Designs by KN blog

For FO Friday, it’s fun to report that the ripple afghan housewarming gift for DD is done … despite hailstorms outside and stomach flu inside!

I even managed to finish it a week before the combination engagement/graduation/housewarming party next weekend, where the afghan will be gifted. DD just completed her Masters degree (yay!) and we are looking forward to a wedding in Hawaii this summer.

The lucky couple will actually end up with two afghans from me for their new home: the Spiral** which is the one she first chose and the ripple which is a surprise (and the one I was able to make up much more quickly):

See previous post for how this particular ripple afghan was created (in this case, since it’s so basic and has been done in a million iterations, I didn’t write up a Designs by KN pattern but basically it’s this:  size J/10 (6 mm) hook, ch 210, sc in 5 sts, sk 2 sts, sc in next 5 sts, 3 sc in next st, repeat, maintaining an extra stitch at each end for edge.  I used Loops & Threads “Impeccable” worsted weight yarn so the finished afghan measures 44″ w. x 64″ l.)

As to hailstorms, we had our first of the season on Wednesday afternoon:

It portended a miserable night in another way: DH came home with stomach flu so it turned out to be a sleepless night of tending to him.

But the sun has come out again, DH is feeling better, and the daylilies have started to bloom.

Now, what project should I start next? I’m thinking it will be something yellow!

**Spiral afghan designed by Norah Gaughan in the Berroco book “Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans.”

Blame it on the sprinklers. We had a small patch of new sod installed in the back yard and since then have had to keep it well-watered during this unusually warm and dry spell of weather. Add to that the fact that I have been soaking my sprained ankle in a warm water footbath occasionally to help it heal. Also I have been going through my digital photo collection in search of interesting pictures to post on the Denver Post neighbors community forum page, many of which involve water scenes. It must be affecting the subconscious and coming out in the form of ripples … a ripple afghan, that is!

The second afghan I ever made was a vintage ripple design. Here’s what I wrote about it in a previous edition of Dora Ohrenstein’s Crochet Insider:

Afghan #2 (1973): The Ripple

(Pattern source: Unknown)

(Materials: Sears Roebuck standard 4-ply acrylic)

“The age-old ripple afghan is still going strong today. Grandmother H. made one long ago, and I needed one for my first apartment. The popular colors of the day were gold, brown, orange and green. This time I selected colors from the yarn department of a local Sears store which offered their brand of standard 4-ply acrylic in cream, pale yellow, golden yellow and chocolate brown. Many, many hours of single-crochet-in-the-back-loop later, this ripple afghan was complete. We still own it today and it’s as sturdy as the day it was finished. It makes an excellent car or nap blanket which has stood up to time and frequent washing with nary a hole or defect.”

(If you’d like to read the full article “My Life in Afghans” it’s here)

After completing the challenging Spiral** afghan from the Berroco book “Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans“, with its round-and-round-triangles-turned-into-squares technique of building block-by-block, I was in the mood for something simple, mindless, and fun. Near to my knitting chair was a rack with assorted craft magazines and one little old stitch dictionary The Pattern Library: Crochet. It contained the basic single crochet ripple stitch pattern.

Since I had some white and green Loops & Threads Impeccable yarn left from the Spiral** project, and I really, really wanted to work on a ripple afghan, I dove in by chaining 210 with a size J hook.  This particular ripple is based on a repeat of working sc in 5 sts, skipping 2 sts, working sc in next 5 sts, working 3 sc in next sc, and continuing row after row ad nauseum.  The piece measures 44″ wide so I plan to work alternating bands of green and white to a length of 64″ or so.

This is the perfect project to work on with one’s swollen/sprained ankle foot up on the couch, watching one’s favorite baseball team (Colorado Rockies) lose game after game. It keeps one occupied with a pleasant rhythm to the stitching that helps keep one’s blood pressure down! Plus it’s growing quickly so I’m inspired to keep at it.

If you’re not up to a full-size ripple afghan entirely in single crochet, there is a pattern in the Designs by KN line for some small accessories using the ripple stitch: Ripple-Band Accessories.

Ripple on.

**Spiral afghan described in this post and photo of finished afghan in this post.

Somehow I lost a day this week. Yesterday I thought it was Wednesday and was looking forward to two more days before the weekend. When DH came home and told me the next day was Friday, I answered “Huh?”  Sure enough, after consulting watches, cell phones and the calendar, he was right.  But I do have excuses for losing my mind.

