Another post in my series where I don’t say much at all – or not as much as usual anyway.
I made a lovely Eastern Jewels blanket last year
and then gave it to my daughter.
I miss it.
I worked out if I bought just another 4 balls and substituted a couple of the colours with some from my stash I could make another one for me.
So, I’ve made a start
This is because the knitted cardigan I’m making is too complicated to do in front of the telly but there are only so many crochet dishcloths one person needs and the ‘devil makes work for idle hands’ or, in my version ‘idle hands make me fall asleep’.
See what I mean
I’m making slow progress but am hoping to speed up as I get used to the pattern.
Would it be cheating if I did the back in stocking stitch? Please say ‘no’.
Tialys 
#1 by Shirley on March 19, 2019 - 08:45
Lovely cabling. I prefer words to charts and would write each row in notes I like to understand. The back in stocking stitch sounds good to me. Enjoy 🙂
#2 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 10:01
Me too, I nearly died when I saw it was chart only 😱
I did write out the first couple of lines to get me on track but I had started on the back first – as you do – and couldn’t seem to concentrate the whole way across for so many stitches so thought I’d do a side piece first to get me used to the pattern. Trouble is, there’s a lot of different abbreviations and they all look similar so, until I can remember what they all mean without checking in the key first, it’s going to be some time before this gets finished. The sleeves are also cabled so I thought I might get away with doing the back plain – we’ll see how I feel by the time I get to that stage.
#3 by Wild Daffodil on March 19, 2019 - 08:59
No!
#4 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 09:58
Hoorah.
#5 by Pat K on March 19, 2019 - 09:46
I am in total awe of your skills! I’ve started another quilt but it’s kids stuff compared to yours. Anyhow, no-one noticed my “deliberate” mistake at Christmas so I’m battling on!
#6 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 09:57
Of course they didn’t notice – it was gorgeous!
Anyway, we must meet up, I’m dying to hear all about India – I’ll email or Whatsapp you soon. xx
#7 by katechiconi on March 19, 2019 - 10:59
You’re a better person than I am. I’d have kept the original blanket and made my daughter something else. And that chart is a very good example of why I stick carefully to sewing and dishcloths. Stocking stitch it is!
#8 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 11:16
Aah, but I have never created 3D wings for a quilted wall hanging. We all have our crosses to bear.
#9 by katechiconi on March 19, 2019 - 11:18
Fair enough… I’ll stick to 3D wings and you do the Eastern Jewels stuff and we’ll meet halfway with paper piecing 😉
#10 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 11:26
Sounds good to me.
#11 by KerryCan on March 19, 2019 - 11:57
People will be so amazed at the front of your sweater, they won’t notice if the back is stocking stitch! Besides, you want to finish the sweater in this lifetime, right? And yay for making a blanket for yourself!
#12 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 13:02
And if they do notice, I’ll be walking away from them so I won’t see any looks of disapproval anyway 😊
#13 by nottaholiday on March 19, 2019 - 12:28
It’s a no from me. 🙂
#14 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 13:05
Woohooo. I’m finding support for my
lazinesspracticality here but there’s one person I’m waiting to hear from who might have a different viewpoint and I bet she knows who she is.#15 by nanacathy2 on March 19, 2019 - 13:48
I am of the opinion of stocking stitch throughout. That’s not a pattern, that’s an ordeal. The new Eastern Jewels will be wonderful.
#16 by tialys on March 19, 2019 - 14:25
🤣
#17 by kathyreeves on March 19, 2019 - 14:28
I agree, with stockinette on the back. BUT! If you are thinking it looks odd, why not do just a bit of cable up the back, just central enough to not have to deal with the arm decreases. It will pull everything together if necessary, and you will only have one cable on each side. If the sleeves are full cables, I would consider simplifying their pattern as well….speaking from experience, here…🙂
#18 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 11:51
That’s certainly an option Kathy – I’ll see how I feel when I get to that stage.
#19 by CurlsnSkirls on March 19, 2019 - 15:01
Yes, definitely a No vote here! Imagining an all cabled sweater. 🤔 Both back and sleeves could be plain, or with a single centered cable, so as to make the front more of a feature. And you maintain your sanity… 😘
#20 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 11:51
I would like to maintain my sanity, it’s true, but I don’t like giving up on something if I don’t have to. I’ll see…..
