Finished Object - XOXO Blanket

This is my first finished project for 2009 and it surprised me how fast it knit up. I really, really overestimated the time it would take to complete the blanket. My friend from college is due in February and it's already in the mail!


I knit this baby blanket because I was able to make it very meaningful. Scarlet and Brown are our school colors from college. XOXO may mean hugs and kisses to some people but to us it's the Greek letter for Chi Omega, our sorority where we met.

I'm very happy with the two colors but the strangest thing happened. I bought 2 skeins of autumn red and 2 of chocolate for the blanket. While I ran out of the first Chocolate skein before starting the last strip I never touched the second autumn red. I even had plenty left for seaming. I've heard of manufacturers varying the length of yarn in a skein but this was a huge difference. Good think I love the color and will use it in something else some day!


I did end up deciding not to attach a backing to the blanket since it's going to a warm climate. That meant an entire night just seaming in ends. Pure torture but it looks wonderful. I've gotten great compliments from anyone who's seen it. I'm definitely going to save the pattern for future babies since it was such a quick knit. There are some good color combinations out there to try and Caron's Simply Soft is perfect for the quality, price and durability.


Project Details:
Pattern: XOXO Blanket (free Ravelry link)
Yarn: Caron's Simply Soft in Autumn Red and Chocolate
Needles: US size 9 straight
Time frame: 12/24/08 to 1/11/09

Free Bag of Yarn - YAY!

I was going through my emails Thursday morning last week and decided that I didn't need to get the Freecycle daily digest anymore for my county. I used it to get rid of stuff but there was never anything I ever wanted. I was just about it click to join my group and edit my preferences when I saw a listing for a free bag of yarn and not much more information than that. I jumped right on it and replied to the lady.

She still had the yarn and our times for pick up matched. Then we got snow, lots of lots of snow. My husband and I picked up our son from daycare and then braved the weather to drive a half hour. This was treacherous weather and we just giggled the whole way. No one can ever say my husband didn't support me with my knitting.

I ended up with a big bag of older acrylic yarn.


Perfect for my charity work with the baby blankets and HAP rectangles. I sorted out the stuff that was unusable, balled up everything else then sorted which was worsted and which was sport weight.



Overall, very good for a free bag of yarn.

Wednesday Book Night is Back!

With the insanely crazy holidays over we're finally able to get back into our routine. Last night I started Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3) . . . love it! Even though the story line and characters remind me of The Lord of the Rings I'm caught up and want to see how it all ends. Do Eragon and Arya end up together? Can he save Murtagh from his oath to the evil dude? I could have sat there and read the book cover to cover if I didn't have to work the next day. It's so relaxing to put the XM channel on and just snuggle with a blanket and read. I look forward to Wednesday night every week now.

It is difficult to not get my knitting out that night. I feel like I'm almost cheating or just not being productive with my time. But it gives me a good break so that I can dive in again on Thursday night and not get too bored with what I'm making.

Speaking of which - my XOXO Blanket should be done this week, at least the knitting part. Then comes the hard decision as to whether or not a backing should be added. I may chicken out and just weave in my ends and be done. I'm not sure if I'm up for learning something new and having it turn out horrible. This is a gift that I really want to send out right now. I haven't responded to my friend after getting her Christmas card announcement of the pregnancy so I'm chomping at the bit to talk to her.