Thursday I sprained my ankle while doing yard work. Stepped on a rock in our dry creekbed, shoe went sideways, ankle went “sproing” and that was that. Since then I have been doing the RICE treatment (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Bit by bit it improves, however, I’ve never had a more colorful foot!

Monday there was a backup in the shower and tub drains upstairs, so after plunging sessions (my ribs are complaining after that exercise) and a dose of liquid drain cleaner with no success in lowering the water level, I had to call a plumber.  The cats were certainly upset by a stranger in the house and noise from the drain-cleaning equipment! Eventually I heard water flowing again which signaled the clog was cleared and that was that.

Wednesday (the real Wednesday) I spent a couple hours making travel arrangements for a trip out west to attend a niece’s wedding in June.  It took time to coordinate with three other family members, but eventually flights/hotel/rental car were booked and that was that.

The shock of the sprained ankle contributed to a temporary loss of interest in designing, knitting, crocheting and writing.  Instead I have spent time with my foot up, iced, in front of the laptop and PC going through an assortment of digital photos, selecting my favorites and the best-of-the-best in my collection.  My last post was a photoblog showing how colors in nature inspire and coordinate with various Designs by KN projects, so that rekindled an interest in looking through photos.  Coincidentally, there was an announcement in our local paper requesting entries in a flower photo contest. What started as one flower photo entry has quickly grown into an 11-page gallery on my Denver Post community neighbors forum page.  Besides gardening I discovered other categories to post photos in, such as travel, animals, birds, dogs, cats and signs (yes, signs, as in “Welcome to Idaho.”)  I hope you’ll enjoy browsing through as an armchair traveler!

Fortunately interest in needlecrafts was not altogether lost, because today is FO Friday again (since I lost a day this week it came around sooner!)  I received a request for more pairs of Cheery Cotton Baby Shoes, as well as some Starlight Bracelet Bags.  So far I’ve completed this pair, with more to come:

I also decided to give the Spiral afghan a finishing touch by adding a single crochet border to it, not only to make it longer and wider but also to give it a “frame.” It’s now finished, so can be laundered, blocked and gifted to the recipients (DD and her fiance for their new home):

(Spiral was designed by Norah Gaughan and the pattern is in the Berroco book “Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans“)

I have not lost time preparing for a design acceptance assignment, however. Just waiting for final details to produce the sample. It will be a wait but worth it when published later this year.

So all is not lost — there are more bags and booties to crochet and more photos to post.

And hopefully next week I won’t lose a day (or my mind)!

Today’s post is a photoblog of nature’s color inspiration paired with knit/crochet projects from DBKN  …

“Go Green” Lacy Shells Bag

Twist Mitts

Persian Carpet Bucket Hat

Touch o’Ruffle Table Mat or Dishcloth

Red-Hot Headband

Bell-ruffle Toddler Hat

Easy-Knit Shawl

Pretty Little Baby Hat

Provence Summer String Bag

I could go on and on …

Enjoy stitching with the colors of nature.  Inspiration is everywhere.

I’m beginning to sound like a broken record. When FO Friday* comes around, I keep exclaiming “Where does the time go?”

Since the end of the 3rd Annual Knitting & Crochet Blog Week (thanks again, Eskimimi Makes, for organizing such a fun event!) I haven’t spent much time at the computer, but rather stitching my fingers to the bone on various projects, completing three this week.

FOs to report include:

The amazing Spiral afghan, designed by Norah Gaughan, from the Berroco book “Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Afghans“.  Still need to block it properly but at least it’s all together!

Since I love cotton socks for summer, finished a pair of Cotton Stripe C.O.O.S. in leftovers of Fortissima Cotton from stash:

Dispatched to a well-known yarn company a completed  “mystery project” not to be revealed until later this summer.  Let me just say it’s something fun!

Also put together two baskets of miscellaneous Designs by KN items to be offered at an upcoming spring mini craft fair (nothing big, just a low-key corner setup for coworkers to enjoy in a small office setting.)  I was requested to send in some of my popular dishcloths but also gathered some  hats, kerchiefs, market bags and threw in a funny sheep just to see if he will find a new home.

Not to be outdone, the garden is abloom with FOs galore.  The stunning white perennial candytuft is competing for attention with the showy purple creeping phlox and lilac bushes.

What a beautiful time of year.  Time to get outside and enjoy it!

*FO Friday is one of the thread topics in the The Blog Hub group on Ravelry.