Yes, yes, I did promise a Simple, Delicious Seafood Chowder recipe, but my goodness, it’s busy starting up a new term. That post is still coming soon (do you have a fennel bulb? You’ll need one, although you could sub in celery. What about onions? Maybe a carrot or two, an orange pepper. . . )
But until I have time for that, amid writing up course outlines at the last minute and then hoping the printer lineup isn’t too long, may I fob you off with a photo of another blanket I made (last year seems to have been The Year of the Blanket* ’round here). It was Nola’s Christmas present from me, begun after she watched me knit this one and commented that she’d like a handknit blanket of her own. She’s using it exactly as I’d hoped, although I’m also planning to have her snuggle us both up in it while I read to her — or she reads to me, as is happening increasingly. . .
I meant to take a few shots of it spread out and then folded artistically so you could see the play of different colours and textures. Somehow, though, it got wrapped and gifted and unwrapped and I was back home before I realized I’d like a photo for my Ravelry page — luckily, my daughter was happy enough to oblige, and Nola to pose, and this marvelous new technology gave me a photo almost before I’d blinked!
I followed Stephen West’s directions for his Garter Squish Blanket (Really, cast on a whole bunch of stitches, double up your Worsteds, and knit and knit and knit on large needles, incorporating i-cord at each edge). I anchored it with 3 skeins of that soft grey you see, but I used up quite a bit of Mohair from my Stash and she seems to like the cozy fuzziness.
Chowder recipe coming soon. I’m meeting two new classes today, and it’s all feeling rather sudden. But fun, too. I always find this part of term a bit overwhelming and a bit exhilarating, all at once. A good way to get pushed right into the year . . .
*Besides the two blankets, one pictured, one linked to, of my last post, there was this mammoth commitment of a blanket, which I absolutely love — I did NOT give this one away!
Beautiful blanket, as it should be, wrapped cozily around beautiful granddaughter. You inspire me to perhaps move beyond thinking I need a few cozy blankets to actually knitting one…..
Especially the garter ones are comforting and so mindless to knit — a perfect justification, should one need such, for spending too many hours in thrall to Netflix. . .
Nola looks very cozy wrapped in her blanket. I do have a fennel bulb ready for when you post. Last night I concocted some Sicilian halibut chowder and read All the Light We Cannot See. I am looking forward to my bit of tutoring this week. October seems a long time ago and I will have to find some French current events to discuss. The new year is definitely here.
We're on the same wavelength here — chowder, fennel, same novel. . . the year is launched, indeed!
Lovely blanket and even lovelier granddaughter! She has such a winning smile.
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What a sweet portrait of Nola nestled in your blanket, with her bunny and polished toes- the most delicious age! We have several mohair blankets, alas not knitted by anyone for us, but we enjoy their light warmth and drop them over our duvets when it's especially cold. I often wonder why real mohair sweaters are so hard to find.
You are so observant — I did wonder if anyone would notice the toes . . .
I love woven mohair blankets too — there's a great little second-hand shop nearby that focuses on Shabby Chic furnishings and home accessories — she had a sweet little stack of such in various vintage-y colours and plaids. I've so far resisted but may succumb before winter is out. . .
The blanket suits her perfectly. Such a sweet face.
Her Nana thinks so and thanks you for saying it . . . đ
Beautiful! Both the blanket and the granddaughter. For the first time in my career I am missing the first week of classes due to the flu. It's a strange feeling — I sit at home coughing and feeling terrible while my students wonder what their classes will be like. And then I wonder what next week will be like. Will they have changed classes due to the missing professor or stick with me?
Lynn
Oh dear! I've never been ill enough to miss that first week — must be hard to look after yourself at home while distracted by thoughts of the students. But you do have to take care — I hope you're on the mend soon.
What a lovely pic at the top of this post. I reckon every kid needs a grandmom made blanket … I'm working on one for our pending grandbaby, a boy we now know. Happy days.
Oooh, a grandson, we haven't one of those yet, although apparently one is scheduled to arrive in April, and perhaps February's babe will be a boy as well. Happy days indeed for we Nanas. I'm hoping you may show us a photo of your little one's blanket. . .