#21 by CurlsnSkirls on March 20, 2019 - 15:20
Best wishes, whatever you decide to do. 😘😘
#22 by Emmely on March 19, 2019 - 16:34
It’s only cheating if you feel it’s cheating. Your sweater, your rules. 😉
#23 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 11:52
Very true!
#24 by magpiesue on March 19, 2019 - 18:30
I don’t see why you should cable the back – unless you take Kathy up on her suggestion, which sounds good to me. 🙂
#25 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 11:52
Yes, unless I’m really ‘in the groove’ with the pattern by then, I might do something like that.
#26 by Nanette on March 19, 2019 - 19:47
I agree with mostly SS and the cables as a feature. It’s supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable, so why put yourself through all the angst…..otherwise you might toss that pretty yarn into the wipf (work in progress forever) box and miss out on having a spiffing cardi to wear.
#27 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 11:54
I love this comment – mostly because you have used the word ‘spiffing’ 😘
#28 by thecontentedcrafter on March 19, 2019 - 19:55
I’d have stocking stitched the front too! So I’m a definite NO! I also agree with Cathy 😀 I do love that Persian Jewels – that was what got me started on the Tiles, but the jewels layout might still be something I come back to with all the colours I am accumulating for other projects……….
#29 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 11:57
Well, very few of the colours used more than 50g so, as the Stylecraft comes in 100g balls, I had plenty left apart from the creamy colour (buttermilk) which runs through and a couple of others, one of which I took from another blanket I started (which uses the same yarn) but will probably never finish as it’s far too complicated and I’m not even sure I’ll like it if I do finish it. If you enjoyed doing the Persian Tiles – and you made a beautiful one – I think you’d enjoy the Eastern Jewels with the riot of colours.
#30 by sew2pro on March 19, 2019 - 22:46
I’ll never tire of seeing your Persian Jewels. Such a feast for the eyes. I’m not surprised you have to remake!
#31 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 12:01
I glimpsed one of my photos of it the other day and thought why not? It’s something that can be done bit by bit and joined as you go if you wish so need never be too hot to get on with during the hotter months as most blankets would be.
#32 by Dartmoor Yarns on March 20, 2019 - 10:31
You could cheat, but by the time you get to the back you might want to do it in Aran – as you’re right, you will speed up and the pattern will feel easier as you get used to it.
Ha ha! That’s exactly what i do, make things for other people then want to keep them for myself 🙂
#33 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 12:03
I knew you’d be in the ‘do it’ camp and I am definitely hoping I’ll be used to all those abbreviations by then and won’t have to look them up every time – that would certainly speed me up.
#34 by Dartmoor Yarns on March 20, 2019 - 14:50
Actually I’ve just been walking in the woods thinking about your conundrum and I think the best plan is to frog it and knit it in my pattern!
#35 by tialys on March 20, 2019 - 19:39
Were you eating magic mushrooms?😵
#36 by Dartmoor Yarns on March 21, 2019 - 09:46
Ha ha! I was actually floored by Harry in the woods yesterday and I realised in the shower this morning when i washed my hair that my head is sore, so I must have banged it!
#37 by tialys on March 21, 2019 - 12:22
That explains it!
#38 by Dartmoor Yarns on March 21, 2019 - 14:05
Unfortunately is also rather swimmy now too – grrr! Who said having a dog makes you more healthy?
#39 by tialys on March 21, 2019 - 14:14
Oh no, make sure it doesn’t get worse, maybe you should get checked for concussion.
#40 by Dartmoor Yarns on March 22, 2019 - 09:57
Thanks. Think I had a mild concussion, but NHS website said I was fine not to get checked. Feeling better today, but still very stiff and sore 😦
#41 by tialys on March 22, 2019 - 11:48
Bloomin’ dogs. One of mine got me up at 4 a.m. this morning and I couldn’t get back to sleep so I’m just a little bit tired 😵
Take care of yourself x
#42 by Dartmoor Yarns on March 22, 2019 - 12:08
Thanks.
Naughty dog. Harry is getting earlier with the light. Will have to blindfold him soon 😉