Still Boring

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For the following reasons, today’s post is not interesting.

1. I am still knitting the baby blanket.
2. It is still large and white.
3. Even though I knit a lot on it it is not bigger.
4. I think I am in the black hole of knitting.
5. I am going to a meeting today and it is dangerously close to WEBS.
6. It is probably a super, super bad idea to go there when my knitting is this boring. 
7. I am in a motel. There isn’t even anywhere cool to take a picture of the blanket. This picture is from when I was in the woods.

8. I haven’t even made a big mistake, and so far I have lots of yarn.
9. That’s boring.
10. I think I have to knit at least 30cm more. It’s not getting unboring anytime soon.

123 thoughts on “Still Boring”

  2. I don’t see how you can about boring when you magially show up in another blog I read!
    I was so confused to see you at Soulemama’s.

  4. Hmmm, well, if you’ve got the pattern all sorted out now and it’s just loads of knitting, maybe you could regard it as “soothing” rather than boring? I find that is my issue with blankets too – I tend to abandon them out of terminal ennui. Never mind – chin up, soldier on, and meanwhile, have a lovely day! (You should go to WEBS anyway.)

  6. Webs – it wouldn’t take much to get me there today…..my knitting is also boring and I refuse to start anything else until I finish (small sleeve and collar)… but Webs is so full of possibilities…

  7. I agree with StrongCat – soothing, not boring… gives you plenty of freedom to think about the wee tot the blanket is for, what he or she will be like, whose nose or artistic talent he or she will have, the places you’ll take him or her… lots of time to think about baby instead of which row you’re on… and the blog wasn’t boring – it’s encouraging to know that even you get bored with repetitive patterns.
    (have fun at WEBS!!!)

  8. definitely go to webs!one day I too shall get to the mecca that is webs – hopefully next year on my epic north american tour.
    about the blanket – at least there is a little bit of pattern in it? I have a half-finished baby blanket languishing, but since the baby in question won’t be finished until november, I have some time.I still enjoy reading the blog even when you are stuck in the black hole. you can make even eternal baby blankets entertaining.

  11. I hope you’ll get to enjoy an excellent meal in Northampton. It’s one of my favorite towns. It brings out my inner- hippy. 0.o

  12. Even though it might seem boring to you, I love seeing this blanket every time. It’s so gorgeous and even though you keep showing pictures of it out in the woods, it’s surprisingly clean and tick free!

  13. I hope you’ll get to enjoy an excellent meal in Northampton. It’s one of my favorite towns. It brings out my inner- hippy. 0.o

  14. It’s gorgeous. Knit on with confidence…. someone special said that! EZ is right up there with the Yarn Harlot in my admiration. Can’t wait to see this blanket finished! Think of the baby-to-be. Sweet little warm body wrapped in your beautiful knitted blanket… mmmmmmmmmmmm snuggles!

  15. Yes. It’s boring. And very pretty. I am doing The Traveling Sweater, and I think I am going to die of boredom. I’ve broken away three separate times to do something else more interesting, and I can see it happening again soon.
    Hang in there, Steph!

  16. Never. boring. And you met Rachel Bingham Kessler! I saw you on Soulemama too! I met Rachel at The New England Fiber Retreat this summer. (where, by the way, you would have a great time!) Alas, a bad fall and hobbling on a cane will prevent me from stalking you, I mean attending the Great Lakes Fiber Festival. I have been there, tho, and it is great fun! Enjoy!

  17. I have a boring knitting project, too. I knit and knit and knit and it seems to go nowhere. Yours is prettier, though.

  18. “8. I haven’t even made a big mistake, and so far I have lots of yarn.”
    Ahhhhh…. You had to say it didn’t you? I’ll do what I can to un*jinx you, but I can’t make any promises…

  19. Blankets are boring, but they’re so gratifying when they’re done.
    I wasn’t reading your blog in 2005 (I know, what the heck was I doing with my time and how did I survive?!?) – so I much enjoyed the Black Hole of Knitting – thanks for the link back to it!
    Knit on – achieve escape velocity and conquer the white black hole.
    Oh, and thanks a whole bunch – Birch may be drawing me into its gravitational field…

  20. Go to Webs and put lots of yarn in your basket. Look at it, squeeze it, smell it. Then put 80% of it back! Maybe 90%. Just being near wool is a cure for the blahs. Even looking at the Webs website, as I’m doing now, is theraputic so going in person must be wonderful. Have a great time but, first, do another repeat on the blanket and you’ll only have 27 cm more to do. 🙂

  21. I get it! I have two more rows to finish an afghan. It may take me all day. But you, my dear, are never boring. Knit on!

