Modifications:
- First st of every row is slipped purlwise with yarn in front to create a neat edge.
- Did 2 set up rows instead of immediately going into the pattern after doing the 24 garter st rows.
- Doing stocking st between the pattern on the lace panel section instead of 4 garter sts.
- I am doing one extra repeat of the lace pattern (an extra 18sts).
Left leaning cable: ktbl 2nd st on left needle (leave on left needle), k 1st st on left needle and let both stitches slide to the right needle.
Left leaning decrease: ssk (slip the next 2 sts to the right needle knitwise, return to the left needle and ktbl)
Right leaning decrease: k2tog
20 Jun 2016: Cast on 198 sts using a stretchy method. Knitted about 8 rows of garter st with the first st being slipped purlwise wyif to create a neat edge.
21 Jun 2016: Finished the first 24 rows of garter st. Had one knot that I had to cut out. I also decided that I would do 2 set up rows before beginning the pattern, ie RS: k12 for the garter border, k12, (p2, k2, p2, k12) x 13, k12 for the garter border. WS: k12, p12, (k2, p2, k2, p12) x 13, k12. This meant that the decrease sts and cable don’t gather up the stitches below and cause a hump in the blanket. Finished for the evening after knitting one pattern repeat (took so long because I miscounted on the set up row and rather than “frog” back I unpicked the individual “wrong” stitch when I came to it and re-did it correctly).
22 Jun 2016: Finished 2 pattern repeats. Started second ball when I started the 2nd pattern repeat of the night.
23-25 Jun 2016: On the last right side row I started on the 3rd ball of yarn. Work now measures 13.5” / 34cm from cast on row. Finished for the night after having completed 16” / 41cm in total (11 lace pattern repeats).
26 Jun 2016: Did another two lace pattern repeats (total 13).
30 Jun 2016: Haven’t done any knitting this week since I had to have eye tests done on Monday. Took the blanket in to work and did a couple of rows while a work group were doing a quiz.
01 Jul 2016: Took the blanket with me to the dentist and did a few rows while I was waiting. I have now done 16 repeats of the lace pattern. Didn’t do any knitting on this project over the weekend. I have found that I don’t need to take the pattern with me anymore as I remember the fairly simple 6 row repeat pattern. If I am going to do the same number of repeats that I did the first time I did this pattern which was 50 repeats then I am only 32% into the project.
13 Oct 2016: Entered into the Watch Me WIP contest sponsored by Yarnbox.
21 Oct 2016: The Yarnbox WIP has started. Knitted about 5 repeats after work. I should have done more but I got caught up in reading a book called The Girl With All the Gifts which has been made into a movie. I thought it was a paranormal fantasy and didn’t realise until several pages in that it was a zombie book. I suppose that is what you get when you only have a small blurb on the back of the book to go off.
22 Oct 2016: Finished the 3rd ball of 100g yarn at the 22nd repeat.
23 Oct 2016: Finished the 4th ball of 100g yarn at the beginning of the 29th repeat. I’m having problems locating the last two balls of yarn. I may have to go to my LYS and buy some more.
24 Oct 2016: Finished the 32nd repeat (64% complete).
25 Oct 2016: Finished the 5th ball of 100g yarn at the end of the 35th repeat (70% complete). Knitted another couple of repeats before finishing for the night after completing the 37th repeat (75% complete).
26 Oct 2016: I knitted one repeat after work before I fell asleep in front of the TV (38 repeats or 76% complete).
27 Oct 2016: I knitted another 3 repeats (total 41 repeats for 82% completion).
28 Oct 2016: Completed another 7 repeats (total of 48 out 50 for 96% complete). Finished the 7th ball of yarn on the last row of the 48th pattern repeat.
29 Oct 2016: Completed the 50th pattern repeat. Did 2 rows similar to the set up rows where I knitted the knits and purled the purl sts. Then I started the 24 row garter stitch to finish off the blanket. I had to break open the 9th ball of yarn on the 23rd garter st row. Took an hour break from knitting and made 2 spooky Halloween mug hugs - a free pattern from Ms Elaineous. Finished the blanket after using 879g. Wove in all ends. Photos taken and Yarnbox WIP FO updated. As a celebration of finishing my first FO for the Yarnbox WIP I made another 2 mug hugs - No 1 with silver skulls on a black background with a red and gold backing - No 2 with peacock feathers on the front and a red and gold backing. Both of these mug hugs have a thin layer of batting between the front and back to help insulate my hand when holding a hot drink.
19 Dec 2016: Gifted to my step-father for Christmas 2016.
02 Jan 2017: Unfortunately my step-father passed away in the early hours of this morning after a long battle with cancer. He is now free from pain but it was sad to see him go.