Baby Blanket, Stat!

I hadn't seen Natalia for months. In fact, up until a week ago, I didn't even know she was pregnant. And not just a little either, as evidenced by this photo taken during the World Wide Knit In Public event in downtown Chicago.

The young squire is due to make his appearance in July. That's why it became imperative that I come up with a gift and a color palette that suited both the mother-to-be and my crochet-only situation. Thanks to Mason-Dixon Knitting, the answer came in the form of the Moderne Baby Blanket (Ravelry), except of course substituting crochet for knit. Brilliant! Finally something I can do with all that lovely Mission Falls 1824 cotton I picked up for a song awhile back. Here's the layout:

A = Chicory, B = Lintel, C = Grape, D = Phlox, E = Chili, F = Peony

The only thing I can't decide? Should the colors simply flow one into the other (left) or should there be delineation between the color blocks (right). It's working up pretty fast (thank you, crochet!), but there's still plenty of time to let me know what you think.

Not Afraid To Knit In Public

The weather was perfect and the company, divine! Any way you slice it, World Wide Knit In Public Day 2007 was a rousing success in Chicago. Thanks so much, Natalia, for pulling off this year's Millennium Park fête in such a fine fashion.

Come Join Us!

Chicago, 2006: Ellie and her mom, Mary at World Wide KIP

Wherever we go, whatever we do
We're gonna go through it together!
(Stephen Sondheim, "Gypsy")

That's because today is World Wide Knit in Public Day (WWKIP) and knitters everywhere will be showing their colors, throwing or picking and waving those needles around with abandon. It's happening all over the world, from China and Finland to France and New Zealand. Knitters. Representing!

If you're in the Chicago area, join us in Millennium Park near the Crown "Faces" Fountain in the Boeing Gallery. We'll be there from noon to around 4 o'clock, then it's on to the yarn crawl at Knitwerks and Loopy Yarns.

Personally, I want to see if Ellie is knitting yet :o)