  22. I hope you are getting at least half the wrong side pattern rows correct by now, after so much practice!

  23. Steph, you’re never boring! I, too, am on a repetitive pattern; a lace scarf for (dare I say it?) a Christmas gift. But, I have decided that I will not let it be boring! Once I made that decision, I find myself truly enjoying each and every stitch, and often wishing I could be working on it instead of slugging away at my real job.

  25. except i’m not really that stalkerish, and my toddler would not think it was fun to hang out at WEBS all day. we’ve tried it. it doesn’t work.

  26. Not boring, meditative! At least that’s what I tell myself when I’m working on something repetitive. I’ve started the same scarf over 5 times in the last 2 days,not sure what my hang-up is…..
    Enjoy your day

  27. Blanket. Beautiful.
    Also, my own knitting is rather boring at the moment (3 wips. 2 plain stocking stitch, and one in garter!) so it’s nice to have company.

  28. So jealous – I passed through Northhampton on my way back from Squam on Sunday only to discover that WEBS isn’t open on Sunday. On a separate note, it was lovely to meet you and I very much enjoyed the Saturday reading.

  29. Love the “black hole” description. I know the phenomenon well! I knit a lot of blankets for charity, and find that most fall into the same pattern. At first, it’s fun to work on something new and see the design developing. About a third of the way through, it enters the “slog” (aka black hole) stage, where it seems to drag on forever. Then finally, about the last third, the end is in sight and I’m eager to get finished. Sometimes, though, the black hole attacks near the end. I recently had one that not only refused to grow, it kept shrinking each time I measured, no matter how many rows I worked. I kept saying that sections of it had to have entered some invisible fifth dimention. Yes, eventually it “escaped” ang grew again.

  30. At least the picture you did post is pretty!
    I hate the black hole of knitting, though…since you’re by Webs, maybe you could stop in for one of the open/close stitch markers, so that you could mark your place to see how far you’ve gone? Don’t know if that’ll help.
    It’s also a good excuse to go to Webs. 😀
    Have fun!
    Katie =^..^=

  32. I live in California. I admit freely that I have had a Webs addiction ever since they had their first booth at Stitches West. I always leave their booth happy with several (or more) projects worth of yarn. The staff (and especially the Elkin family) are really nice and fun to talk to.
    I was very proud of myself when I took my son to the East Coast this summer to look at colleges and I did not insist on visiting Webs while we were in Boston (we were there for almost a week). My husband later found out, and said that next time I should definitely go (this is the same guy who says I have way too much yarn). The two of us DID go to the small but exquisite Loop in Philadelphia on this same college visit trip while our son was busy at one of the colleges, and I think he enjoyed it almost as much as I did. Hubby said he was amazed at how knitters can go from complete strangers to sharing details of their personal lives in a matter of minutes. I think there is something about sharing a love of creating with yarn that builds an instant sense of trust.

  34. No no that is called “moving meditation”. It allows the mind to get still so you can hear/see inspiration for lots of new projects. This helps you knit faster so you can get done with it and start the new ones.

  37. Bring the blanket with you to the Fiber Festival in Hemlock this weekend. There will be plenty of us who will be happy to knit on it while we listen to you!!
    You got a lovely write up in our local paper,the Democrat and Chronicle. We can’t wait to see you!

  38. After such a harried time on every level, I fail to see why a resoundingly boring knit wouldn’t be just what the doctor ordered :-).

  39. Well today was boring until I read your post and laughed and smiled and now it feels better. Thank you!

  41. Yes, they do that to us and going to WEBS is probably going to result in some acquisition. I think you are better off acknowledging this and embracing it. That way you may be able to plan a little for damage control.
    Just face your weakness head on Steph! Yarn will happen.

  42. The blanket is beautiful!
    I also have an unfinished baby blanket. It is to be a quilt and is nearly pieced. The baby is now six months old.
    The quilt for my own son also remains unfinished. He is now in preschool.
    A knit blanket for my baby daughter is also unfinished. She is almost two.
    You’re doing great! This, too, shall pass.

  44. Take a break from the gorgeous blanket. WEBS might be involved in that break… I have a project (cover sweater on the Caston Mag from a couple of years ago). I will love it when it’s done but it requires serious breaks! Life is too short.

  45. I suppose the fact that blankets take so long to knit is the reason that I crochet all blankets both large and small. I’m a senior and could be dead before I finish a knitted one.

