Seattle Heatwave Goes Well With Baby Yarn

While we're breaking records here with the heat, sipping lemonade and laying on the couch, wishing for central air conditioning...

What better time to begin a soft and light Ribbed Baby Jacket, from Debbie Bliss. The Baby Cashmerino feels soft and light in the hand. I am trying not to accidentally "felt" it by sweating while knitting! This is a very fast and easy knit. The back and sleeves are well on their way. I am so used to doing adult-sized sweaters, this is a treat to see such fast results.

Finishing Poppy!

This sweater will always remind me of our nice and warm February trip down to San Diego and our excursion to several yarn shops. My patient husband walked around the block while waiting for me to purchase a few more skeins to add to the "bouquet" of my Poppy sweater.

All done except a bit of steam blocking on the neckline and hem where the crochet edging is curling a bit. I LOVE THIS! But it is very, very HOT right now in Seattle so I cannot wear this yet!

Crochet Edging on Poppy

Shown here working on the crochet edging to finish off the neckline. Watched an easy tutorial on U-tube to do a Single Crochet Edge. Next to do will be the crochet edging on the hemline. Then I will seam in the sleeves and block this baby!

Shown here before doing any edging or sleeve seams. Since I changed my yarns multiple times for striping, it caused me much more work in weaving in the yarn ends. This was by choice and a variation on the original pattern which used much more Noro yarn in the yoke and sleeves, and did not require changing yarns as often. My Poppy Sweater is nearing completion! Just in time for another Seattle heatwave!

Poppy Sleeve Success

After one botched attempt at the sleeve cap, I ended up "cutting off" the top of the sleeve, unraveling down to the point that was below the decreases, to begin picking up the live stitches again and knitting upward once more. This time, I was able to knit back and forth for the sleeve cap decreasing and shaping-something I didn't do the first time- and was finally successful in completing the first sleeve. Shown here tucked in at the sleeve opening. I have begun the second sleeve, which I am trying to match striping on as I go. Many late nights later...This is shaping up to being a real "eye catching" sweater. People have stopped me at my knit night, complete strangers, to come and look at it. There will be finishing ad nauseum (ew!) due to all the striping and ends to work in, but not much seaming now since I worked the sleeves in the round. I will have to do seams for set-in sleeves. And a crochet edging I will have to learn how to do around neckline and bottom.

Happy Father's Day! To Rome with Love...

To my guy, the greatest dad of our two daughters ever! Happy Father's Day!

A fun day spent with fathers in the family eating salmon and tri tip....Hope yours was a nice one too!

Tonight we "skype" and chat with daughter in Rome! She has been there one week now and is seeing amazing sights! She is keeping a blog of her own to update us on her travels. http://fortunefavorsthebold-rome.blogspot.com/

Poppy Sleeve

On to the sleeves and changing striping along the way...then will make the other to match...sort of weird pic...but you get the idea. Trying to get kid packed for flight to Rome so not doing alot of knitting! End of school year "crazies." Got slimed by melted Otter Pops today at school and had to drive home to change...cut my pinkie with a knife cutting watermelon this eve. Not my day!

The Last Shower!

And now...we've reached the end of the showerfest! Shower #4! Woo hoo! Given by Grandma Joyce and Aunt Wendy. With just a little help from me. Our new name: Showers 'R Us! ha ha! I don't think we really are ready to go into business anytime soon. It was fun while it lasted! We finally got a good shot of us smiling "naturally". See Grandma's watercolor quilt in the background? Yes, she is a quilter!

Such a pretty arrangement awaited us on the porch upon our arrival.

And lovely fake lillies hung from the ceiling above the table. So cute!

Grandma found this great cake topper at Joann's. Ha!

The bride-to-be was showered with many kitcheny items and will have much fun using the recipes those in the family wrote out for her. One cousin made a little notebook of her favorite recipes as her gift. One cousin is a Pampered Chef consultant, and hey, that was a bonus! A fun time for all. And my niece got to be there to do the ribbon bouquet honors!