September 2014 – One million stitches …

When the poncho craze hit a number of years ago, like a lot of knitters, I hopped on the bandwagon and made a few, but I was never really happy with the triangular shape with the points hanging down the middle.

What I really wanted was a shawl/cape, but preferably one that was long enough to cover my bum, for warmth, as well as a little vanity. I also wanted it to work with some yarn I inherited that I knew wasn’t quite enough to make a complete sweater.

After doing some digging online a few years ago, I found this pattern from the Bernat Handicrafter Book No. 58, “Fast and Fun to Knit Bulkies,” from 1956.

Isn’t it just darling? It’s also quick, due to the large gauge (9 stitches = 2 inches), and the pattern is a basic slip stitch that couldn’t be easier.

Since I had enough yarn, I decided to go for one color, rather than the two tone version:

I made the buttonholes a stitch smaller than the pattern suggested, since I knew they’d stretch a bit. I also didn’t face the front edges with ribbon as the pattern said to do since it didn’t seem necessary.

Now that I have my stylish new cape, I am ready for fall, my favorite season!

XOXO,
Sandra

The other day Stephanie and I were on the phone chatting when we realized that we’d both whizzed by the August deadline and getting question number four to you for our Supernova Friendship Block Swap.

We both hope this is better late than never. Here goes:

Forgiveness is an integral part of any healthy relationship. What does forgives mean to you? Share with your partner an example of a time you had to forgive someone — or someone had to forgive you — and how it strengthened the relationship.

Seems kind of an appropriate question about now, doesn’t it?

Since I had a bit of free time this weekend, I decided to take the fabrics I was going to use as a redo of block number one and use them for number three instead. I’ll go with my original idea for the first block, since if I don’t like it with the rest of the blocks once I have them, I can always throw it on the back.

Gotta say, I love how using a pale color around the center square creates a kind of halo effect from a distance. Here’s a closeup:

I’m just about done with the redo of block one, and putting what I have so far on the design wall, it’s pretty exciting. I’d show you now, but a cranberry red room with pale gold curtains does not for a good photo make. One of these days I’ll get around to painting it.