You Say Perfectionist Like It's a Bad Thing...

My needles have been clicking away on the Slip Stitch Baby Blanket, I was determined to get it finished in time for Christmas. Finally, I finished the slip stitch middle, and finished the top garter stitch border. I wasn't thrilled with the results, but I thought it might get better once the side borders were added. I started on the side border, *picked up the stitches, and knit a few rows. And I still didn't like it, so I ripped out the side border and tried again, and repeated from the * three more times. After being unhappy with the fourth side border, I came to a conclusion. I didn't like how this blanket turned out. 

The sensible part of me said, "Just finish it anyway, it's not for you, and there's a good chance you'll never see it again after it is given." 

Then that other, perfectionist voice spoke up, "You're going to set this knitting project loose on the world. If you don't like it, how can you expect the recipient to like it and want to use it."

The two voices continued to argue on:

"But you're almost finished with it."

"But it looks bad, and people will know that you made it."

"But it's almost finished."

"But it's ugly."

And on and on. Now, knowing myself as I do, it became clear that perfectionist voice was not going to shut up about it being a sub par project. And while sensible voice would whine about the extra work, and the probability that it wouldn't be finished in time for Christmas (admittedly not a big deal, seeing as the baby is not due until February). Eventually, I would rip out this blanket and make another one. 

Which I did. And surprisingly got it done in plenty of time (by which I mean a couple of days) for Christmas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

 Meet the Reverse Pinwheel Baby Blanket. I've done several circular blankets before, starting with about five stitches and increasing outward until you reach the desired size. But this one is done the opposite way, you cast on a bunch of stitches and decrease down to the middle.  In theory, less annoying, because every couple of rounds, you have less stitches instead of more. However, you don't have the same amount of control over the finished size. 
Admittedly, I would have liked it to be a little bit bigger, but 30 inches in diameter is a pretty good size for a baby blanket.


The pattern originally called for stockinette stitch, but I switched to garter. This yarn, Shine Sport by Knit Picks, knits into such a soft, smooshy fabric in garter stitch, that is perfect for a baby blanket. And, of course, the yarn can be machine washed and dried, which is good for anything made for small children.


My perfectionist voice managed to turn a so-so blanket into a better blanket.