Knitting – Page 3 – InkTorrents Graphics

A Flurry Of Blankets

A few months ago, I reorganised my atelier a little bit, shifting my sewing and painting supplies around. During that time, I found a large cut of fleece I had purchased a very long time ago to make a blanket with for when we go camping. That started a flurry of blanket-making, ending with a total of four – two for us humans and two for the furry ones. I even knitted one of them.

Tutorial for Fleece And Knitted Blankets | Whims And Fancies

All the fleece blankets I made are double-layered. I love cold-weather camping in the High Sierras. Even with 0F-rated sleeping bags, a little extra warmth is very nice to have during the chilly nights. This is going to be our camping blanket. That is, of course, not going to stop me from using it at home dreaming of the camping days.

Tutorial for Fleece And Knitted Blankets | Whims And Fancies

The second blanket I made was a present for my husband for his birthday. It’s a Marauder’s Map fleece print I found at JoAnn. I purchased 3 yards of the fleece, and for the backing I got 3 yards of the snowflakes print. I used 2.5 yards of each for the blanket.

Tutorial for Fleece And Knitted Blankets | Whims And Fancies

Unplanned, it fits the day bed in his home office perfectly.

I kept the remnant of the Marauder’s Map fleece for another project. With the remnant of the snowflake fleece I made a little blanket for the kitties. As I was attempting to take a photo of it, Charlie showed up and claimed his blanket and I was unable to move him.

Tutorial for Fleece And Knitted Blankets | Whims And Fancies

Tutorial for Fleece And Knitted Blankets | Whims And Fancies

Tutorial for Fleece And Knitted Blankets | Whims And Fancies

For the fleece blankets – after rounding off the corners with an old CD, I stitched all around the blanket with 1/4″ seam allowance, keeping a large a gap on one side to turn it over. I clipped the corners, offsetting the top and the bottom pieces. I think the corners lie a little flatter that way. I was too lazy to take the serger out. After turning the blanket, I used a zigzag stitch on my sewing machine to stitch around the edges to give it a nice finish.

Tutorial for Fleece And Knitted Blankets | Whims And Fancies

I also made a knitted blanket specially for Charlie. He loves to sleep on my yellow pullover. I used the same bulky gauge yarn I used to knit my pullover for his blanket. I think, it’s a great alternate pattern to the stockinette stitch.

You will need to cast on (multiples of 4) + 3 stitches. Alternate these two rows –

Repeat to the last 3 stitches – knit 3, slip 1 with yarn in front. Knit the last 3 stitches.

Knit 1. Repeat to the last 2 stitches – slip 1 with yarn in front, knit 3. The last two stitches – slip 1 with yarn in front, knit 1.

These are all very easy to make whether you knit or sew, or do both.

Until next time,
-Soma

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Imaginary Travels

We have been camping at my favourite campground in the High Sierra mountains for many years now because of the cooler temperatures. Every year, I think about painting the beautiful mountains that surround the campground. However, we always end up walking the mountain trails, playing board games, reading and perusing the night sky with my telescope instead.

Last time I was feeling too sick to paint en plein air. So I made a quick sketch in my logbook noting down the colours. As soon as I felt a little better at home, I finished the painting.

Since I was at home, I was tempted to use a wider palette for the painting, but I decided to stick to my travelling paintbox instead. I wanted to familiarize myself a lot more with my travel palette and switch out colours if needed.

I removed the clips that holds the pans in place to be able to fit in 4 more half pans in the middle of the 8-half-pan Fome palette, making it a 12-pan palette. With the clips missing, the pans were loose. I glued magnets to the bottom of the pans to keep them in place. The box is tiny, smaller than a pack of playing cards. I love that size so much that I have 2 of them. I got mine at Jerry’s Artarama.

Since I usually travel during colder times, my palette is a bit on the broody side. However, if needed, I can easily mix warm, sunny colours with them as I did for this painting. I will write a full post on my travel palette one day.

Painting the mountains was a wonderful way to be transported there all over again.

Nights are getting cooler around here and I have been knitting again. I realised that I never showed the hat I had already made before going to Scotland earlier this year.

I used a pattern called Winter Wish. It includes both a chart and written instructions, which I prefer. I added one extra pattern repeat to fit my large head (I am not joking) and a few more rows of the garter stitch rib. I learned Brioche stitch for this hat; it turned out to be simpler than I had imagined.

Youtube tutorial by Very Pink Knits for Brioche Stitch.

Youtube tutorial by The Unapologetic Knitter for Brioche In the Round.

The hat kept me toasty warm on the cold and windy days in Scotland. I even lent it to my husband as he got sick half-way through our visit. He liked it so much that he requested I make one for him as well. The hat I had made for him was not quite as warm as this one.

You have heard me say, warm knits always make me think of faraway places. Can’t wait to cast one for him.

I made progress with the alphabet series painting. B took a long time to think of all the details I wanted to include. My sketchbook travels with me and I within it. I am now ready to ink and watercolour it. Can you guess what it is?

Until next time,
-Soma

I am also linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.

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