The Baby Chalice Blanket is finally done. I know I only started it a month ago but it has taken far longer than it really should have. I started this blanket with two balls of yarn. I had looked through the other projects on Ravelry and it seemed like it would be enough to make a decent sized blanket. However, I ran out of yarn with two and a half pattern repeats to go. It didn't seem like too big of a deal since I had asked Adam when our friends' baby was due (who this is for). He assured me in July so I thought I had more than enough time to finish. This running-out-of-yarn-double-checking-due-date was on the 13th of June. On the 16th I received an email saying that little baby Henry decided to come a month early! Baby and mom are fine, but the blanket was so not ready (please don't think less of me just because that was my initial reaction).
I started emailing people on Ravelry with the same color of yarn (no time to worry about dye lots!) and was hoping for a quick reply. (If you're wondering why I didn't check the yarn shop, I did. I had purchased the last two balls of that color.) I finally contacted a woman in Ohio who was willing to sell me the yarn. I explained to her my quick need for the yarn and she heads to the post office that evening so it will ship out Saturday morning. Now I wait. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday all pass by with no yarn. I start to wonder where in the depths of Ohio this yarn is coming from? Finally on Friday it arrives... from Cincinnati. It seriously took a week to make a four hour trip from Cincinnati.
Either way, it showed up and I hit the needles running. Now it's all washed and ready to head out to Virginia tomorrow. This is such a lovely pattern and I really hope they like it. It's not an easy pattern to commit to memory (hello, 20 row repeat) so I had to carry my pattern with me everywhere. I cast on 103 stitches (instead of 83) and did ten repeats of the pattern. After blocking it grew to 31"x40". If I were to do this again, I'd probably use smaller needles to achieve a denser fabric since after blocking the lace really opened up.
Overall, I think it's a beauty and the color just makes me so happy (Summer Sky Heather, what's not to love about that?).
Pattern: Baby Chalice Blanket by Lykkefanten (free!)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in color #1910 Summer Sky Heather, 3 skeins
Needles: #9, 5.5mm
Began: May 22
Completed: June 25
Well it is very pretty, despite the hassles. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt is very pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful blanket!! And hey, if the little guy is going to come a month early, then he has to know that means he's got to wait for wonderful hand knits. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blue, like the summer sky! What did we do before ravelry??
ReplyDeletethis is such a pretty blanket, one that is sure to be passed down as an heirloom. so really you weren't late in finishing. you're actually 30 years early for the next generation.
ReplyDeletei've got this pattern marked now because it's so pretty.
Ahhh it's gorgeous! It sounds like you really sped through the knitting, too! (when you had yarn that is...)
ReplyDeleteThat's a truly lovely blanket ... and you've inspired me to knit one for the baby of a friend ... she's due any day so mine will be late too!
ReplyDeleteIt's still super speedy, even with the yarn delay! I'm glad you were able to find an extra skein, and the blanket is beautiful. I've wanted to knit this pattern, and I probably will for some baby in the future. Well done, Andrea!
ReplyDeletethe balnket is beautiful and the baby and his Mom will be sothrilled that you took the time to make this beautiful gift.
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday,
Meredith
Wow love it. And you have quite a story to go with it.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty. I think the openness of the pattern works well for summer.
ReplyDelete