So I’ve changed the category name for the mitered blanket from Stripes (WAY pedestrian) to MADNESS because, honestly, it’s much more accurate. If you would like to link to the category, all of the posts can be found here.
The dictionary defines MADNESS as the “quality or state of being mad.” MAD is defined as:
Main Entry: mad
Pronunciation: ‘mad
Function: adjective
Inflected Form(s): mad·der; mad·dest
Etymology: Middle English medd, madd, from Old English gem[AE]d, past participle of *gem[AE]dan to madden, from gemAd silly, mad; akin to Old High German gimeit foolish, crazy
1 : disordered in mind : INSANE
2 a : completely unrestrained by reason and judgment [driven mad by thepainMITERS] b : incapable of being explained or accounted for [a maddecisionMITER]
3 : carried away by intense anger : FURIOUS [mad aboutthe delaythe fact that there’s not enough hours in the day to knit MITERS]
4 : carried away by enthusiasm or desire [mad abouthorsesMITERS]
5 : affected withrabiesMITERS: RABID
6 : marked by wild gaiety and merriment : HILARIOUS
7 : intensely excited : FRANTIC [WHERE’S THE FUCHSIA!?!?]
8 : marked by intense and often chaotic activity : WILD [a mad scramble to knit a MITER in under an hour!]
– mad·dish /’ma-dish/ adjective
– like mad : to an extreme degree [spendingMITERING like mad]
See? I’ve got it all! MITER MADNESS to the extreme. I know a lot of you have been inspired by this project and that makes my heart swell, but consider this a WARNING!! I will not be held responsible if your kids go hungry, your dog shits in the front hall by the door, your spouse/partner/significant other has no clean underwear, your dustbunnies have great-great-great-grand dustbunnies. I spoke with a lawyer about this and you can’t blame me. I’ve warned you. That said, if you’re still willing to take this crazy crazy crazy ride with me, here’s more information than you ever wanted to know about this project so far. I figure I’m just about halfway through (maybe) so we’ll update all this information at the end of the project. Like next Tuesday at the rate I’m going.
First up:
Square #12
Here we’ve got Square #12, an autumnal grouping with the rare four background change. There’s only one other square like this, but when I was messing around I found another one. This project is going to kill me for sure.
— So far I’ve knit 12 squares which equals 48 miters. My plan, RIGHT NOW, is to knit 25 squares for a pretty squarish blanket. The squares are measuring (lightly blocked) around 11/5″ x11/5″. I have no idea how big the final blanket will be. I’d like it to rest upon the top of my king size bed – so we’ll see how big it needs to go.
— I’m using Tahki Cotton Classic on Size 6 Addi Turbos (knit flat – I only use circular needles.) The project was inspired by Mason Dixon Knitting and the formula for the miters can be found in the book on page 108. Suffice it to say I’m doing a 72 stitch miter.
— At this point, I think I’ve used somewhere around 44 colors. I currently have 94 unique colors in my stash. There are colors out there I don’t have and that makes me NUTS. So far I’ve been able to get five miters (a quarter of a square) out of one skein of TCC. I’ve purchased the yarn from WEBS, Flying Fingers and through the TCC Shopatron site. It seems to retail for around $5.50 a skein (sometimes more, sometimes less) and I’ve heard that Elann’s Sonata is very similar (and much cheaper.) I’ve never knit with it though so I can’t tell you anything about it.
— I can knit one miter in about 1.5 hours – depending on whether or not I fuck it up. And even though I’ve now knit 48 of these suckers, I still fuck them up. I can’t count for shit.
— I am NOT using Kay‘s patented no-sew method. And I haven’t sewn any of the squares together. That means I have 48, which is only HALF, that will need putting together. (Now do you see why this project has been renamed madness?!) YES, I will be sewing up 25 squares and YES I will be sewing those squares into a blanket and YES I will be weaving in all of the ends. I will not be cheating at this endeavor. Ends do not scare me in the least. Seaming does not scare me in the least. (See Short Rows and Verde Verde Verde.) This blanket will be sewn up and ends will be woven in and it will be finished. It may be a long while after I finish the squares, but it will be done. I promise you that.
