I can’t look. I almost wish that I had not checked the blog today, and just found the finished blanket photo tomorrow or the next day, and then looked back to see how close it had been.
All the best, Stephanie. Oh, congratulations on your new little nephew! What a sweetheart…
If worse comes to worst–which it probably won’t because you are the Yarn Harlot–could you possibly use some of the “other” white yarn to knit a panel with a blue monogram in it. It would look like a deliberate decision to specifically personalize this blanket. The only people who would know the real story are the zillions of people who read this blog. We wouldn’t tell and would cheer you on.
[You are the Yarn Harlot. You can probably figure out how to make that panal work on a corner.]
Oh the suspense. How do you do the corners? I’ve added borders on round shawls/blankies this way but not on square ones. I love this technique for adding borders.
Your new nephew is adorable and Katie looks fantastic. Congratulations to you all!
The trouble is, he knows that’s exactly what I would do, and have done, though admittedly not on something that big.
I think your husband’s a clever one. Let’s face the truth with dignity. This will be a blanket for all his life. It simply has to be perfect, doesn’t it? Steph, my thoughts are with you!
Only a non-knitting could come up with such a proposal. Such a thing sounds…so…simple and logical to them. Only an iron self disciple would keep me from sticking a metal double point in their eyes! They know not what they say!!
20 rows – over and back once for each stitch on the blanket body. The edging is knit over more than 10 stitches, hence the other needles with more stitches on it.
Though shalt not have sufficient yarn to start a project and then decide to use some of it for something else and the order more to fill in the gap. For heaven sake next time use the new yarn for the additional project and leave well enough alone. This is way too hard on the knitter to have this sort of unnecessary stress.
Although in the words of Presbyteria, where is the entertainment value in that!?
Oh my gosh! How does this happen to you every single time? Well, I believe in you – either you will have enough (barely) or you will figure something out.
As an occupational therapy student I got to take arts and crafts classes in college (but no underwater basketweaving). When a project didn’t go as planned the professor told us “pretend you wanted it that way”. So (hope this does not jinx you) if you run out, leave that little corner undone and pretend you wanted it that way. It could be your new “signature” for baby blankets. You could always leave an edged corner unfinished because a baby is a work in progress–G-d’s not finished with the new little human for a long time to come. Yeah, that’s what you can tell people. ;o)
I’m looking at those rows of garter stitch below the lace on the border. One fewer row of garter and you’d be golden.
I like all of the prior ideas – split splicing all your ends, unraveling your swatch, doing a contrasting monogrammed corner.
But please, please, please…..
Next niece, nephew or, oh my gosh, grandchild, please buy extra yarn! The entire blog is holding its breath and biting its nails. I think we’re all knitting like the wind. God speed!
Oh no!!! How can this happen– AGAIN?!?! Frankie is perfect and so will be his blankie… I have to agree, IF there isn’t quite enough, I like the monogram idea! Go Steph!
Oy, If anyone can, you can. (and if not well, I like the idea of the monogrammed corner, It kindof fits that he was a little bit early and (heaven forbid) you’re a little bit short.
He’s breathtakingly beautiful. Congratulations!
If you run out, you could leave the corner incomplete and say you did it on purpose like the monks who made the Book of Kells and always left a mistake or unfinished part on each illuminated page because only God is perfect. 😉
Every time you do this is like a disturbance in the force. I find myself hoping that you have held back the blog posts and that it has worked out and you letting the suspense build. Maybe this time you have? I sure am hoping that you will have enough or have a gauge swatch somewhere you can unravel or something if need be.
there you go, 3 nifty solutions.
.
1) knit a monogrammed corner with the original white wool
.
2) unpick a small layette item (a bootie?) to obtain some matching new-order white wool. You could re-knit the layette item later with original white wool & nobody would notice.
.
3) follow the Book of Kells
.
btw quite apart from the story of how the blanket grew & the problems this presented, the blanket itself is a knockout. Drop dead gorgeous!
