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Menú semanal

Esta semana sólo cenas, para comer restos.  Pinchad en la imagen para descargar el PDF.

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Busting the stash

I've been in need of a project to get rid of all those odd balls of yarn that remain from other projects, or that were bought for a project that never happened, or that were bought in a hurry only to be met with a perplexed "what was I thinking?".   I also wanted it to be quick and easy (Christmas present), so since I had quite a few balls of Big Wool I settled on a large gauge (2 sts to 1 inch) and monster #17 needles.  All the thinner yarns have been winded into balls either using two strands, or using three different colors of the same yarn (although I'm not quite sure those are going to make it into the blanket).

I decided early on that it had to be a blanket to acommodate all that yarn, and that it had to be "patchworkie" (obviously, since I have all different kinds of yarn).  I fiddled with Elizabeth Zimmerman's garter stitch blanket, thinking I might use blocks of color or even stripes, but it didn't work out:  too many different yarns and no idea of how much of each I would need to give it some sort of regularity.

Then I thought log cabin would be perfect:  it would accomodate different colors and block sizes nicely, and there would be no seams to deal with;  but I started with a small square and it just didn't look quite right at such a large gauge.  But I knew I was on the right track, and then I came accross the Moderne Log Cabin Blanket by the Mason-Dixon ladies.

So here it is.  I'm not following the pattern at all, but using the idea of starting with a large block, doing log cabin around it and then adding a block in two colors on the other end.  I'm really liking it, and I hope the recipient will, too.

Finished!

As I said, seams are too tight and pull quite a bit, but honestly, I don't really care.  I like how it looks, and I love how it feels.  It's the perfect afghan to snuggle on the couch with a book (or some knitting), heavy and drapey.
I ended up not following the pattern at all, so maybe I'll write it down in case anyone can use it.

¡Lo terminé!  Las costuras un poco tirantes, pero la verdad es que me da igual, ¡me encanta!  Estoy contenta con cómo ha quedado.  Al final no he seguido el patrón para nada, así que tendré que escribir cómo lo he hecho para que no se me olvide (aunque no tiene ninguna ciencia).

Almost There...

All the seams are done, every last end darned in, and one round of the edging is done.  I'm half way through the second round of single crochet and trying to decide if that is going to be it, or if I'll add a few more rounds.   My seams are a little tight, but not too bad for my first crochet afghan; I did them with a slip stitch, following Lucy's directions, and I almost wish I had done them on the right side, they look cute!

I've been extremely lazy about taking pictures lately, hence the lack of posting.  But there has been a lot of activity around these parts.  Lots of organizing projects (I have a very impressive spice drawer now, and a perpetual calendar that I should share with you, and new curtains... hopefully I'll get around to taking some photos and showing them here).  Anyway, I'm aiming for finishing the afghan tonight or tomorrow and posting some pictures before Thanksgiving.

Off my needles...

...is this shawlette for my friend Rachel on her wedding day.   Finding a wedding dress that is not strapless can be a chore these days, and since she found one that was perfect except for that detail... a knitted shawl was in order.

This is one of the reasons why I have barely been here lately.  Even though it is a simple, small piece of lace, it has been knitted over many days on stolen time on the train, at staff meetings, waiting rooms...  I don't think I have had more than one real block of knitting time for it.   And the fact that I was totally improvising kind of added to the "last minuteness" of it all (she's getting married next Saturday!).

 But thankfully it is done and blocking, ready to go in the mail tomorrow morning to meet her in New Mexico.  Once I have wedding photos I will post the details.

Menú semanal

Llevo dos semanas viviendo de las rentas, y aunque la semana que viene vuelvo a tener puente y nos vamos de viaje, tengo que volver al redil.  Así que aquí teneis otro menú.  Pinchad en la imagen para descargar el PDF.

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Menú semanal

Esta semana tengo puente y nos vamos a casa de mi suegra, donde la comida es en plan yanqui (ensalada o bocadillo, todo lo más sopa de sobre) así que no he pensado comidas de viernes a domingo, pero las cenas son consistentes.  Pinchad en la imagen para descargar el PDF.

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