  48. That Catkin you posted about yesterday was so fun to knit, wasn’t it? Maybe you should get more yarn to make another one, but in different colours– maybe to match the gorgeous moss under that boring white baby blanket…

  49. We all have to do our part to help the world economy…….lol. Going to Webbs would be an act of generosity.

  50. I need to get a passport so I can visit the button and ribbon stores in Toronto and you are close to Webs and thinking of not going?!!!

  52. Hm. Let’s try this: If you know a date/place scheduled for a Yarn Harlot appearance, please leave a comment.
    (Yes, I am an awfully determined sort of person…why do you ask?)

  53. So if you think your blanket and the post is boring (neither are!), just think of the EXCITEMENT you’ll have with a surprise visit to Webs! #HarlotFrenzy!!!

  56. Steph – when is Robyn due to give birth anyway? I think I missed that info along the way or it was cleverly omitted from the Baby Shower post so we would all be in horrible suspense …
    Anyway – the blanket is coming along very nicely.
    Keep up the great work and send out positive baby vibes to that little one on the way.
    🙂 Also – I heard you’ll be at the Finger Lakes Fiber Festival this weekend and I’m totally bummed I won’t be there – please confirm you will still be attending Rhinebeck this year! I’m still hoping to get my book signed – and to make your acquaintance finally. 🙂

  57. Have fun at WEBS. (I’m knitting my first toe-up sock on two circulars and it seems to be taking forever- yawn)

  59. Webs…another place on my short list of places to go. We’re going to be able to say welcome to Finger Lakes Fiber Festival very, very soon!

  60. Finished a top-down poncho–zipped thru the first part and headed south. Knitting traffic got slower and sloooooower. Something told me not to count stitches until I was done. I plodded on. Final stop?? 340 stitches on 60″ circulars. Project began on 24’s with incremental interchanges. Such is life on the knitting superhighway.

  61. Whenever I have a blackhole of knitting (or just a seeming long stretch) I reward myself with 30 second dance parties for making it to certain milestones (the end of a repeat, making it another inch, etc.) When I was teaching my 12 year old niece to knit and she was getting frustrated, we would celebrate the end of each row with a 30 second dance party.
    It’s a Greys Anatomy reference and I though about sharing a you tube video of the scene in question but it’s a little gory so instead, I give you this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mZWlL68NPk
    Anyway, my point is that if you did 30 second dance parties, that would make some interesting blogging. Just saying.

  62. WEBS is my LYS (and, yes, I have a lot of yarn, why do you ask!) You MUST go, just for the shear fun of having knitters walk by and think to themselves “Wow! She looks a lot like the Yarn Harlot”. And I would love to be there when you go – it’s only an hour away and I can get there faster with incentive!

  65. How do you come up with the names of your posts? They are so intriguing I have to read what you’ve written. What I’m saying is I want to learn that skill. Can you share it?

  66. And think (or don’t) that this is the week before Christmas and you’ve just completed 201 of 215 wash clothes!

  68. I am in the black hole of knitting a baby blanket. I knit on it all the way on a flight from Boston to Portland, OR and back again, with a few rows thrown in during my stay. It looks exactly the same length as when I started. I am determinedly not measuring it yet as I don’t want the confirmation that the project is not growing. The baby in question isn’t due until February, which is kind of a relief!

  70. I was just at Webs yesterday! I got some gorgeous copper lace weight silk in the back room, hello beautiful shawl. If you don’t go, you will regret it, you will feel strangely unhappy, you will stare off into the night and feel an emptiness bigger than the sky.
    GO TO WEBS GODDAMMIT!!!

  71. The siren call of WEBS is a tough one to ignore. It has been calling me for some time, and it is over three hours away for me. Go and enjoy! Looking forward to your GROK the Sock class on Saturday morning at Fingerlakes! Have a great rest of the week.

  72. Webs is my LYS and I live in Tasmania. Guess where I’d be heading given half a chance! Go for me, please Stephanie 🙂

  73. I love, love, love WEBS!! So jealous! Working on that blanket might be more interesting if done while lounging on a float in the middle of a swimming pool while sipping a cocktail.

  74. While the blankie may be boring, the wee one that will wind up wrapped in it will be anything but! The love and warmth that is put in each and every stitch will keep that new life wrapped in love and warmth. Focus on that and not on the pattern. Reward yourself by going to WEBS! Those of us pea green with envy will relish any pix you choose to send our way of the shop and your haul!

