Firstly, Thank you all for your helpful suggestions and support with Eveleen – I’ve mostly abandoned the bobbins and used long strands – definitely much easier when there’s this much mayhem. I’ve also stopped being so “strict” and started carrying some of the colours.

It’s still taking major concentration though.

Unfortunately, in the last week, I’ve had a nasty bought of flu and then had a complicated tooth extraction which has not left me in the mood to strain my brain too hard over Eveleen! I have however, made it half way to row 21!

The back is as scary as ever….

As Jane suggested in her comment, I needed some respite knitting. Something small, portable, pick up & downable and something I’d really want to work on……

Maybe something for my newly decorated bedroom? We have 3 walls in a buttermilk cream colour and one wall in a lovely dark denim blue but a big yawning empty space over the head of the bed….

(That’s Mewsley pretending to be asleep)

There’s the clue …denim…..

I have been toying with the idea of making this blanket called Picnic made in Rowan Denim.

It’s from Debbie Abrahams’ Blankets and Throws to Knit.

The blanket will look fabulous as a wall hanging, draped over a spare curtain pole I’ll fit to the wall over the head of the bed. I think it will really pick up the blue and cream theme in the room.

The blanket is in three shades of denim – in Rowan speak, “Nashville, Memphis and Ecru” or “navy blue, mid blue and cream” to the rest of the world!

I already had all the Ecru I needed in stash, originally purchased to make Patrick – remember him?

I abandoned the idea of Patrick (even though he’s quite a hunk) after reading the pattern properly and realising that the smallest, 32 inch, size came up “actual size” 42 inch chest – The pattern was written in the mid 90’s!

I also had about half the navy left over from finished projects and a motley assortment of Memphis and Tennessee ( a slightly darker mid blue!) in differing dyelots. My “Denim Blankie Stash” was further helped by Janie, one of the Guilty Knitters who kindly donated several balls remaining from one of her projects – Thanks Janie!

The upshot is – I don’t have to buy much to complete it and I can feel virtuous that I’m stash busting!! I’m being careful that the Tennessee is being used for only a couple of specific squares so the difference won’t scream.

Here’s a progress shot…

The downside (or is that an upside???) is that I’m really enjoying the simplicity and I’m racing through it. I’m sure I’ll suddenly get bored and pick up Eveleen very soon….