Border Issues

I've tried like the dickens to get  a decent overview shot of the Ohio Star afghan, with little success. The last time you saw this project, it looked like a hot mess.

I was working the borders, which required wrestling with four long circulars, primarily because I'm a stubborn coot who likes to see the stitches she's working rather than have them jammed together on a single cord. Needless to say, the process itself was both tweaky and a bit frustrating, but the end result is satisfactory.

The big debate now is whether or not to add a final edging. If the answer is yes, the next question becomes, should that edging be blue or red? Luckily, there are still a fair number of ends to weave, which gives me plenty of time to think about the issue of edging vs. no edging.

Well, life is clammoring in the background. Gotta run, happy knitting!

Hot Mess

In the US, it's not just a holiday weekend, it's the last major red, white and blue celebration of the summer. Combine that with the fact that several weeks ago, I publicly promised to finish two WIPs before I cast on something new, it seemed appropriate to devote some attention to this afghan.

Unfortunately, it looks like a hot mess right now. I'm tackling the border, which in this case means working with four pairs of circular needles, so knitting is quite the juggling act. Several times, I've gotten distracted and continued working past the point where it was time to switch to the next needle. Last evening, I did this not once but twice, which meant I spent almost as much time rearranging stitches as I did knitting.

Frustrating? Yes. Fiddly? Yes. But I'm trying hard to keep my eyes on the prize, the opportunity to cast on a much-wanted shawl once this project is off the needles.


If you're in the US, have a safe, relaxing holiday filled with family, friends and fun.

A Touch of Rebellion

It's a busy week in North America. Monday, our neighbors to the north celebrated Canada Day, and today, Americans are celebrating Independence Day. 

In the US, red, white and blue are the unofficial colors of summer, so through the years, I've managed to build a rather substantial collection of coasters and cloths suitable for these occasions.

It's been quite awhile since I've added to this collection, so this seemed like a good time to rectify that oversight, plus the prospect of a quick FO was difficult to resist. The simple color-block heart from several years ago has always been a favorite, so I knit another to keep it company, using the Sweet Hearts & Soft Spots pattern. 

Has my gauge radically changed? Did I grab the wrong needle size? Was the yarn simply feeling quixotic?

I truly couldn't say, but there's no denying the new heart (foreground) is noticeably larger than its siblings. And that's okay. A tiny touch of rebellion seems perfectly appropriate for Independence Day.

Celebrate the Fruits of Our Labor

In the US, this is Labor Day weekend, a three-day national holiday recognizing the millions of hardworking Americans whose labor keeps the economy humming. 

It seems fitting, therefore, that the afghan that's been consuming my knitting attention is red, white and blue. Last weekend, I was working to fix a frustrating fubar. Because I'd skipped several stitches in the seaming process, the two strips didn't line up as intended. You can clearly see these problems below.

This past week, I slowly, steadily and carefully, tackled the seam one section at a time. True confessions, it took me all week to accomplish this feat. (Did I mention slowly?)

The reworked seam is much, much better. It's not perfect, but there are no missed stitches and the color blocks line up properly. (The angled shot below may make that difficult to see, so you'll have to trust me on this.)

Right now, this WIP is spread out on the work table, partly so I can admire the fruit of my labor and partly so I can figure out how to finish the edges. I've always intended to add a border of some sort, but right now, I'm having an intense internal debate. Should I take a minimalist approach and add a one-row edging to stop the curl and stabilize the edges? Or, should I work a deeper border for a more traditional approach?

If you have thoughts or preferences, I'd love your feedback. While I contemplate these weighty matters, I'll be weaving ends in preparation for finishing. 

Meanwhile, wherever you are, take time to celebrate the fruits of your labor, and if you're in the US, have a relaxing, enjoyable Labor Day!

RELATED

Roundup | Red, White & Blue	Spotlight | Red, White & Blue Holidays

Small Mistake, Big Consequences

The first rule of blogging about knitting is this: Do NOT crow when a project's going well. Because if you do, all too soon you'll be back at the keyboard eating crow and confessing something (or everything) has gone woefully awry. 

