Too Pool for School

Hi Knitters,
I wish I wasn't too pool for school but apparently I am. I lovelovelove variegated yarns in the skein. I dislikedislikedislike pooling (the puddling of the colors, in case you don't know) of any sort. It just bothers me and truly I can't live with it. When I look at projects that others have knitted with pooling, I feel like the end product has been ruined.

So here is my pooling history of late. On the left I knitted a glove out of this sock yarn and on the end of the cuff you can see that it started pooling. I quickly wound the skein into two balls and alternated, which solved the problem. Next, I started a sock, mostly to try out this yarn and because I am in love with this colorway called tuscan. Sure enough I immediately started having wretched pooling issues. I divided the skein again but this time the pooling didn't resolve itself. It stopped me dead in my tracks. I will be ripping this out. Yesterday, I cast on with this yarn to make a quick pair of pedi socks because I need to catch my breath for a second. Once again, the pooling has arisen. I didn't notice until I got to the foot because with anklets the pooling didn't show on the short cuff or the heel flap. I divided the skein again, however I am suddenly feeling like sticking to good old semi-solid, striping or straight out solid yarns. I am beaten down for the moment by the pooling. Wretched is right.

Granny square update: 76
Last update: 57

Okay, I did make some squares, along with my knitting that pools, for a little palette cleansing. I can't get enough. Let me tell you what I have in mind for this. I am determined to make 180 squares. There I said it, it is written in stone now. I think this would make a great big-sized blanket. It will take me a long time and I am okay with that.

I learned a couple of things while listening to the Ready, Set, Knit podcast yesterday. I learned that you should use a crochet hook 2 sizes smaller than you were working with when making a crocheted edging. This I didn't know, did you? I am going to do a double-crochet edging when I am done and for the corners I am planning to dc 3, chain 1, dc 3 in each corner. You know I am reporting this here so I can simply remember these tips somehow. If I scratched them down in one of my sketchbooks this information may be lost forever.


Is anyone joining me on this venture? I've heard from quite a few granny square fiends out there and some granny dreamers. The addiction will be tough to shake. I mean look at what a quick, sweet baby blanket that would be, too good.

Thanks for the super responses on the ladybug and sweet pea hat patterns. I love that people get as excited as I do about these little projects. Up next, the bumble bee hat. I just finished knitting up the sample. Aren't they sweet together?

My friend hasn't been feeling well for the past week or so. My whole family just loves this woman, she has touched our lives in so many ways. My daughter has been working away on these pretty tissue paper flowers for her. She is so proud of them that she wanted me to share them with you. I will drop them on her doorstep later today. I hope it will cheer her up.

On a different note, my sister bought this really different, and really cute scarf yarn on our trip to New York last fall. When we were on our spring break trip she pulled it out and we were trying to remember how to do the crazy technique for correctly knitting with it. The kind and lovely yarn shop owner had given us a brief demonstration on the unique technique used here. I kind of remembered but not exactly until, lo and behold, I ran across this tutorial for this same yarn. Yay! I love this blog, by the way, she is really a talented knitter.

I'm off to start on my next work project...

Move and shake it, Knitters.

best, susie