enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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My checkerboard blanket is growing!

This was the best distraction idea ever. I don't really take on "long-term" projects so something that takes longer than a week feels like forever. But I am loving it. I love how it's coming together. I love that it's perfectly imperfect. I love that I'll remember where I was when I made it. I love that it's turning into the softest and stretchiest blanket we have.

I have four rows complete. I am planning on making at least seven, maybe eight rows. We'll see. It's big enough now that I can cover up with it while I work on the next row. That's rad. I am using a very simple garter stitch because that is all I know how to do. (My grandma taught me when I was eight.)

I have been just making rows that alternate boxes of black and white. I forgot to count early on and don't really have the patience to keep track so to be sure the boxes are about the same size, I line them up with the ones they'll be next to in the blanket (see third photo).

I knit seven boxes as one long row then connect them together with a big needle (see second photo) and the yarn from the end of the strip. I watched a few youtube videos to figure out the best way to connect them, but I think they were for a different type of stitch so it wasn't very helpful. After some trial and error, I just started threading the yarn through alternating edge loops. Some look a bit better than others, but all of them are holding together. I am tying everything off carefully and then tucking the excess thread pieces back in so they don't unravel.

As mentioned, it's far from perfect, but it's awesome. Black and white is absolutely my new favorite color combination.

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32 responses to “knit blanket update.”

  1. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    Elise, go to this blog…. http://www.susanbanderson.blogspot.com. She had a side tutorial at one time on her blog for a swatch blanket she made once. I think it looks perfect!

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  2. lori Avatar

    awh this is inspiring me to pick up my needles asap. I too only know the garter stitch so I could handle this! Yours is looking really fantastic!!

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  3. Katie Avatar

    Elise, it looks great! I have a half finished crocheted blanket sitting around….. this makes me want to finish it. 🙂

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  4. Lauren Avatar

    This looks so awesome!! I’m still stuck on dark grey and white, but you are definitely making a fine case for black.

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  5. cecilia Avatar

    it’s turning out so great!
    happy monday 🙂

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  6. Sara Avatar

    This is wonderful – perfectly imperfect, if you ask me! Can’t wait to see the finished blanket!

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  7. Jenn Avatar

    you’re making great progress!

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  8. oh shoot Avatar

    Elise- It looks so good! I have been knitting for over 10 years and I have never knit a blanket. GREAT JOB!

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  9. LMT Avatar

    It looks fantastic! I think is a great item that your kids will fight over in MANY years… The blanket that mom made while dad was away at war… This blanket will make him and hero. (Does that sound weird? My nieces and nephews say that about stuff their mom made while my brother was in Afghanistan and Irag on deployments. Maybe it will be the same for you.)

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  10. CarlyMaria Avatar

    Wow! its coming together so fast. I usually don’t like long term projects either, but this one looks tempting.

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  11. Jaime Evans Avatar

    I love knitting/crocheting blankets- and I love yours! I bet it will be your favorite blanket to snuggle up with in the years to come.

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  12. Cassie Avatar

    wow this looks great!i wish i could knit too….

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  13. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    Looks awesome! Get ready to start one too! It’s one of my February goals!

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  14. Chelseabird Avatar

    It’s looking amazing, Elise! You go girl! Almost there!
    Also, I’m kind of obsessed with simple gold bands and I’m kind of curious where you got yours (pictured above). Hope you don’t mind if I ask!
    XO

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  15. elise blaha Avatar

    hey Chelsea! I am obsessed two and have been looking for one FOREVER. I finally found it at a tiny shop in Santa Barbara for $12. I know that is no help. I have seen some on etsy too…

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  16. JillT Avatar
    JillT

    I love this project! I learned both, but have always leaned towards crochet. This makes me want to pick up the needles and do a garter stitch again. It is definitely a “softer” feel in my opinion. Love that this is a ‘time piece’ for Paul’s return. And now you are all prepped to step right in to a baby blanket. Have a great pattern that I think is all garter except curvy 🙂

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  17. Skye Avatar

    It looks awesome! Depending on how fast you finish, it’d be cute if you have Paul show us the finished product 🙂
    Just curious, are you planning on doing a video of your reunion with Paul, and of his first tour of your home? Even if they are too personal to share, it would be great to have them for your two (and future kids!) to look back on later. 🙂

    Like

  18. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    Looks great. 🙂

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  19. elise blaha Avatar

    thanks! I have thought a lot about video-ing our reunion and have decided to just stay in the moment. I hope to get some great pictures and will be shooting lots of short home movies on the trip we are taking after he is home. 🙂

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  20. Jackie Avatar

    looks wonderful…i want to learn how to knit so badly!

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  21. Stephanie Avatar
    Stephanie

    About how many skeins of yarn have you used so far? I’m starting a similar project and am curious to see about how many I will need! Thanks so much! It looks awesome!

    Like

  22. elise blaha Avatar

    I am almost done with the third black and white. I think it will take five of each color by the time I am done.

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  23. Nessa Avatar

    You inspire me – always trying something new. Love this.

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  24. Nicole Hurley Avatar
    Nicole Hurley

    Where are you getting your yarn from? Just curious 🙂

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  25. shalini Avatar

    As I see your blanket growing, it is inspiring me to start a knitting project.

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  26. liz Avatar

    Your blanket is looking so incredible. I’m so not a knitter but everytime I see sneaks of this on instagram, it makes me think twice.

    Like

  27. Frances Avatar

    I love this blanket! Congrats on finishing! I am the same way, I just wanted to be able to put yarn together in such a way that it stayed and made a blanket! in my case, a baby blanket with the alphabet on it. It turned out very handmade looking but that’s what I wanted! ~Frances
    (there’s a picture of it here: http://eggthoughts.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/in-the-studio-history-of-an-alphabet-blanket-circus-shower-success/)

    Like

  28. Leah Noble Avatar
    Leah Noble

    What kind of yarn are you using, is it wool, or acrylic, or a mix?

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  29. elise blaha Avatar

    It is a blend of wool and acrylic.

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  30. Brittany Avatar

    Elise.. I’m super intrigued by this Project and I’ve been planning to start a baby blanket for a cousin in Colorado. How much yarn did you use? How many rolls of each color?
    Xoxo brittany

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  31. elise blaha Avatar

    I think eight skeins total, four of each. 🙂
    elise joy blaha cripe
    follow my craft adventures :
    http://www.eliseblaha.typepad.com

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