  76. Think of how much money you’ll save at WEBS! I know that the general population determined a while ago that spending money never equals saving that same money. But this is different……
    Love the photo of the beautiful WIP blanket in the woods. We’ll take this anyday!

  78. If this blanket is not bringing you joy, I recommend you put it aside. Which is not the same as quitting. It’s just that if a project becomes a burden, then the joy of knitting is gone. I started a lovely butter yellow blanket for a friend’s baby. Never finished it for THAT baby. But four years later she announced she was pregnant again, and that baby got the lovely butter yellow blanket.
    I knit because I love making fabric out of yarn and needles. I love the act of knitting. The results are secondary. No matter who the white blanket is for, put it aside if it’s becoming a burden. Think of the joy you’ll have the next time you want/need to make a blanket and find you are already partially finished!!

  79. Steph!!
    WHITE needles with WHITE yarn!!!! No wonder you are bored! Go to WEBS right now and get some different needles….(and if you come out with enough yarn to fill a car, that is not my fault)
    bjr

  80. See, I think it’s fascinating that you can title a post,”boring” and type up 10 interesting ways it is boring, and yet we all read it. AND you have a miilion comments to go with it.
    Great blanket!

  81. You will get so much thinking done while you’re knitting this ‘boring’ project. Can;t you think of a way to put a beautiful colourful design smack dab in the middle of it?

  83. It’s your responsibility to go to WEBS and represent those of us who may never get to that side of this country! Go! Go!

  84. After reading your blog all these years, I have finally found a way in which you and I are truly exact opposites. Very long drives relax me. Short, frantic, don’t-be-late drives through crosstown traffic make me cuss enough to peel the paint off the entire U.S. Navy fleet.

  85. I think you will have to go to WEBS. Some things have been predetermined. Probably this is one.
    And think of the vicarious enjoyment you will create for your flock.

  87. I do the evil cross stitch, but have been comtemplating doing some knitting again soon. I was thinking of doing a blanket! Hang in there, when the baby is here it will be well worth it!

  88. You know.. I love boring knitting. Bloom where you are planted and, oh BTW, go to WEBs. Steve and Cathy would love to see you!

  90. I don’t think the blanket is boring at all, love the pattern, the color is perfect to show the pattern, love the picture you did show. Hang in there because it’s going to be gorgeous and the baby is going to love it!
    Honestly, I’d be blind by now trying to see the white yarn against the white needles. Maybe it’s my pitiful lighting or something, but I need more contrast between the yarn and needles or the eye strain does me in.

  91. If you really want boring, try a 6-foot rib-knit scarf in black, beige, or charcoal. But, there is a way you can make the baby blanket unboring:
    GO TO WEBS! Buy some compatible yarn in a bright, bold color like royal purple or school-bus yellow. Use said yarn to start knitting stripes — in a different stitch pattern — in the blanket. Or, maybe, knit in a Sesame Street character’s face in intarsia.
    See? You could make that blanket unboring in an instant!

  93. Sometimes knitting, like people, can be beautiful but boring. It happens. Stick with it. The baby for whom it is intended will only see the beauty (likewise his/her mommy and daddy). And you will be such a big, big person for ignoring the boring part and creating the beauty. Have a beer and keep repeating that while you knit.

  94. 1. I love the blanket.
    2. It isn’t boring to me. I watch baseball. “Nuff said,”
    3. Am looking forward to knowing the pattern for the blanket and the sweater. SOON! Baseball is baseball but we fans have only so much patience. LOL

  97. Hey, what kind of attitude is that?! There is no such thing as boring knitting – you just have to be in the right state of mind for this particular project.
    Think about the gorgeous little baby who will be cozy under your blanket. Imagine the soft skin, the tiny, little fingers holding tightly onto one of yours, the smell of the baby… and knit, knit, knit. Go for an imaginary scroll with the baby sleeping under the blanket. A long one. Note how the air feels, make note of where you walk, the trees, the man with a six pack on a bench (your choice what kind of six pack!!!), the sounds of birds, trafic, whatever, while you knit, knit, knit. And then suddenly, you’re just 5 cm short of finishing. And that you can manage in a concious state of mind 🙂
    Happy knitting!

  98. Have to say that even a boring post from you is far superior to watching paint dry lol It is a lovely pattern are you enjoying it regardless of the black hole?

  99. Be thankful you aren’t knitting almost matching blanket for twins like I am. Talk about boring.

  100. Um . . . You chose to knit a blanket, in that pattern. Of course it’s boring, but it’s your choice to bore yourself!

