The project in question was the OpArt baby blanket from Knitty. You may recognise the name, as this isn't the first time I have knit this pattern. Yes, this was the blanket that bled (sob). I finally got myself together enough to have another go at this pattern. I was not to be defeated by mere yarn! So I bought something completely man made and specially designed for babies, the RICO Baby Design Classic DK that I used for the February Baby Jacket. Obviously I used different colours as the premise of this design is that you use two highly contrasting yarns as babies can't see colour. The colours I chose were a deep blue-green and a bright clear white.
I hope that these shades are gender neutral enough to be used for a baby of either sex.
Before starting on this endeavour again, I decided to knit a stripey swatch and wash it vigorously. There was no colour bleed and certainly no shrinkage! YAY! I was a very happy bunny indeed.
I love how this project turned out.
The contrast between the colours is wonderfully crisp and clear, and the yarn is very soft. However, I think the yarn might be a bit too resilient for this pattern. You see, you are suppposed to block this blanket into oblivion, in order to get a nice even square shape. I did as instructed and when I took it off the blocking boards I got this:
I wouldn't call it quite square. I don't think it is that much of a problem, because this is a blanket and it is used for warmth and comfort. I don't think a baby will notice the funny looking corners. I also think the new parents are going to be so tired they won't notice for the first six months either, and by then it is too late to complain (not that I think they would, but you get my drift).
It is a shame that the project didn't quite turn out perfectly, but I think the baby who gets this present will spend many happy hours staring at the swirly stripes, and that, my friends, is the most important thing to me. My gifts are not only to show my friends that I welcome the new member of their family into the world, but also to ensure the baby is wrapped up in the love I want them to feel. I feel like this is especially important for me because I live so far away from the majority of the people who are having these babies. I might only get to see them a couple of times a year, but that doesn't mean they don't take up a big chunk of space in my heart.
I do love this project, and it is pretty fun and mindless, maybe one day I'll find the perfect yarn for this project, and try again. I'm sure there will be more babies to come!
