Seed Border Striped Blanket Pattern

This is an uneven striped blanket in chunky yarn with a seed stitch border.
It is longer than it is wide.
I used two colors, but feel free to go wild!

Abbreviations
CO: cast on
BO: bind off
st(s): stitch(es)
RS: right side
WS: wrong side
k: knit
p: purl
St st: Stockinette stitch; knit on RS, purl on WS
MC: Main Color
SC: Second Color

Special Note on Yarn Color Changes:
In order to reduce the amount of ends you’ll have to weave in, when changing between colors, simply drop the yarn you were using, and pick up the strand of the yarn you would like to use, leaving some room for the length of the rows you are running it up against. This will be taken care of when picking up stitches to do the side borders.

Seed Stitch Border at beginning:
Using MC, CO 100 sts.
Row 1-4: k1, p1 (repeat) to end of each row.

Body:
Row 1-6: Switch to SC, knit in St st. for 6 rows.
Row 7-12: Switch to MC, knit in St st. for 6 rows.
Row 13-24: Switch to SC, knit in St st. for 12 rows.
Row 25-30: Switch to MC, knit in St st. for 6 rows.
Row 31-36: Switch to SC, knit in St st. for 6 rows.
Row 37-48: Switch to MC, knit in St st. for 12 rows.
Row 49-54: Switch to SC, knit in St St. for 6 rows.
Row 55-60: Switch to MC, knit in St st. for 6 rows.
Row 60-72: Switch to SC, knit in St st. for 12 rows.
Row 73-78: Switch to MC, knit in St st. for 6 rows.
Row 79-84: Switch to SC, knit in St st. for 6 rows.
Repeat Rows 1-84 twice or as many times to achieve desired length.

Seed Stitch Border at end:
Row 1-4: Using MC, k1, p1 (repeat) to end of each row.

Seed Stitch Border on sides:
Left Side: Pick up stitches on left side of blanket, including on 8 seed stitch rows. The total number of stitches will vary, depending on length of blanket.
Row 1-4: Using MC, k1, p1 (repeat) to end of each row.
Right Side: Repeat Left Side instructions.

Finishing
Weave in any loose ends. Block and enjoy!

For more information, check out Ravelry:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seed-border-striped-blanket

OMG, I learned to crochet today!

Happy Saturday!
Thanks to a Warm and Fuzzy friend, I am officially able to crochet!!! 

This beautiful morning, I decided to ride my bike up to Mt Pleasant Farmer's Market to shop, knit and join the Kidical Mass bike ride to the White House.  I brought some yarn, but no needles, thinking I'd borrow some from the gals, but I ended up sitting down and learning how to crochet.  I kept it up when I got home and made a little creation. 

This could be beginning of something wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!

Striped Scarf for Ryan

This scarf uses some Cascade wool and some of our very own local Solitude wools, of the Suffolk & Dorset (in Peacock and Tomatillo) and Border Leicester & Leicester Longwool (nature-dyed Yellow Cosmos) varieties, to be specific!


I augmented the pattern "Bright Stripes" by Kristin Nicholas and included in the book "Scarf Style" by Pam Allen.  I knitted it lengthwise, changing colors - which I'm loving,  and it took a bit, but was totally worth it in the end.  Am also working on a new cowl for Nicole, since the first one I was working on didn't quite make it.  However, I have some concurrent projects, so it may be a while, definitely in time for winter!

I'm-a Fair Isle Knitting!

Knitting Update:
- Finished Ryan's scarf, need to weave in ends and block it still.
(image goes here just as soon as I take it)
- Unraveled Nicole's cowl since I messed up several times and wanted to do it right, but now can't seem to pick it up again... argh.  I've got a new idea for hers that I'll start in a bit.
- Proudly augmented a pattern for a summer cardigan to work with my size and a completely different gauge yarn - math and brains were necessary here and it was a blast to figure out.

- Taking a class at Fibre Space where I'm learning to make Fair Isle Pattern Fingerless Mitts!  We are using the Endpaper Mitts pattern by Eunny Jang available as a download here.

Hopefully I'll update my Ravelry notebook soon.  For those who haven't seen it, this article about Ravelry is amazing and made me even happier to use it.

New Blog JUST for Knitting... and kitties...

and anything else crafty or creative I want to add. 

This is fun, and I've got new things to post!  More pictures coming soon!

Metro Yarn Crawl -- April 9-17, 2011

Taken from: http://metroyarncrawl.com/

This is my travel agenda for the Metro Yarn Crawl!  I have hours and directions posted here so I know where in the heck these places are.  If you want to come, let me know!

Metro Map

[Sun 4/10]
6. Looped Yarn Works (Dupont Circle)

1732 Connecticut Avenue, NW #200

Washington, DC  20009

(202) 714-LOOP (5667)

T, Th: 11 am - 9 pm

Wed, Fri: 11 am - 7 pm

Saturday 11 am - 6 pm

Sunday 11 am - 5 pm

[Tues 4/12] 
7. A Tangled Skein (Green Line: West Hyattsville Station)

