Persistent Knitter

Forever ago, I got the yarn to make a baby blanket. Since I got my hands on it (two colors, one light, one dark of the same basic color) I have been contemplating what to do with it. 

My first thought was to do a cable and moss stitch blanket.  I had an idea that I would start the blanket from the center; and use some really fancy cables along each of the four corners.  I even started a swatch in the darker color for it:

While the cable was really pretty (I’m doing the smaller one on the left in the black and white picture), I decided that I was thoroughly sick of cables and moss stitch from TNS (which still isn’t done yet), I decided something else was in order.

Combing through my Barbara Walker books, I happened upon a gorgeous lace pattern called Ostrich Plumes.  I still wanted to do the blanket from the center so I didn’t have to stress about how many stitches to cast on, a particular gauge or anything like that.   This also has the added advantage of allowing me to not turn, but just keep working ’round and ’round and ’round.

The only problem with this is that as the blanket gets bigger, it’ll take longer and longer to get around each time.  I am starting with the lighter color and will most likely do a border in the darker color.

At this point it looks like a kind of mutant hat. The red in the center is the provisional cast on.  When I’m feeling brave enough I’ll pull that out and run the tail through the center stitches to close up the hole.  It’s hard to see the lace pattern because it’s all scrunched onto a needle, but I tried to stretch out the part where I’m currently knitting, at the top of the picture.

I’m very pleased with how the fabric feels and looks so far. The only decision I need to make now is do I finish it at dolly sized and do the washing/blocking test? Or do I have faith and just keep trucking along? The baby isn’t due until May.  If I were doing this "right" i would think I’ll do a dolly sized one first.  Still contemplating this question :)