Well even if the knitting is boring, I'm sure you'll find something else to entertain us with. Stories of the cat perhaps?

Take heart -- since you've said you find garter stitch excruciatingly boring, you can at least entertain us with tales of exactly just how bored you are!

Wow!!! How did this happen? First? I'm knitting my 3rd pair of socks. Not quite ready for Sock Summit-wasn't that lucky? Your shawl is so gorgeous that I think you should attach it to your body so that no one can abscond with it. Cheers, Hazel.

Oh, deadline and garter stitch. At least you'll have time to plan your garden or imagine the upcoming warm summer days while your knitting.

And don't worry about the blog because there's always crazy people we are all forced to interact with daily to talk about. Now there's a never ending source of information there, eh?

since I just finished EZ's garter st blanket I can tell you. soothing and addictive.. not much blog fodder, but OH the squishy softness.

which reminds me. now that the ends are woven in I should post a picture instead of laying under the durn thing when I get hoem at nite.

I thought you did not knit for homes but only for people. Anyway, if I can screw up all-garter projects, surely you can too! Besides, you have jinxed yourself now. Just beware, with a log cabin project, it's the picking up of stitches that is the land mine. Good luck! I'm sure you will be done in no time at all.

I'm psyched! Please bore us (me) with the details. I knit the log cabin last summer and the seams where I picked-up stitches were...interesting. I convinced myself that they were consistent (if wrong) and handed off a bright and chipper bankie to a friend. Also...even though I have a pretty reliable gauge there were sections that were a little more hip than square. What is basic to one is not basic to all :) Have fun!

I always find that starting a really, really entertaining suspenseful TV series is the best way to get through mindless knitting on a deadline. Your hands just go without really thinking or looking at what you are doing, and the suspense/thriller aspect of what you are watching helps move the pace of the knitting along. (There have been times when I've been watching something, like HBOs "The Wire" that I don't even realize how much I've knit until the episode is over and I look down. :) )

Ok so the knitting might be boring, so I'm thinking another major appliance might konk out. Be aware that I am NOT, by any means, wishing this on you, but you did said the fridge was kinda smelly....

Deadline, garter stitch, and GRAY. People, this could be a serious breach of Harlot-ty wacky goodness. No colors, not a soothing green or vibrant rust, just various shades of funereal gray. No misbehaving sleeves, no neverending cast on that twists itself like a manic snake, no imminent baby ready to squirt out into the world. Gray garter stitch on a deadline.

But, still, I'm confident something interesting will happen. It always does in Harlot-land.

I like your color choices so far!

"...the chances I am going to make an entertaining mistake are slim." Now where have we heard that before?
Seriously, I believe you. There are very few ways to mess up garter stitch, especially for someone with 30+ years of experience. That said, remember that knitting is always waiting to surprise you. Always. Dontcha love it?

Stephanie, You need not worry about becoming boring. Your knitting is exquisite. Everyone deserves to take a breather by accomplishing a garter stitch project. Relax and enjoy. This project should revive your tired body and spirit! Garter on!

I just finished doing 25 1'x1' log cabin squares that I need to piece together, so it can actually be exciting. It was 5 months of garter stitch and I knit a lot while walking, in meetings. Now I need something almost equally mindless for those meetings. Refusing to start another one though.

We'll hang through though-- what yarn are you using?

And yet, the colors you have chosen are lovely...and, you can say exciting stuff like, "see how the garter stitch goes in this direction on this block, but a completely different direction on this other block...?" (be sure to wait for it.....!)

What can I say? Fabricated excitement is my way of life.

You made my day, even with plain ole garter stitch.. Loves ya!

Perhaps not terribly exciting, no. But gorgeous? Ooooh, yes. That is some yummy looking yarn.

Hey, just so you know, I started the Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket two days ago, and I have managed to screw up. Counting ridges is a problem... so there is hope (for entertainment for the rest of us, I mean!) Cheers, and many wishes for you to get rid of the cold!

But it's already pretty, and that alone is entertaining too.

Tnanks for the link to Claudia's MS ride - you always entertain me and do not disappoint!

Wow, at very first glance I thought (hoped) that you were making a Doctor Who Scarf. I have two of 'em on the needles right now, both intended for other people. That's a whole lot of garter stitch, and it won't even get to stay here.

I agree with stitching the lace shawl to yourself so it can't be stolen — it's lovely!

Yea verily I have made that Moderne Log Cabin blanket, in all its garter stitch glory and hugeness, and I am here to say that I think knitting it on a deadline is an extremely wise move. I did mine in colours I loved, in wool that I loved, and i still had to practically bait a chocolate trap with that blanket to force myself to knit it. It's awesome, but it's a whooole lotta garter stitch! which is great for when you want a lot of garter stitch.

(PS I strongly believe the bloggers who appear to not ever have to rip out cast-on rows are either doing a very good job of faking it, or have repressed the experience so much that they forgot it happened.)

Perhaps you can spice it up but also admitting that you're knitting pantless today?

I agree that's it's not as much fun to read other bloggers who knit perfectly and fast and only seem to be distracted by how cute their cat is...

Hmmm, can you really stick it out? All that garter? Or will you be like me...and come up with something more IMPORTANT that needs tending?

