Fin.

It's been ages since I posted last, and now I've finished my ripple. With five balls of yarn left in my grab-bag, I just couldn't go any further. I joined one ball, ripped, joined another. Until I just had to listen to the blanket. It was done. I did a two-round edging of single crochet in teal, and it feels amazing to be finished!

I started the blanket in February of last year, so it took nearly eleven months to complete (with lots of idle time). I don't know the exact dimensions; it's just wider than than a double bed, and long enough to cover me comfortably from shoulders to feet. It's soft and warm.

I used all odd balls from my stash, and forced myself to use whichever ball my hand touched first when it was time to change colours. I learned a lot about my colour preferences (notice the greys, blues, and wine/purples).

I have a ton of small yarn balls leftover now, along with the odd balls I didn't end up using. I'm sure by next week, or so, I'll be back making granny squares like the wind!

Thanks so much to Dawn and everyone for such a fun, satisfying CAL!

The Ripple's Back in Progress

The Ripple's Back in Progress
Originally uploaded by kpwerker.

Seven months after I started, the ripple's back in active progress. I started it during a time of stress and ill health, and I've picked it up again now in a time of not as much stress while I recover from minor surgery. It's big enough that it keeps me warm as I work on it. I'm getting a bit impatient, and may end up finishing it off before I'd originally planned; make it more of a throw than a blanket.

I picked up a copy of Knit.1 magazine (actually, I picked up about a dozen magazines; I'm spending four full days on the couch!), and had the trippy experience of seeing a photo of my ripple in Shannon Okey's column, while I was sitting under the very same ripple. Neato. (It's a good article, in which we get a shout-out!)

Month 5 (Zoiks)

Ripple, Month 5
Originally uploaded by kpwerker.

It's so much fun to see everyone's finished ripples and to dream of the day -- no doubt months from now -- when I'll show mine!

Here we are as of this morning, solidly in the fifth month of progress (read: I've barely touched it in weeks). I figure I'm just over halfway done.

It's Warm!

Restful Saturday
Originally uploaded by kpwerker.

Three stripes completed this weekend, amidst work, housecleaning, and a lovely, restful Saturday afternoon. The blanket is just large enough to cover me toes to shoulders widthwise - when it's completed it'll be much longer; for now, its length is just wide enough. How's that for disorienting?

Below is another shot just for kicks. On the right, you can see the orange stripe I've lamented. More stripes have tamed it, though, so I don't hate it as much anymore. I'm sure I'll grow to love it, eventually.

Really, There's No End In Sight

Ripples
Originally uploaded by kpwerker.

My, it's been about forever and a day since I've posted here. And about as long since I've worked on my ripple. But that doesn't mean I don't still love it! I've added several stripes since I last posted; I'm at a point in the blanket where it's no fun to show off an update every few rows, though. So I guess I'll just challenge myself to take fun photos every so often. I just got a new camera I'm already addicted to, so that shouldn't be too hard.

I'm having a blast watching everyone's progress!

Float Away Scarf

Float Away Scarf
Originally uploaded by kpwerker.

This scarf is one of the reasons I was so jacked up about making a ripple blanket. I designed it back in December as my staff project for the spring 2007 Interweave Crochet, and I absolutely loved making it. The yarn is delicious and I dig the ribbed ripple texture.

Here are the specs:

Pattern: My own staff project in the spring 2007 Interweave Crochet (it's in yarn stores now)

Yarn: Austermann Bambou Soft (65% wool, 35% bamboo; 110 yd [100 m]/1 3⁄4 oz [50 g]): #07 teal, 2 balls. Yarn distributed by Skacel.

Hooks: 6mm and 5mm

I'm still working on my ripple blanket, of course. But I travel a lot and it's way too big to take with me. In my travels, though, I do pick up odd balls to play with, and of course they'll end up in the ripple...

Ripple, Day 16

Ripple, Day 16
Originally uploaded by kpwerker.

I took this photo with the blanket spread out on a double bed. It was so nice to have a sunny day! The edges of the blanket hang over the bed a couple of inches on either side and so far I've worked about 23". So I figure I'm just over a quarter of the way done. I'm happy about that - I don't want it to end!

I Might Run Out of Yarn

Ripple Progress
Originally uploaded by kpwerker.