5200 Baltimore Avenue #101

Hyattsville, MD 20781

(301) 779-3399

atangledskein.com‎

T, Th, F 11-7

Wednesday 11-9

Saturday 11-6

Sunday 1-5

We’re located less than two miles north of Washington, D.C., in the heart of downtown Hyattsville, right on U.S. 1 and across from Franklin’s Restaurant and General Store. The store entrance is just around the corner on Gallatin Street. From the Rhode Island Avenue, College Park or Greenbelt Metro station, take the 81 or 83 bus. From the Prince George’s Plaza or West Hyattsville Metro station, take the F8.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=tangled+skein+5200+Baltimore+Avenue,+suite+101+Hyattsville,+Maryland+20781&fb=1&gl=us&hq=tangled+skein&hnear=5200+Baltimore+Ave+%23101,+Hyattsville,+MD+20781&cid=0,0,8678155710392906880&ll=38.952534,-76.940775&spn=0.010529,0.019076&z=16&iwloc=A

[Wed 4/13] 
10. The Yarn Spot (Red Line: Wheaton, walk N on Georgia past University Blvd)

11406 Georgia Ave # A

Silver Spring, MD 20902-1944

(301) 933-9550

http://www.theyarnspot.com/

M, T: 10 – 6

W, TH: 10 – 8

F: 9 – 5

Sun: 10 – 5

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=The+Yarn+Spot+11406A+Georgia+Ave.Wheaton,+MD+20902&aq=&sll=39.042061,-77.052002&sspn=0.010516,0.019076&gl=us&g=11406+Georgia+Ave,+Silver+Spring,+MD+20902&ie=UTF8&hq=The+Yarn+Spot&hnear=11406+Georgia+Ave,+Silver+Spring,+Maryland+20902&z=16

[Thurs 4/14] 

Visit to one of the Solitude Wool Farms for Shearing Day!
Sue Bundy's RedGate Farm in Leesburg, Virginia
http://solitudewool.com/
Map

3. Fibre Space (Blue/Yellow Line: Alexandria, walk E King Street to Fayette)

102 N. Fayette Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 664-0344

fibrespace.com‎

M, T, W, F, Sat:  10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

W, Th: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=fibre+space&fb=1&gl=us&hq=fibre+space&hnear=Washington+D.C.,+DC&hl=en&view=map&cid=6034652730047789342&z=16&iwloc=A

[Fri 4/15]
8. Uniquities  (Orange Line: Vienna, probably best to cab)

421-D Church Street, NE, Vienna, VA 22180.

703 242-0520 or 888-465-5648.

uniquitiesyarnshop.com

M, T, F, Sat: 10-5

W: 11-6:30

Th: 10-5:30

Sun: Closed

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=Uniquities+Yarn+Shop+421-D+Church+Street+NE,+Vienna,+VA,+22180&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Uniquities+Yarn+Shop+421-D+Church+Street+NE,&hnear=Vienna,+VA&cid=0,0,17623011120349816373&z=16&iwloc=A

Knit-ON with the Warm & Fuzzies

Dinner at Lauriol Plaza, then beers and knitting!

 

[Sat 4/16]
Update: No bike ride :(  The weather is gonna be wet and thunderstormy.  Another day!  I will use the good 'ol metro instead...  Head to Wool Winders first, then on down to Knit & Stitch, meet the pals for lunch and maybe a rainy day flick at Landmark!

BIKE RIDE!!!   I was thinking of riding my bicycle to Bethesda to Knit & Stitch, then hopping on the metro to go all the way to Shady Grove for Wool Winders, make a nice day of it.

 
5. Knit & Stitch (Capital Crescent Trail: Bethesda)

4706 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 

301-652-8688 or 1-866-5NEEDLE (866-563-3353/toll free)

M, T, W, F:  10am - 6:30pm

Th:  10am - 8:00pm

Sat:  10am - 5:30pm

Sun:  Noon - 5pm

Metro -- Knit & Stitch is conveniently located just three blocks south of the Bethesda Metro Station on the Red Line!  The Bethesda Metro station on the Red Line is at the intersection of Wisconsin Ave. (Rt 355) and Old Georgetown Rd. (Rt 187).  Walking from the station entrance (escalators) head south/right on Wisconsin Ave.  At Bethesda Avenue turn right and we are in the first building on the left, on the second floor.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=knit+and+Stitch+4706+Bethesda+Avenue,+Bethesda,+Maryland+20814&fb=1&gl=us&hq=knit+and+Stitch&hnear=4706+Bethesda+Ave,+Bethesda,+MD+20814&cid=0,0,2996385958454129430&z=16&iwloc=A

9. Wool Winders (Red Line: Shady Grove, in Rockville)

404 King Farm Boulevard

Rockville, MD 20850

240-632-YARN (9276)

               

Mondays: Closed

T, W, F, Sat: 11-6

Thursdays: 11-8

Sundays: 11-5

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=WoolWinders+404+King+Farm+BoulevardRockville,+MD+20850&fb=1&gl=us&hq=WoolWinders+404+King+Farm+BoulevardRockville,&hnear=Rockville,+MD+20850&cid=0,0,18156613191794408340&ll=39.115611,-77.168162&spn=0.010505,0.019076&z=16&iwloc=A

 

Naughty knitty kitty

So, I have a routine where I will knit before bed in my bed.  Dharma will lay near me, very happy to be close by and also completely mesmerized by the yarn and knitting utensils that she wishes I would take my attention off of long enough for her to grab them.  She's pretty well behaved.  Well, aside from the occasional paw on the yarn and me looking at her, her meowing to me, then moving her paw back.  Last night, as I was working on a new cowl for myself (the second thing I'm knitting for myself EVAR), I caught her getting mischievous and took this pic:

New Knitting Needle Bag

I got tired of ripped ziplock bags and finally spent a few bucks on a sewn holder.  I love it!  It holds long and short straight needles, circulars, dpns, and has a zipper pouch on the left side for stitch markers and stuff.