— I didn’t use the no-sew method because I conceived this blanket in squares – squares that go together. My only rules are that there is a dominant color for each square. It’s hard to plan that all out if you’re knitting four opposite corners together.
— I can’t knit anything else. I don’t sleep. When I can sleep, I don’t dream anything else. I don’t eat. I’ve stopped washing altogether (which really wasn’t a stretch, by the way. I’m a dirty girl.) I basically can’t DO anything else but knit these miters and it may actually be intruding on my life. It’s MADNESS I tell you. MADNESS.
Have a great weekend! See you next week with GUESS WHAT?! MORE MITERS!
i have knit with sonata and i really like it, but you probably wouldn’t want to mix it with TCC because they are pretty different. i am sort kinda planning a small mitered square blankie in it, thanks to you! 🙂
Madness suits you;-)
Love the pile of color in your last photo.
I laughed and laughed! What kind of cast on and why arent you afraid of ends and seaming?? I am absolutely terrified of both and mostly weaving in ends! I am an “exact science sort” and my weaving leaves a lot to be desired. If only webs would take this opportunity to do a Cotton Classic Special Grab Bag for all those reading your blog and want ALL THE COLORS!!!
Girrrrl. I am so not in as deep as you are. Sonata does not have nearly as many in-stock colors to choose from, so I may be saved from the deepest, darkest insanity by accident of yarn choice. My problem is not the counting but remembering how many stitches to knit before the decreases. I totally need a cheat sheet. So. Lame. I have big plans for where it is going to live when it is done. I have a room filled with a bunch of quirky outsider art and it will fit in perfectly.
It’s so fun to see you throwing yourself so wholeheartedly into a project 🙂 This is reminding me of the Jaywalker era! Have fun, it all looks great 🙂
You might have miter OCD. Reading your miter blog could become a bit like watching Monk, and since that show keeps winning awards, I guess you’ll probably be ok.
Whoa, you are on a roll! Make it a sesame, cause square #12 looks like a tasty cheese burger with lettuce and tomato.
I’m loving the color combos. It’s so much fun to pop over here and scroll through your squares. Enjoy your weekend, I hope it’s filled with mad miter joy!
Emily’s got it right – Miter OCD fer sure. You might as well relax and go with it, you’ll get one heck of a rockin’ blankie in the end. Not for me, though. I’m the lazy sort. I’d rather pick up stitches than sew together, and weave in the ends as I knit. And I prefer a centered double decrease. I’m planning a mitered blanket (who isn’t these days?)so I can’t wait to see yours – and I won’t have to wait long by the sound of things.
Hi Cara,
Wow. Verde, verde, verde is stunning! Very, very, very beautiful.
I’m loving the squares. Each color combination you present becomes my favorite. Can’t wait to see the squares side by side. You’re doing a great job.
Take care,
Rosane.
I love square #12! All those ends… madness indeed. I’d say you could add another descriptive to the list – infectious 🙂 I may just have to ‘experiment’ with a little cotton myself.
Mad-we know and love you no other way. 😉 Keep those babies coming-the color watching is fun.
You know, I always love your blog… but I think I love you better when you are obsessing over a project. (first log cabin, now miters, what next?)
Man oh man. I am one of the many inspired by your mitered square blanket. I started reading only a few months ago, and I hadn’t seen Verde, Verde, Verde! It’s gorgeous as well. I love your color choices. However, it is not good for me to want to make two blankets at the same time. Spring break is only a week long. There is no way I can afford to get sucked into mitered square insanity AND log cabin insanity when I still have six weeks left in the semester! But I’m daydreaming about an Azure, Azure, Azure blanket now.
This is pretty insane, I’m not gonna lie. Did you actually knit one in under an hour? That’s amazing!
