Martin Storey KAL Blanket .... it's a wrap!

I LOVE this blanket! The "Calm" colour way is just that....very calming, stylish and very sophisticated!

(You don't have to be a Facebook person to view 
my gallery of photos on Facebook. Go on, click and have a look!)

All 8 "stages" (squares) were knit exactly as per the patterns as provided on the Rowan Yarns web site, in the shades as designated by the Calm colour way. 6 squares of each design. NO MODS!!!

The make up chart, well, I have to tell you that sewing up is my bugaboo! So I started studying the finished afghan photo to decide on square placement! While I did get one strip wrong, it really didn't matter in the big scheme of things...and Rowan took my hint and released the make up diagram early (yeah!).

The edge was knit with only one little twist....the edge has this cool braided effect (as provided by my knit buddy Stella).....I had to get my head around how this worked......

this is a garter stitch trim, knit two rows of each of the two shades used to create the stripes

for each two row garter.....

first row, knit along to the last stitch, ktbl

second row.....slip first stitch as if to purl, knit to the end of the row

(slipping the first as if to purl means you need to then bring the yarn back to the knit position....this maneuver is what elongates that knit through the back loop stitch to create the one stitch faux braid edge)

It's NEVER too late to knit a great blanket design! If I were to do this now, I'd take the make up diagram and knit these squares into strips right on the needles. That way you'd only have to sew up the strips! That would be BRILLIANT!

ALL of the information you need is on the Rowan web site (materials list, individual squares, make up diagram and edging). You could mix and match squares from the other two Pure Wool Worsted afghan KALs! Now there is a thought....maybe a Kaffe square or two in there? Wish I'd thought of that earlier!!!

Martin Storey Pure Wool Superwash Worsted Knit Along 2016 

(the Nordic inspired blanket)

the original Pure Wool Worsted Mystery Afghan Knit Along (2014) by Martin Storey

(designed as a "learn to" afghan, learn to read a chart, do lace, simple cables, etc.

and the Kaffe Fassett Mystery Knit-a-long Online Collection (fall 2014)

What's happening here at Life LDC....

Well, Spring is struggling to warm up here. Hubby and I both have Spring colds that just won't go away!

Poor Daisy! Well, this might come under the category of TMI, but last Saturday she had an exciting experience involving an emergency veterinary appointment...a burst impacted anal gland (ewwwww), extreme shaving of her privates (very stressful for my modest little girl) and some poking and prodding by our fabulous Dr. A! 

Daisy is 12 and things can happen quickly as a dog ages, so Dr. A took the opportunity to give her a thorough hands on examination to see if there were any indications of a deeper issue. Daisy has NEVER had any "a" gland issues, but I guess we'll have to keep on top of this in future (another ewwww)!

Those of you who are owned by pets will understand how upsetting this was....we of course were more concerned than she seemed to be.

Lackie, is Lackie. A more relaxed little boy Westie you will be hard pressed to find. He LOVES that Spring is in the air. You'll find him so often with his nose through the railings on the deck....catching sniffs we call it!

Now that the KAL blanket is done, it's time to get back to my Bronte sweater and to catch up on my Marie Wallin fair isle blanket squares. Holding my hand over my stack of Rowan Magazines...I swear, that I will not undertake any more blankets! Yes, you heard me...I SWEAR! ha ha ha.....knitters always trying to fool ourselves, aren't we!

This Softyak yarn is delicious! I LOVE IT! and can't wait to finish my cardigan. I seem to be in a mode of knitting that challenges my perseverance....first the twisted rib stitch of Hubby's Yell sweater....now the Moss stitch of the Bronte. Luckily I'm on the fun front bits where you have cables and a bit of a lace panel....with moss on either side.....but it is keeping me going.

Once Bronte is done and I've caught up with my fair isle blanket squares, I want to make a simple summer t-shirt top....very simple, but with a few details that I've noticed in the shops this year.


Happy Knitting!

x Anne
(with Daisy at her feet, Lackie is outside, looking through the railings!)

Lackie likes looking through railings! Luckily, we have
inside railings as well and he sits and waits for me here
when I go out....so adorable!