46 by 7:00 AM

 The benefits of being an early riser. Almost 4 dozen Bran and Chia Muffins (recipe by Martha Rose Shulman, doubled) baked and cooling by 7 in the morning.

It Started Out Okay

This is the beginning of Octagon B7. I felt it started out okay, but instinct told me it was not going to end well so I took this "before" photo to record the octagon before it went bad. LOL

And indeed, as it was completed with the very bright "egg yolk" colour, my instinct proved correct.

The final photo actually looks a lot better than the octagon does in person. My camera was kind. In real life the truly garish "Cheezies" or "Kraft Dinner" type orange is very evident.

Let me explain why I let this happen. In the beginning, when I decided to do this afghan, I was not able to find a kit in stock with the original "Eastern Jewels" colorway. I substituted yarns I was able to purchase through Hobbii.com. Some were close, most were not. But in the end I wrote out my list of substitutions and I am committed to using them as laid out in the Eastern Jewels directions. If, when all the pieces are done, some stand out as truly hideous and out of sync with the others, I will redo them in a kinder colorway. 

 

While I Wait

 While I'm waiting for the Twists and Turns Shawl MKAL to start on October 6th I'm working on a large crochet project. 

It's the "Eastern Jewels" version of the "Persian Tiles" crochet blanket by Janie Crow.

I wasn't able to snag a kit with a colour scheme I liked so I purchased individual balls of yarn from Hobbii.com and subbed in my choices for the colours in the list. Some are close, others are nowhere near the originals.

This frightfully vibrant pink one is an example of where the colours could be better. When all pieces are finished I may sub this one out for something less eye searing.

Other combinations, like this one above, I quite like!

These octagons are quite large, almost 12 inches across, so they are each taking at least a full day of crocheting to complete, and there are also many smaller squares and triangles as well. Usually I don't have that much time to devote to hobbies, so clearly I won't be finished the entire afghan by the start of the Twists and Turns Shawl Mystery Knitalong. 

Come October 6th I'll put this afghan project aside so that I can keep up with the incoming weekly "clues" for the mystery knitalong. Not to worry though, I have almost an entire year before the afghan must be complete.

Swatching and Waiting

 Swatching in September for a Mystery Knitalong that will begin in October. All three yarns I'll be using are my own handspun. I think they play well together.

The designer, Stephen West, recommended choosing 2 yarns that have high contrast and will be used in approximately equal amounts, then a third colour that will "pop" as an accent. The pattern is "Twists and Turns: Westknits MKAL 2022".