.
which brings me to baby Frankie. He is really & truly an extraordinarily beautiful baby. The little face with the wide-set eyes is perfect.
.
stephanie some day you might want to tell us how you ever did manage to corner the market on irresistible nephews …
I’m with the mongramed corner. Like the unfinished corner but not sure I could bare it!
What did you do to upset the knitting karma? ☺
Crossing everything. But you are the Yarn Harlot. You have this!
Oh, perfect — I had to touch the foot, and my gift to wee Frankie via his doting Aunt Harlot is the “other foot” for “This Little Piggie,” which I learned from my dad:
This little piggie said, “I’ll go steal corn!”
This little piggie said, “Where?”
This little piggie said, “In Grandpa’s barn.”
This little piggie said, “I’ll go tell!”
And this little piggie said, “Eee-kee-kee-kee — can’t get over the door-sill!”
As for Yarn Chicken, might Martha have a swatch from your previous crisis? Or is this a different lot?
And may I respectfully suggest that you order 25 skeins (same lot, of course) to set aside at Chez Harlot for the next two babies.
In Blankie 5, I advocated unraveling a part of the layette. But when I saw the pic of Frankie wearing it, it was obvious that you couldn’t do that – it’s too perfect on him.
So, part of me thinks that you’ll pull this off with about 14″ to spare, and we’ll all wonder what all the fuss was about. If you do run short, there should be some yarn somewhere in your stash to match/coordinate with the lovely golden brown ribbons in the layette. A perfect color for the background of a corner monogram. I almost – ALMOST – hope that you do run short, since the monogram solution would make what shall hereafter be known as Frankie’s Blankie even more special and unique.
Either way, the FO will be a perfect gift for your newest nephew.
In crocheting, we can drop a hook size when it gets this close and we run out. Could dropping a needle size work if you have to pull back to the lifeline?
I’m so excited! The blanket is lovely and however you finish, all that excitement about the baby and his arrival into the world will be knit into that final corner.
The comments (our comments) are hilarious!
The baby is healthy, the mom is healthy, the family is clearly loved. Everything else is gravy. You will figure something out, and we will be impressed. Knit on!
Surely, there is a knitter somewhere in this world who has even a tiny bit of this yarn! That picture makes me sweat just looking at what is left – blankie and yarn! But the blank is just gorgeous – I do like the monogram idea if you can’t find even a tiny bit more
I count 21, don’t forget the final row of grafting stitches. Corner monogram is actually a lovely idea (I’m sure you’ve already scavenged any available swatch) but no need; looks like you’ve made it … Katie and Carlos will love it, as will Frankie (some day) either way. Congrats on creating another beautiful heirloom piece..
I’m loving the comments and the suspense! I’m telling you though, I thought originally when you were doing your math that you should always plan on “having” one skein less when you are planning these things (hide one from yourself at the very beginning) because no matter how many you have you always squeak it out to the end of them and/or don’t make it with just a very little left.
I’m also with everyone above and think that the monogrammed corner is quite possibly one of the best ideas I’ve ever heard and think it would totally rock if you did the rest in a blue (if you have enough from the sweater, or since it’s a stand-alone project any other nice, soft blue) and monogrammed an F from the remaining bit of white.
I thought for sure you had enough yarn. Apparently, when you think you have enough, you need to buy 3 or 4 extra skeins because making a little bitty blanket is just not in your DNA! It is magnificent by the way! If you run out (biting my tongue here) maybe you could just put the smallest little corner of color and embroider an F like on the sweater, so Frankie knows it is especially for him.
Now Steph, unknowingly you have started a knew tradition.
The blanket is completed after the birth, and is finished with a lovely monogrammed corner (this gets my vote), which of course cannot be done until the new bundle is named.
You are infinitely clever Stephanie – remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. Whatever you chose to do, run out of yarn or not, it WILL be wonderful.
