Row 1: (RS) K1, ssk, (k9, sl 2 sts pwise, k1, p2sso), k9, k2tog, k1.

Row 2: K1, (p1, k4, k1, yo, k1 into same st, k4), p1, k1.

This is my new scrappy blanket. I wanted to start originally by putting them into the order that I had used them for projects, and that was how I started the last one. But that really didn’t seem to work because some of the scraps were more than scraps. That Caron’s Simply Soft from my first blanket? I’ve still got over 40 yards left over and I keep thinking I could use them for something small. My plan is to use the true scraps, the small bits of things, to make several chevron scarves and stitch them together when I have enough to make a nice, wide afghan.

2/13/11 - I’m starting with the leftovers from my KnitPicks laptop case, all of the leftover Telemark. It really hurt my hands when I was making the case because there was so little stretch or bounce to it. Now it feels fine, I think in large part because I’m using one colour at a time and not using very small needles. It’s much nicer, much crisper this way. (40.1 yds)

Then I used the Noro Taiyo. I forgot how soft this yarn was. It’s like a cloud of yarn, just so nice and soft and fluffy. It really doesn’t have a lot of give though. It’s a little amazing to me that I did a whole afghan out of this stuff that was largely based on knitting stitches together. All those mountains of wool and hotness in my lap in the middle of July - oy! (4.4 yds = 44.5)

I then had a teeny little piece of yarn left over from when I made my Knit Cowl. I mean, this is really truly a scrap of nothingness but it looks so pretty with just this little strip of sparkle softness. (1 yd - 45.5)

Next came the two yarns that I bought from Frou Frou in Malvern. First, the Cascade that I bought for Grandma’s slippers. To steal what I wrote from my original scrappy blanket, “I had very good memories of making those slippers and doing short-row shaping for the first time. I also had fun remembering how I didn’t quite know how to ball a skein of yarn - since it was my first time working with an actual non-factory skein - and made a horrible tangle of it that took me 3 hours to completely unknot.” The yarn was thinner than I remembered and kind of splitty since it had all been frogged from that blanket, but it was nice. I know for a fact that my grandmother still uses those slippers every day. It makes me happy that I could give her something she loves so much. (13.2 yds = 58.7 yds)

Then I used the leftover coral cotton from my first ever tank top which I still can’t believe how well it fits. The yarn - oh my goodness, I forgot how soft it is! It’s splitty, of course, but it’s so very very soft and lovely and just the right amount of firm. I really can’t wait for warm weather and making tank tops again. Hey! I just realized the Artful Yarns was from Frou Frou too! (12 yds = 70.7 yds)

Then came the very tiny scrap of MadelineTosh DK from the Fountain Hat sample I made for Rose. I actually pulled out another skein of yarn today that I wanted to use to make one for myself, but then I got started on this instead. I love this base, it is SO soft, so warm. I’m really excited to use this yarn to make my Vivian sweater. Oh, I just want to cast on for ALL of my sweaters at once! (6.8 yds = 77.5 yds)

And now, I’m onto the small ball that was left over from my French Press Slippers. It’s this teeny tiny purple ball, just a little bit of yarn that will help this to grow. Wool of the Andes isn’t a great base, but it’s sturdy. It’s the same as Cascade 220, in my mind. Just very meh, probably pilly and not fantastic for garments in the long-term. (7.7 yds = 85.2 yds)

I’ve worked on this all day, and it’s only a few inches…I’m realizing just how long it will be before I have a blanket. But I really like seeing all of my project pieces in one place. So far, I’m 83 yards in with more and more to come.

I just added in the Homespun. I hate hate HATE homespun. Hate it. Hester, this is a reminder - you do NOT LIKE THIS YARN. I can’t believe I did three separate projects with it. It is squeaky and catches on things and is just plain bleh. Here’s what I wrote about it in my original scrappy blanket log:
“Working with the Homespun again, however, reminded me how much I loathed this yarn to work with. It’s horribly squeaky because of the acrylic and actually makes squeaking noises as it slides on the needles. It feels so hot and plastic-y in my hands, that same sort of awful plastic feeling I get whenever I wear my sweater, actually. I love the afghan that I made with it - it’s very soft and quite warming to lie under in the winter - but that sweater is really the one I wear when I’m lazy or sick. I’ll be happy not to have to work with it again!”
I dislike it so much, I couldn’t even stand to put all of it in because even though there are just 34 yards, it felt like it was taking days to get through. I used half and gave half to my mother who likes how soft it is….little does she know…..The colour is gorgeous though, and I know Nancy loved the scarf I made for her with it. (18.5 yds = 103.7)

2/18 - The LB Homespun is GONE, thank GOD. It’s such a pretty yarn and so very soft but the feel of it squeaking along on my needles? Yech. I then used the Lion Brand Babysoft. I had bought a whole bunch of it in Philly, again before I knew that acrylic was not wool. I really wanted to make this Belted Pullover from Vogue Knitting which I still think is awesome. But the pattern for it was so, so difficult and time consuming. I’d never done lace before, didn’t know how to read my knitting, and it was 16 rows with NO CHARTS, just written instructions…not that I could have read a chart anyway. I also didn’t know about stitch markers or what they were for. So when I made a mistake, I wouldn’t realize it until after 200+ stitches, and since I couldn’t read my knitting, I couldn’t always find the mistake and would rip back and back and back. I’d have to tink, actually, since I couldn’t read my knitting to figure out if I had gotten it on the needles correctly if I totally ripped. Somehow, I managed to get a front and a back made…but when I started on the belt, I realized that it just didn’t lay right and never would, since it wasn’t wool. I shoved it into the bottom of my knitting bins. Then, 2 summers ago, I realized that I still had the front and the back and could just seam it up the sides to make a vest for my grandmother. I had to rip back on the shoulder parts because they were WAY too long for a vest (the V went almost to her navel), but now it fits her perfectly and she loves it. (9.2 yds = 112.9)

