Squares and Stripes Forever

I've hit a few milestones of late on the two large projects I've got going on. Normally, I'm a fairly monogamous knitter. It makes me antsy to have more than one project on the needles. But the Shady Marmalade Blanket and the Guido Pullover compliment each other quite nicely and I'm learning to appreciate juggling two very different fibers. When knitting with the kite-string-like cotton blend yarn of the sweater fatigues my fingers and wrists, I can switch over to the much more forgiving wool of the blanket. And when the blanket becomes too mind-numbingly mindless, I can switch back. This was basically my M.O. over this long holiday weekend, and I got a lot done on both projects.

First, the sweater. This sweater is composed of a 96-row pattern, that gets repeated on the way up. For the medium size, the back repeats the 96 rows a little over two times. I was happy to note that I seem on-track stripe-wise when I looked at other medium samples on Ravelry. Of course, I'm going through my usual anxiety about running out of yarn. Since this yarn is discontinued, the clock is ticking on finding sources. Which only makes me want to knit faster. My tension is fairly close to the one outlined in the pattern, but leans toward being a little smaller. However, I've held it up to Jeff and it looks like it's going to work. I just cast on for the front to try and keep my momentum going.

The blanket, too, is humming along. Like the sweater, I also had some anxiety about running out of the orange -- a discontinued color -- but knew I'd be alright when I passed the 2/3 point. I'm making a total of 63 squares, and I got 45 squares out of the first two balls of orange yarn. I should just make it. Just 15 more squares (or 5 balls of gray yarn) to go. The end is in sight.

I'm still toying around with ideas for seaming this up and think I'll just have to try a few techniques and see if I like them. I think a lot of trial and error will be involved. I don't know if I'll have enough yarn leftover for seaming -- I may have to buy some more. I'm also debating whether to add an i-cord edging around the outside. I'm leaning toward yes. Beside just looking tidier in general, the outside edge will be a hodge-podge of little sections of cast-off and garter edges. It's going to look a little ragged if I don't do some sort of edging. Raggedness is a look, but I don't know if it will go with the overall geometric design.

So, no finished objects, but time marches on. Just ask a certain little one who got a new baby blanket this summer. Can't believe she's already been around for 2 months! Her mom shared a picture of her little bundle of joy enjoying her blanket. I got her permission to post this picture here. I love seeing this -- so happy it's getting used and so happy for my colleague and her family. Isn't she precious? Also -- how cute is that poppy dress?

Back to the sweater, and the blanket, and the sweater, and then the blanket...