Friday, December 27, 2013

FO: Christmas sweater


Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in "frost gray"

Love this little sweater! So happy with it. I think I'll make one in each size so E can always have one to wear. :) This one is size 6 months, and used just shy of the full skein of yarn.

Love the yarn, too. So soft. It's not machine washable, but I don't mind.

I planned on adding one pair of buttons to an owl off-center, but decided I liked it without any buttons. Plus, I didn't want to give anything for E to grab/pull. 

Maybe I should cardiganize the next one...

Also, happy 4 months to Baby E! Aside from some lingering congestion, she's back to her usual state of health, thank goodness!


FO: Unoriginal Hat for a big head


Yarn: Punta Tarns Meritwist Hand Paint

For the first time in a long time, I didn't make Christmas gifts, except for E's Christmas sweater, and this hat which I made for a friend in Iowa. The yarn had been in my stash since NYC, I think; glad it finally got used.

This pattern was easy enough; I basically knit this hat twice. :-/ I didn't do a gauge swatch, and was working crown decreases on the first attempt when I went to try this on--WAY too tight. So I frogged, added another chart repeat. I also changed the crown decreases so that the hat would be long enough to cover my ears. It's still tight on me, but my head is big, so hopefully it'll fit my friend. All details of my modifications are on my ravelry page. I would definitely knit this again, though either with bigger needles and bigger yarn, or repeating the mods I used for this one. 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Mission accomplished!


Baby E's Christmas sweater was under the tree this morning. Unfortunately, Baby E has her first cold, and is not in modeling spirit, so glamor shots will have to wait. 

Monday, December 23, 2013

Xmas sweater update


(drafted Sunday evening) With only about 2 days left until Christmas, things are coming along with Baby E's sweater. Here's hoping I can finish it tomorrow, let it block overnight Monday so that it's ready to be packed up when we hit the road Tuesday morning. 

Monday update: finishing up the knitting now, then to graft underarms, weave in ends and block. Yea!

Sunday, December 15, 2013

FO: Twinkle Cardi


Pattern: Twinkle (ravelry)
Yarn: Madelinetosh Sock in "magnolia leaf"


An autumn cardi for Baby E. Charming pattern. I made a few mods, which I detailed on my ravelry project page. I did plan attaching 2-3 buttons and using little crocheted loops to secure them, but ultimately I don't think this cardi needs a closure.

The yarn was purchased in Cannon Beach while on a visit there with my mom and sister last Memorial Day weekend. 

All in all, a great little cardi pattern; I would certainly knit this one again. Fits 3-month-old Baby E perfectly. This pattern is only for one size, but would be easy enough to size up by using different yarn or adding stitches.


Thursday, December 12, 2013

Operation: Christmas Sweater

Today, less than 2 weeks until Christmas, I decided that Baby E absolutely must have a handknit sweater for Christmas. I want this to be a tradition: a handknit sweater each Christmas. And when we have another kid, they can match!

I've recruited Rose into this crazy endeavor. We're going to have a 2-person knit-along! 

My mission: turn this pile of beautiful yarn...


Malabrigo Merino Worsted in "Frost Gray"

... Into a cute little sweater adorned with owls. I knew that if this crazy mission would be doable, worsted weight yarn would be a must. Back in my pre-baby days, I could have probably whipped out this sweater in 2 days. But now, knitting moments are few. 

Wish me luck!

Sunday, December 8, 2013

FO: baby jeans




Pattern: Blu from knitty (ravelry)
Yarn: Rowan Denim



One year ago today, I found out I was pregnant and the first thing I wanted to make was these little baby jeans. The knitting was super quick, but I procrastinated doing the finishing on these for a few months. All the finishing on these was really fiddly, and I'm not pleased with how it turned out. I made these once before, for a kid who is now 6, and I guess I forgot how annoying it was in the intervening time. 
Baby Jeans

I added short rows to the bum area to make extra diaper room--and so glad I did! I made the 6-12 mo size, but Baby E fit them at 2.5 months. :-/

Friday, December 6, 2013

FO: bonnet and booties


IMG_0501

Pattern: Bonnet by Elizabeth Zimmerman (ravelry project page)
Yarn: Spincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool in "tangled up in blue"


A few weeks ago, I picked up a skein of Spincycle Yarn. I love their gradual color shifts. The label said sport/heavy fingering, and after a little search on ravelry I settled on this bonnet by Elizabeth Zimmerman. A clever pattern as usual from her. 

A couple of notes: I worked the back of the bonnet in the round, alternating knit and purl rounds. For the ties, I crocheted a chain the appropriate length then worked one row of slip stitches and used the starting and ending yarn tails to secure the tie to the bonnet. I'm really pleased with this method of doing the ties; it was much faster than working i-cord (for me) and the resulting ties seem seem perfect for tying under a wee chin--not too bulky. 

This bonnet is just a tad big for Baby E, and she has a big head. I think it'll last us through the season just fine. Maybe I'll make her one with heavier yarn next year. 


