Support thread 2 - new blankets

[tribpot]

This is a continuation of our thread supporting MNers creating blanket squares for Woolly Hugs. All are welcome and I'm hoping to post a link soon to a collection of our fave patterns, pics and links to keep them all in one place. In the meantime, this new thread will allow phone-based MNers like RedRosie to return from Special Phone Exile where she goes whenever the thread has too many messages on.

This is a thread of peace where knitters and crocheters, donors and crafters are all equally welcome.

Eight squares now completed and pesky ends seen in

Should stop now - but really want to give the square with swirl increases a go, having failed at my earlier attempt.

And then I could do an Icelandic square and a cable square.....

Sewn in, even

I've been Top Hooker for a year or so now, tis my Official MN Title y'know

Knotty has meeces and peanuts awaiting beautiful plain squares :)

And backwards knitting is called Tinking...

Maybe I can pretend one of Pretty's squares is mine ...

As to plain squares - are any better than others for the blankets? I can do garter, stocking or a 2x2 rib fairly competently ...

Rosie - I've got some of this colour (although it may be the Banned Cold Purple for all I know - happy to do some hearts for your square.

Oh and as for plain, I would do stocking with a 2 row garter border at the top and bottom, and a 2 stitch garter border along the sides (so knit all stitches on the right side, on the wrong, knit 2, purl to 2 before the end, knit 2).

Trib you are lovely.

And I'll poke with my knitting needles anyone who says otherwise

I'm having a totally bonkers day

I love trib, so please don't poke me Rosie, but if you apologise any more I shall be forced to come round and poke you with a knitting needle, and I know where you live! No more apologies!

Tonight's thanks are on the threads...

I have to dash

Bugger it - succesfully manages to complete a row on the 4 needles, increasing one on each needle by k1 tbl ( which is further than I got before) only to re-read the pattern to see that I should have k2 tbl twice on each needle

Oh well, I've frogged it and now need to start again

You'll be wanting the full set of needles, then, Rosie, for the next time you visit Leeds. I'll introduce you to a few of my colleagues

Sorry Pitsey.

Trib ... In knitting for idiots language:

Assuming 34 stitches and 45 rows:

Rows 1-2: k34
Row 3: k2 k30 k2
Row 4: k2 p30 k2
Repeat Rows 3-4
Until
Rows 44-45: k34

Is that right?

Looks good Rosie!

Rosie, my love, I have a bag of little crochet flowers that will sit happily on a simple square. Also quite a few peanuts and birds so don't you worry

Evening.

I am pleased to report that I am on to panel three of my windmill bag. Second I bind off and I corp went mch better than first - actually looks pretty.

[

Well, I got to the third row this time but then one of the four needles slipped out and I couldn't pick up the stitches.

Frogged again

Now not even managing to do the k1 tbls in the first row. Think it's time to call it a day and try again tomorrow. . and maybe try with something other than cream

Bird are you doing the Colourful Spiral Square? I assume not as there are no knits tbl (I don't think).

I should probably say here as I've already mentioned it (actually on the previous thread) - I've completed my year of sobriety. Either this means tequila shots at midnight (not) or some more appropriate celebration. Although actually I don't really feel like celebrating - not because I feel bad about not drinking but because Not Drinking is what I do now, so today is just another day.

I do think knitting has played a tremendously therapeutic part in helping me to stay off the booze, both for keeping my hands busy and for reducing my stress so I don't feel that drinking is part of the solution. Chin chin, everyone!

Well congrats to you trib, celebration or not . Knitting is fab for all sorts of things. I partly do it to prove to myself that i can stick with things and not give up. And the rhythm is great for slowing down over active brains. Its a crafty version of the "one foot in front of the other and don't forget to breathe" mantra.

Thanks Mole!

Well done Trib!

I know a bit about this from family experience. Amazing. And that person is 30 years on from where you are now, and I'm so glad.

That is excellent Trib - well done to you. And if you don't feel like drinking after a year, don't do it (Piste and Knotty pick your jaws off the floor ). Its good for you in some many ways not to drink. If you have found a way to relax without booze, and can be around other people drinking without feeling the need to join in, that is amazing. I'm not very good at either.

Until my recent bout of knitting I have been doing a tapestry that belonged to my Nan. I was getting a bit bored there, hence my current manic knitting. I do believe in the old manta/Smiths lyric that "the devil will find work for idle hands to do" and in my case its eat or drink wine. So keeping my hands busy while I'm sitting waiting at after school clubs (here drinking coffee, not wine, clearly) or watching TV is great. I am realising that I need to stop a while before I want to go to sleep though, otherwise my brain is wired up on knitting, so it isn't relaxation for me yet (2 nights I dreamt all night about I-cord bing offs!)

That's really fantastic Trib, very well done!

And hurrah for knitting as well - not only has it kept you sober, but it's helped you to become our mentor/guru person - where would we be without our yawning-chasms-of-doom heart squares, our trees, our sheep, our spiral bags etc. etc.??

I am a counsellor and I think knitting is incredibly therapeutic. I felt really quite down at New Year (mostly exhaustion I suspect, but with a good dollop of self-doubt/questioning/whatever thrown in) and I found it really helpful.

For me, it's almost magical - you start off with two sticks and a ball and you end up with? well who knows? (yes, quite possibly just two sticks and a ball still )

Morning

"You start off with two sticks and a ball and you end up with..."
Minnie - that made me smile

A year is an amazing achievement trib, and how fabulous it is that the knitting is being so therapeutic. Brilliant.

To our very own Trib. Knitting Guru Extraordinaire. Hip Hip...

HOORAY!!!