Ack! I don’t think I can handle the suspense!
(fingers crossed!)
Have faith and knit on!
OMG I can’t watch…..
Aaaaaaarghhhh. (But you did say you had plenty OUT LOUD. I distinctly remember flinching.)
And that’s why she’s in this predicament, she tempted fate!
Gotta agree with Rams on this one.
I caught my breath when I read that – and immediately put the thought aside. Denial.
Don’t you just knit faster to outrun the yarn?
LOL! I do this every time!!!!
YES. Knit Faster!
could you get any closer?
I can’t look. I almost wish that I had not checked the blog today, and just found the finished blanket photo tomorrow or the next day, and then looked back to see how close it had been.
All the best, Stephanie. Oh, congratulations on your new little nephew! What a sweetheart…
I feel the same way! ACK!
Fingers crossed!
My heart is pounding.
If worse comes to worst–which it probably won’t because you are the Yarn Harlot–could you possibly use some of the “other” white yarn to knit a panel with a blue monogram in it. It would look like a deliberate decision to specifically personalize this blanket. The only people who would know the real story are the zillions of people who read this blog. We wouldn’t tell and would cheer you on.
[You are the Yarn Harlot. You can probably figure out how to make that panal work on a corner.]
This is actually a brilliant idea.
Ditto!
Double ditto.
I agree. I was thinking the same thing. An intentional different colored panel on the corner would be perfect!
Oh, you’re killing me. Just… but surely somebody have a bit of that yarn if…no, I won’t even say it.
Oh the suspense. How do you do the corners? I’ve added borders on round shawls/blankies this way but not on square ones. I love this technique for adding borders.
Your new nephew is adorable and Katie looks fantastic. Congratulations to you all!
She could unpick it and knit a narrower border, suggested my non-knitter husband.
HAHAHAHAHA.
Ha Ha Ha
snort, guffaw snorfle.
The trouble is, he knows that’s exactly what I would do, and have done, though admittedly not on something that big.
I think your husband’s a clever one. Let’s face the truth with dignity. This will be a blanket for all his life. It simply has to be perfect, doesn’t it? Steph, my thoughts are with you!
does he have a death wish?
Hopefully your non-knitter husband is thousands of miles away from the Yarn Harlot and in a witness protection program for having uttered those words!
I myself nearly fainted reading them.
Only a non-knitting could come up with such a proposal. Such a thing sounds…so…simple and logical to them. Only an iron self disciple would keep me from sticking a metal double point in their eyes! They know not what they say!!
bjr
Very Funny!!!
I vote for a monogrammed corner. That would be the ideal solution.
You are not kidding! Yarn chicken once again. 🙂 I like the idea of the monogrammed corner.
How many tails do you have that you can spit-splice together?
Looks great — good luck and congratulations on such a darling, little nephew!
Oh so close. We are pulling for you.
I can’t breathe! I have faith in you. Will it help if I hold my breath?
Crossing fingers, toes and eyes!
I’m sweatin’ bullets for you!
All of blog-opia is rooting for you Steph!
Your nephew is gorgeous, by the way.
GASP!
Knit! Knit like the wind!! The collective willpower of the internet is urging the yarn to hold out!
Knit faster! or relax with a monogramed corner – that suggestion is fabulous!
I can’t tell you how disappointed I am.
On the other hand, it looks to be a mighty entertaining fall from grace you’ve got going there.
The universe reasserting its authority.
Popcorn? Wine??
Please, please, pl-eeze! Post a quick update when you finish, advising as to whether you made it (“whew!”) or if you cleverly covered your tracks.
I believe in you!
Super squeaky bum time!
Knit faster, outrun the end of the yarn! We have faith!
You. Can. Do. This!
Drama! There is always drama with you….lol
Yes, major drama!
Very glad to “meet” your darling, new little nephew.
Eeeeeek! Nail biter!!!
I’m sweating. Please, please have enough white yarn.