I have about 15 garter blankies...all 3/4 finished, languishing in the bottom drawers. Sometimes, in a fit of..."who keeps stealing my needles" (mind you, nobody else I know knits) I steal the needles, not even bothering to put the blankie on stitch holders...then later, I have the excuse to rip it back out, wind the yarn back into a ball...and heave a sigh of relief that I no longer have to LOOK at it anymore.

Time will tell. Ten bucks says you knit on something else before you even realize it.

You can think of all that garter stitch as knitterly meditation! I've had so many false starts recently that I plan to limit myself to garter stitch dish cloths and Monmouth Caps for the local homeless shelter for a while.

Oh, come on. You can screw up something if you really try. I love reading about the mistakes you make, and your perseverence to fix them. Some of your best writing comes from when you are correcting mistakes. Give it the old college try!

Well, knit it VERY fast and farm it out to your family and friends like you did that Christmas scarf a couple years ago.

I believe this will keep your brain in Theta a good long time - but DAMN! that blanket is boring. The one for my B & SIL has been hibernating since last summer. It's friggin' HUGE and while neat, boring. Good luck!

The knitting deities shall surely smite thee down for your hubris. Haven't you learned by now?

"while I'm fixing my 16th miscrossed cable" -- just finished the body of an aran cardie for my father. All cables cross every 4th row -- save for one pair that crosses every 8. Ask me how many times I actually remembered on the 8th rows to cable those two for the whole freaking length of the back.

Beautiful blanket, beautiful shawl yesterday, & hope you're feeling beautiful & have kicked the cold! Cheers.

I ahve been knitting a very very long time, and I have to say every now and then a knitter has to do a garter stitch project. There is something very "homey" and familiar about it. Maybe also because it reminds me of my long passed granny...sigh

You just don't get it, do you? It's your writing style that make otherwise boring things seem so very entertaining.

One thing about the log cabin thing though: I've heard that if you don't bind off VERY VERY loosely, it could be bad. Very bad. As in, not enough beer in the world bad.

Oh, and I'm thinking of taking legal action as well, since our vacation plans will take us near SS09, but not on the right dates for me to attend. We will be going up to BC though. I think. Yes, I just checked...it's the Panorama Resort just south of Invermere. If you can recommend any good yarn stores, I may not sue.

Please, please, please tell about the yarn and the colorways.

You'll just skate through the garter stitch, but yes, you could tell us about the yarn, the kids, the weather, if you found your jeans.... ;)

I like that blanket so I can't wait to see it! I like the grays you've chosen so far. What other colors?

It's time for a good squirrel story or the latest adventures of Joe!

Yes, it may be simple garter stitch, but it's still gorgeous! I love the colors you've chosen and the texture of the fiber looks SO lovely. Please tell us what yarns you're using!

Wow, that almost looks like the beginning of mine. I've got just about the same colors. I'm doing it in Patons Classic Wool, so it's going to be big. Mine is more a t.v. project intending to last over a couple years. It's on ravelry, i.d. a2knitter. Good luck with your deadline. Maybe it's time to get out your favorite DVD or maybe a hundred of them.

I've been wanting to make the log cabin blanket for awhile, but I couldn't decide on the color scheme. I love the grays, though! It reminds me of an overcast Midwestern winter day :).

Ooh, would you show the wrong side--if thee is a wrong side. I just kind of made it up as I went--and I am not sure if there should even be a wrong side. It was my first time picking up stitches and I may have done it wrong.

It's only as boring as you decide it is. Attitude is everything.

And I donated to Claudia; I'm one of those people who has trouble knitting because of M.S. I feel like she is riding for me!

I messed up a garter stitched project just three days ago. I absentmindedly switched to stockinette midway through a row, and didn't find out until I turned the work.
i seriously considered calling it a new form of (sparsely) textured stitch pattern, but frogged it instead.

You don't know how many times, when teaching fair isle knitting classes to adults who say they can't possibly learn yet a new way to knit, and want it to be perfect the first time, I quote you, informing them that sometimes even you have trouble counting to 3 (three). It also makes me feel much better since I'm not as good a knitter as you are. I can knit the most beautiful, original graphed color designs but then I forget how many times to decrease the armhole, or when to stop doing garter stitch on my mindless projects, or screw up counting the rows on a short row heel. Knit on, whatever you want to make!

I'm knitting a "conventional" Log Cabin blanket from Briggs & Little yarn for our cabin in Baddeck. At 30 rows per stripe, it's 4'x4' now, intended to be 8'x8'. Someone burst my little bubble of denial by doing the math -- ack, I'm only 1/4 done! It probably won't grow much over the summer, either. Good luck with yours!

"Someday, someone is going to add up all the projects that came to nothing and present me with a really horrible list."

You do realize that you just issued a direct challenge that somebody surely is going to take you up on, go through your blog archives, and present you (nay, the entire world) with the number.... right???? (*snicker*)

snort. I suppose you could knit in a hole for a leaf or 2 and spice things up a bit...

"...the chances I am going to make an entertaining mistake are slim."

Ah, but what are the chances that you will get bored and not be able to resist the siren call of a new and interesting project in the blithe expectation that you can bend time to finish the garter stitch? You're not the Harlot for nothing...

