The Do-Over Continues ~ Week 2

** I posted this to my family blog and just realized it now!! Ooops! It was posted a week ago so we would all be on the same track and the same week! Now that it's week 3... here is week 2!!


It's week 2 of the Portable Projects with a Cause - Do-Over x1!
That means it's time for your second block.... are you ready?? Get ready... set.... WAIT! HOLD ON!

Admire the pink block over on your left! Yay DB!! She not only learned to follow a pattern (she knew this already!) but she learned how to bind off! *I think she was a little disappointed that binding off wasn't all that exciting!
So now that we've admired some knitting... we can get ready for the second block!!
Time to start some cables! Aka fiddly knitting! Don't worry they really are easy! It's just a matter of holding 3 stitches (on a cable needle) either in front or back of the work, knitting the next 3 and then knitting the 3 being held on the cable needle. Phew...did you get all that? Talk about fiddly!
I admit it, I was afraid of cables. Not really afraid, just thought there was way much more to them than just holding some stitches this way and that way... I thought you had to do that fiddly stuff every row. Um.. nope! Just once! You do the cable stitches for one row, some other pattern (technical jargon there!) stuff for a few rows and it all works out! Very little work! Just mainly knitting and purling to make those twisty stitches pop out! YOU CAN DO IT! You'll be amazed!
Here's the pattern for the knitted cable block....but as always PLEASE feel free to head on over to Knit and Crochet Now website (Season 3, Knit Blue Baby Afghan)*it's a free log-in and then you will have access to their patterns AND the ability to double check my copy and paste ability!

HORSESHOE CABLE

*Using size 8 knitting needles & washable worsted weight yarn....

Special Stitches
6 st-RC (3 over 3 right cross) Sl 3 sts to cable needle and hold in back, k3, then k3 from the cable needle.

6 st-LC (3 over 3 left cross) Sl 3 sts to cable needle and hold in front, k3, then k3 from cable needle.Using #8 needles & worsted weight yarn....
Cast on 42 sts.
Knit two rows.
Row 1 (RS): P6, *k12, p6; repeat from *across
Row 2 (WS): K6, *P12; repeat from *across.
Row 3 (cable row): P6, *6-st RC, 6 -st LC, p6; repeat from * across
Row 4: K6, *P12, k6; repeat from *across
Row 5: Repeat Row 1
Row 6: Repeat Row 2
Row 7: Repeat Row 1
Row 8: Repeat Row 2
Repeat Rows 1-8 until piece measures 10" from beginning, end with a WS row.
Knit 2 rows
Bind off!

Cool huh? The twisty-cables add some bulk to the work and make it stretch a bit weird, but don't worry about that! We'll block it and hook it all up with the cables that the rest of the group are making! It will be fine!!

Now go get your knit on!!
I'll post the crochet version later.... I'm not even sure I know how to read it and I certainly can't explain it so we'll have to get some technical help from Miss MT~

Portable Projects with a Cause are a GO!

Wow! It's been a while since I've posted (22 days) and that's a little odd! I usually have way much more to say than I can possibly get out in a day... hence the blog!!
So what's been keeping me busy for the last three weeks?  Oh... just a little charity knitting and hanging out with my yarn buddies!!  What a way to spend the summer! Knitting up some simple blocks, learning a few new things on the way AND hanging out with like-minded yarn peeps! Woot! It's a win-win summer so far!
There are now 8 people knitting (and crocheting) our way through the block project! I'm hoping that this will mean we end up with several afghans at the end but for now we're all working like mad on our blocks!  (BIG thanks to everyone participating!) For the LINK to the post about the project just click on that highlighted word LINK ~please!

So far we've got 12 blocks made... which is enough for one entire afghan which is totally cool!
Can you hear the rather loud BUT in there?

  My inner Goddess (aka OCD Queen) saying... "Um...hey Toots? The colors, well, they are just a bit too random even for this project."
Yeah, Yeah. I know. I keep saying, "it doesn't have to match, it will be okay."  It doesn't even help when I can hear in my head....Royal D saying.."it's not going on my bed so I don't have to look at it..." which implies that random is okay in her book as long as it's not in her house! I'm trying here........
I really am!
BUT looking at this collection of 12 lovely blocks (AND that's only the knitted versions!)  I don't know if I can really handle all that randomness.  I don't know for sure, but I think  I may have to hustle up and make some more blocks in those specific color families... just for a little less randomness.  What do you think?

I'm not worried about the different sizes and/or shapes! A little blocking will go a long way in making everything fit better as will the final sewing up! I'm going to spring for a couple of skeins of white yarn to sew it all up together and edge it. Hey! Maybe that will help bring those colors together?  We'll see.....

In the meantime I think I'm going to just go and make some more blocks. I WILL do my very best to keep it random! *I've zipped the bag that I have the yarn in and I am forcing myself to not look and just stick my hand in. The hard part is making myself knit with whatever I pull out! Wish me luck!!