Barbara Walker Learn to Knit Afghan Book block 51

Tonight I finished Block 51 which is called "Faggoting and Fancy Rib".  I cast on 32 stitches for it.  It came out pretty well considering I did not go back and repair every error!

Faggoting and Fancy Rib Block 51

One thing I learned as I was working on this square: row markers are critically important to a good result.  You will notice the row markers along the right edge.  This pattern had an 8-row repeat.  Even this small number of rows in the repeat was too much for me to memorize so I placed a row marker on the first stitch of each right side row.  When each pattern repeat is completed I move up the last row marker.  In this block with 8 rows there are four markers in the repeat.  When I start row 2 of the next pattern repeat I remove the marker from Row 8 and attach it to Row 2 of the new pattern repeat. In this way I am able to keep better track of where I am.

Another thing I learned/used was to count the stitches on the needle as I am preparing to knit each right side row.  If the number is off, this is the time to make corrections!  Take my word for it.  It is worth spending those few seconds.  It can make a world of difference in the work involved in completing the square.

This block has not yet been blocked as you can see.  Also, the blotchy look is from the tiny focussed light over the kitchen counter in our motel room glaring on one spot on the block.

Barbara Walker Learn To Knit Afghan Book, square 48 Vine Leaf

This is the last block in the "increases and decreases" section of the book. I am beginning to think I will actually get this afghan project finished! Less than fifteen more to go...

Vine Leaf Panel, block 48

This block has obviously not been blocked.  There is a 26-stitch center panel with nine-stitch stocking stitch on either side.  It was a rather fun block to knit but I really wish I had some simple "knit stitches font" software to use to build a chart.  Charted designs are easier to knit than holding the book to my chest and picking it up every row to make sure I remember what to do when...

This would be a great panel for the back of a sweater.  Of course,  re-working the vine to wind wider would make it better for the back of that projected sweater.

Funny Little Boy

As part of yesterday's shopping extravaganza with three-year-old B we went to a big box store for some Soft Soap that was on sale.  It came in two large bottles that were held together with a heavy plastic key.  We were doing really well, whipping through the store but made a stop for a sample of a protein bar.  He wanted the sample so I stopped to pick it up.  In the meantime he had been working over the Soft Soap unbeknownst to me.  Just as I accepted the protein bite he said, "Grammie!" in a rather distressed voice. I looked over to see that one of the Soft Soap bottles had tipped over into his lap with the cover off.  It spread all over he pants and was dripping onto the floor.  Big mess.  We stopped the continued messing of the store but he was ready to leave at the point.

Fast forward to this morning.  There were several things we did not get done yesterday due in part to the Soft Soap incident so I told him we were going out today.  He told me in no uncertain terms that he wanted to stay home today, so I let it go for a while.  When I finished my other projects I told him we were heading out, and we did.  Several stops later we stopped at a chain grocery store.  As I put him in the shopping cart he said, "We are not going to have another Soft Soap incident, are we?"  I almost could not keep my laughter inside...He is such a doll and really was so distressed about "the Soft Soap incident".

It turns out that, contrary to popular opinion, at least three-year-old opinion, a nap is a good thing to have.  Today was a case in point.  No nap today and about 30 minutes before Dad arrived home the stuff hit the fan.  Everything that could distress a little guy, did distress him.  Fortunately I had supper in the oven so as soon as Dad walked in they just had to set the table and eat.  I will be interested to see how it turned out.  "Breakfast Omelet Muffins",  Perri's mild Italian sausages, and scalloped potatoes.    I brought some potatoes and omelet muffins home for Dear One.  He thought the potatoes had too much sauce and so far has not eaten the muffins....

Arriving home shortly after 5 PM we unloaded the car from the shopping and child-entertainment-options, I grabbed a sweater and my Hanover Rec Department Trail Challenge map booklet and we headed to the Fall Festival where we could enter our completed trail challenge in a drawing for prizes.  There were not a lot of names on the list of completers but I do not know how many prizes there are, but one can always hope.

The Adventure Begins....

A and E have gone to Denmark for two weeks for E to visit with his grandfather and A to meet her new sister.  Grammie is spending the days with 3-year-old B and with C and L when they arrive home from school.  That is the plan.  Sometimes we may all go to Grandpa's house for supper. Sometimes Dad may just have to make supper when he gets home from work.

Day One was quite a long one.  Grammie had a meeting on campus but before going to the meeting she wanted to visit a friend to borrow an owl punch, got to the feed store to enter a jar of sweet pepper relish, and fill the car's tank with gasoline.  The friend was already gone at that early hour.  The feed store had not opened yet even though it after the posted opening hour.  The gasoline station came through for us.  We then did the feed store and arrived early for the meeting to get B set up with headphones and iPad.  He was excellent during the long meeting.

We then went to the yarn store for Grammie to sign up for a knitting class to make a "Wonderful Wallaby",  a pattern she had previously purchased but could not find so she acquired a new one, plus a new set of 16" size 6 needles, the class fee, and the yarn for the sweater sized for B.  He chose his own color: blue. I chose some white to do some patterning in the design.

After that we went to Joann's Fabrics and Crafts for some paper for paper-crafting, to KMart for medicine, to BJ's for coupon sales, and finally made a stop for fast food..."vanilla ice cream in a cup with a spoon please".  He thought we should go up to the airport to eat, which we did.  There were three other stops scheduled but Grammie had had enough.  It turns out B had also had enough.  We were about one and a half miles from home when he fell sound asleep, sooooooo.....When we got home Grammie got out her knitting and started the ribbing on the Wonderful Wallaby to be ready for the open class in two days.



When C and L returned from school we had some homework time then headed to Grandpa's house for games and supper.  Grammie made some Sixty Minute Rolls to go with some delicious vegetable soup along with some roasted cauliflower and roasted beets.  L announced that she does not like beets. Grammie said she did not like beets, either, but they were supposedly good for us so she ate three pieces. L did not.

Dad came for supper and stayed a little while talking with Uncle R then rounded up the gang, picked some jalapeno peppers, and headed home.






Adventures all day long.  Grammie will sleep well tonight...