Log cabin project in hibernation

Placemat in hibernation, a photo by Dreaming Knitter on Flickr.

A placemat experiment in log cabin knitting, suspended for now due to my current focus on charity hats and squares :-) acrylic yarn, garter stitch

Here's a close-up of FOUR log cabin modules (two in green, one in black, one in blue)



Log cabin knitting is a form of modular knitting, usually done in garter stitch only, and ideally done in well-matched colors. But this is also a way to use up scrap yarn.

As with most things involving knitting, I relied primarily on online research to learn log cabin knitting. I have yet to get THE bible on log cabin knitting, Mason-Dixon knitting.I adapted the concept to come up with a placemat in acrylic and a bathroom mat in cotton yarn.

Here are a few helpful links on log cabin knitting.

You'll have to scroll down a bit for the blog post, "This Old Log Cabin," by one of the authors of Mason-Dixon knitting.

A mathematical formula on making your own log cabin pattern: How to Build a Log Cabin

Pattern for a log cabin scrap blanket

There are also video tutorials on how to do the joins in log cabin knitting. I actually enjoy this part, as the garter stitch can get boring and the joining/changing to a new color gets your attention :-)

World Wide Knit In Public Day: June 17, 2012

Actually, it's a weeklong event, June 9 to 17, for knitters to knit publicly. Click HERE for more info.

Finding the time to stockpile

I'm currently inspired to stockpile my charity knitting projects, now that I have a chance to send them abroad to the intended recipients later this year. I'm making time for these projects, mostly squares and hats, some in wool, some in acrylic :-)

Moonlit musings

There's a possibility of someone coming in from the US for a visit, and I can ask her to bring knitted stuff when she goes back to the US! So I'm now focusing on my charity projects. I have enough charity squares, but still no hats or even one whole baby blanket.

After I finally wrap up my two current log cabin projects--a bathroom rug and a placemat--I'll then finish one acrylic baby blanket and at least one hat, both of which are already on the needles.

Then I'll do some more squares, and maybe a few woolen hats. I still have about three to five weeks, I think, before I send them off.

Trying out log cabin knitting

Well, I gave in... and delved into the world of log cabin knitting. So far, it's been interesting enough that I set aside my other projects and start at least two log cabin projects: an acrylic placemat and a cotton bathroom rug. I have yet to finish either of them though :-)

But I have my charity squares on needles, since they're so easy to bring along with me in transit, and i have figured out that one ball of 15-gram worsted acrylic produces a six-by-six square, but I get stumped when I encounter a knot, which is getting a bit too frequent for comfort. I tend to cut out the knot and restart the yarn, meaning I'll most likely not reach the six-inch size I want... more likely, I'd get a square of five or even four inches only.

I also have a few blanket squares done, in cotton... not enough to sew together though.

New moon notes

I read somewhere that the moon in a fire sign is helpful for creative pursuits... and we've got the new moon in Aries til Sunday! Loving the energy so far :-)

1. I started to delve into modular knitting... knitting 6 x 6 squares of my variegated yarns. Next step is to join them together, unless I decide to just send them abroad by snail mail to charities collecting knitted squares for blankets.

2. I decided to focus more on knitting baby blankets rather than charity hats. Calling them angel wraps, to be worn by babies gone too soon...

3. Still finishing two hand towels, then want to try my hand on another bathroom rug. PLus another trivet.

Updates

1. Added to my wish list 2012: recycled/upcycled yarns from frogged sweaters, like those sold at Forgotten Fleece (a Ravelry advertiser).

2. Started spreading the knitting virus by giving tutorials mostly to my friends from UP. Need to make more beginner's kits.

3. Stockpiling on  bereavement blankets for preemies/stillborn babies. Minimum aim is a dozen, in various sizes, from 12-inch squares to 28-inch ones.

4. Doing some hats too, just to get back into using DPNs. Trying out bottom-up patterns, since I was previously into top-downs.