Zoiks! I just looked in the bag that holds my ripple yarn, and it's way less than half full. I might have to take a break or slow down a bit to let my odd ball acquisition catch up.

Still, I'm really happy with this blanket. All of my light colours could pass for grey, which gives the whole thing a sort of subdued feel. Far less crisp than if I were using some creams or whites.

I Needed To Use A Different Chair

My ripple's grown too big for the rocking chair I was using before. Here's my progress on Day 10. Still fun, still relaxing, still satisfying. And I love seeing everyone's photos!

Back At It

I can't believe I forgot to blog here yesterday, even after I put my photos on Flickr. Der. So here, on Day 10, is my Day 9 progress. I did go a full day without rippling a couple of days ago, and I hated it. Mustn't do that again.

The yarn in the photo is Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool. It's slightly lighter in weight than all the other yarns, but it worked out beautifully. That stretch of the blanket is becoming quite colourful. More updates soon!

Day 7, With Ugly Doll

Day 6

Here's my progress as of last night. After a pretty ambitious start I'm sure I'll slow down as things get back to normal over here, but I'll keep stitching away.

I set a ripple photo as my desktop background and thought I'd share if you want it. Just click the thumbnail to download (about 180K).

This image is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial- Share Alike 3.0 License.

And The Pendulum Swings!

I'm back to loving the colours. Yup. Yesterday was a dud of a day at the end of a brutal week. Even though my love of the blanket never wavered, I'm definitely back to loving the colours after a wee break. I imagine I'll go back and forth lots of times as this project progresses, and that's one of the things I'm most looking forward to. Onward!

[Click the photo to get a better view.]

Stripes Only A Creator Could Love

I can't say I'm loving the colours at this point. That said, I totally love the blanket. If it ends up a soft, cozy pile of fug, so be it. I scrounged around and added a few more colours to my bag-o-yarn; these will either increase the fug or make the fug go away. I can't tell, and frankly I don't have the energy to scrutinize. I'm just going with it. It's the going with it that makes me most happy. Also, I really dig crocheting along with all you ripplers. Such fun!

Day 3

I'm still a-baby-steppin'. The second green (a different yarn than the first; I think it's Filatura Di Crosa Zara) and the brown (leftover Cascade 220) really change the look of the whole piece. I'm not sure I love it at the moment, but I'm very confident the next few colours will change things up again. I can't wait!

I started a Ripple-Along group on Flickr to be a companion to this blog (I hope you don't mind, Dawn!) -- if you like cruising lots of ripply photos, please join in!

Slow & Steady

Here's my progress as of last night. I've since added the next colour (what is it? Stay tuned!). We're spending a few days with family due to some bizarrely timed medical emergencies (everyone's okay, thank goodness) - my bag of ripples was the first thing I grabbed in the middle of the night yesterday when it was time to leave the house. Man, am I happy I have it with me. More tomorrow!

I'm in Trouble

Last night I chained 219 for a blanket just over 60" wide. The grey I started out with will be the most-represented colour, since I have about four balls of it (more than any other). It's Polo Zitron cotton-microfibre. The pale purple that comes next is Rowan Cashsoft, and the red is an unknown deliciously soft 100% merino (I think). It was all I could do to put it all down to go to sleep. And now, in the middle of the afternoon, I'm dreaming ahead to getting into my pajamas for some more relaxing rippling. I'll shoot for better photos tomorrow.

Plotting

I am SO psyched about this ripple-along. I've gathered stash yarn, eliminating a few balls because they're too light or too heavy, and one that was just the wrong colour. That leaves about fifteen balls of DK to light worsted weight yarn to start, and I'll see where it goes. I'm using a 5mm hook and a wavy ripple adapted from the Harmony Guide (I'm working through both loops instead of the blo called for in the pattern - I don't want ribs). My two constraints beyond yarn weight are colour (though I won't be too picky) and natural fibre. The yarns I'm starting out with aren't all 100% natural, but I won't use any entirely synthetic yarns. This is both because I'll have to hand-wash the blanket anyway, so I might as well make it as soft and luscious as possible, and also because I love natural fibers and I want to love making every stitch of this enormous project. Oh, and also, I often can't resist buying a ball of delicious yarn to play with, and using it in the afghan will both ensure that I play with it and also that I use up all of it. Tonight: I'll make a long chain!

ETA: How wide are you making your afghan, and how did you decide?