I then had a few very small scraps of Reynolds Lite Lopi. This was originally for the Weekend Getaway Satchel, but when I felted the front, I hated the fuzz. I plan to reknit it with something that won’t fuzz as much and I turned the front into a cat bed for Rayah…although she won’t get into it. I just had a few teeny pieces that didn’t go into the Christmas ball of scraps from that project, so I thought they could go into this. (1 yd = 113.9)

Finally today, the Lion Brand Homespun. This was purchased originally to make a baby sweater for Tesher. This is still one of my favourite projects. I think it turned out beautifully and it fit him so nicely. I’ve asked Brenna to hold on to it to use for future children. I had some left over from that project, so it went to making two afghan squares - one for Kirky’s sister and one for Bonnie’s dad. This left just a few yards for this project, but it was enough. (2 yds = 115.9)

Aaaaand one more scrap! I finished my Cotton Seeds cowl last night while I was doing a double feature at the movies, and there were just a few yards left, so into the blanket it goes - SQUEEE!!! (2.6 yds = 118.5 yds)

4/11/11 - Yesterday, I finally finished my Sylvi sweater - with barely a yard to spare. I knew it would suck up most of the skeins I had collected, particularly because of my gauge issues. I had all of 3 yards left at the end, and each little bit of them went straight into my blanket today. It’s funny - when I look at this, I can tell immediately which yarns are good quality and which ones aren’t. The good quality ones have this boldness of colour, this rich depth to them, while the cheap ones have this plastic sheen. (2.6 yds = 121.1 yds)

I also added in the last little bit of my Laines du Nord Cashsilk from my Red Rowan sweater - such a creative name I picked, I know. It seems odd for me to be adding it in; I usually only add in scraps of yarn when I know for sure the project is done, but I plan and hope to tear back that sweater this summer and reknit it in a size that fits, rather than the massive thing that hangs off my body and makes me feel self-conscious each time I wear it. I know I can do better with it - heck, just knitting these last few yards onto the blanket show me how much better this yarn deserves. It is luxurious and creamy. I love the way it’s working up - it shows just this little bit of laceyness between the ridges, a hint of soft femininity. I love this blanket more and more the more that I add to it - but how on EARTH will it ever become blanket-sized!?!? It’s only about as long as my arm, and not quite that.
Maybe it can just be a foot warmer… (13.8 yds = 134.9 yds)

8/4/11 - I added in two ribbon yarns today. I got frustrated with my WIPs being so long and time-consuming (and not going well - stupid puffy quilted vest) and cast on my for Phiaro scarf, finally. It turned out beautifully and perfectly. It’s kind of funny to see it mixed in with the heavy yearns of the rest of the blanket. It’s like I knitted in tissue paper, it’s so delicate and flowy. And the colours…it’s like falling water. (5.2 yds = 140.1)

Then came the leftovers of my Infinity yarn, which I used to make my Raindrops Shawl, and then used the leftovers from that to make a sleep mask for myself. I do love the one that Sarah gave to me as a gift, but it’s so soft that it sometimes bugs me, if that makes sense. I thought the cotton of this might feel nice, like the t-shirts I use to cover my eyes when I try to sleep. And as for that shawl…oh, I love that shawl so much. The beads on it are so stunning, and I get compliments on it every time I wear it. It will always make me think of knitting it at Blossom while picnicking with the French…I do miss them. (7.9 yds = 148 yds)

9/5/11 - I finished a tank top today! I’m so excited about it. I think I could have finished it in less than 2 weeks if I hadn’t had issues with the fit of the top and the straps, but I love it. I love it! I’m going to wear it tomorrow morning. I kind of want to cast on and make a few more tank tops because it went so quickly AND because I have a lot of older yarns that I can use to make them with. It really excites me that I used up some of the oldest yarns in my stash for this project, I’m happy to see it finally going to use. (6.8 yds = 154.8 yds)

11/26/11 - I added in a bit more yarn today. I finished a multi-directional scarf that I’d been working on in the movies. I think it’s going to look perfect with my little navy blue Madeline coat! As much as I love this scarf, the yarn is kind of itchy…something to do with the nylon, I think… (8.5 yds = 163.3)

10/29/12 - For the first time this year, I got to add more to my blanket! The first thing I added in was a barely-there scrap of Great Adirondack Caribe Irisee from my Erquy tank. I really did love working with this yarn - there’s not a lot of stretch to it and it’s a bit rough because of the sparkle in it, but the colours are gorgeous and I just adore this tank top.

Then I put in a teeny scrap of the the Premier Yarns Serenity Garden from two of the many baby hats I’ve made this year. I really loved working with this yarn every time I used it - it’s so perfect for all the little baby things I made. I think I’d happily buy a whole mess of it and keep making little baby projects with it, it’s just lovely to work with and the end product looks so very professional.

Then I used the leftover bits of the Caron Sheep(ish) that I used for the Link Outfit and boots, the Yoda Hat, and Max’s Vest. I’ll be honest, I don’t like this yarn. I’m not a fan of single plys - too weak, too splitty - and this one is even worse than Malabrigo singles because it’s acrylic. But, it was sturdy and machine-washable and that’s what I was looking for with all those wee things. I did a cool little stripey thing with the lime green and brown because I had a decent amount of that to work with.
(23.7 yds = 187 yds)