YOP Week #35

I missed last week but you didn't miss much! LOL!  The only problem with being strict with myself about "finishing" things is that it gets boring for my blog readers as it's the same old projects.  If I would sit and knit and/or crochet all day I would move ahead faster but I have other fish to fry and most are way ahead in my priority list.  But I do knit on my breaks during the day and I take quite a few at my age and I crochet at night while I watch t.v. or listen to a book on tape.  

On the knitting front, the blanket is coming along really well!  2 weeks ago when I blogged I was just starting block #31 and this week I am just starting block #41 out of 55!  I am seeing a finish off in the distance and being this close there's no chance of me putting it down....is there?

My plans are to finish and then back it with a dark brown "minky" fabric I've had my eye on.

The only problem is I've never lined or backed anything knitted before.  I've seen it done though and it really looks wonderful.  I'm just not sure how?   Pre-wash the fabric to ensure there's no shrinking and leave enough fabric all around (1/2 inch?) to press a hem and then blind stitich all around?  If anyone has done this please tell me as else I will be "winging it".

I've also been slowly catching up with the preemie hats and I'm just finishing up January......

I spent some time organizing them and making a list by month of how many and what type was needed to fulfill my requirement.  Then I woke up this morning and realized it is now March!  I need some more yarn too.  Get a move on, Sam!

Feeling so good about my "stick-to-it-iveness" I found myself needing a little reward....so.......I joined a  BAL (blanket along) over at Cherry Heart and actually today is the official start so please go over and join if you feel the urge.  She also has a group on Ravelry for it and all the information including the free pattern is at the above link.  Here's my humble start........the picture is Sandra's hexie blanket called the Weekender and that is exacly what I am doing.  The BAL is for any  blanket you are working on or have set aside and it doesn't have to be her pattern.  It's just a group to encourage us all to finish and/or start those blanket projects.  My plan is to work on my blanket of blocks above during the week and then on the weekends (get it...The Weekender?) I'll work on the hexie blanket.

I ended up doing my first hexie 3 times before I got it right.  The picture above helped tremendously.  I am so poor at following directions and she had a chart also but I haven't learned how to use them...yet.....I think it was one of my YOP skills this year...or it should have been.  Now that I sort of know how to make one maybe I can go back and understand the chart.

I put a big order in to Deramore's as my Stylecraft DK was never a big collection but it will be now!

I'd been saving my "allowance" for awhile now to place an order and it was free shipping to the U.S. even so I felt very "puffed" as my friends in the U.K. say or is it "chuffed"?  Regardless, I am very excited  for it's arrival this coming week and I will share pictures as soon as it arrives!

I'm also learning a new technique today (hopefully) with Cherry Heart's JAYG (join as you go) instructions.  That's why I only have the one hexie done as I need to be spending some time on that technique today.  The only problem with "join as you go" is you have to know your color placement right away where as when you join later you can lay them out and see what arrangement looks best.  I did take a tip from Lucy over at Attic 24 that she does for designing her blankets and their colors.  She wraps some yarn around a clip clothespin (you use the clip to keep the end of the yarn from unraveling) and she marks the number/color of the Stylecraft DK on the end.  I need more clothespins before my yarn arrives this week! LOL!

I hope you all had a great week and Happy March!  We're having snow, sleet and freezing rain today so it's a great day to cozy up and do some handwork.  I have spaghetti sauce simmering and putting a great smell in the air!  Happy Trails!

P.S.  I finished a bunch of books this last week too so stop by tomorrow for "It's Monday, What Are You Reading".  I'll have some reviews and stop by Book Journey who is the hostess of the Monday reading group.  There are hundreds of reviews on her site and Monday's are when her fellow reviewers all link up.  So, if you're wondering what to read next, Sheila will lead you to just the right book!