I started this in May and have been working at it in between my job, my side gigs and my cottage business. I have made other wool blankets in the past, but this has been the most satisfying one yet.
I have used this beautiful non died Alpaca wool, from Cascade Yarns. It has taken me just short of 360 hours and almost 500 dollars in wool. I used a much smaller sized needle than the yarn calls for, because I wanted a very tight knit, which will make this blanket last a lifetime. I used a "seed stitch" which takes longer than the usual garter stitch, for the knitters out there....
After I made the squares, I crochet around each square twice, then joined four in a larger square and crochet around this 3 times. Then I joined my larger squares and finished by crocheting around the blanket five more times. All the crochet work isn't just for aesthetics, it gives the blanket a lot more structure and strength..

I enjoy making my hats and it helps me financially....but my love for knitting and wool goes well beyond that. I learned at the age of three from my mother and grandmother , who also taught me to crochet and sew and embroider.
Many of the hats I made and sold came from the same skeins that I used to make this blanket. Thanks!

Stunningly beautiful, what a marvelous piece of work!

The juxtaposition of the natural shades is beautiful. Alpaca is warm and light.
(from a fellow knitter)

Kat - what an achievement!

I love the hat I bought from you. This takes the cake. A lot of care went into it and you should be very proud.

Todd

No wonder we haven't heard from you lately. Looks beautiful and cozy. Hope you get many years to enjoy it. Merry Christmas.

Love it. What a talented and patient person you are Kat.

Thanks everyone. This has been a real joy to make and it has taken some patience too ....

That's absolutely beautiful.

Beautiful work Kat. It is reassuring to know that good old fashioned work can still knock the socks off anything a machine can make these days.
Your knitting skills are amazing!
By the way.. this is Katharina's site :
http://www.outdoortrailgear.com/cottage-industries/mountaingoatgear/
I can't wait for the BPL event in Feb to get another one of your hats!
(still trying to get time off from work for the BPL event)

Edited by Ice-axe on 12/17/2011 20:12:50 MST.

Wow. Kat, what a gorgeous blanket. Such a talented woman. You'll be toasty for years to come!

That's amazing, Kat. That's an heirloom piece - your grandkids' kids will enjoy it.

Super awesome! I recently got a firsthand look at Kat's work when I ordered a hat for my wife for a Christmas gift (I'll probably be ordering one for myself soon), so I can only imagine how fantastic that blanket is in real life. Something to be immensely proud of, for sure!

Stunning work Kat! That is a beautiful and priceless blanket and a great use of your talent.

"I finished my Alpaca blanket :)" and she finished my hats in the same week. Awesome job. Congrats

That is a very impressive piece of art, Kat. Your "MYOG" capabilities are incredible. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Were my wife as talented... ahhh, well.
Great work, Kat!

Looks fantastic, Kat. I'm sure you'll enjoy it for decades. Thanks again for the fine knitwork.

Thanks so much for the kind words. I am actually giving it away today to a dear friend for their birthday, but I am starting on another one for myself ;). I like to have a bigger project to go along with all the little ones.

great work Kat!

my gf is a knitter and says you are nuts for doing that much seed stitch ;) looks good though


for yours have you considered weaving? It seems like that would be faster and come out as tight as you want it.

i bet you could even weave smaller sections and piece them together

would need a loom but a crafty girl like yourself could probably find a bunch of things to make with that.