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!

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.

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. 

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. :-/

FO: bonnet and booties

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Peer Pressure

I never felt pressured to use drugs, steal, cut school. The only "peer pressure" I felt was to keep my grades up. But that was nothing compared to the baby boom that is happening around me. I'm not sure if it's just specific to my circle, or more generalized to the broad world, but I can count more than 20 people who have had or are having babies this year! Craziness!

I've been working on a few small projects for these small people that are popping up, including this crocheted blanket which I mailed off to my friend Kathleen.



Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted
Pattern: Improvised (ravelry project page)

My crochet skills were a bit rusty, which resulted in a bit of gauge wonkiness for the first few inches of the blanket (see lower edge curving out in pic below), but hopefully baby won't notice! The pattern was improvised--simple and quick. The yarn seems like it will be a great baby yarn--soft, easy care. I hope that it holds up to multiple washes.



I've got another knit/crochet blanket or two in the works, plus this quilt that I'm making for my niece's 1st birthday. The pattern was adapted from something I saw online, and I'm working on free-motion quilting the top. I'm still climbing the FMQ learning curve, but things are going better and better.



I've also been working on some smaller items, most recently a baby surprise jacket and pebble vest that are each lacking buttons.



yarn: Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball
pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket (ravelry page)



yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed
pattern: Pebble (ravelry page)

Love the quick gratification of baby garments, especially these two, which don't look bigger than newborn size--seriously, they're so small! Now to find the best buttons for each, and perhaps to make coordinating booties/hats so that I'll have gifts all ready when I need them. :)

FO: Pink Baby Cardi

Pattern: Louise Cardigan from Vintage Baby Knits (ravelry page)
Yarn: Pagewood Farm Yukon
Size: 3-6 mo

This project was great on many levels: Uses less than 1 skein of sock yarn; Minimal seaming; Simple directions; Adorable result. The yarn is wool, bamboo and nylon, and the bamboo lends a nice sheen to the fabric. I did soak this with a bit of vinegar because I sensed there would be some color-bleed, and I was happy to see only minimally pink-tinted water when I pulled the sweater from the vinegar bath.

I considered leaving the buttons off. The neck seems a bit small to me. I'm not sure who I'll give this to (maybe my sister-in-law if her baby is a girl), but I'll suggest to the eventual recipient that they remove the buttons and just let it be an open cardi.




The book that this pattern is from, Vintage Baby Knits, is chock full of adorable baby/toddler patterns. This is the first thing I've knit from the book, but I do anticipate making at least a few more of the patterns. My sister gave me the book for Christmas as a not-so-subtle hint. :P

I kind of want to make myself a grown up version of this sweater. The stitch patterns at the neck and sleeve cuffs are fun, and I can totally picture a grown up version of this in a lovely pale gray. Hmmm...

FO: Baby Bolero

Pattern: Baby Bolero from One Skein (rav link)
Yarn: Cascae Sierra

Gotta love the near-instant gratification of this little stash-buster! I used yarn leftover from this blanket. I knit the body as directed, then grafted the shoulders and picked up stitches to knit the sleeves down-->no seaming! I find the little eyelet detail quite endearing also.