I have officially given myself a deadline: I want this baby blanket finished by September 1st, which means I have 45 days left.
The blanket is going to be a Neapolitan ice cream theme—pink, cream, and brown—and I’m making it entirely out of granny squares. I need 42 squares total, plus the border.
The good news? I’ve already finished 6 squares.
Which means I only have 36 more to go.
Honestly, that sounds a lot less intimidating than 42. If I can crochet just one granny square a day, I’ll finish with time to spare.
The only problem is… I have carpal tunnel.
Some days crocheting for even a short amount of time makes my wrist and hand ache, so I can’t exactly sit down and crank out ten squares in an afternoon. This is definitely going to be one of those slow-and-steady projects.
Then there’s Problem Number Two.
I bought all of this yarn three years ago because I originally planned to make myself a crochet cardigan. That project never happened, and when I found out I was pregnant, I figured, “Well… I already have the yarn. Why not make a baby blanket instead?”
Great idea… until I realized I’m almost out of the pink.
Of course.
Michael’s still carries plenty of yarn, but not the brand I originally bought, so I can’t just run to the store and grab another skein. Now I’m crossing my fingers that I somehow have enough to finish all of the pink squares because matching dye lots—or even finding the exact same shade—is probably not happening.
And if that wasn’t enough to overthink, I’m also wondering if I made the wrong choice with the yarn itself.
It’s 100% cotton, which is great because it’s breathable and durable, but it isn’t nearly as soft as I picture when I think of a baby blanket. Part of me keeps wondering if it’ll soften up after a few washes.
My first thought was, “Maybe I’ll just use fabric softener.”
But then I remembered I grew up being told never to use fabric softener on cotton clothes because it can affect the fibers and make them less absorbent. So now I’m second-guessing everything.
I’m hoping once the blanket is finished and washed, it’ll soften naturally with use. If not… well, this baby is getting a handmade blanket made with a whole lot of love, even if it’s not the fluffiest blanket in the nursery.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have 36 granny squares waiting for me.