  101. I always find this with baby blankets. And they always look too small until they’re blocked. Then they’re big enough to use as a tent.

  102. Love your blog. Don’t know if I am more impressed with your knitting skills or writing skills. I am a veteran crocheter and newbie knitter. I hope one day to have even a small amount of your skills! Keep up with the great stories!

  105. So since you’re on the eastern end of the continent now, does that mean that you won’t be coming back next month for Rhinebeck??
    The blanket looks gorgeous, and I completely understand about black hole afghans….

  106. It may be boring but the more repeats you complete, the closer it is to being done. chugchugchugchugchugchugchugchugchugchugchugchug

  108. You are just enriching your palette for future activities and writing endeavors. As when you post on your blog, “socks knit of yarn purchased at WEBS in September 2013. Colorway has been discontinued.” Then, we all gnash our teeth and a few lucky souls, who happen to have that particular colorway in their stash, are inspired to either knit it…or de-stash it on Ravelry.
    I have been to WEBS. I didn’t have a plan…and I needed to fly home. I was overwhelmed. I didn’t do too much damage…and I still have not knit the yarn.

  109. Believe me I can feel your pain. I have a Vortex Shawl (circular – pattern on Ravelry) on my needles that I started with gusto right after Mother’s Day. I treated myself to the yarn, a lovely sock weight alpaca blend, varigated in color in a Wedgewood palette and the beginning was bliss. Once you get the the point where a round is over 500 stitches it is difficult to ever feel you are making progress. I knit and knit and it stays the same size. Consequently I have finished several other things like hats and cowls during moments of avoiding Vortex, but I am doggedly trying to hang in and actually finish a circular shawl. The blanket looks awesome and I am sure that even if you stray to WEBS you will eventually finish… Hopefully I will finish as well.

  110. Oh my goodness your perserverance is golden. I seriously admire you right now (well, I always do). You need to bottle that and sell it. You’d be a billionaire.
    This is why I have about 25 projects – actually, could be more, or could be less (not really) – on the needle. Because after knitting 1 pattern repeat on a project (right now, can be anywhere from an 8 to a 28 row pattern) I am bored, but mostly twitchy and have to move on to the next project. This is why it can take me a year to knit a 20 stitch wide, 4 foot scarf on size 10 needles. 🙂
    Beautiful blanket! Looking forward to seeing it blocked.

  111. Blanket knitting can be monotonous, and WEBS is so tempting – it’s an hour drive from where I live. My sister and I limit ourselves to 2 trips a year, for obvious reasons. We might be forced to make an exception for an opportunity to meet you though…

  112. So, what did you buy??? We want pictures.
    Lovely blanket. Pick up a short small project to give yourself breaks.
    Thanks for sharing your life with us. 😀

  113. Gorgeous blanket!!! Not boring at all, I love bebe blankies and seeing them peacefully and lovingly grow.
    And, please, pretty please, with sugar and cherries and beer and whatever else on top, PATTERN PLEASE, for the gorgeous layette set you recently knit!!! I have a baby boy in my belly who NEEDS it. Needs. Or maybe his Mommy needs to knit it for him! It’s so beautiful, and just delicate enough to show tender feelings for a little baby boy, but not so delicate as to look too feminine, especially with taupe or blue ribbons. 🙂 Thank you in advance, I’ll be watching for it!

  114. I feel like all my knitting projects are in the Black Hole right now– even the one I picked up just to distract myself with mindless garter stitch on huge needles with yarn so fat it only qualifies as yarn on a technicality, but that might just be because it so quickly became unwieldy. Oops.
    Maybe I should learn to knit socks…

  119. So no long chapter on the greatness and whiteness of your great white whale of a blanket for us? Moby Dick gets all the fun, if you can call it that!

  120. tube sock Patti said: It isn’t boring to me. I watch baseball. “Nuff said,”
    Thanks, Patti. I never made the connection between baseball and knitting before. They form a perfect pair for filling time. And it certainly beats running to the refrigerator.

  121. Unbelievable as it may sound, I’m knitting the beehive-stitched washcloth and have battled with the black hole for a WEEK. Pathetic. Must remain anonymous if posting such shame.

  122. The blanket is beautiful. I also fell in love with Birch, but could not find a link on any of your blog entries. Could you post? Have you ever thought of writing a book about heirloom baby blankets and how to create them? I know that there are lots of baby blanket books and patterns available, but what intrigues me is the way in which you tailor each blanket for a particular baby. I would love to know the stories behind each selected stitch pattern. Just a thought…

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