18 March

This blanket just had to be! On the first day of my Easter break I was looking around the knitting corner, wondering what I might start (not that there is any shortage of UFOs….). I stroked my collection of odd balls of Calmer and told them ‘Be Patient. One day you will find yourselves in the perfect project but not now’

A few hours later on ravelry I discovered the Martin Storey Knitalong, which I had heard about a while ago but which had just been released. It took about 30 seconds to make the connection - 4.5 needles, lots of colours = Calmer odd balls!

I am a few colours short and the test knit has shown me that I can only get two squares, not three, from each ball but the tension is spot on and there are still a few balls of this discontinued yarn out there on the internet. So watch this space……

22 April
First six squares knitted and blocked - a wet Easter Sunday helped to get ahead. It won’t be so easy next week when I’m back to work :(
The green squares are much greener in the flesh. Both a remarkably like the blackcurrant and grasshopper recommended in the pattern.

10 May
Week 3 nearly done - just 1 more square to do. Satisfying pile of completed squares soon to be photographed. This KAL is good discipline for me - if I continue to keep up this blanket will be finished in record time. I usually get distracted part way through and wander off into another project, only returning months (or sometimes years) later. But last night I did find myself planning another shawl……

19 July
Finished! I have to admit to indulging in beginning a couple of other MKALs but I have finished the edge this morning. I had a bit of a hiccup when, having knitted 37 repeats of the cable edging I realised that I wouldn’t have enough yarn to go all the way round! Frogged quickly to lessen the pain, walked a way for a day or two and then decided on the crochet edging.

Very pleased with the finished article. The Calmer is very soft, smooth and stretchy which makes for a cuddly blanket.