The Ribble

Bear-Bear says, "Where's the picnic?"

Yes, it's the amazing RIBBLE!  Doesn't that sound like something that would slice and dice and be on sale for $17.95 on late-night television, and if you act now, they'll throw in an amazing Dribble absolutely free?

Well, it isn't.  It's a blanket.  It cuddles, it warms, it toasts your toes.  Yesterday, I put the Ribble Blanket pattern up for sale (for cheap!...  or rather, for a low, low price...) in my etsy store.  I sold two copies of the PDF right away!  Yippee! My first sales on etsy!  Click here to get there: The Ribble pattern.

The yarn for the blanket pictured was donated by (or through, I'm not sure which) Bliss Yarns in Brentwood, TN, and after I made it, I donated it to Alive Hospice through Threads of Kindness.  It's the great circle of the yarns of the earth.  Paying it forward.  Did I mention, yarn in, yarn out?  YIYO!

It's a really easy pattern, by the way; if you can knit and purl, you can make it.

I also have a couple more blankets sitting primly on my couch, waiting for the next opportunity to be donated.

First comes Preemie with a Twist.  The free pattern is now available (click here) on my blog.  Anyway, the lavender one is made from Plymouth Encore.  One skein is all it takes.

I actually bought this yarn--yes, it happens!  A lot!--or else my mom bought it; I think I was trying to buy her a gift and she was probably saying, "No, no, I'll pay, why should you pay?" and I was probably saying, "But Mom, I want to give you a present," and she was saying, "That's silly.  I have the money right here," and I was probably holding out money already too, and so on until the poor shop clerk was probably ready to spit, but was masking her inner eye-rolling with incredible diplomacy.

Anyway, Mom used some and tossed the rest to me, which came in handy when I wanted to make a sample of the Preemie with a Twist out of a solid color.

I had made a couple out of a variegated cotton, which happened to come out in a really cool diamond design, and some people seemed to think that any variegated would do that and, alas, I doubt it, but it's worth a try!  Go for it!  Let me know what happens!

Last but not least, my version of the Moderne Baby Blanket brought to us by Mason-Dixon Knitting.  Again, donated yarn, Mission Falls 1824 Wool.  Let us pause for a moment in silent sorrow that Mission Falls is no longer in business.  (Sigh.)

For the most part, I just grabbed a skein and knitted a section until I ran out of that color.  On the first section, after about ten rows, I thought, I am doing nothing but garter stitch.  For an entire blanket.  I am going to go insane.  But then I kinda got into the rhythm.  It's a fun pattern and I want to make another.  And I have more Mission Falls in my stash!  Naturally.  Not that I have to use Mission Falls, of course, but it came out so soft and cozy and it will show off the beautiful colors I have in my stash so well, and I. . . 

Wait, I have at least seven projects going right now.  I've lost count.  And I have a Hinterland Throw to finish by June.  Plus, the Mission Falls is in a bin under a couple of other bins and bags full of yarn.  So I guess I won't cast on a new project today.

Maybe tomorrow.