ta-da!

I had started the duckie blanket on Father's Day weekend and I just finished it a few weeks ago. I feel like I'm a slow knitter, but looking back I can see that I have picked up some speed. I'm probably still on the pokey side, but I've improved a lot.

I first learned to knit when I was pregnant with Cole. My grandmother had found some old needles that belonged to my great aunt, and I knew once the Bean arrived, I would have little time to take lessons. I was right too. I've learned lots of new skills since Cole's arrival, but nothing that is offered in a formal class.

I haven't stopped knitting since, and I've made countless scarves and baby blankets in the last few years. I'm proud of how they have all turned out, and I've even created 1 original pattern. BUT I haven't progressed beyond 1 color or a basic rectangle shape. For Bean 2, I decided to challenge myself and try a pattern that required a couple new skills.

In hindsight, the duckie pattern was a lot more advanced than I had realized. The number of stitches per row was a lot higher than I am used to because the yarn is fine and the needles required are thin. Switching colors was less difficult than I thought, but once I got to the ducks, I was working with over a dozen bobbins of yarn at one time and it was very slow going. The pattern is well planned because the ducks were at the end. If they had been at the beginning, I would have given up!

Overall, I'm really happy with how the blanket turned out, but I don't think it will enjoy everyday use like my other baby blankets....so I'll just have to make one of my standard-issue blankets too.