And the last time I had a funky smell in fridge I discovered that half a gallon of hard cider had sprung a leak and all the cider had cunningly drained down the back vent to the tray under the vegetable bins. Where it was merrily nurturing new life when I finally got up the courage to dismantle the lower half of the fridge and do something about it. Ew.

Me too!!!

Moderne!

Mason-Dixon!

No deadline.

No greys.

Other than that, it's like we're twins! Pass the beer, please.

I just read your twitter about the woman threatening 'legal action.' Don't worry- if that line worked George Clooney and I would be married now! Hang in there= can't wait to be in your Thursday class at SS.

Oddly, I find log-cabin knitting to be anything but boring. There's a strange and subtle fascination to the way the entire piece chances with each additional stripe or square. Have fun. It will relax and make you think you have even cast-off chops to handle anything that comes along.

How about some needle or yarn reviews? Or guest bloggers? Maybe interviews with the family about living/coping with a knitter?

You know this statement:
"the chances that I am going to make an entertaining mistake are very slim"

just jinxed you completely, right? I really hope I'm wrong, but ... *wince*

May the knitting force be with you!

I'm also knitting a log cabin afghan. I love it. I can watch tv and knit without too many problems. And yes, I have 2 mistakes. I dropped a stitch and fixed it the wrong way. I'm not sure how I did the other one, I just looks wonky.

And, you forgot to add, you are knitting it in shades of gray. I'd keep a colorful lace sock on hand just to take the edge off.

Well, we'll just knit alog with you then.

It sounds very restful. I am madly trying to learn new sock knitting skills to be ready for SS09! Everything is HARD (especially M1 in the back of the stitch).

I have screwed up garter stitch more than once by mindlessly knitting stockinette for rows (or inches) before realizing it. Also, by splitting the yarn on one stitch, and noticing the obvious error several rows later, and of course by mistakenly adding or decreasing stitches. As a matter of fact, I often find that the easier the knit, the more likely I am to make mistakes. Of course, that's me, not you. Never you;~)

I used my last garter stitch project as an opportunity to learn continental style knitting. Oh, but ou already know how to do that... anyway, it was a change to try something "daring" with my knitting and not be so worried about gauge changes.
Anyway, have fun.
My Einstein coat first section was so long I had to rip back the first section. Look out for that row gauge! I thought it was dead easy but I was making a monstrously large coat all of a sudden! good luck

I like the fact that you admit and chronical the occasional things in knitting that confound you, especially since you are such a very talented knitter...the blogs that feature the mistake-less knitters are somewhat irritating, at least to me, and definitely don't give me the laughs that yours does. So thanks for your honesty and humor!

I'm still working on my Moderne blanket I had at Legacy Books in Dallas when I confessed my deep, dark gauge secret to you. I'm finally on block 8. Lemme tell ya, up until block 7 it was fun - right about the time it got boring, it was time to bind off that block and start a new color - wheeee! Now, at block 8? Slog, plain and simple.

The best thing I can say for this is that it is apparently really impressive to the people in the lunchroom who see me knitting and reading a book. I take a dangerous pride in doing so, and I'm pretty sure it's going to kick me in the ass by making me drop a stitch at the beginning of block 9 somewhere and not notice it till after I have bound off...

Stephanie, have you read the May 30, 2009 entry at Mason-Dixon? It seems someone did find a way to mess up the log cabin blanket.

I knit one of those, and it ended up with a dimple. A large dimple. I wrote Kay, and she suggested I think of it as a design element, meant to fit cozily over one knee. The problem I had was keeping it linear.....

I am not one of those kitters that does not screw up. Just today I was with Scout and saw on her car blankie a dropped stitch that is now working it's way down the blankie. Yes I knitted it fast but it was garter stitch, only knitting. How did it happen? So apparently I cannot even knit garter stitch without screwing it up. Now I have to repair it and maybe knit another one.

Enter squirrel stage right...

Sounds to me like you might be tempting the knitting fates with this idea that nothing will go wrong in a never ending sea of garter stitch. Beware! Beware!

I have to tell you I love to hear about the mistakes you make. It's how I know you're a real person and it's always refreshing, although I'm sure it's painful for you in the moment! There are blogs I read (that will remain nameless) that just present these perfect finished objects with beautiful pictures, and while they are wonderful to see, it's also hard to relate to them because they seem too perfect. I love your blog and find I can really relate to you. I always enjoy reading about whatever project you're working on! Thank you!!

Stephanie, I'm in the "you've jinxed yourself" camp! Could you reveal whether you are binding off and picking up stitches or putting them on holders of some kind? The lazy|efficient part of me roots for skipping the binding off step!

Dude. I hope you knocked on wood.

I hope you knit really, really fast. I knit this blanket a couple summers ago on a seven week cross-country trip (east coast of America to west and back again). My husband drove, I knit. Five hours a day, minimum.
It took me all summer.
Either I knit really slow or it has secret complicated bits (I suspect the former).
Beautiful colors, by the way.

Clapotis?

Entrelac socks in "Aslan"?

I believe you may have just jinxed yourself...

kind of wrap-around-strip-ivy-embossed-tank?

Silk corset?