Last week, I was wallowing in the pleasures of working on a project that was moving forward at a fast (for me) pace. In a handful of weeks it progressed from casting on the first strip to finishing all the strips and starting the seaming process. 

The first seam went together easily, without a hiccup and with each section lining up as intended. 

The second seam did not, and it's my own fault. It was late after a long, demanding work day, but I decided to push ahead and finish the final seam. It was a bad call, and the orange stitch marker marks the spot.

Somehow, someway, I'd managed to skip not one but several stitches during the three-needle bindoff, and that small mistake had big consequences. If you look at the picture above, you can see it. The left corner of the upper white triangle is supposed to align with the right corner of the red section, but clearly it doesn't.

The only way to fix an error of this magnitude is to frog it and redo it. So that's where things stand. I've ripped out the bindoff and the stitches are sitting there ready to be returned to the needles, so I can try again.

Fast Forward

This afghan is in fast forward, moving ahead so quickly, I only have a few quick shots to share. I managed to grab one in a brief moment of semi-organization right after I finished the second strip.



It's difficult to decipher the hot mess below, so you'll have to trust me when I say it shows all three strips heaped unceremoniously on the work table.

After sorting things out and restoring some semblance of order, I've started picking up stitches in preparation for joining the strips.

It's always gratifying when a project moves forward at such a rewarding pace, but I'm determined keep things in perspective. With seams to complete, borders to work and ends to weave, there's still plenty of work to be done, but you'll hear no complaints from me. It's all part of this crazy craft we call knitting, so it's okay with me.

Connecting with the linkups in the sidebar.

Geometry

When I was a kid, geometry was one of my favorite classes. In fact, I distinctly recall completing a rather complex project where we were charged with representing a series of geometric shapes in a way that demonstrated our understanding of the underlying mathematical principles.

I used pins and colored string to create swirling, dimensional shapes that impressed my teacher (known for his tough standards) and won me a top grade. This was a very long time ago, and while I've seen similar things since then, at the time it was seen as fresh and innovative.

Clearly, my love of textiles and geometry can be traced back to my childhood, so I guess it's no surprise that color, texture and crisp geometric shapes regularly surface in my knitting designs.

All of this is a long way of saying I have another afghan on the needles, and it's moving forward at a steady, satisfying pace. The first strip is finished, and it's patiently waiting in the background while I tackle the next one.



I confess, I'm rather excited by this project. It's fast and easy, a quality I treasure at times like this, when work (and life) are so complicated there's nothing more enticing than a simple, straightforward knit. 

It's also a true stashbuster. I'm using Four Seasons, a lovely cotton-wool blend by Classic Elite, yarn I've held in my stash until the right project came along. This project will put quite a dent in that precious reserve, but it will also move a fair amount of yardage out of stash, which is an ongoing goal.

Finally, I once wrote that in the US, red, white and blue where the true colors of summer, so it seems only fitting to be working on a project that features these iconic colors. And if all goes well and time permits, I may have it completed just in time for Labor Day, the last big blowout of the summer season. We shall see.

RELATED

I Heart Red, White & Blue	Spotlight | Red, White & Blue Holidays

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I Heart Red, White & Blue

In the US, Labor Day signals the end of summer and transition into fall.

In the old days, it was also the last weekend of summertime freedom before the school year started, but today that's changed with many districts opting to return in mid-August instead.

Locally, Labor Day is a truly big deal with parades, craft and art festivals, fireworks, music concerts, and more. As much fun as these events can be, my schedule's a bit crazy right now, so I'm choosing to celebrate in a different way.

Yep, I've cast on yet another red, white and blue heart.

It's fast, easy and undemanding, so it's the ideal pick-up-lay-down project for a busy holiday weekend and when it's finished it will join its red, white and blue siblings.

Whether you're celebrating Labor Day or not, I hope you're having a relaxing and enjoyable weekend, accompanied by the pleasure of knitting something you love. Meanwhile if you, too, are in the mood for something red, white and blue, you might enjoy these posts:

• Bring Out the Red, White & Blue
• Colors of Summer
• Fruits of Our Labor
• Spotlight: Red, White & Blue Holidays (US)
• Spotlight: Red, White & Blue Knits

Connecting with the linkups in the sidebar.

