Pi Blanket

So, I was flipping through Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac the other day and I was inspired.  This is not unusual.  I frequently get inspired by EZ and her ramblings.  However, that day's inspiration was that since it was almost July and the Pi Shawl is the July project in the Almanac I should finally tackle the Pi project I've been planning.  I'm not really interested in making a round lace shawl.  I doubt I would wear it.  What I do need, for half the year at least, are blankets.  I've been planning a Pi Blanket for some time.  I had already decided on the yarn I would use - Cascade Eco Wool in Natural and Coffee.

Once the yarn arrived, I began to realize what I was in for:

    See Princess trying to get away from the giant yarn

Intellectually, I knew that I was purchasing bulky wool the 478 yards per skein but it wasn't until it was in my home that I realized how much yarn that is.  It almost did my ball winder in.

The knitting started easy enough with nine stitches.  I'm now solidly into it, with 288 stitches on the needle.  It has been in the 80s this week with high humidity and I don't see that changing anytime between now and the end of July.

I love the way it is coming out.  It's Zen knitting with nothing but knit stitches between the occasional eyelet row and it's very pretty.

But it's one hot mess in my lap.