I think the miter madness is hitting a lot of people. I was rummaging through the stash last night and found two shades of purple sport weight and all I could think about was miters…
Spooky…
I love the miters! AHHHH!!!
I’m itching to start mitering and I love how you’re doing it one square at a time. Your colors are incredible. But I think I’ll wait and hear about your seaming and weaving experiences. If you swear too much I might change my mind!
OK, I see that it is an addicting pattern but let me ask you WHAT are you going to do with the leftovers??? That will be a lot of cotton remnants!
You have inspired me and some of the other girls at the yarn shop I go to. It is madness…
Cara, you really have gone mad, but it looks good on you! Well, on your miters at least 🙂
I’m thinking about joining the club and making a mitered baby blanket (on a smaller scale, of course) – your blanket is such an inspiration!
More fuchsia!
I <3 the mitering madness!!
I suppose the upside is that you’ll have a lovely blanket to brighten up your white padded room. 😉
I think #12 is my new favorite! yow! love it!
I have some TCC coming either today or tomorrow… all your fault. 😉 thanks for the inspiration, even if it ruins me! 🙂
Oh no. Ohnoohnoohnoohnoohno. I am feeling the urge…to…miter. Crap! Must…resist…
Wow! That’s all I can think to say right now.
I love your miters and your miter madness! And I can totally relate – I’m in the middle of sock knitting madness right now, so no time for miter madness. Although I am tempted…
I love this newest square! Every time I visit your blog I’m tempted to start on some miters, too, but I keep resisting because I’ve already got so many projects going. Have a great weekend. 🙂
It might be madness, but it’s preeetttttyyyyy madness!
It would be interesting to hear what you spoke about at career day and if your knitting and madness entered in. Because madness in what your doing is passion. Passion is what we need in our lives and careers. Personally, I’m feeling the passion/madness in my knitting. Unfortunately, in my work, no passion.
It might be maddness, but I think they are VERY cool and will make a very cool blanket. Keep going.
I’d say I was worried about your sanity but I think you’ve got all the support you need right here. You’re checking often enough that we can be sure you have drown in a sea of mitres. So keep up the good work – and eat some chocolate!
Ugh.I must learn to spell check.
Let me say that again.
I’d say I was worried about your sanity but I think you’ve got all the support you need right here.
You’re checking IN often enough that we can be sure you HAVEN’T drowned in a sea of mitres. Keep up the good work.
I do think you are a little crazy. But they look fab so who cares? Keep knitting those miters crazy woman.
Ah, that makes me feel better that you aren’t using the no-sew method…I’m not so crazy after all, or at least I’m crazy with someone. 🙂
I keep chanting: 1 little, 2, little, 3 little miters…sorry. You started it! Time to pull doen that box with miter yarn in it.
Well, as for me, I am LOVING your Mitered Madness. I love all the color combinations and am trying to figure out how to get enough time to do them as well. DAMN it, WHY did I start that dang log cabin blanket?????? I could have been making mitres with you.
Miter miter miter! Crap, now I feel the itch. 😉 so inspiring!
Kid, you are kicking a$$ on those things. Go you!
BTW, yeah (!) for dirty girls who admit it. heeheehee.
*giggle*
Can’t wait for Tuesday then!
I love your miter madness! You have got me wanting to start one soooo badly but I’m still waiting on my yarn! I wish it would hurry up and get here, I can’t wait to get started.
I suffer from the exact same sort of project OCD. Especially projects where every piece is different and I never ever have to repeat myself. So I am sitting on my hands, not starting mitres until the other stuff I have to do is done, but you are making it really really hard. (I’m thinking maybe a mitre for each colourway I discover blooming on the mountain this spring / summer….)
Cara, for weeks you’ve only knit one thing. You have only blogged about one thing. We’ve only seen pictures of ONE THING.
