2026 Here we go

I hope 2026 has started out well for you. Not so good here. My husband and I got a virus. Yuck. When they say a virus takes six to eight weeks to run through, they mean it. I think I have a couple weeks to go yet.

What have I been knitting through this? Another blanket. It seems to be my go-to project when things are not going well.

I knit the Jigsaw Puzzle Blanket by Stephen West during several years of taking care of my elderly parents. Having knitting I had to concentrate on at the end of the day was comforting. This blanket uses a ton of yarn. I had been given a large garbage bag of fingering weight yarn which made knitting this even possible. It’s worked double stranded, so I then began to take apart several fingering weight projects that I wasn’t wearing and adding them in too.

I get a lot of enjoyment out of looking at this blanket.

Moving and getting used to a new community can be a challenge which started my next blanket, the Polaris. I joined the Lichen and Lace Rustic Heather Club where I get a package of 2 x 50g of hand dyed singles sport weight wool every month. I love the surprise. So I put that together with the Briggs and Little Sport I already had and had a wonder time knitting this fingering weight wrap as a blanket, using sports weight wool and 5.0mm needle.

All the ends are sewn in now and it sits on the back of the sofa, nice and handy in the evening.

I enjoyed the whole modular knit blanket idea so much that I started another one. Back to Stephen West who does modular knits so well. This is another fingering weight wrap, Modular Inlay Wrap, knit again in sports weight wool with a 5.0mm needle. I am on the last red triangle and am wondering if I need to work a bit more on the sides to make it wider but I may just use it and decide later. The sides are taking quite a lot of yarn to do and I don’t have any to use at present.

I have found making these blankets a ton of fun. I am also using all three of them which is the best!

Just an idea for you, wraps into blankets, all modular, all using up some of my small left over balls and many new balls of yarn. Lots of colour to cheer up a winter evening.

Cheers all, Deb

Any gauge and gauge-free patterns by Deb

Cabin Fever patterns by Deb & Lyn and the cabinfever crew.

Debgemmell435 on youtube when I stop coughing.

Deb.gemmell on instagram

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Author: debgemmellmods

I'm a Knitter. The capital K means every day, everywhere. I started designing as co-owner of Cabin Fever with my sister Lyn. We have published over 160 patterns and 11 books. I'm also working on a new set of patterns for Any Gauge or Gauge-free knitting so you can dive into your stash and cast on for a Top Down sweater that fits, or an accessory to use up those odd balls of yarn.

12 thoughts on “2026 Here we go”

  1. Deb,

    I am sorry to hear that you have both been sick. One of my neighbours – a retired nurse – got inflenza and was so sick she had her still-working nursing friends come over and give her IVs just to keep her fluid levels up. I hope you fared better than that.

    Your blankets are glorious. Such delightful colours and as you say – so useful.

    Happy New year and I hope 2026 is a wonderful year for you both.

    Your blanke

    Liked by 1 person

  2. So much wonderful work in those blankets! I completely identify with wanting a big project to focus on in difficult times. Something we can control and see progress on even if everything else is chaotic.

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  3. Hi, Deb. I noticed that a long time has gone by since your last video. I hope you feel better soon! I am working on a blanket too. It’s a class project and destined for a charity.

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