Not to put too fine a point on it but you CAN screw that pattern up if you opt to bind off the sections and then pick up into them for the next circuit. A too tight bind off will mean a curved, sort of cup like, well, more boat like, blankie. I truly recommend the idea of getting uberlong circs and leaving the stitches live until you come back around to them. Or, at least put them on a strand of waste yarn. No bindoffs to try to keep loose enough not to bind and snug enough not to droop.
However, garter stitch can be very contemplative as you motor along. Happy needles, Linda

Notice what I'm not saying?

Um.... you know you're just tempting fate, right?

That's OK, I am currently knitting a Kimono in garter stitch. I have half of one sleeve done...as someone else pointed out garter stitch is very soothing. I don't know about you but soothing is good for me right now.
Happy knitting.

I am knitting the Moderne *baby* afghan. It was quite entertaining until I neared the end. I kept knitting and it was wonderful to have a "mindless" knit for awhile. I finally did have to put it down for about two weeks and knit a baby sweater in the interim. Now I'm back to the blanket and it was a sufficient rest to be enthusiastic again. I hope you have time in your enforced deadline schedule to manage a small break - or that you have more fortitude than I. Good luck! I'll still be interested in hearing how it goes, and it will surely give me the laugh for the day if you manage to make a mistake (but I hope you don't).

I'm still interested!
The blanket looks very nice so far. What yarn are you using?

I am not concerned because a) you have now drawn the attention of the knitting goddess who has many ways to make your life interesting, and b) I don't believe for a moment you will be able to stay faithful for long enough to knit a blanket.

oooh, I know, how about Joe stories. I just love Joe stories. The truck stuck between the pole and garage in the snow was one of my all time laugh-till-I-cry moments... I also like the stories of your unfaithfulness to knitting, I recall a moment where you went to the dark world of weaving... anymore on that? And as someone smartly suggested, there is always the cat, or Sir Washie.... I guess the last would be difficult, as he is probably a Toyota now...

You are never boring. Garter stitch makes a lovely background between clever knitting.

I hope you spend some time talking about dealing with all the ends to weave in on this blanket.

Nothing you write is boring dear Harlot, and right now with the bug and travel and sock summit all piled up on you (not to mention the fridge etc.) i think plain knitting is just what the Dr. would order. It'll be a fabulous blanket when done so stay with this one . Thanks for the posting when you are so busy .

Aha! Moderne Log Cabin!
Called it when you showed us the yarn on May 22nd!
(yes, scroll through the comments, you'll see...)
(hmmm... what does it say about me that I'm proud of myself for having guessed right?)

I sense a household appliances mishap in your future. Life abhors a vacuum, so if the knitting is going well something else must take up the slack.

You're never boring. And you should know that before I read your blog the first time, I was knitting in a vacuum, and was pretty mean to myself about my screw ups. I'm not sure how long I would have stayed with it. When I saw the great stuff you could turn out, and how "not perfection" your process was, I relaxed, started having fun with my knitting. It was a huge relief. Comparable to realizing that I didn't have to finish reading every book I start. Blessings upon you.

I can't believe you would tempt the knitting gods this way! Haven't you seen the log cabin "bowl" on mason-dixon recently? I won't even mention the ways I might screw something simple up. Touch wood, quick, and hope for the best :)

I think there can be quite a bit of entertainment if you are sweating the dead line. I mean will you make it? What if you don't? How are you going to avoid distractions and temptations to knit other things? You can write about all of that and how you cope, really could make good reading.
What yarn are you using for the Log Cabin?
Amy

But it will be beautiful, and that's always fun. I love the LC design.

In re: #1, I can only quote our mutual friend Susanna:
"Not every project deserves to be finished."

Hah! I just finished one of those Moderne Baby Blankets, though I used a different yarn and had to sort of fudge the sizes of the rectangles to fit what I had. "Yeah, that looks about the right proportions. I'll stop there." Not too many places to go wrong. Nice mindless movie-watching knitting.

Great colours, great yarn - hope it doesn't turn out to be twins! The photos look very Brooklyn Tweedish.

The list would be wrong - there will be something you have omitted, or more likely something you keep quiet about (letting Urbanized Aran have a rest), have no photos or something and the list would no longer be accurate.

Let the knitters who are quiet about their errors 'put their big girl trousers on' and shout to the world some minor misdemeanour. I am sure we will all live to knit another day.

My 14yo asked me last night why I didn't go out 'til 3.00 in the morning clubbing.
I replied that clubbing didn't really do it for me, but if we changed that to knitting she might be on the right track.
Her reply - "That would get the party started"
(this isn't the child who normally has me with tears of laughter falling down my face.

Well, you could always do your pick up on the wrong side! That might make it interesting...

How about some remodeling projects or God-forbid need a new appliance?? I am sure you will find a way to entertain.

Such a great blanket. I made one last summer, and I think it might be one of the loveliest and most useful things I've ever made. Simple = good.

Just think of all the tv shows and movies you can watch since you can practically do garter stitch in your sleep.Got any BSG discs on hand?

I know how you feel, I'm a third of the way through a very large blanket. Miles and miles of stockinette stitch. I call it the neverending blanket. Hope you'll still have the strength to blog, you're the first site I look at when I get home from work. Well, you and Crazy Aunt Purl.
You've tempted the knitting fates by saying 'What can go wrong with garter stitch?' but good luck anyway.

