FO: Boat blanket

Ravelry project page

Knit this blanket for my cousin's baby, due in November. They have a nautical-themed nursery, and I hope this blanket will fit in nicely. The yarn is a beautiful (and hard to photograph) deep blue shade, appropriately named azul profundo. The photo above is the true color.



I modified the pattern a bit, changing the pattern rows from right side to wrong side, thus minimizing the amount of purling required. I reversed the direction of the boats on each row, and knit 4 rows (the pattern calls for 3).



The yarn, Malabrigo Rios, was fantastic to work with. I used exactly 3.5 skeins for this blanket.

FO: Kitty Hat

ravelry project page

Made this hat for Erin back in July, knit almost entirely while camping. Fun to make and fun result--win win!



Knit as written, though I did add a couple extra rows in the section between the ears. The yarn is Manos del Uraguay--wonderfully soft.

A Pair of Pairs!

ravelry project page

Made two pairs of toddler socks for Erin--closest thing to instant gratification one can get when knitting socks. Both pairs were worked toe-up, starting with 12st cast on to each needle, increased to 24st/needle (48st total); short-row heel.


ravelry project page

They fit well now, with a little bit of grow room so hopefully they'll fit through to spring. Great way to use of little bits of sock yarn. I recently organized my craft corner and realized I have TONS of little balls of sock yarn. A 1 cubic foot container crammed full! Time to think about some sort of project to use them up... something like this, or this perhaps? Or just lots more toddler socks!

FO: TTL Mystery Shawl 2015

ravelry project page

Participated in the Through the Loops 2015 mystery shawl knit along. I used some souvenir yarn from Whidbey Island for the MC, and bit of bare knit picks for the edging.

The variegation of the MC means that the lace patter is bit lost, unfortunately. Should have opted for a more solid color of yarn. This one is for me to keep. :)

Here are two pics that really demonstrate the difference blocking can make!

FO: little striped cap

When a friend requested a little hat to fit her soon-to-be-born baby, I was more than happy to oblige. This little cap took only a few hours and was a joy to knit. Per the suggestions of other ravelry users, I cast on a smaller number of stitches to achieve a newborn-sized fit, but it was still a bit too big for  baby Daphne. Oh well, it's not really hat weather right now anyway. :) Ravelry details.

The yarn used for the hat is the same as used for this sweater I knit a few years ago. I guess I'd forgotten about the sweater because I never used it when Erin was a baby, so I included it in the gift for baby Daphne. :)

FO: Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi

A few weeks ago, I dressed Erin in a sun dress and had the thought: "She needs more cardigans to wear over dresses." And so naturally I went and cast on for this sweater. I made the 2 year old size with extra length in the body and sleeves. 

Right now she's wearing it with the sleeves rolled up a bit. I'm hoping this will fit through the winter. The yarn is Dream and Color Classy, from a sweater I knit for myself ages ago, then frogged because I didn't like it. Very happy with this little sweater, but if I knit it again, I'd pick up fewer stitches for the button band in the yoke section. Ravelry details.

FO: Hey Little Sister

Made this little sister sweater dress for Baby Daphne, who was born a few weeks ago. Mostly mindless stockinette, worked in fingering weight yarn--pretty quick project, knit exactly as written. Funnily enough, this fits Daphne's almost-2-year-old big sister as a snug vest! So hopefully it will see lots of wear. :) Another project using knit picks stroll tonal (same yarn as the Maile sweater for Baby Hailey). I had fun watching the pooling on this. I've decided I'm firmly in the "I Love Pooling Colors!" camp. Other projects I've made with fun pooling: socks for Tracie, mitts for Melisa, more socks for Tracie. Ravelry project details.

And, the stuff of nightmares! A bumble bee landed in the sink when I was soaking this sweater. Obviously, the bee has good taste--but what the heck?!

FO: Larch

Pulled out this skein of lovely merino/cashmere yarn that was a gift a few years ago and decided it was time to make something for myself out of it. When someone gives you merino/cashmere yarn, you use that stuff for yourself, amiright? Chose a relatively simple pattern that would suit the colorway of the yarn, called "mallard" :) This pattern was a joy to work. Read all about it on Ravelry.

FO: Maile

Made this lovely little sweater for baby Hailey. The pattern was (mostly) easy to follow and the yarn was lovely to work with. Love the bunny buttons! Read all about it on ravelry

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: 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: 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: 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.

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???

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. :)

Welcome Fall

Thought I would try to get back into a routine with this. Try to make reflection and writing part of my home routine. Today was free Redbox text day, so of course I'm watching a junk movie. What better time to try to fire this thing back up.

Yesterday was the autumnal equinox. The weather here in Seattle remains quite pleasant. It's gotten a bit chilly in the mornings, but remains sunny and sometimes quite warm in the afternoons. I think it might be time to pull the duvet out of summer storage. Despite the persistent pleasant weather, I've had the urge to knit hats over the past few weeks. Partly to welcome fall, and also to have the gratification of a quick project.



Pattern: Habitat (ravelry project page)
Yarn: Imperial Yarn Columbia

This was a fun project. The cables kept things interesting. I made the longer size, and it covers my ears nicely. This was my first time using this yarn. I bought it on a whim a while back and it's a bit wool-y (read: itchy), but the soak in wool wash softened it up a bit.



Pattern: Molly (ravelry project page)
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted

This hat represents is a good example of the importance of pattern and yarn agreement. By which I mean this yarn, more specifically this colorway, was a bad match for this pattern. The pattern, one large cable on a simple background looks great in the examples worked in a solid or semi-solid colorway, and I knew from about row 10 that this wasn't going to be great, but I kept knitting it anyway. :-/ The problem with my color choice aside, this hat is just fine. The yarn is so soft! And the hat has a nice slouch to it.

I have so many other projects to share. These were two were the most handy, as I had just been blocking them on the kitchen counter, and I could photog them myself with my phone. It's harder take a cell phone self-portrait with a shawl. I could bust out the big camera and the tri-pod, but for now baby steps--cell phone pics. For whatever dumb reason (laziness), downloading pics from the big camera is a huge chore.

FO: Semi-Precious Shawlette

 

Pattern: Semi-Precious Shawl [ravelry project page]
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy
Needle: US8

Another item donated to our soup kitchen's auction. This one a more traditional triangle shape. Super easy pattern, love the colorway with its subtle variation. I did a few extra repeats of the big diamond pattern, yielding an item that is between shawlette and shawl in size. Great for gray northwest days.

FO: Different Lines

Pattern: Different Lines [ravelry project page]
Yarn: madelinetosh sock in "oak" and "terra verte"
Needle: US6

This scarfish thing was super fun to make. Mindless garter broken up by short-rows and fun colors. The odd shape makes for an interesting neck accessory. This one was auctioned off to support our church's soup kitchen. Not sure who "won" it, but I sure do hope they like it! I plan on making one for myself--maybe gray and purple? We'll see...