Pattern: Bootees by Elizabeth Zimmerman (ravelry project page)
Yarn: Spincycle Yarn Dyed in the Wool in "tangled up in blue"

Decided to make these booties which were on the same page as the bonnet pattern. They were quick and easy, though beginner knitters may have trouble with the pattern as it seems targeted at more experienced knitters. There are parts of the pattern where the instructions are a bit vague. These barely fit Baby E. I have not yet made the ties called for in the pattern, and haven't tested out how well they stay on. 

I really liked this yarn--great to work with. I have a skein of their worsted in my stash and I'll definitely be looking for more at upcoming craft fairs. 

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Nap-time holiday craft: photo ornaments

Trying to think of use for the crumby photo prints from the two groove books I got before canceling my subscription, I glanced at my Christmas tree and decided it could use some baby pictures. 


While fantasizing about having a circle cutter, I traced the inside circumference of a roll of masking tape (about 3") with a sharpie onto the photos then cut them out quickly (read: a bit sloppily). I affixed two photos back-to-back using double stick tape; planned to use a glue stick but I couldn't find one and didn't want to wake the baby by rustling through my craft stuff too much. Anyways, the double stick tape seems to do the job fine. 



For hanging, I tried 1/8" ribbon and baker's twine. I like the look of the ribbon better, personally, so I'll be using that for the rest of mine. I'll be mailing some of these out to family, so that their trees can have Baby E's face. These would also make cute decorations on wrapped gifts. 

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

FO: Whole Cloth Quilt

Way back when, I planned to blog the process of this project... Oops! When I found out I was pregnant I pulled this quilt out of hibernation and finished it off.


I still think that the whole cloth quilt is a great idea, though I would pick a print with fewer short lines to quilt. I'm also thinking this would be a great technique for practicing my free motion quilting skills. If I ever pull out my sewing machine, I'll give it a try!

For now, I'll just keep playing with this little lady and hoping she starts napping better someday. 



Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Baby Items


My first sewing-for-baby project was this nightgown from an old tshirt. I used the pattern from this website. 

Took me longer to put together the pattern pieces than to actually see the gown, and so I planned on making a few more, but never did. Baby E wore this one time; it was a little short for her. I'll definitely keep this pattern in mind for gift sewing. 


Next up in sewing-for-baby: flannel blankets. Used the tutorial found here and flannel from Joanns. These were super easy, and we've been using them all the time. The flannel is nicely absorbant of baby drool--these are great for tummy time. If you can buy the flannel during a sale, these could be a very inexpensive but useful gift. 


Newborn baby pants were next up. Used this pattern and Hawaiian print fabric leftover from when I made pj pants for the family 3 years ago. Baby E never actually wore any of these! I made one more pair out of an old shirt that she wore once, but I dress her mostly in one-piece footie outfits (so much easier). These were fun to make, and turned out cute, but just not useful for us. 

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

FO: Round Blanket


Pattern: Round or Pinwheel Blanket (ravelry project page)
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic in "dark jade" and "linen white"

Like the last project, another throwback baby blanket worked in the round knit for a friend--this one for my dear friend Miko's 3rd son who was born in February. This pattern was really easy, and I love the result--simple and clean looking. 


For the edge, I worked about 6 rows of seed stitch in green then a couple rows in white, then did an attached I-cord bind off. 

I'm not usually a big fan of knitting with cotton, but this yarn is the exception. And it washes well, so a natural choice for baby items. 

Monday, October 7, 2013

FO: Undercover Blanket


Pattern: Undercover (ravelry project page)
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in "peapod"

Another throwback FO. Knit this blanket for my friend Kari's second baby who was born at the end of December last year. Simple pattern, easy to memorize. I especially love square blankets that are knit in the round--not having to turn my work/purl on wrong side rows makes it seem faster.


Sunday, October 6, 2013

FO: Pumpkin Hat


Pattern: improvised
Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in "glazed carrot" and some worsted superwash that I dyed green years ago
Size: Infant 

Now that I have a baby, time to revisit pumpkin hats! This first one is on its way to a sweet baby in New York. A replica is on the needles for Baby E. 

After this, turkey leg hat???

Thursday, October 3, 2013

FO: Baby Yours (aka Tedious Gray)


Pattern: Baby Yours (ravelry project page)
Yarn: Socks that Rock Mediumweight in "every day gray"
6 month size 

Made this sweater last fall for a coworker's baby. Pleased with the results. But man! This sweater was tedious. First, trouble with gauge swatch not matching gauge of actual sweater (negative reinforcement for gauge swatching). To decrease seaming, I picked up stitches for the sleeves and worked down to the cuff. Not pleased with the way the garter stitch above and below the cable puckers. 

If I make this again, I would changed the checkerboard stitch to stockinette or seed stitch. I'd work the body in one piece to eliminate seaming. And I'd work to eliminate the puckering at the cable top/bottom. 

The yarn was great--hope to work with it again soon. 

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Let's do this!!

Its been almost 11 months since my last post. I'm a bit too busy with baby to craft much these days, but I can blog from my phone while nursing, and I've got about a year's worth of projects to talk about. 

Why I'm not knitting much these days:


Baby E, 1 month old