FEATHER AND FAN BABY CAR SEAT WRAP

I continue to knit for the soon-to-be-born-babies of my co-workers.

 This little car seat blankie/wrap was made with Bernat Cottontots yarn from my yarn stash.  It's been perfect to knit and crochet with during the recent heat wave.  It is a very soft yarn that becomes even softer once it's washed and dried on low. The blanket/wrap is not too big, so it will be easy for Mom to handle. Later it could be a little doll blanket!

I have amassed a nice stash of cotton yarn over the years. It's a great feeling to be able to make something from that yarn stash of mine! Most of the Cottontots was purchased on sale or with coupons from Michael's and Hobby Lobby. When the price of cotton began to increase I saved a lot of money buying a little of this, a little of that, a little here, a little there...

Do you like my rationalization?

The stitch pattern is worked across the row 4 times and there is a 4 stitch Garter Stitch border on each side. I suggest using a stitch marker on each side to denote the borders. 

FEATHER AND FAN BABY CAR SEAT WRAP

Length: 29 inches

Width:  19 inches

Yarn: Bernat Cottontots/colors: (A)Grape Berry, (B) Lovely Lilac, (C)Very Berry, (D) Wonder White. One ball in each color. Choose the colors that work best for your baby!

Needle size: #8 circular-24 inch length

Stitch Markers: 2

 With Color A, C/O 80 stitches and knit 4 rows.

(RS) Row 1: K4, Place Marker, knit to last 4 stitches, Place Marker, K4.

(WS)Row 2: K 4, pass marker, purl across to last 4 stitches, pass marker, K4

(RS) Row 3: K4, PM, *(K2TOG x 3) (YO, K1 x 6)(K2TOG x3)** repeat from * to**, until marker, PM, K4

(WS) Row 4: K4, pm, k across, pm, k4.

Continue working with Color A until you reach end of the ball. For me, that worked out to be about 9 wavey ridges facing the Right Side. Attach Color B, and continue in pattern, repeating 4 Row pattern until you have finished Colors B, C, and in the case of  Color D, worked Row 4, followed by 3 rows Garter Stitch and Binding Off. Let me know if there are any errors or the pattern is unclear.

AN AFGHAN OF HOPE

When one of my co-workers experienced a very serious health crisis recently it was only natural that I wanted to do something to show my concern. Having participated in many Loveghan projects for folks I never met over the years, this was the very first time I had a personal connection to the recipient. I wanted to work quickly, so I decided that this Loveghan would be crocheted, instead of knitted.

Since I work with a fabulous group of people who are so willing to lend a hand through thick and thin, a one woman project grew into a group effort to create a blanket of love.

What was so amazing about this was that a good part of this afghan was made by people that hadn't a clue how to crochet...

but were so eager to learn how to in order to be a part of this show of support for a friend and colleague!
Several people donated money to purchase crochet hooks and extra yarn to supplement what we used from my yarn stash.

A Tunisian Crochet square was a perfect canvas to embroider our message of care and concern!

Thirty 9x9 inch blocks and a double crochet shell border later it was completed!

Our blocks were an inch larger because we were mostly loose crocheters!

This required more yarn than the 11 skeins listed in the pattern.

The pattern came from here and the yarn used was Vanna's Choice, so soft and colorful!

If ever you have an opportunity to contribute just one square toward a Loveghan, please do so! It will bring comfort to someone in need of good thoughts!

AN UNEXPECTED TREASURE!

You just never know what you'll find when you go on a motorcycle ride with one's dear husband!

I had purchased this pattern a short time ago as my way of contributing to the Japan relief effort. You can order it here and read about it on the Mason-Dixon Knitting Blog. Since the background yarn is now discontinued and a very rare find, folks, including myself, must consider other yarn substitutions for the square's background color. So, I just tabled this project until a sub could be found.

We traveled to Jim Thorpe, Pa, recently, and we stopped at Hooked on Yarn, just to browse and pick up a little yarn token....such as a lovely skein of Rowan something. I'll save that for another post!

Anyway, as I came through the shop's doorway, I happened to look down, and my heart quickened! Could it be? The MYTHICAL Silk Garden that possibly no longer exists anywhere in this Universe? The Mother Lode??? Diane, the shop owner, informed me she had 30 skeins left of her original 60 skein order.
Well, upon returning home, I checked the pattern and miraculously it was indeed THE YARN DYE LOT!  I contacted Diane and gave her my order for 13 skeins of Noro Silk Garden #269-E. My check was in the mail faster than you could say "SSK"! And, she kindly shipped that beautiful 269 to my awaiting arms.

So, Gentle Knitter, if you had also purchased the pattern, and have been wondering what to do about the yarn substitution, here is your chance to buy the 13 skeins of #269 needed for the blanket. I had told Diane I would post her shop info. Maybe I should send a note about this to Kay also? I wonder if #269 can be found anywhere else? Or, could this really be the very last of it? Forever.

When it comes to finding unexpected treasures...
Always look down!