you weren’t sure.)

I’ve also gotten some knitting done on my current socks. Last Wednesday, when I attended that all day training thingy, I knit. A lot. Seriously, knitting was the only thing that kept me awake at times. I managed to finish one sock and start the other, which I then knit in the car on the way to NH and on the beach at Lake Winniepesaukee.

So. Knitting. It’s like a Christmas in July Miracle or something.

The Summer Knit A Long at As Kat Knits got underway last weekend. And, while there are no rules, I do like rules and intended to create some for myself. The first rule was going to be that I finish my Zick Zack Scarf before I start any gradient shawl.

You know what they say, though.

Rules are meant to be broken.

Yes, I cast on the Algiers shawl on Tuesday. I couldn’t wait anymore, I was just itching to get going on some lace knitting. And Zick Zack is almost done and, you know what? It can wait.

I love being a rebel.