Ack!! Tenterhooks…until you post the “what happened next”.
Fingers and toes crossed for you!!!!
Gasp!
It looks like only 10 more rows? Hope hope hope, wish wish wish, GO YARN HARLOT GO!!
No, I think there are as many rows as there are stitches on the needles. Way more than 10.
20 rows – over and back once for each stitch on the blanket body. The edging is knit over more than 10 stitches, hence the other needles with more stitches on it.
Though shalt not have sufficient yarn to start a project and then decide to use some of it for something else and the order more to fill in the gap. For heaven sake next time use the new yarn for the additional project and leave well enough alone. This is way too hard on the knitter to have this sort of unnecessary stress.
Although in the words of Presbyteria, where is the entertainment value in that!?
Way more than 20 rows – there’s a corner to go round!
Do you have a swatch you can unravel and use?
That was exactly what I was thinking! Quick find the swatch!,,,
See there — another reason to swatch. It keeps soe yarn held back in case you need it at the end. (Convoluted knitter logic, I think.)
Knit really fast – it helps!
How about alternating rows with the ‘other’ white yarn.
You could always graft it and call it a hooded blanket, like those bath sheets. 😉
And we thought that 10 skeins would be more than enough. Eek. Knit faster!
I’m starting to think that you buy yarn short just to keep us entertained……
Close you eyes and think….more yardage! Make the yarn strrrrrrrreeeeeeeaaaaattttch! You could always knit tighter too 🙂
bjr
Holding my breath!
I like the corner idea – fingers crossed it doesn’t come to that though!
I think we are all holding our breath for you!
Face your fear.
The new baby is a treasure to behold.
And so too, shall that blanket.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I’m going to hold my breath until you post next. haha
This is worse than a scary movie! I’m going to hide under my bed; let me know how it ends.
Epic yarn chicken! I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you
Oh, my gosh! Please win this race!!!!
Oh my gosh! How does this happen to you every single time? Well, I believe in you – either you will have enough (barely) or you will figure something out.
YIKES!!! Going to be a nail biter.
Oh, the horror. I’m sorry.
Bonne Courage!
As an occupational therapy student I got to take arts and crafts classes in college (but no underwater basketweaving). When a project didn’t go as planned the professor told us “pretend you wanted it that way”. So (hope this does not jinx you) if you run out, leave that little corner undone and pretend you wanted it that way. It could be your new “signature” for baby blankets. You could always leave an edged corner unfinished because a baby is a work in progress–G-d’s not finished with the new little human for a long time to come. Yeah, that’s what you can tell people. ;o)
I’m looking at those rows of garter stitch below the lace on the border. One fewer row of garter and you’d be golden.
I like all of the prior ideas – split splicing all your ends, unraveling your swatch, doing a contrasting monogrammed corner.
But please, please, please…..
Next niece, nephew or, oh my gosh, grandchild, please buy extra yarn! The entire blog is holding its breath and biting its nails. I think we’re all knitting like the wind. God speed!
I’ve been here many, many times. I think you’ll finish with a 3″ tail. Despite many experiences to the contrary, I’m still an optimist.
Took the words right out of my keyboard, though I was going to say 1″ – but I do think she’ll make it.
Down to the corner
Is she going to be beat?
Stephanie and the yarn balls are playing
Bring a needle tap your feet!
and who says knitting is boring? I am holding my breath until you finish that thing and tell us how you did it.
oh and the baby…oh the little love! Congratulations!!!!
Bonne chance, mon ami! Courage!
Oh no!!! How can this happen– AGAIN?!?! Frankie is perfect and so will be his blankie… I have to agree, IF there isn’t quite enough, I like the monogram idea! Go Steph!
Crossing fingers! Good luck and I hope you have enough!
Yikes! I can’t watch!
Oy, If anyone can, you can. (and if not well, I like the idea of the monogrammed corner, It kindof fits that he was a little bit early and (heaven forbid) you’re a little bit short.