I'm in the middle of that blanket. I've been working on it for years, on and off. My brain is incapable of doing any complicated knitting (have I mentioned to you that I'm pregnant with twins? And my son is 6 months old?) - thanks for reminding me of this. I should pick it up again.

PS - you can make a mistake with this blanket. I did. http://fiberfish.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-dont-really-want-to-speak-of-it.html

You could get distracted and forget you're knitting garter and purl back a row. And then not notice it for two days. And you really cannot unravel to a previous block in the Log Cabin Blanket. Just trying to warn you against tempting the knitting Gods with their thunder bolts and cobwebs and rascally desire to meet the challenge you have thrown out. If I were you I would reel it back in in an apology to the knitting gods blog tomorrow, just in case.

I've knit one of Ann and Kay's Log Cabin Blankets and it was heaven. I hope you are enjoying the placid harmony of it.

well, even if you don't screw up, it sho' is purty.

And also? You are a very, *very* clever knitter, whether or not you screw up. That's why it's so much fun for us when you do. :)

a.) You do realize that by saying nothing can go wrong that something will, right?

b.) You could always do a cool leaf border (I'm thinking of that leaf sock pattern) just to make sure.

c.)Best of luck, either way.

I admire your blatant mockery of the knitting fates. Don't the worst mistakes usually come after announcing that there is absolutely no way anything could go wrong?

Here's hoping that's not the case this time, and that the project goes perfectly. :)

I feel your pain today. I am collecting scarves. Yes, scarves. We are going to give them to teachers and staff at an Inner City school this fall. Lots of people have fun fur scarves to donate but I want it to be more like the red scarf project says "quality over quantity." Convincing people to please knit a decent scarf is harder than you'd think due to the possible boredom factor.

I think I may know who you meant when you described that "not of this Earth" perfect knit blogger.

Let me guess... He lives in Brooklyn and his name rhymes with Hared Blood.

I've always wanted to knit one of those, but I lack the fortitude. I started a basic log cabin and haven't finished it.

Stephanie,

I'm curious, how many pairs of hand knit socks reside in your drawers? What is the ratio of socks knit for you versus socks knit for someone else?

I've been making a requested afghan in a mitered square pattern. (i.e., garter stitch ad nauseum) for my granddaughter (in Berroco Comfy, since she believes wool is 'scratchy'). I am bored beyond belief. Keep on looking over at my huge stash of wonderful yarns of all weights. Told said granddaughter (9 yrs of age) that it was taking a bit of time. She looked at it and said 'Step it up!'. Geesh...

I have been knitting a "10-stitch blanket". It gives me the illusion of knitting fast because the rows are so short. Somehow it satisfies my short attention span, and surprisingly (for me) I am close to finishing it.

Steph, I think the years we've spent with you so far have convinced us that it's impossible for you to be boring.

but it (at the moment) looks to include my favourite colours -- grey grey and more grey and other natural colour. you can email me all the photos of this that you'd like. :)

Honey sometimes boring is a very good thing. Relish it after the crazy few weeks you have had.

Well, the shades of grey you've chosen are very pretty. I always enjoy watching your knit projects, even the duller ones. Plus, it looks like fun to do.

Have I been reading Harlot-blog comments for too long when I know *exactly* what rams isn't mentioning?

Can't wait to see the finished product! I love, love, love all the grays!

Thanks, darlin'.

HA! FINALLY! A project that I knit before you made it cool! :D Anyway, the blanket goes quickly, so hopefully you finish it before your deadline. :) I'm sure it's going to be lovely, even if it doesn't make for interesting blog fodder. :)

Oh, Steph, you've ALREADY reached that whole new level: writing entertainingly, apologetically about letting us down by very likely NOT arsing something up. That is so very, very meta-Stephanie. In fact it's from that alternate universe where the Steph meets the meta-Steph. Then again, you know, simplicity is very, very sneaky ... and you have a cat and teenagers ... Have faith.

watch out. I often make more mistakes on projects that are so simple I forget that there is any need to pay attention at all. the endless garter stitch lulls you into a false sense of security and before you know it you've repeated the increase row too many times and/or knit 50 rows too many. :)

[quote]
Really, how much fun would this blog be if every entry read "I knit a hat. It went well."
[/quote]

That is exactly what is happening with my blog. I'm knitting hats galore and they're doing well. It's not the most entertaining thing ("I've done a set of mosaic. Yay."), so I don't post anything about them for fear of boring people.

I usually manage to cast on successfully, but sleeves... O, Sleeves, why do you taunt me so?

But your garter stitch is so perfect, even that is nice to watch.

Am I the only one daunted by the size of the thing?

Garter stitch is so much harder than stockinette, though! You actually have to be careful to get the needle into the stitch properly, and not split the yarn. With stockinette, it just flows right in there, as though it was meant to be.