Spotlight | Red, White & Blue Holidays

In the US, we'll soon be enjoying an extended holiday weekend in honor of America's Independence Day (July 4). I'm also sharing a list of red, white and blue holidays, which I hope you'll find useful. 

Many of us enjoy brightening these occasions with our handcrafted items, so this list of patriotic US holidays will help all of us get the maximum enjoyment from the things we make:

JANUARY
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Third Monday: Recognizes his contributions to American society

FEBRUARY
National Freedom Day. Feb 1: Celebrates the law that abolished slavery

Lincoln's Birthday. Feb 12: Celebrates Abraham Lincoln

Washington's Birthday. Feb 22: Washington was born Feb 22, 1732 (or Feb 11, 1731 using the Julian calendar in effect at that time)

President's Day. Third Monday: A joint holiday to recognize Washington and Lincoln

MAY
Loyalty Day. May 1: A time to reaffirm loyalty and celebrate American freedoms

Armed Forces Day. Third Saturday: Recognizes our Armed Forces

Memorial Day. Last Monday: Honors those who've died protecting our freedoms

JUNE
D-Day. Jun 6: Commemorates the 1944 Normandy landings, the beginning of the end of World War II

Flag Day. Jun 14: Celebrates the adoption of the US flag in 1777

JULY
Independence Day. Jul 4: Celebrates the US Declaration of Independence in 1776

SEPTEMBER
Labor Day. First Monday: Recognizes all American workers

Patriot Day. Sep 11: Remembers the 2996 people who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Constitution Day. Sep 17: Celebrates the signing of the Constitution in 1787

Citizenship Day. Sep 17: Recognizes the rights and responsibilities of US citizenship

Gold Star Mother's Day. Last Sunday: Honors the mothers of those who've died serving in the US Armed Forces

NOVEMBER
Veteran's Day. Nov 11: Celebrates all veterans on the anniversary of the World War I Armistice in 1918

DECEMBER
Pearl Harbor Day. Dec 7: Honors those who died in the 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks

With so many opportunities to celebrate, perhaps you'll feel inspired to make something in red, white and blue.

Sweet Hearts & Soft Spots

Have a relaxing and enjoyable weekend one and all, whether or not you're celebrating Independence Day or Canada Day. Meanwhile, if you're seeking inspiration, you might enjoy these posts:

• Brave Heart
• Bring Out the Red, White & Blue
• Colors of Summer
• Fiber Fun on Flag Day
• Heartland
• Fruits of Our Labor
• More Red, White & Blue
• Summer Means Red, White & Blue
• Spotlight: Red, White & Blue

Connecting with the linkups in the sidebar.

Summer Means Red, White & Blue

Summer has arrived in every sense of the word.

It's Memorial Day weekend, which in the US is the defacto start of the season. And after a very cool, grey and rainy spring, we're experiencing a stretch of warm weather accompanied by the delightful humidity that makes summer in this region so sticky memorable.

Regardless of the weather, makers and non-makers alike will be unfurling flags, pulling out decorations, and preparing all things red, white and blue (RWB) for summer duty.

As I was going through this annual ritual, it was a bit disconcerting to realize for the first time in several years, there have been no new additions to this cloth and coaster collection.

Obviously, this is a problem that must be rectified. There are several projects in various states of doneness (that's a word, right?) and a long list of items clamoring to be cast on, but as a knitter I can feel the RWB collection tugging at my maker's heartstrings.

The only logical option is to update the Might Could list and cast on at least one item to freshen the collection. 

What will that be, you ask? I have no clue. 

I've been thinking a handknit towel and/or placemat would serve as an anchor for the 27 coasters and cloths. (Yep, I counted.) The collection has actually grown smaller, since several items have found new homes with friends and family.

I'm especially fond of the RWB Hearts and Spots (which are beginning to show signs of wear), so new ones are a real possibility. 

Or if I get ambitious, I might tackle a table runner. What do you think: Perhaps a long stretch of blue accented with red and white stripes at each end? Or something in red and white that would work for Christmas and Valentine's Day, too?

