Mom's Graduation Blanket and Life Updates

This summer, amIright? 

I finally finished this blanket, a gift to my mother for her graduation. She actually graduated in April, but I made it my goal to finish this blanket by this week, since my whole family will be in California visiting me for two weeks.

The pattern is something like this Starburst pattern, finished with a chain-stitch border. The yarn is that ole WORK+SHELTER yarn I dyed last year. It crocheted up wonderfully into a blanket that can only be used in colder climates. Seriously, this thing is heavy and WARM. I was suffering and sweating while finishing it last week when it was nearing 90 degrees. 

This summer has really been a kick in the pants - in addition to tackling my web series, and moving offices, and hosting amazing visitors, life has taken a 180 degree turn. Chris and I broke up about a month ago after being together for five years. 

It's a bit weird to make this announcement on a craft blog - I just want to show you pretty pictures of yarn - but you might notice that I haven't been talking about him much on Instagram lately, and he hasn't been mentioned here for awhile. It seems like this space would be a pretty incomplete picture of my life if I allowed him (and the sweet bunnies) to just disappear without a word. 

That said: I'm doing well. I'm staying in California. I'll still be knitting and acting and singing and sewing. Thanks for listening - you guys are the best. 

Works in Progress - Blankets & Lettuce

A few weeks ago, I went home for my Mom's graduation from college. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Art after about 30 years of taking classes on and off. She has 4 kids, 3 grandkids, paints professionally (that links to her sweet art blog), and is very involved in the community and at church. So basically, she's amazing and her commitment to education has finally paid off. Other people would have given up 25 years ago - but not Jean Canavan!

She also reads this blog - I love you, Mom! -  so if she's blushing right now, she'll let me know.

So for her graduation, I wanted to make her something big. When my little sister, Meghan, graduated, I made her a crochet blanket, and I knew that Mom deserved the same. 

But where to get the amount of yarn that a great blanket requires? Ah yes, my old WORK+SHELTER yarn line! 

I still have a bunch of this yarn and held double, it's perfect for a blanket. Seriously, this is what this yarn was MADE for. I searched around for a good pattern, and landed on the Starburst Flower crochet motif. 

I'm only about a third done, but I presented the blanket to my mom in April. It fit over about half her body, but she loved where it was going! She has vision, my mom. 

What else? I've been re-growing my romaine lettuce heads on my windowsill. Sarah from Knit York City posted a picture of her lettuce on Instagram, and I was intrigued. The bunnies go through about 5 heads of lettuce a week, so we definitely have lettuce leftovers to spare around here. After I cut the leaves off, I popped the stems in water, and voila! New lettuce!

And really GREEN lettuce, too. It's funny how such bland grocery store lettuce can look so healthy when grown somewhat naturally. And by funny, I mean a bit creepy.

Holden's Blanket

I knit this baby blanket a few months ago, but kept it under wraps. When I was home in Michigan, I went to a baby shower for my lifelong friend/college roommate, Randi. She's having a little boy (Holden! I love that name) in August, so I knit him this warm-weather blanket. 

The pattern is Pickle's Breezy Baby Blanket, and I used Knit Picks Comfy Sport in Whisker, Marlin & Honeydew. It is so soft. Can big people use baby blankets, too?