He’s breathtakingly beautiful. Congratulations!
Fingers and toes crossed for you!
If you run out, you could leave the corner incomplete and say you did it on purpose like the monks who made the Book of Kells and always left a mistake or unfinished part on each illuminated page because only God is perfect. 😉
Plan B? Just in case?
Not that Plan A won’t be just perfect!
I’m chanting incantations to the yarn goddess!
Every time you do this is like a disturbance in the force. I find myself hoping that you have held back the blog posts and that it has worked out and you letting the suspense build. Maybe this time you have? I sure am hoping that you will have enough or have a gauge swatch somewhere you can unravel or something if need be.
there you go, 3 nifty solutions.
.
1) knit a monogrammed corner with the original white wool
.
2) unpick a small layette item (a bootie?) to obtain some matching new-order white wool. You could re-knit the layette item later with original white wool & nobody would notice.
.
3) follow the Book of Kells
.
btw quite apart from the story of how the blanket grew & the problems this presented, the blanket itself is a knockout. Drop dead gorgeous!
.
which brings me to baby Frankie. He is really & truly an extraordinarily beautiful baby. The little face with the wide-set eyes is perfect.
.
stephanie some day you might want to tell us how you ever did manage to corner the market on irresistible nephews …
oh…what it’s going to be is beautiful!
….dang
I bet it will be just fine and finish up ok.
Sure makes us hold our breath tho!
I’m with the mongramed corner. Like the unfinished corner but not sure I could bare it!
What did you do to upset the knitting karma? ☺
Crossing everything. But you are the Yarn Harlot. You have this!
The husband should indeed be taking cover. Unpick an epic border! Eek
I’m with you on the difficulty of working out the maths (that’s how we say it in non-Canafian speak) of how much yarn is needed.
I’m with you on the ‘let’s trust that it will be ok and some suspense is fun’ approach.
I’m even with you on the finagling needed to make it work no matter what attitude.
But for the sake of our collective blood pressures, I wish you would order safety skeins!
But a collection of safety skeins is how we get an enormous stash with not enough of any one yarn to make something!
I call that random extras for filling in corners, giving away, adding to a random project.. There IS no down side to extra yarn.
Anyway, if you NEED the safety yarn, no probs!
Ouch – it just doesn’t look enough. But I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
I’m feeling a little light-headed…..
Congratulations on the new addition to your beautiful family.
*covers my eyes* Someone tell me when it’s over…
I can’t bear to watch!!
Oy vey, another nail biter…
Oh, perfect — I had to touch the foot, and my gift to wee Frankie via his doting Aunt Harlot is the “other foot” for “This Little Piggie,” which I learned from my dad:
This little piggie said, “I’ll go steal corn!”
This little piggie said, “Where?”
This little piggie said, “In Grandpa’s barn.”
This little piggie said, “I’ll go tell!”
And this little piggie said, “Eee-kee-kee-kee — can’t get over the door-sill!”
As for Yarn Chicken, might Martha have a swatch from your previous crisis? Or is this a different lot?
And may I respectfully suggest that you order 25 skeins (same lot, of course) to set aside at Chez Harlot for the next two babies.
In Blankie 5, I advocated unraveling a part of the layette. But when I saw the pic of Frankie wearing it, it was obvious that you couldn’t do that – it’s too perfect on him.
So, part of me thinks that you’ll pull this off with about 14″ to spare, and we’ll all wonder what all the fuss was about. If you do run short, there should be some yarn somewhere in your stash to match/coordinate with the lovely golden brown ribbons in the layette. A perfect color for the background of a corner monogram. I almost – ALMOST – hope that you do run short, since the monogram solution would make what shall hereafter be known as Frankie’s Blankie even more special and unique.
Either way, the FO will be a perfect gift for your newest nephew.
I’d start knitting a little tighter RIGHT NOW!