I feel confident with your input I'll make a sound decision.

Meanwhile wherever you are, I hope you're having a relaxing weekend. And if you're in the US, enjoy your holiday weekend by celebrating with family, friends and something handcrafted in red, white and blue. In many ways, they're the true colors of summer.


PS: Hard to believe, but Independence Day (July 4) is only a few weeks away. In the meantime, for those of you who live in the US, Flag Day (June 14) offers another opportunity to celebrate with red, white and blue. 

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Spotlight | Red, White & Blue

As knitters, we all have our quirks. One of mine (as you know too well) is an ongoing obsession with cloths and coasters in red, white and blue.

Some of this is purely practical, since the stash holds an impressive amount of red, white and blue yarn from a project that didn’t work quite as planned.

Some of this is convenience, since cloths and coasters are a practical way to test new stitches or concepts. 

Some of those experiments work (Sweet Hearts & Soft Spots).













Some of  them don't.


Some of this is therapeutic, since working on a small, quick piece is a refreshing change from larger or more complicated projects.

Some of this is laziness, since the plain red and white cloths suit multiple occasions and can be pressed into service all winter from Christmas through Valentine's Day.

Strangely enough, it turns out if you do "some of this" on a regular basis, one day you'll discover you have an entire collection of handcrafted holiday items that looks something like this. (And yes, there are more. Many, many more.)

You don't have to be American to be a passionate about red, white and blue. In fact, there are 21 countries whose national flags feature that combination, and the list is much longer if you add those with multi-colored flags.

One of these days, I'll get photos of the rest of the collection. 

For now, let me wish Canadian readers a happy Canada Day (July 1) and fellow Americans an enjoyable Independence Day (July 4). 

Summer is whizzing by so wherever you live, take time to celebrate each day in true knitterly style.

Connecting with the linkups in the sidebar.

Colors of Summer

In the United States, red, white and blue are the unofficial colors of summer.

There are many patriotic holidays throughout the year, but three major ones define the season: Memorial Day signals the defacto start of summer, Independence Day marks the midpoint and Labor Day tags the transition to fall.

This confluence of celebrations (coupled with my own quirky nature) helps explain why I've worked for several years to slowly build a collection of coordinated RWB cloths, coasters and decorative items for summertime use.

The latest addition is this color-block heart. (Yes, it's from the Sweet Hearts & Soft Spots pattern.)

It helps round out this cluster:

It's a nice complement to these cloths (and the many others not shown, which we'll save for another day):

And it helps me believe (however delusionally) that no matter how small the item, if I continue to add to the RWB collection I might one day knit my way through this portion of the stash:

Summer has arrived in this corner of the world. How do we know? Once again, it's time to bring out the red, white and blue.

Connecting with the linkups in the sidebar.

Fiber Fun on Flag Day

Everyone has their fiber “thing.” 

Some folks only knit lace. Others only spin. Still others only knit lace using yarn they’ve spun themselves, preferably using wool sheared from sheep they've raised from lambhood.

That’s not me, but if that’s you, I can certainly relate. I have my own fiber fetishes, one of which is knitting small things in red, white and blue combinations. 

The motivation for this is partly practical since my stash happens to contain a great deal of red, white and blue yarn (Four Seasons, Classic Elite; 70% wool, 30% cotton; discontinued). As a result, I’ve steadily produced a number of coasters and cloths, and am building a small but growing collection. It's a harmless and completely understandable little obsession, right?

Which brings me to the point: Saturday, June 14, is Flag Day in the US.

Flag Day was established to commemorate this event: On June 14, 1777, John Adams proposed and the Second Continental Congress adopted the first Flag Resolution. It said: ““Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.”

Flag Day is a national holiday and many Americans will mark the occasion by displaying the flag at their homes and businesses. In Pennsylvania and New York, it’s also an official state holiday. Naturally the dates are different: Pennsylvania acknowledges June 14, New York celebrates on the second Saturday in June, but through a happy accident, this year the two coincide.

From the beginning, our flag has symbolized many things, such as our strong ties to Britain and our struggle for independence. George Washington once observed, “We take the star from Heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing liberty.”

