Trying very hard to be good

 I really am trying very hard to not have too many UFO's on the go. I have done a light purge today, and freed up a few pairs of needles. Staying with one project until it is finished is proving rather difficult, though. There are just so many nice patterns, and I have so much stash to try using. But, I keep trying. Once I finished the Cable Factor Throw, I did start a few more projects, but those have since come off the needles. I like the patterns, but the wool I was using was just all wrong for those particular patterns. So, for now I am going to work on another Annie Maloney pattern. Means more cables to concentrate on, but it is working up nicely in the wool I have chosen to use. 

It is finished!!!!!

Finally got the Cable Factor Sampler Throw, by Annie Maloney finished last night. Boy is it warm!!!!  It used a lot of wool, most of which was from my stash which I consider a winner. I used 5mm needles for the blocks, and 4.5mm for the edging. I also cast off using a 5mm needle, as it gave a slightly looser cast off. I am happy that I have finally got this complete, as it had been on my to do list for quite some time. Now on to the next project, and yes, I am trying to not start anything new. Goodness knows I already have enough to work on. I am not allowed to look at any patterns, although that really hasn't stopped me in the past.

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures of the Throw. Yes it does need to be blocked but that is going to have to wait until this bad weather passes. Where has summer gone? We are supposed to be getting warm weather, not this wet stormy weather. 

Change one colour she said.

Yeah, and how's that working out?!?!  You go and change one colour, and next thing, you need to change another colour. Or even order a different colour, cos what you were going to use just won't work out. I really am trying to not overthink how the Cable Factor will look, but like I just said to my husband, I won't like it if I use the colours I was going to. He calmly said to just give it away, and I replied, but I still won't be happy with it. So, I've gone and ordered two colours to replace one block, and I will see how they look once they arrive. In the meantime, I will go ahead and knit the block in red that I was going to make. Who knew making a throw could cause so many problems?!?!? I know, I could have done the whole thing in one colour, but for me that would not have worked out. Anyway, I dpn't have enough yarn in my stash to be able to do that, and I really have tried to shop from my stash as much as possible. And I think I've actually done pretty damn good, considering I've only ordered three colours in for it. So, the adventure continues.  

Why do I do this to myself?!?!?

 So, just when I thought I only had one more block to do on the Cable Factor, I go and decide that I really should redo another of the blocks. The reason behind that decision is simple - I don't like it in the multi-coloured wool. It is the only block like that, all the rest are in one colour. So, not only am I redoing one block, it would seem I am know going to be redoing two blocks. I've picked out the colours for both blocks, and think it will look so much better once finished. Maybe then I can get on with the edging.

Progress on Cable Factor

 Here is a picture of the Cable Factor. I am going to redo one of the blocks because I am not happy with how it looks. Because it takes so much concentration, I am needing to take a few more breaks than I normally would do. I am hoping it won't be too much longer before I can start the border. The weather has been so hot these last couple of days that it is a little difficult to knit something heavy as this is. I do know it is going to be so warm in the winter, all the hard work now will really pay off then.

New Year

 So, I created this blog to try and keep myself on track with my many UFO's. Can't say that is really working out very well. I keep trying to not start too many new projects, but that is not easy, especially when I see so many good projects. Anyway, this year I am trying a little different - different for me, anyway. I have an exercise book that I am recording the projects I have completed. I am hoping that might help keep me on track. Only time will tell. The project I am concentrating most of my time on is the Cable Factor Sampler Throw, by Annie Maloney. It used quite a lot of wool for each block, which makes it a good stash buster. I am actually on the last row of blocks, and then have the edging to do. I have had to order wool for that, as I don't have enough in my stash to do the whole edge, and I want to have it done in one colour. I might put up a picture of what I have done so far, we shall see. 

Once I have that finished, I have plenty already on the needles to carry on with. Not sure which will really take my fancy next, need to see as I work on these projects which one will be the main one. 

Another blanket

Yes, I am addicted to making blankets. But, in my defence, they are good stash busters. And they don't take too much time, not really. This time though, I am making a cabled blanket. It is called Cable Factor Sampler Throw, by Annie Maloney. Uses quite a bit of wool, which is good considering how much I have available. It is done in blocks, and has been on my to do list for quite some time. Makes a change from Log Cabin ones in all their variety. Not to say I haven't already got another one of those on the needles as well. If you know anything about me, you would know that I don't usually have just one item on the go. Which is why I have so many needles - I need them to keep up with all my projects. I truly am trying to get some things off the needles, and am suprised when I find something that I actually had forgotten I had on the go. Ahh, the fun of knitting!!!  Probably why I usually have more than one book on the go as well. And that's not counting what I am reading on my Kindle. Although I usually only have one book on the go on my Kindle.

It is finished

 The blanket I have been working on is finished. I am not sure if I will put a border around this one. I'm thinking I might just leave it as it is. The edges do look tidy, and I really don't feel like adding anything more to it. I have thought more about the use of colour on this blanket, and as you will see in the picture, I have stuck to a pattern for the colors. I had fun picking out different cables, and if you look closely, you will see that some of the cables are used more than once. That was deliberate on my part. I didn't really want to do a plain middle, and I like working cables. 

Chlorine

 We now have chlorine in our water. No one wanted it added, we didn't need it added as our water was good. It has been a government mandated policy with no thought for the people affected, or if it was even needed. Since it has been added, I have had an upset stomach. I don't like the taste of my coffee, I also don't like the taste of the water. So, we are buying bottled water, which isn't really good, as it is in plastic bottles. 

At least I can still do my knitting. I am working the last panel of my framed blanket. I think it's the last panel, anyway. I have put more thought into the use of colours in this blanket than I have with the others. I am also making this as a lap blanket, which I know isn't needed at this time of year for us, but will be really nice next winter. Then I will do some more work on my next Iona. Again, I am thinking more about the use of colour. I am trying to keep the background colour the same, either white, or a slight cream colour. I've only done three squares, and I like that as the background as I think it lets the main colour shine more.

Just rambling

 I haven't written anything for a while, because life keeps getting in the way. Husband keeps scaring me with health problems - his heart mostly. He seems to have hit a certain age, and has almost convinced himself that his heart is no longer working properly. Even though he has been to the hospital and had tests, and nothing has shown up, he is still convinced there is something wrong. I have to wonder if this is tied to the growth on his kidney that we still have heard nothing about. I don't sleep very well anymore, partly because I am always expecting him to say something is wrong, and he needs to go to the hospital again. I know he is okay, but how do I convince him?!?!? It is really scaring me, and I truly don't know what to do to reassure him that everything is really okay. 

Iona second time round

So, I have decided that I need to make another Iona. Not like I really need to make another blanket, but hey, that never stopped me before, so why should it now? I am going to try to keep the background the same sort of colour, as much as possible. I will need to see what I have in my stash. Anyway here is a picture of the first three squares of Iona.