A Reason To Knit

I got the best gift ever right before Thanksgiving, a wrapped up pacifier and booties which could only mean one thing- the news that we will be grandparents next July! We are so excited and thrilled. We found out also it is going to be a BOY! Oh joy, a boy! Out of the box floated these balloons!

Now I have more reason to knit! I will be able to put good use to the Grandma stash of blue sweaters, and the pumpkin hat and blankey ....and keep on going from there!

This blog has long been silent, however it may be more alive again this coming year as I have more reason to knit!

Wintery Garter Stitch Baby Coat

A cute little free pattern off of Ravelry. This one is  called Lino's Coat by Lili Comme Tout, modeled by Matilda Bear.
A garter stitch baby jacket done in Cascade Sierra in a Moss green which looks bluer here.

I looked up a U Tube on how to do a pom pom and took a few tries, but I made one for the hood. Shown here before blocking, of course!  One of my sleeves came out larger than the other, though I did try to mirror exactly the first sleeve. This resulted in a larger seam on one sleeve. Otherwise there are no seams except for the ones under the sleeves, and one on the hood. The hood is picked up from the neckline and then I did do a seam down the center of the hood, though instructions say you could do a 3 needle bind off to close up the hood as well.

This will look cute on a future grandchild one day. Into the stash it goes!

Autumn Leaves Revisited

We have had the wettest spring here and rain all the way through the end of June. It is as if we are having autumn revisited in Seattle. It is seasons like this that make you glad to be a knitter. Summer may finally appear this week.  I did the Autumn Leaves baby sweater some time ago; here, and shipped it off to Missouri. It seemed rather mini and short, but cute nonetheless.  I decided to try it out once again, but make it longer as well as add a repeat of the lace border to it. I am pretty pleased with the resulting length and overall appearance of this one. The true color is that shown below, not the bright blue as it seems above.

This one was worked with a bamboo/wool blend on size 7 needles. Topdown and in one piece.Shown blocking...I added some length to the overall design, calculting the rows so that I would end up with seven buttonholes. For the lace repeat on the border I began with row 6 on the yoke chart and ended on row 23, finishing off with a seed stitch hem.

Shown here as it appears on the needles with the sleeve stitches on holders. Doesn't look like much here, does it?

Sweet Autumn Leaves

It's not autumn here, but the breeze is blowing. And a tornado hit Missouri recently in a tragic way. Friends of ours have relatives there and I was made aware of a little newborn whose momma lost everything she had in the tornado. I cannot fathom this. My first thought was that I wanted to send her a little baby sweater. This is the result:

Autumn Leaves...

 Smitten by the pattern, I must say. I eeked it out with one skein of Cascade Sierra. Just barely. Using size 7 needles. Could've made a tad longer, but wanted to make sure I finished off the sleeve cuffs.

Autumn Leaves, by Nikki Van De Car, a free pattern off Ravelry. Sending it soon with hugs, and prayers. I hope one day to see a picture of the sweet baby wearing it.... XXOO...(edited 1/5/2012  to add: My wish just came true... Here she is at 4 mos. old with lots of room to grow into it )

Ladybug Baby Sweater

Ladybug is a topdown raglan baby sweater. This one was my design, a simple one, but sweet. I am working out the design details on paper. I was able to do it all with one skein of Unisono, a 100% extra fine merino superwash wool. I had the wool for a long time and wanted to do something special with it. The colors are intriguing. I don't have a baby around to model for me...I need to get one of those! So instead, Matilda the bear comes in handy again. She is about the right size. This sweater is approximately 12 mos. size. I have it posted up on Ravelry as well. Ladybug, ladybug...fly away home!

Baby Sophisticate

And there you have it! The Matilda bear modeling the sophisticated sweater in the libary reading Shakespeare!

 Just a few more buttons needed for this sophisticated baby sweater. The baby who wears this one should definitely be sipping tea in the library reading Shakespeare!  Baby Sophisticate, by Linden Down. A free pattern on Ravelry. Knit from 3 skeins Mission Falls merino wool (sadly, discontinued) with size 8 needles. This one is knit from the top down, raglan style. The sleeves are put on holders, then the body is finished. Sleeves are knit downward in the round. I shortened the body and sleeve length a tad.

 The shawl collar is picked up along with the button band. Short rows are added to shape the collar. The method of binding off was the "sewn bind off". I show this method on one of my previous posts. Very distinguished looking, eh? I like the look of it with the silvery buttons.

It's blocking now on a towel to help even out the stitches some. Blocking has a way of working its wonders. I imagine this baby will be very smart, whoever it will be.

It's Baby Shower Time

Finished the modified Baby Surprise Jacket in time for the baby shower this weekend of my dear neighbor's daughter. This is my third time making this one and it sure is a cute pattern.

Also made the modified Springtime Cardigan shown up close with the cute bear buttons. I made this into a vest version rather than long sleeved as in the pattern.

And finally had to try these Saartje's Bootees that I have seen and had in the queue for awhile from Ravelry. Everyone has done them it seems, but me! I just need some cute buttons for these now.

They were very fast to make and quite easy, however on the pattern instructions it fails to tell you to slip markers and make all your increases between the two markers. Otherwise, they are a breeze to make. Finished in no time flat!

Springtime Baby Vest

I got this cute card and it is showing up sideways. Why? I can't rotate it in this post. My daughter gave it to me. Isn't it cute?

Other Springtime friends recently discovered and eaten...Bunny with buck teeth..eaten by me.

Chocolate with chocolate ganache.

And sleepy Chickie eaten by hubby... with.lemon curd inside.

 

I have "borrowed" permanently these photos from Sheila at Knit Night, since my phone was of inferior quality compared to that of hers. I like her blog: Material Thoughts. And the way she tells the story of Shaun the sheep is clever. It's all true...I do look happy and I did eat this...the whole thing.

Spring has definitely sprung, by the looks of the cherry blossom trees outside. When I saw this cute springy cupcake, I just had to get it for the "cute factor." He looks a bit worried doesn't he? He was rather tasty...poor guy. Speaking of cute things, what could be cuter than a new baby? Getting going on a little baby cardigan for my neighbor's first grandson using a baby bamboo yarn. It has seed stitch for the hem and button band. I may make it into a vest if I run out of yarn for the sleeves.

So far I have knit upwards on the back, then shoulder stitches on one side were held. Next I am proceeding to knit downward on one of the fronts, increasing at the neckline to make the V-neck.

Here's hoping I have plenty for the buttonband and to finish the armholes.

This has now become a vest!

This is a great and easy little pattern:

Springtime Baby Cardi by Kaity Von Rader. A free pattern on Ravelry. I made my vest version with less than 2 skeins of Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo on size 6 needles.

Need some buttons!

Here we go!

As seen recently on the baby, about 5 weeks old. I think he's a good sized guy! And quite adorable too!