Buttons, crochet and music

I've been strangely monogamous to my afghan project, which is not what was meant to happen. This was meant to be a project I take out when I'm worn out from more complicated projects, or when I have friends over and can't concentrate on complex knitting. But it's just so satisfying to knit that I've been knitting it straight through. I'm on the fifth out of six panels, and the other day I bought some more yarn (because I won't have enough of the panel color) in a contrast color to put them together with. I decided to single-crochet (I think that's a double or half-double to you Brits) around the outside, using a G hook and taking 2 stitches to every 3 holes on the verticals, 3 to every 4 on the horizontals. The trim yarn is the exact color of chocolate frosting.

I will attach the panels by crocheting them together, then make a wide crocheted border around the whole thing, maybe with some bobbles and scallops for fun. As you can see, it looks like it'll match my couch fairly well (we have two couches actually but neutrals go with both of them). I get a lot of use out of afghans to snuggle up with in the evenings, as we don't like to use our central heat and even in the summer, nights can be a little cool.

~

I have a beautiful cardigan that my grandmother made. She made it for herself, I guess — but I think it is either rather old, or it was too small for her. And for some reason, though it has buttonholes, it had no buttons:



It's a little snug on me but I love it, so I poked around in my button collection and was delighted to find a perfect match for the blue-and-grey yarn. I've sewn them on (no photo, sorry) and now I have a complete garment, courtesy Grandma. yay.



Finally, I took some time yesterday to work on music and, though I'm not completely happy with it, I finally got this song that I wrote back in 1994 recorded. (I've written nearly 400 songs and most of them aren't recorded.) It's a start, anyway.

Oops, forgot to announce!

The random number generator gave the winner of the last drawing as Pandora! Pandora, I hope you read this and will drop me email at valerie [at] grasslimb [dot] com with your mailing address so I can send your mag off to you!

I have been knitting, but it's all on the afghan, which is boring. However, I did try 'killing' some acrylic and I thought you might be interested to see, especially if you've never tried it!

Swatch before death:

It's lofty, cushy, and a little bit scratchy. As you can see, it looks more cabley than lacy.

I dampened the swatch, put a wrung-out wet towel on top and a dry one under it, and pressed it with a hot iron:

It's now smooth, drapier, less lofty/warm-feeling, and, as you can see, it looks like blocked lace. I dried it by popping it in the dryer.

On the other hand, I don't think I'm going to kill the afghan. I think I'll trade the slight scratchiness for the loft and cushy sensation. But it could be useful for things in future. Have you ever killed anything? Er, anything made out of yarn?

More magazines soon!

Another magazine!

The next mag up for grabs is Yarn Forward, a British knitting magazine in A4 format, issue 7. You might be able to see some of the contents here.

To enter this drawing, leave me a comment telling me what plant you expect to leaf out earliest where you live. If you're in a warm climate where it never gets too barren, look for things that start getting lively in the spring. (If you left a comment on my last post you're already entered.) Everyone gets one entry only and I'll do the drawing next Monday morning, March 8.

I haven't been knitting quite as much in the last few days, but I have been taking a lot of walks. The weather here has been gorgeous.

And the winnah is...

....Ms. trek! Trek will get a copy of the February 2009 Knit'n'Style magazine in the mail shortly.

Thanks all for entering... I found the responses fun to read. And I'll be posting a contest for another magazine in the next day or so! If you want to get in an early entry now, just leave a comment on this page telling me what plant you expect to leaf out earliest where you live. If you're in a warm climate where it never gets too barren, look for things that start getting lively in the spring.

For me, the most notable leaf-out of springtime is my grapevine:

No new knitting to show because all I've had the patience to work on is my afghan, which is same-ity same same same. I'm trying to resist casting on for a vest for me. I really should finish ONE of the two pullovers for Rob first…