I've just done a read-through of the whole blog (killing time at work…), now I'm thinking I should have been keeping track of all the projects you started so I could present you with a list of the unfinished ones :-)

Oh, I can't believe it! I have been working on a blanket of my own design. I wanted something modern looking and not so patchwork-y as most of them. Mine has some garter stitch but also, about a MILE of double-moss stitch, which is a one glass of wine stitch for me because after that I start making mistakes. And then I tune in to your blog today and find that you are making my perfect blanket and that all the ciphering and moss stitch were totally not ever necessary because there, right on Rav, is the perfect modern blanket that never came up in all my searches.

You, um, wouldn't want to finish mine for me while I start yours, would you? Yeah, I didn't think so. For a Harlot, you're pretty loyal to your own knitting...

Oh, I can't believe it! I have been working on a blanket of my own design. I wanted something modern looking and not so patchwork-y as most of them. Mine has some garter stitch but also, about a MILE of double-moss stitch, which is a one glass of wine stitch for me because after that I start making mistakes. And then I tune in to your blog today and find that you are making my perfect blanket and that all the ciphering and moss stitch were totally not ever necessary because there, right on Rav, is the perfect modern blanket that never came up in all my searches.

You, um, wouldn't want to finish mine for me while I start yours, would you? Yeah, I didn't think so. For a Harlot, you're pretty loyal to your own knitting...

(Now the Internet is taunting me, too. I hope this doesn't post three times.)

I second Linda Walsh's comment about leaving the stitches live and then coming back to them rather than the ugly bind off/pick up routine...I used my KnitPicks' Options set with extra cords...I'm on my sixth moderne log cabin and it's a great present...especially with an I-cord border (like the tulips baby cardigan...).

That is a great pattern! I've made three so far (of the baby blanket version!). I was sort of surprised at how quick they knit up.

You may have just put yourself out there for the knitting gods to hear... just saying... find some wood, stat...

and I am wondering if you could tell us/me what yarn you're using - it looks fabulous!

Actually, I'm impressed to see how good your pickups around the edges of the squares look. Don't knock it.

But Yarn Harlot, I think your blogging about your mistakes is what endears you so much to us -- you are human and we don't feel so bad about our mistakes. I know that's how it is for me. And you're Canadian -- big plus there. You're funny -- sometimes I laugh until I cry -- and you care about others. You are to the Knitting World what "Due South" was to TV. You are a Knitting Goddess!

(I think any woman with children, especially teenagers, needs to hear that sometimes. Okay, a lot.)

Oh, Stephanie, I can't believe you just did that....wasn't that attitude of "even I can't really screw up a garter stitch log cabin variation blanket" awfully tempting to the universe or Gods of Knitting?

Granted, if it is tempting them, it'll be entertaining to watch, but you shouldn't sacrifice yourself on your readers' account ;-)

I went to Lettuce Knit yesterday for the first time (I figured I should since I've lived in Toronto for 2.5 years now...) and now all I want to do is knit socks. I blame you! *shakes a fist*

I hope my crochet hooks aren't reading this...

I'm doing the baby version right now. It's perfect dark movie theatre knitting...so if you take yourself to the cinema, you could share your movie reviews! Bonus points if you get reactions from your fellow patrons.

I knit one too, and found it a nice knit- except that I knit it in the summer and was covered with a hot layer of wool at the warmest time of year... operator error. Here's a link to my technicolored blankie:
http://simplysockyarn.typepad.com/simply_socks_yarn_co/2006/08/finished_projec.html

As I sadly confess that I, too, was working on a garter stitch scarf, and did something....perhaps it was the wine....and had to take 45 minutes to figure out what I did. By the time I ripped back, got the little stitches back on the needles...I was so sick of the project I had another glass of wine. Without the scarf. May yours go better than mine did!

I managed to make a horrible mistake while working on the Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket...as I was nearly finishing it, I made the mistake of leaving it in a room with my two-year-old daughter who decided to learn how to use scissors at just that moment. Ergh!

Aahhh...such soothing colors. I gave myself a concussion last Friday while painting my kitchen, (don't ask) and I tell you that blanket is just the right thing for me to look at right now. PLEASE show more pictures of it.

Garter stitch and a deadline. Boring? No offense, but I'm doubting that. A) You've tempted the Knitting Goddesses. B) There have been other deadlines that provided fun entries -- holidays, the gansey, birthdays. And C) It's garter stitch. Having just listened to someone complain again how she got involved watching the TV and dropped a stitch, the possibilities for entertaining errors in a project that big boggle the mind!

Good luck!

Well, even if you don't screw up the knitting, then something around your house will likely break and you'll have to saw out a wall or some other creative thing to make it work.

Or you'll have another airport story about a weenie who won't turn off his iPod or doesn't trust your knitting needles.

Or Joe will get his truck stuck at his parents' house again (oh wait, it's not snowing in June, is it?)

Or your computer will sieze up... wait. That's not funny to us. That means no Harlot for awhile, and that's just not acceptable.

Or, I could just knit along with you on my own Log Cabin Blanket, which is in about the same state of completion as that picture, but sadly, I started it about two months ago, so I'm a little slow. I did order some Signature Needles on your recommendation so I have a feeling I will be excited about the endless rows of garter stitch. All hail central air conditioning for wool blanket projects in the summer, SO SAY WE ALL!

garter stitch in gray
log cabin rows grow longer
will it ever end?

P.S. "Gansey"

Ah, but the Theta waves you'll be generating...you may single handedly (okay, so you'll be using both hands) bring about world peace.

