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July 20, 2007
New! New! New!
Have you seen my friend Ann's new project? Go ahead - go look. Isn't it FANTASTIC?
And do you remember this picture?
FINALLY! We're doing BABETTE! YAY! I know I said I was going to knit Babette, but Annie really wanted to crochet it and after figuring out that knitting it would take about a million years longer, I said let's do IT! We were so enamored with the Knitting Notions Online lace yarn we bought (that's the stuff I used for Moth) that when it came time to pick yarn, I said hey - Katherine's got a sportweight as well in all kinds of fabulous colors! So we bought 18 colors and split them. The pattern calls for semi-solid colors of Koigu, but this option was a bit cheaper and we're getting gauge. Here's how my breakdown is going to go:
| A Midnight Blue B Ironstone C Olive D French Marigold E Ruby F Damson Plum | G Pumpkin Spice H Green Apple J1 Aubergine J2 Walnut K Forsythia L Azure | M Red Violet N Pacific O Terra Cotta P Black Cherry R Pink Grapefruit S Lilac |
As I mentioned, the yarn is Knitting Notions Sportweight Merino. The pattern calls for 17 colors, but we went with 18 - color letter J we've decided we can switch between two colors. We WON'T be making the same exact blanket though. Our main colors (A - of which you need almost 400 yds) are different - which makes our Js different. Otherwise I think we're pretty similar.
This is the 12 round square for section 1. I'm following Ann's lead and we're crocheting them in the order they get seamed together. She's already started seaming, but I think I might wait until the end. I like this method because that means you're not always crocheting little ones or big ones but there's some method to the madness. We've also assigned one of our colorways to one of the patterns letters so that we can just follow the leader. No thinking. Just crochet. I'm up for that.
I'm not planning on going nuts with this project. I'm looking forward to it being something I can reach for and feel like I've accomplished something in a short amount of time without a lot of thought. I need that right now, to be honest, and I think this project fits the bill perfectly.
The best part though is being able to do a project with Ann. We get on the phone and crochet and laugh and it's all very GOULET.
Posted by Cara at July 20, 2007 04:09 PM
Topics: Babette
Comments
It looks like another great chance to play with color. Have fun!
Posted by: anmiryam at July 20, 2007 04:33 PM
i love it. i can't wait to see the color combinations. and i might want to do it, too!
Posted by: emily at July 20, 2007 04:57 PM
Fabulous colors! Hey, there's no I Q. HAHAHA!!
Posted by: Rosi G. at July 20, 2007 04:58 PM
you never blink!
fantastic square my dear!
Posted by: ann at July 20, 2007 04:59 PM
Hi - Lovely square. I only have 2 squares left on my Babette (a 12-round and a 10-round). I've been blocking them as I go, but haven't started seaming yet - I wanted to be able to make sure the colors were somewhat balanced before I sewed the whole thing up. It has gone much faster than I had anticipated - I think I've been working on it for 4 weeks or so, in between other projects. I used 13 colors of Rowan 4ply Soft. Have Fun!
Posted by: Julia at July 20, 2007 05:10 PM
That is one of the prettiest color combo ever! I can't wait to see this project grow. Please post pictures as you go. This is going to be loverly!
Posted by: Kathy in KS at July 20, 2007 06:17 PM
Beautiful colours and first square - do you finish your edges as you change colours?
Posted by: sharon at July 20, 2007 07:17 PM
Oooh! And ooooh again.
I think I'll live this one vicariously too, for now.
Posted by: Gwen at July 20, 2007 07:38 PM
OK both you and Ann's work is gorgeous, but now you girls are starting to scare me!
Posted by: Carol at July 20, 2007 07:56 PM
Damn it! I was half hoping you'd abandon this one so I could hold my resolve about not making it. Now with your gorgeous colors and your clever ways, it's gonna get harder with every post. Curses!
(Those colors are delicious.)
Posted by: Dr. B. at July 20, 2007 07:56 PM
cara... that is going to be absolutely incredible!!
your sense of colour means I cant wait to see this unfold!
Posted by: stinkerbell at July 20, 2007 08:24 PM
Uncle! Alright already, I just ordered the back issue of Interweave Crochet with Babette. Now will you leave me alone?!
Posted by: Judi at July 20, 2007 09:08 PM
How pretty! I'm dipping my toes into learning to crochet by doing some edging only. Eek.
Posted by: tiennie at July 20, 2007 09:13 PM
Cara, Looks like a fantastic project. Thanks for turning my on to Katherine's wonderful yarn! Mine is in the process of becoming a Kathatine Hepburn Cardi and it is scrumptious!!
Posted by: Rebecca at July 20, 2007 10:13 PM
Wow, look at all those colors. I can't wait to see the combinations that you come up with this one.
Posted by: Tonia at July 21, 2007 12:06 AM
I'm on Block 5, but I've stalled for a bit. Thanks for giving me the reminder to punch the gas.
Posted by: lola at July 21, 2007 07:33 AM
You (Big Horned Sheep) win, you always do.... HI-larious
Posted by: Melissa at July 21, 2007 05:01 PM
Ha ha ha ha ha, I wondered if you'd cave on this one in the end!! ;-) Colours are gorgeous, as usual ... very much looking forward to the progress shots!!
Posted by: Alison at July 21, 2007 06:00 PM
Oooohhhh I want to make this so badly. I even bought the yarn, but returned it, because I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CROCHET! How dumb is that! Anyway, I can't wait to see how yours goes. It'll be beautiful I'm sure.
Posted by: Mary-Kay at July 21, 2007 07:41 PM
Oooh, I love that Babette blanket! I remember wanting to make it the first time I saw it but then I forgot. Now I'm looking for yarn! Thanks for the inspiration!
Is that Knitting Notions Merino a superwash? How are you planning to care for your lovely blanket? I want to use malabrigo but I'm a bit worried about caring for a handwash only blankie.
Posted by: alligator at July 21, 2007 10:16 PM
Love the blanket, and the colours you've chosen. Thanks for the link to Knitting Notions!
Posted by: Donna at July 22, 2007 04:55 AM
It looks wonderful.. I have wanted to make one of these, but everytime I start to crochet... I end up throwing something against a wall (balls of yarn). I just can't get it.
By the way... I spent a couple of days hanging out with Robert Goulet in Hawaii (years ago just after he had split with Carol Lawrence). A girlfriend and I had gone to Hawaii and run into a bunch of the stars at a a Don Ho Show. It turned into a three day marathon of running around to different places. Everywhere he went he sang little bits of pieces of songs. One of the people with us kept saying how honored we should feel. It was a bit much and he was very morose about the breakup. I liked Harvey Korman much more... so much fun and great stories.
Posted by: Cindra T at July 22, 2007 09:08 AM
Wow. That's going to be GORGEOUS.
Posted by: Peeve at July 22, 2007 10:24 PM
Looks like a lot of fun. And what great colors!
Posted by: Laura at July 23, 2007 02:37 AM
That is gorgeous. My mother is a fabulous crocheter and I really need to get her onto this project. The colours are divine.
Posted by: Dr. Steph at July 23, 2007 09:43 AM