Back when i started knitting, about 5 years ago, i also started dyeing yarn every weekend. I only used food-grade dyes and gallons of vinegar, but the process was fun and the results were satisfying enough. The yarn just piled up and I kind of forgot about it.
That is, this collection remained forgotten until this blanket-knitting frenzy began in 2007. This yarn went through a few different ideas (like this one) before settling into its current form in 2009, along with pretty much any other worsted weight yarn in my house.
Again, this blanket echoes the improv I’ve been exploring in my quilting. This is a standard log cabin construction and you can find patterns in many places, such as in Mason-Dixon Knitting or for free online here and here. I just exercised freedom in changing colors at any time (just using scraps and frogged pieces as-is) and using irregular strip widths.
After just four weeks of knitting, the size started to be a drag. Getting through one row of knitting started to take too long and other ideas were shiny and distracting. So this did lay dormant from October 2009 until January 2011.
A couple of weeks ago when I unfolded the work, I was surprised to find it was already quite large and behemoth-like. Although I generally prefer larger blankets, I know my own current endurance when it comes to this kind of knitting. I was going to have to be okay to stop when I couldn’t take it anymore. It really only took a couple of weekends of diligent knitting to get it to this final size and it’s a perfect lap blanket for a short person like me.
Whew. It’s done and on ice. And I’m ready to move on.
The details:
Pattern: big ass improvised log cabin
Materials: various worsted weight wool yarns; 1200g
Sticks: US 7
Finished size: 50″x56″
Started: September 8, 2009
Finished: February 5, 2011
this is fantastic. i love it. and i love that it’s not a perfect square.
Another wonderful blanket. There will be the time, when I will knit one.
It’s a real beauty. The colors are amazing.
It’s like an optical illusion. I love it.
I love it, great use of colors and shapes. Question is… does the yarn itch? All i know are my grandmothers knitted blankets and they itched. What do you do with all these quilts/blankets you make? Sell them? Do you ever sell any of the photos of them for cards? I think they would make very nice abstract cards.
I salute your stick-to-it-ive-ness. It’s wonderful!!
Yes, it’s pretty awesome. The off center effect is really pleasing.
Swoon. Sigh. Your’s is the most beautiful log cabin I’ve ever seen. I want one just like it. I wish I could loosen up a bit and do improvised things like that!
oh holy goodness – i’m in love with this. :)
It’s very, very beautiful!!
and the hits– they keep on coming. nice work!
this is so gorgeous. i’ve always admired this blanket whenever you’ve posted photos of it. congrats on finishing!
This is crazy beautiful!
Oh my gosh the colors. And in garter – so snuggly!! I love it.
It’s absolutely fabulous!!!
Wow! It’s beautiful. I started one of these about 4 years ago….I read the same book. Maybe I should finish mine. I don’t know how you do it.
It is so pretty! Congratualtions!
LOOOOOOOOVE! Your hand dyed yarns look really lush, too. I was going to comment on how my faves were the yellows & oranges, but seeing that last shot of it all I can’t leave out the blues. Really, really worth the effort, it’s gorgeous.
Love it!!
so incredibly beautiful!
Another awesome FO. I just love this blanket, and of course, the stark contrast of the ice. Beautiful!
Beautiful seems inadequate to describe that blanket. You’re a true craftswoman.
This is so lovely!
Oh, it’s absolutely gorgeous! So unique and one of a kind! The colors are beautiful and the improv style is like nothing I’ve seen in knitting before! Congrats on finishing such a large project! =)
Absolutely fantastic. I love this blanket!
This makes me wish I didn’t live with cats…
Stunning. I commend you for your endurance there at the end. It’s nice to know when you’re done, and it is beautiful.
Whoa. You’re a master of color! You’re going to inspire me to finish my Koigu blanket. I pulled it out recently and honestly, it could be called done as-is, but I really want to make it just a teeennny bit bigger, so I need to knit a few more squares. It’s on my list for February (I’ve been sidetracked by silk hanky mittens!).
Behemoth is amazing. I love that is off-centered and your ability to create such large projects.
wow! stunning! i gotta say that i’m not normally a huge fan of garter stitch but it looks so good here in all these colors!
WOW. It is gorgeous! What I like most is the off-centering! It looks great!
F-ing amazing! Stop with the amazing knitted blankets already, you’re killing me.
Making me *nuts*. Love it. All of those colours are so warm… and put together, so electric! Whenever I have that ‘oh, frogged bits and changing colours whenevah’ approach, I (unfortunately) get a piece that is as visually exciting as a Cold War-era newsreel report of a remote Eastern Bloc country’s train station (in November). Methinks I need to play more… ;-)
love it! just have to know whether you spit-spliced your way thru or, if not, what you did with all those ends.
This is really so incredible, on so many different levels.
Knitted artwork! Absolutely gorgeous–I love it on ice!
This is incredibly, amazingly stunning.
That is friggin brilliant!!!
You have such an artistic eye for shapes and colors. I do not know where it is going end!
Wow. Beautiful.
Beautiful blanket.
Love the scrappy awesomeness!!
it’s absolutely gorgeous.
(would it take too long to explain how to die yarn with vinegar and food colouring?)
oooh i love the offset log cabin shape. and your “ken burns”-esque slideshow. reminds me that I should take more WIP photos.
Thanks for the free links. I’ve been wanting to make one but didn’t want to buy the book. I so love this blanket!
The colors always have a great influence on me and my work, the blog’s great, congratulations!
somehow i missed this image of the complete blanket.
now i must gaze upon it lovingly for some time.
(frickin’ GORGEOUS, lady!!!)
This is a wonderful finished piece, and sometimes it pays to be short. ;^) I am even more captivated by the piece I saw linked in your post with various sized blocks in strips. Truly inspirational.
WOW! Masterpiece!
I have just spent about two hours looking through all your photos. Having just finished a blanket of various coloured squares I recognise the work and artistry involved in your blankets and every piece makes mine look a little lame! Really fabulous colours and ideas and I love the sentiments in your tapestry too! Most of all I simply have to know about the hexagonal crocheted blankets. I am sooooo wanting one – do you sell them – do you sell the yarn – do you sell the little hex’s? If not, no worries. Continue, continue, continue. Best wishes from the cold and damp UK where blankets are a must.