You have more courage than I do. I loathe garter stitch. If I ever knit a log cabin blanket, it will be in stockinette. Somehow.

Wow. You are a brave brave woman to speak that out loud in front of The Knitting Goddess. My advice to you: yarn. burnt offering. now.

Yee gads, I'm stepping away from the computer as not to get that juju on me.

Go with God, Stephanie.

:)

Deadline and garter stitch balnket? Not so bad as it can lull you into a zen state of mind and be very, very relaxing. Bonus very hard to screw up!

I thought it was mandatory to cast on a few times, and rip back several rows, having dropped a stitch a few rows back in the pattern and being unable to re-do the pattern. Story of my life and true w/ the BMRSC fraggle sock, BUT I do enjoy knitting, eeven if the doozers don't

HAAA - I am doing the same mindless knitting - Moderne Log Cabin - but instead of a baby blanket it will be a throw (like sofa throw !!)... In Rowan Calmer - and that's a lot of garter stitch. Following most of the instructions but I have bougth I more balls of each of the 4 colours... Pictures to come on Ravelry !!

The blanket will be interesting because it is simple and elegant. Other interesting things may still happen to you. (The headlamp incident and certain hotel incidents come to mind and make me smile.)

You write with humor even when you are knitting your 100th pair of plain vanilla socks, so it is obvious (to me, at least) that we are coming here because of the writing even more than the knitting.

Knit your boring blanket. It already looks better than my version of the blanket (which was started with random sock yarns from the stash, not all of which meld harmoniously).

Like the judges on American Idol say, you could sing [insert "knit"] the phone book and America would be happy! Yards and yards (and yards) of garter stitch will be very soothing and well-deserved after that humdinger of a shawl.

You should worry, if nothing can go wrong in the knitting department, that leaves everything else open -- like (shudder) kitchen appliances... or teenagers... be very vigilant!!! Btw, I love the lowly garter stitch. Im doing a garter stitch shawl out of all my leftover sock yarn (and I have TONS of it). 450 stitches on size 3 needles. needless to say I've been at it while (I think 2 years now).

If the crud decides to make a second salvo upon your immune system, you'll have something to do that won't make you worry that when it's all over you have to rip out two skeins' worth of stitches.

Garter stitch is the zen of knitters. Be present and enjoy the gray. It's quite pretty btw.

Blanket, summer, deadline....hmmm.

I am also knitting the Moderne log cabin blanket on a deadline, but the baby came 3 1/2 weeks early. Then I discovered that the lightest color knits up at a different gauge than the other colors, and then I messed up the color order. Plenty of excitement!

Rams? Even without mentioning what you're not mentioning there has to be more than that. Keep digging, petal. I have faith in you.

It seems to me, with all this running around you are doing and the sock summit and the house and the kids and work and life in general (I just made myself tired), a rather large project of lovely, take-me-away garter stitch would be just the ticket for you. It will calm you down, mellow you out, heal your creepy cold that keeps coming back every time you travel (well, okay, I can't promise that one), give you moments of bliss. All while building a lovely, breathtaking afghan that will be a stunning gift to a lucky someone. I have a garter stitch project on the needles at all times and have for years. My family is wrapped in it. Boring indeed, it's Zen!

thanks for the warning, but i doubt it will really take you that long to finish the blanket if that's truly all you are knitting. my bet is that either you'll be done by the end of the week and we'll get FO photos on monday or you'll cheat on the blanket with some sassy sock or sexy shawl and we'll get to hear about that instead.

Oh, phooey.

You could write about the weather report and make that entertaining. No fear, even if you are making a garter stitch blankie; we'll love reading about it.

(Though if you screw this up, it will be extra-funny....)

You've definitely jinxed yourself. The knitting will be just fine - but what about the car, the washing machine, the cooker, the shower... Oops!

I made the Moderne Log Cabin as a wedding gift for my sister and brother-in-law. I think I finished it with about 5 minutes to spare (OK, a couple days). One thing to watch out for--make sure you always pick up your stitches on the correct side. I didn't, and rather than rip out about 10 rows--of course it was one of the 100+ stitch pickups--I bought some wide ribbon with the same colors as the afghan and stitched it on over the mistake with embroidery featuring the wedding date and wedding couple's names.

Probably someone already brought this up, but a person could screw up miles of garter. I am working (do people finish it?) on the self-same blanket, loving it, and have found three long buried errors. The one where you kind of knit both the stitch and the one below it? I hadn't found any of them until well past the next two colors/bars were added. An unmarked, unblemished version will be my next holy grail. This one stays the way it is.

Thought a heads-up was in order!

If you were "boring", would there be hundreds of us posting comments to your blog? I was thinking the other day that yarn shops should be giving you a kick back for all the yarn the rest of us buy just trying to keep up with you! After seeing the treasures you've made, I can't think how you could possibly be boring.

I loved making that blanket and found that the it was time to change colors just as I was getting bored with the old one. Knit on!

Yes, but what pretty garter stitch! And in the greys - it will be restful for the eyes.

(I'm only half kidding. I love grey garter stitch!)

Not to worry: something will come up. You live with teenagers.

