Knit wise... a new blanket

I started a new blanket late last week. What with hurricane Irene I had time to work on it this weekend. (Truth be told I would have had time anyway!)

Irene... lot's of wind and rain. We were spared the worst. By the time she arrived she'd exhausted herself down to tropical storm level. Times like this I'm glad I don't have tv. I saw a few news clips online and that was plenty. I let mother nature tell her story this time and quite enjoyed going out to the front door at 2 a.m. with a glass of wine to see what she had to say. It was impressive.

Speaking of mother nature I experienced my first earth quake last week. By California standards it was nothing but for me it was something. I'd just sat down with my cello and heard a rattling sound coming from the direction of the book shelf. Right afterwards our whole building shook. I was not able to comprehend the situation, just that it was weird--and what the dickens was going on!? I looked up at that point and saw the picture on the wall bouncing back and forth 4" or so and knew--this was an earthquake. Yeah, it was unnerving.

So... this thread is about a new blanket for a newly arrived member of our species. The yarn is Noro Silk Garden. Say what you will--Noro is beautiful. Yup, there are some awkward splices now and then creating abrupt color breaks, but it is what it is and in my opinion, it's truly gorgeous yarn. If someone gave me $1000 and said buy some yarn I'd spend it all on Noro! I love the picture on this page... Noro.

The pattern for the blanket is called "Woven Baby Blanket" and it's from The Knit Cafe Toronto. The pattern is also available on Ravelry.

I got three rows done this weekend. Very enjoyable knit. Really. Never more than 7 stiches on the needles, the color is continuously evolving and the overall look slowly comes to life. A carrot-on-a-stick kind of pattern! :)

There is one edge from which I find it difficult to pick up stitches so I use a crochet hook. Having to make use of a third tool on the subway could be problematic so I made myself this little hook which I can wear around my neck. This way I'll feel confident the hook won't go rolling down the train car in case of a slip up. I took one of my wooden crochet hooks, sawed it down (chainsaw not necessary!--just a fine little hack saw will do), drilled a hole with a very small drill bit and attached the cord and some baubles. I love my little wearable crochet hook!...