caltastic: <u>The Cookie Tree</u>, by Jay Williams (joy)
Cal ([personal profile] caltastic) wrote in [community profile] knitting2010-07-04 09:02 pm

Finished object: the Tetris Binkie

I'm expecting my first child this fall, and even though I'm primarily a scarves-and-socks knitter, I knew I wanted to knit up a baby blanket. Since I handle the working yarn strangely (left-handed and taught myself from a book, so I have many odd knit-habits), I wanted a pattern that wouldn't have a lot of ribbing, that would be interesting to work, and wouldn't be completely hideous on the wrong side.

After a couple of weeks of research, I discovered Gracielouwho's Tetris blanket. Absolutely the perfect amount of Cute and Nerdy for my impending weester.

The problem: I had never done intarsia before. Or, in fact, any colorwork that wasn't blocks in a scarf. I'd also never done any lacework and "crochet edging" kind of gave me hives of abject terror.

But! I was not to be denied! This was a TETRIS BINKIE, and it simply had to be done.

So a few months of frantic twisting, fumbling, and cursing that I couldn't get quite the right Arcade Blue for the squares in the washcloth cotton, and it's all done -- two whole months before my due date. :D :D :D



It's about three feet square, cost about $9 in yarn and, since it's cotton, can get baby throwup on it with impunity and be none the worse for wear. Each block is 10x14, so it knitted up really quickly (weaving in all the ends -- omg so many ends -- took longer than the actual knitting) and intuitively, which is really what I was hoping for.



The border was the part that scared me most, and it actually ended up being the most fun -- the YOs and sideways bindoffs gives it the most adorable scalloped edge, though it was like 800 rows of four stitches over and over. XD

The back side isn't quite so pretty as one might hope, because since I knew this would be (often) machine washed I knotted all the ends after I wove them in. It's still a lot prettier than it would have been if I'd tried strand work or something, though, so I'm REALLY proud of it.

It's just a shame babies are completely ungrateful and unappreciative. :)
aedifica: Super Mario! (Mario!)

[personal profile] aedifica 2010-07-05 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, I love it! Congratulations on making it!
jumpuphigh: Purple scarf on table shaped like a heart. (Knit heart)

[personal profile] jumpuphigh 2010-07-05 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
That is absolutely fantastic!
bedlamsbard: natasha romanoff from the black widow prelude comic (Default)

[personal profile] bedlamsbard 2010-07-05 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, that's so cool! Congratulations on making it, and on your pregnancy! (I have just found out my cousin is expecting, and am thoughtfully considering the possibilities knit-wise.)
melusina: (knitting nora amberlynne)

[personal profile] melusina 2010-07-05 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
Wow - that's gorgeous!
rhivolution: David Tennant does the Thinker (Default)

[personal profile] rhivolution 2010-07-05 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
Brilliant work!
evilawyer: young black-tailed prairie dog at SF Zoo (Default)

[personal profile] evilawyer 2010-07-05 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
My goodness, that is one eye-catching blankie! I'm sure the baby will love looking at it, even he/she doesn't tell you so right off the bat. Congratulations to you!
afuna: Cat under a blanket. Text: "Cats are just little people with Fur and Fangs" (Default)

[personal profile] afuna 2010-07-05 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, that is fantastic!
jazzypom: (Default)

D'aww that's pretty cool

[personal profile] jazzypom 2010-07-05 08:42 am (UTC)(link)
I love the bright colours and the fact that you have NO HOLES in your intarsia (where the colours change and meet).
pensnest: knitted sweater close up, caption: it's all in the details (Knitting details)

[personal profile] pensnest 2010-07-05 09:28 am (UTC)(link)
What a fun blanket! Is baby destined to be a geek?
liseuse: (knitting)

[personal profile] liseuse 2010-07-05 11:32 am (UTC)(link)
Oh that is absolutely beautiful! And congratulations on mastering all those new skills. I'm still in the "struggling with intarsia" stage, so I have nothing but awe for that blanket.
jamethiel: An Australian Raven, with spirals. A painting that I owen by <user name="moonvoice"> (Raven)

[personal profile] jamethiel 2010-07-05 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
That is FABULOUS!
thistleingrey: (Default)

[personal profile] thistleingrey 2010-07-05 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, really lovely.
auntruth: curious yet cautious aby kitten (Default)

[personal profile] auntruth 2010-10-02 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Babies are unappreciative, but it may end up in a dorm room some day