Slow Progress.

Finally my Building Block blanket is finished and ahead of the Schedule! I’m happy with the way it turned out and learned so much. Each one got more and more complicated and I really enjoyed the classes. The classes were on MachineKnit Community online. Back to knitting a lot but still haven’t returned to spinning or weaving some block there since my shoulder surgery.

Again had surgery so I wasn’t able to use the knitting machine for a month or so. I’ve been hand knitting cowls mainly. The ones below were from a vendor at SAFF. I made the fingerless mitts using part of the pattern. I like them, can turn the hem up over my fingers while driving.

Slowly using my mid gauge to knit a sweater yarn was purchased from Amazon, lol. Cascade superwash 220, it worked really well on my LK150. Photo of my assistant cat he keeps climbing on the machine. It is with a class thru the same group in a Chunky knit class. I changed it put a stretch bottom edge and 3/4 sleeves. I have another yarn to try so may make another. I have two other projects a button down sweater and a master class in April for another sweater. Also another handknit cowl.

Yearlong Obsession

Subscribe to a site called Machine Knit Community and it has a yearlong knit along or KAL. The KAL is making an alphabet blanket or throw on a knitting machine. It is call the Building Block KAL Usually 4 squares a month, That started out pretty easy and went way beyond there. I have totally enjoyed this and have learned so much!

Chose a yarn that I knew my machine liked lol. I had quite the stash already and have added to it a bit as I ran out. Unfortunately the company seems to be phasing it out. Always the way you like something and they tweak it or phase it out. The knitting is down to 4 squares…G,Q, J and T. Letters have always been a challenge. So I have been sewing things together with gaps but at least I am that far ahead. With arthritis in both thumbs I have been using the sewing machine. I’ve been on the hunt for a color changer for about the entire time may. If it arrives I’ll have one to use for the last ones. Unable to do stripes very easily without it. Found a plastic quilt square 6×6 inches and washable markers that have been a great help.

One of the members developed a presentation or PowerPoint way of putting photos of the squares into their spots. I haven’t got powerpoint but found an app that I could use that is similar. Luckily I had taken individual photos of them from the start. This isn’t quite correct but close enough for my purposes as far as colors and balancing them out etc. I will post a photo of the completed blanket. see below

This was a great help over night: Cat protection, it is not a bed. Lol.