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Posted By Laura on July 7, 2009

Pattern: Made up!
Yarn: Rowan Cashcotton DK, 4 colours for the squares from stash, white (2 balls) for the border.
Hook: 4mm hook

The other day I realised that I had not made anything for baby. She is due in 3 weeks time and there is no knitting or hooking that has been done for her by me. I started to feel a tad guilty about this. So, I went delving into my stash and, inspired by others who are grannying at the moment, I decided to make a little granny blanket.

I originally purchased the cashcotton to make a hexagon blanket, out of a Japanese crochet book that I have. However, when I made the first few hexagons, I wasn’t enthralled by it. So, I pulled all the pink / purple colours and decided to do some little granny squares. There are 24 different granny squares, and I decided to join using the Flat Braid Technique [youtube.com] but instead of chaining 3 between the joins, I decided to chain 5, so that it would be a bit lacier rather than stiff. I really like the results that I got out of it. It *is* a faffy join, but I think it looks quite good. And I hate seaming up, so it was good all round. The only problem with this is that there were literally a gazillion ends to weave in. And I hate weaving in ends almost as much as seaming.

I’m not 100% sure about the cashcotton. I can understand and appreciate why Rowan have discontinued it. It is rather splitty to work with and a bit faffy. However, it does produce a rather nice, soft blanket. I think gauge is really important with this yarn as it feels a bit bizarre when it is crocheted too tight.

I did choose the hottest week of the year to make this blankie, which was a bit of a faux pas on my part. But at least baby has something that I have made for her now.

Suzy was very helpful when it came to photographing the blanket.

As helpful as ever, eh, Suze!

And the baby knitting has now kicked into full gear. I am 37 weeks pregnant on Friday so she could come any time after that (I hope it isn’t too long after that!) and I am knitting like a madwoman! I have started a Baby Surprise Jacket and am more than half way through already. I only started on Saturday night. I am using this yarn, which isn’t very baby-ish but the colours are fantastic, I’m sure you’ll agree:

And the wonderful thing about the BSJ is that it will ‘grow’ with the baby for a little while.

I also want to knit Sheldon the Turtle [knitty.com] and some little socks and the umbilical cord hat from S’n'B too.

So, I am going to stop writing and get back to the BSJ! I want it finished fairly soon. I may even try Saartje’s Booties to go with it again. I will make some mods to that one, though, as I didn’t like the button holes when I did them last time (and somehow managed to scunner the gauge on the second bootie. My tension is normally rather even, too :/).

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