I’m a bit biased, of course, but if you live in the US, I think the best way to celebrate Flag Day is to have fun with fiber.

That’s what I plan to do. What’s on your weekend agenda?

Heartland

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer. In some parts of the country, it's also the official start of red, white and blue season. To acknowledge this fact, I finished this cloth this morning.

It goes well with my red, white and blue collection, including the heart coaster shown below.

From now through September, folks will be flying the American flag and hauling out all sorts of patriotic decorations to celebrate a series of summertime national holidays. These include:

• Memorial Day | last Monday in May
• D-Day | June 6
• Flag Day | June 14
• Independence Day | July 4
• Labor Day | first Monday in September

Throughout the country, this weekend will be devoted to many things: Cookouts with family and friends. Community celebrations. Yard work.

Here in the heartland of America, it's also dedicated to honoring those who have fought or died to protect us and the freedoms we enjoy. To those who have served or are serving now, we thank you one and all.


UPDATE
The Sweet Hearts & Soft Spots pattern is now available.

In response to your questions: The photos show two separate cloths, one mitered square and one heart-shaped. Also, other red, white and blue holidays such as Veterans Day (November 11) are scattered  throughout the year, so one day soon, I'll issue a more comprehensive list.

Brave Heart

This year, President's Day will be celebrated tomorrow, on February 17. The holiday was created in 1885 to recognize George Washington's birthday, which occurs on February 22. Born in 1732, Washington led the War of Independence and was 57 years old when he became the first president of the United States in 1789.

Many clamored to make him a king, but Washington had the courage, integrity and foresight to look power in the eye and refuse the temptation. His brave heart and wise action established an essential principle: America needed strong leaders with limited powers not lifetime rulers. For that we owe him an eternal debt of gratitude.

In 1971, the federal government moved many national holidays to Mondays to give workers more three-day weekends throughout the year. The holiday was renamed President's Day and expanded to acknowledge Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809) and William Henry Harrison (February 9, 1773). In 1981, Ronald Reagan (February 6, 1911) became the fourth president  born in February.

Washington and Lincoln were such transformative leaders, it's appropriate to celebrate them and their contributions. October holds the record, however, with six presidential birthdays, including John Adams, Rutherford Hayes, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter.

In recent years, President's Day has become primarily a bank, government and school holiday. Many companies opt instead to celebrate Martin Luther King day, which occurs each year on the third Monday in January. As a result of this trend, close to 80% of all businesses (particularly small and independent ones) will be on the job tomorrow as usual.

This simple heart-shaped coaster shown in red, white and blue combines two February themes: hearts and recognizing true leaders. Like most of what I'm knitting these days, it was fun, fast and supremely simple.

It makes a great addition to my growing collection of holiday dishcloths, hotpads and coasters (here, here and here). What can I say? Celebrating the red, white and blue is something Americans like to do year round. As an added bonus, the striped design allows me to productively use odd bits of yarn, where there's too little to do much with but too much to casually pitch.

The bottom line? I suspect you'll see more red, white and blue hearts in the future. Meanwhile, in the spirit of the holiday, celebrate someone you know who leads by example and has a heart that's brave and true.

UPDATE
The Sweet Hearts & Soft Spots pattern is now available.

FO | More Red, White & Blue

There has been knitting. What there hasn't been much of is time, so I'm focusing on small things that lend themselves to the well-known knitting strategy of one row here, one row there.

Do enough of that, and eventually you end up with something like this:

Highlights
Pattern: Pure Increase (my seed stitch version of the reverse mitered square)
Reversible: Yes
Yarn: Four Seasons (Classic Elite)
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm)
Ravelry notes: Here

Yes, I'm continuing to add to my collection of red, white and blue cloths. Fourth of July is the peak red, white and blue holiday, but in America, we like to show our colors year round. Labor Day weekend is only a few weeks away, so there soon will be another opportunity to put out my growing red, white and blue set.

That's it, folks. I'm out of time. There are several other pieces that go with this collection, but they'll have to wait for another day.


Have a lovely weekend, one and all.