Finally finished!  The Mitered Square Blanket - I started it way back in July, 2007, thinking that this "long term" project would be a beautiful queen sized blanket. Using Noro Silk Garden as the yarn, I created a worksheet for the pattern that helped me keep track of the knitting.  It worked well and as time went by I just got bored knitting square after square.  For those of you who may not know me that well, I sometimes am a little distracted when it comes to creative things.  I like to dive headfirst into many projects, and always am planning something else while knitting or making whatever the current project might be.

Since moving to San Francisco, I have discovered (even though EVERYONE told me) space is a premium.  My projects in progress used to sit in the studio in clear plastic bins - and hibernating projects had room to rest.  Here, it's a different story.  The works in progress are constantly calling to me, asking (pleading) for attention.  I decided to tackle them and get things done.  That's how this was completed... I only needed to finish assembling ths squares and then put on a border!

At first I thought I was going to crochet a border on the blanket.  I had completed one round on the piece and looked critically at it, then decided that a knitted mitered blanket deserved a knitted mitered border.  I ripped out the crocheted attempt and began to pick up stitches around the entire piece, placing markers at each corner.  using a random point on one of the sides as the beginning of my round, I reversed the "miter" on each of the corners, and did increases to create the border.  It seemed to work pretty well, and overall I'm pleased. 

I recommend tackling a project such as a blanket or throw - using random colorways of one yarn is a good way to "buy as you go" which is a good option for those on a budget.  I decided on using this yarn because I kept finding Noro Silk Garden for sale at yarn shops, and when Bishops Yarns closed in Chatsworth, CA, I was able to buy a LOT of this kind of yarn for a steep discount.  After that initial purchase, I started finding sales on this yarn and bought it when I saw it; helping out the LYS by purchasing their odd balls of yarn, and enhancing the collection of yarn to use in the project. 

I suggest that after making the squares, you select a neutral yarn to sew the squares together (I used mattress stitch) and for the border (I used a neutral then did a few rounds of the yarn I used for squares to create a small stripe in the border.) 

The sock for my self-imposed sock club is moving forward, slower than I want, but at least it's progressing.  I am working on a few designs currently and that mindwork is taking some of my free knitting time.  What a luxury; to get to knit as fun, and when it's time to work, to get to knit some more!  Speaking of which, time to get back to my pattern design knitting... (which I will talk about just as soon as I'm allowed!)

Happy Knitting,

Kyle