And yet, you have made these mitered squares interesting for every single entry. I can’t wait to see what color combinations you come up with next. You are amazing.
Cara, I watch for your new entry to pop=up in Bloglines!! I love all of your color combinations. I do have a question…are you knitting the 4 miters together to make your one full square by the directions Kay wrote, that you linked us to??
Your pictures appear like they are knitted together, but I’m not certain from you comments written today? I’m collecting TCC for this project…so you’re color choices are truly inspiring.
Keep the madness going….
Sylvia
For some reason, I picture you rocking back and forth, crosslegged, slurring your words after the fifth or sixth one. I don’t know how you do it which is maybe why I only have 30 done and I started in July of 2006. Have a wonderful weekend and don’t give into the madness.
Rock on, you crazy miter-knitting woman!
they’re all so lovely. can’t wait to see the final outcome.
I’ve been there! I loved every minute of the madness with Cascade 220, and I’m mitering denim now. Who can knit just one? (one miter, one blanket…)
After I’d woven in the ends, I saw something over at Ann and Kay’s about knitting squares together, and I was again inspired. I seamed the individual squares into blocks, and then knit the blocks together. The knitting together was like magic, and I love the way the border holds the blankie together.
Miter on, sister!
You DO make me laugh….dirty girl…LOL! I am looking forward to seeing these squares all put together. The colors are fabulous!
You’re MAD, you are.
I thought it madness when I first saw that you’re not sewing them together as you go. That’s where the true madness comes in, in my book. But your squares are a marvel. The colors fabulous. The blanket is going to be amazing.
I can’t wait to see the size of the stack of squares when you are done. That last photo is my favorite–a rainbow of miters.
Yeah, but the problem with the ‘Madness’ name, is that it could describe ANY of your projects! Hahaha! But really, those miters are just gorgeous. You’re very good at picking the colours, it’s going to be one amazing blanket.
I had to send something to Ava. In the package I wrote, “If I die, promise me that you’ll finish my miter blanket!” I felt that if it was in writing, it’d get done. That’s the madness that this blanket creates.
I just wanted to delurk to tell you I’m LOVING your project. I have project envy but I’m afraid to start one of my own lest I have ANOTHER project that I might not finish (I’m in a bit of a knitting slump) But you’re mighty tempting!
Jen/NJ
It is going to be a pain to sew them in at the end. But it certainly gives you full flexibility for your design. As for Elinor’s question about all the small amounts left from each ball – I’ll take them. I knit teddies for charity, and love “ends” and remnants for them. Just a thought. You may have other plans for it – like a second blanket from miniature mitre squares. Hmmmm. Have a glorious weekend. We can’t wait to see the next one!
hmm… I have a ton of brown sheep cotton fleece in my stash. It comes in MANY colors. Gotta go start mitering! 🙂
Your work is gorgeous, I can’t wait to see the continued progress!
Your madness is infectious! Did you spread it to the kids at Career Day? I would love to hear what someone thought who has used the Elann yarn…it’s really tempting me!
Meter miter, you’re the pied piper, I am seeing the flock swarming and cranking out mitres.
Any thoughts on knitting the miters out of wool? I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of making a “bedspread” for my queen size bed but think I’d prefer wool for the warmth. Any thoughts?
Did you happen to keep a record of the color combinations you used? I know that would be additional insanity, but I can assure you, many of us would like to know. This is soooo beautiful!
Girl, step back from the squares….. You’ve been spending too much time with those Mason Dixon girls. We may need to have an intervention!
Another gorgeous square! So what’s a little lapse in housework compared to creating a work of art? (But I have to admit the idea of having to deal with all those seams and loose ends would intimidate the crap out of me!)
Hmmm, I’m feeling quite envious of all of the colors you have, this is not good. I am trying the no-sew method, but it does involve a bit of planning which I realized early on, thankfully! I think the magic of the miter reminds me of the magic of the heel turn, I get the same thrill with much less work, and cannot wait to lie under my finished blanket!