Power Posting and Afghan

Third post in one day. Must mean that I've got time on my hands and no one around to need something. I want to join a couple of webrings and I think that you actually have to post to your blog in order to join. Trying to be a PreMember in good standing, I guess.

Final bit to post today. Eric's Afghan in ON THE NEEDLES. I know, it's been listed as OTN for at least a month. Well, I've been swatching and changing my plan and 2 days ago, it went on.

First, I wrote down my plan and calculated how many stitches to cast on based on my gauge. All this done while "watching" my husband play for the church softball team. I didn't bring the dog to this game.

Then, while riding in the semi with my husband to deliver a load of corn, I cast on 240 stitches. Actually I cast on 232, then 237, then finally 240 (I thought). I counted, counted, counted, and counted. Yup, 240.

So with my Options size 9, 47" cable, I started in on the garter stitch border, 6 rows and knit until we returned home.

Yesterday evening, I sat in my big foldup lawn chair with the footrest on the deck and finished the border. I ran out of the first ball of yarn and experienced my first small panic attack. I hope that the 30 balls of yarn I ordered will be enough for this afghan!

I must insert here that "A Prairie Home Companion" is a great program to knit to. And if you can be on your deck and watch your Great Dane tear around the yard, lips flapping up and down, well that's even better. AND if you can rescue a tiny Chipping Sparrow and her small nest of 2 blue eggs from Said Dog, better and better. Not so great for speed knitting, but pleasure knitting? Definitely.

Back to the afghan. I'm using Swish Superwash from Knit Picks in Dublin and so far I am so pleased with my choice. The yarn is soft to my fingers, the fabric has a very nice sheen to it and the color is perfect.

I've moved past the border and just started the pattern stitch. I waffled between doing a sampler type of piece with different stitches (mainly to keep myself entertained) but decided on just the one stitch because it seems to have enough interest in it and then there won't be any sewing!!! I'm using "Moss and Diamond Brocade" from the Vogue Stitchionary Volume One. I love this pattern because it looks interesting, creates a solid fabric, and is really easy! Every second row is a repeat of the previous row. Interesting enough to keep you thinking but still able to watch "Pride and Prejudice" for the zillionth time.

Here it is: