The First 3 Ply Log Cabin Square: Mostly Random
This is the first square that I did for the Mountain Colors 3 Ply Targhee project. I used US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles and cast on 8 stitches for the center square so that I would have a starting center square of about 2" and a final square of about 6" x 6" (gauge translation: 4 stitches and 8 rows to 1" in garter stitch). The resulting fabric has a nice thick texture, perhaps a bit thicker than you'd want for a blanket, moving into the range that I think most hot pads fall into.
For this square, I started off with the random grab idea. After I converted all the skeins into balls, I reached in and pulled out a color at random and started the square. The next four colors were more or less determined the same way. This is when I realized that if I really did things this way, I would probably end up with a lot of some colors left as I progressed through the project. But I was generally pleased by the fact that random selection led to something that was pretty coherent in color.
To begin with, this square is a good deal less bright in real life than it appears in this picture (I had to use my old camera to snap the photos because I had temporarily misplaced my little Canon) due to the camera's tendency to saturate reds and the fact that it was a very bright day when I took the photo. But the general trends are okay. There's not really much color selection process to speak of since the selections were random. But you can see how there is some brown that moves through almost all 5 blocks, there are muted autumnal reds in 4 out of the five, autmnal blues in 3 out of the 5 and golds and greens in 2 of the 5. I think this is why they work together in a not-too-jarring way. There's definite color overlap in all the colorways. If I was to replace any brick, it would be the one on the top left... in both this picture and it real life it's a bit brighter in tone than the rest of the colors. But for random, its acceptable.
My favorite colorway in the group is the one in the center. I believe it's called "Goldrush" (none of the mill ends came with any color identifiers) and the golds and greens and reds are lovely and autumnal. Very evocative of maple trees in the fall. Fortunately, I also have a reasonable amount of this color, so I'll be able to use it liberally throughout the project.
I love that random log cabin idea! It's turning out wonderfully.
This looks like so much fun! I look forward to seeing it grow. Log cabins are my favorite!
it looks wonderful in these random but well chosen colors!
This is really pretty! awesome!
Very cheery! It's interesting how the top right block knitted up -- it almost looks like two different colorways :)
I don't know, I think that one spot of bright works just fine in that square; in a sort of, the exception that proves the rule, kind of way.
Love the random idea - it's turning out really nice. Keep us posted?
I too think it's very pretty. Are you planning on using the same size needle or changing to get a more blankety drape?
I may yet succumb to this miters/log cabin craze that seems to be going around. I'm trying hard to resist but you people all keep coming up with such pretty things! I guess I'm just easily influenced.
Very nice! Have you seen valentina devine's method of weaving in her ends on the top? It merges more color around. (there are some not so great pics on my sep 17, 06 post).
My brain hurts when I contemplate making scrappy type quilts and or knitting projects. Random: bad. Coordinated: good. Chaos: bad. Order: good. That having been said, I LOVE seeing others' projects of this type. Especially when said knitter is a scientist! Wendy (at wnedyknits.net) has been using an interesting method for selecting colors for her mitered sweater. She put all the balls in one bag, then pulls them out one at a time, and after using each one, puts it in a second bag. Not until she's gone through them all once does she start over pulling random balls from the (now second) full bag. Maybe a similar system would assure the randomness you're looking for.
I can't resist (and I'm kinda surprised that nobody else has pointed this out): Did you know that many traditional log cabin quilts have blocks that center on a red or yellow square? Yup, it represents the hearth -- think glowing red embers or a roaring golden fire.
Note that I didn't say Traditional Log Cabin Quilts. There are lots of ways to do this, and there are no quilt police. But I think it's cool that a randomly selected color sequence gave you that particular arrangement.
This looks like a fun project. :)
When I made a very multi coloured item, I put all the colours for one motif in one bag, pre-wound into just the perfect length, and all the bobbins for the secondary motif in another bag (also wound to the perfect length). That was handy.
I will say that I know nothing about log cabin squares. But something looks off to me. Then I see that the bottom strip goes all the way across (3 squares), most strips are two squares big, but there is one single square on the right side. I'm a sucker for symmetry, that one square and the three square piece are throwing me off balance. Maybe that's why I've never made any. That and the sewing together. Don't do well in that department!
These squares are amazing... how do you think it would be to take this concept to make a baby blanket out of pastel colors?