No matter what the result, do come back and let us know what happened. I think you made it with an inch to spare.
Oh my. x
In crocheting, we can drop a hook size when it gets this close and we run out. Could dropping a needle size work if you have to pull back to the lifeline?
Fingers crossed.
Great baby.
I’m so excited! The blanket is lovely and however you finish, all that excitement about the baby and his arrival into the world will be knit into that final corner.
Did you make a swatch? If you did, undo it and use the yarn.
I’m getting sympathetic knitter anxiety just looking at this photo.
I think you should go all PurlBee and knit the one corner in a different color 😉
The comments (our comments) are hilarious!
The baby is healthy, the mom is healthy, the family is clearly loved. Everything else is gravy. You will figure something out, and we will be impressed. Knit on!
OMG – knit faster, I find that helps!!
Buena suerta y felicidades para sus sobrino hermoso!
Crossing fingers!
Surely, there is a knitter somewhere in this world who has even a tiny bit of this yarn! That picture makes me sweat just looking at what is left – blankie and yarn! But the blank is just gorgeous – I do like the monogram idea if you can’t find even a tiny bit more
OMG….I am nervous for you. But that baby? seriously adorable…
I count 21, don’t forget the final row of grafting stitches. Corner monogram is actually a lovely idea (I’m sure you’ve already scavenged any available swatch) but no need; looks like you’ve made it … Katie and Carlos will love it, as will Frankie (some day) either way. Congrats on creating another beautiful heirloom piece..
It is gorgeous beyond belief but I am nervous.
P.S. My husband’s name is Frank, but he is not called Frankie. He is called Flash. Just another option!
Oh my lord, my heart rate just raced right up. I’m praying to the knitting gods to be merciful.
This is totally stressing me out.
Holy cats! Good luck; I hope you make it.
Welllll???
I’m loving the comments and the suspense! I’m telling you though, I thought originally when you were doing your math that you should always plan on “having” one skein less when you are planning these things (hide one from yourself at the very beginning) because no matter how many you have you always squeak it out to the end of them and/or don’t make it with just a very little left.
I’m also with everyone above and think that the monogrammed corner is quite possibly one of the best ideas I’ve ever heard and think it would totally rock if you did the rest in a blue (if you have enough from the sweater, or since it’s a stand-alone project any other nice, soft blue) and monogrammed an F from the remaining bit of white.
Why don’t you start looking for another skein RIGHT NOW?
Have you unraveled the swatch, already?
You did swatch, didn’t you? 😉
fingers crossed and congrats on the new baby!
I thought for sure you had enough yarn. Apparently, when you think you have enough, you need to buy 3 or 4 extra skeins because making a little bitty blanket is just not in your DNA! It is magnificent by the way! If you run out (biting my tongue here) maybe you could just put the smallest little corner of color and embroider an F like on the sweater, so Frankie knows it is especially for him.
I agree with some of the others. If you run out, use an accent color and/or monogram the corner.
Fingers (and toes – so much as is possible) crossed until we hear SUCCESS! Good luck!
OMG Harlet! Seriously?! Unravel your swatches…NOW!!! (What? I do it all the time!)
Wow, so pretty. My heart is with you and I also agree with those who stated a corner with a blue monogram would be perfect.
Now Steph, unknowingly you have started a knew tradition.
The blanket is completed after the birth, and is finished with a lovely monogrammed corner (this gets my vote), which of course cannot be done until the new bundle is named.
You made a swatch didn’t you? I remember a post mentioning it. You can just unravel the swatch.
We could make it a game – pledge Steph on the Bike Rally per metre/yard of yarn left over when she’s done!
You are infinitely clever Stephanie – remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. Whatever you chose to do, run out of yarn or not, it WILL be wonderful.
Just saw your completed post – Wonderful!
Two things.
1) Holy Schmitt.
2) only you.
That is all. 😉
You’re giving me anxiety attacks!
My heart stops when I see things like this 🙂