Somehow, even your boring knitting is always interesting to read about! =)

Is that the Cascade 220 Eco Wool you posted a photo of not too long ago?

My dad says it's a really nice good, solid wool. I wish I could find it in the UK!

Pretty yarn--whatcha using?

You could always invite Hank to come over...

Maybe some sonnets to garter stich? An ode to deadline knitting? Thanks, more to the point, for reminding us that sometimes knitting is simple and that it is the overall act of love that matters most. Enjoy the simplicity!

Guess what. I made a mistake on that blanket. It is possible. Although, I've also gotten a gutter ball when bumper bowling. Apparently, I like to do the "impossible". :)

I think you should threaten the blanket with legal action!

I do hope you are not underestimating yourself. Overestimating yourself?

Oh, now you've done it; could you have tempted the Fates any more thoroughly? I can hear Murphy laughing right now, as he comes up with a new law about what happens when a knitter thinks a garter-stitched blanket is fool-proof...

I made the small version of this blanket and it was killer on my wrists. I actually didnt finish it but I LOVED THE WAY IT LOOKED.
I bound off what I had put a border on it and it was perfect sz baby blanket.

IT IS BORING but so professional looking when done.

You know of course that you have just challenged the universe to a duel. You are now destined to create the biggest and/or the most garterstichery mistakes the cosmos has ever seen. Which, is, of course, what we all live for. I'm making popcorn.

Hahaha...I like to think they're messing up and not admitting it too! It keeps me sane (as does your own honesty)!

Keep up the great work, frogging and all!

Only you could have 180 comments after telling us how bored we are going to be with your garter stitch!

Love your colors!

I had a friend who did this blanket, and screwed up because she forgot which was the right side and which was the wrong side. She was several blocks away by the time she realized it, and ended up going back and coloring in the offending miss-matched seam with a sharpie marker.

So beware!

i distinctly remember listening to you and ken talk about why you should never ever start a log cabin. i think this was just after the book came out, and you were leafing through a store copy at lettuce. i think ken's objection centred on you finding it boring, and your response was, "but, pretty!" or something along those lines.

I am knitting the very same afghan and yes it is simple BUT...and it's a Big But...it can suck you in and your needle, which has a mind of it's own, can knit into not just the stitch it's intended to but also the stitch below that and of course you are engrossed in yet another rerun of House and several rows (read hours) later, you finally see it. Then, you have a conversation with yourself about how the Persian Rug weavers always put a mistake into their rugs to remind themselves that only God is perfect and that this could be your mistake but it's so glaringly obvious that everyone will see it and since no one knows this little Persian Rug story no one will think of how humble you are but what a sloppy knitter you are and...well.

Enjoy, good luck, and look at the afghan during the commercials!

Maybe one of your daughters will do something outrageous to entertain us while we wait for new knitting. ;^)

Wishing you Happy WWKIP Day on Saturday and Happy Birthday on Sunday! I'll quaff a brew in your honor!

I did this on deadline, too, for my great nephew. I was screamingly nuts by the end, but wow, did the baby look cute wrapped in it. Then had to make another one for the next baby, his cousin and my great niece. One way to make it a bit better is to use more colors than it calls for.

I'm quite capable of messing up garter stitch by lapsing into k2p2 rib or something. I go into some zen state and start ribbing. But you are not going to do that, right? :)

I'm knitting the Log Cabin blanket too! I am using verigated yarn to keep it interesting.

Well, you're not really knitting for us, right? You're writing for us! You do a bang-up job! Garter stitch on, righteous Harlot, oh yeah!

Good luck with that. My log cabin blanket became a coaster.

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous colors!

Happy Belated Birthday! This has absolutely nothing to do with your post, but on an unrelated search I came across a video on YouTube of your knitting style... I have never seen anything so fast!!! How do you do it? It was almost a blur.

I recently finished a Bog Jacket, so I totally know how you feel about the garter stitch. At first, it seemed to be a welcoming easy project. Then it just got boring and laborious. I should, however, mention that I messed up the bog jacket so badly (the one that's knit in garter stitch mind you), that instead of having a flush neckline, it's a v-neck.

Then there's me...frantically looking over Natalie's head to see something of Toronto...which I miss terribly. Sigh.

I vote for Firefly too, in the Sci-Fi genre. I also love to knit to Absolutely Fabulous, Keeping Up Appearances, Vicar of Dibley, Good Neighbours, and Blackadder...with a few old Monty Pythons thrown in for good measure.

TV: Nobody's mentioned Tru Calling! Not on Hulu though.

I have been working on the Modern Log Cabin for about two years for my husband. His birthday comes and goes, fathers day comes and goes...it is so dreadfully boring to knit...BUT with beautiful results. Someday it'll get done. Everytime I cast on a new project, he just gives me a knowing look, like "guess that blanket isn't gonna get done anytime soon!" Oh well. Good luch Stephanie. Hopefully you will inspire me to finish it.

I am also doing a log cabin blanket, my first. I love doing it because it shows perseverance, and when I send it to the recipient I will include the activities in my life that it witnessed while I knit. My trembling fingers at the dentist, the laughter of my children, the cries from a scraped knee, the comfort of my bed in the evening while watching the news with my hubby, the moments before my mammogram came back negative, and on and on. Good luck!