A little February in May

I posted about this finished project a long time ago, but had to show you some pictures of M actually wearing it. The Elizabeth Zimmerman February Baby Sweater:

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Double Trouble

These have actually been done for awhile but waiting on buttons. The original ones I ordered were too small and I had to order new ones.

I picked this pattern out before I knew the twins' genders so the colors are very gender neutral. 

The project traveled with me to Ireland and all over before I stopped traveling. 

Pattern : Small Things Sweater by Carina Spencer

Yarn: Rowan RYC Cotton Jeans

Needles: Size 8 for body and Size 6 for cuffs

Made for: Baby Girl and Baby Boy H

Size: Newborn

Started: July 1, 2012 and September 1, 2012

Completed: December 30, 2012

I chose to do the Grow With Me cuffs that can be folded over to adjust as they grow.

Overall, I was very happy with this pattern, and I like how the heathered yarn fits the project. It won't be long now before they will be here and wearing some of these knitted items!

You can also glimpse the beautiful cradle my cousin made me in some of these pictures!  We have many talented crafty people in the family.

Swaddle Cocoon

A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of this pattern, and it just may become my go-to gift for new babies.  It is quick, easy and beautiful.  And once I have two infants at home, quick and easy is a must if I am to get any gift knitting done at all!

Pattern: Laurel Love Cocoon by Melissa Riley
Needles: Size 13 Circular 40" Needles (I used the Magic Loop Method)
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande
Made for: The Twins (Baby Boy and Baby Girl H)

First Cocoon Started: December 14, 2012
Completed: December 16, 2012

Second Cocoon Started: December 16, 2012
Completed: December 18, 2012

I learned the Magic Loop Method for this project, and while I found the method easy enough, I think I prefer the Two Circular Method of knitting for in the round to Magic Loop.  I did have a little bit of difficulty with laddering/loose stitches at the sides, but I found if I paid close attention I could eliminate this as I was switching sides. I do prefer Magic Loop to the more fiddly double points for small circular projects.

If you are interested in learning Magic Loop, here are two tutorials I found helpful:

1. Knitting Daily
2. Commuter Knitter

I will have to take pictures of the cocoons with babies in them.  I think the effect it lost without proper models to show them off. 

February Baby Sweater

Until recently, I have not blogged in a very long time, mostly because I had not been knitting much at all.  But now that I have twins on the way very soon, I have been on a mission to finish old projects and get some items done for them.  This will be for Baby Girl (We are having a boy and girl).

Pattern: Baby Sweater on Two Needles from Elizabeth Zimmerman's
Knitter's Almanac
Needles: I wrote down US 2.5, but I think I actually used closer to a US 5 but I can't remember for sure.
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport colorway Grass

Started: December 18, 2010  
Completed: December 16, 2012

 I used modifications made by PAKnitWit as described here. Namely:
-Widening the neck hole by Casting on 62 stitches.
-Work 8 rows in garter stitch. 
-Work the first increase round as follows: K7, (M1, K6) 8 times, M1, K7 (71 sts)
-I also Slipped the first stitch of each row for a neater edge and only worked 3 buttonholes, as many other have.

Blocking really gave some shape to this sweater and I am pleased with the results.  And as always I love working with Shine Sport.  It is just so soft and has such a nice drape!

Blue Bonnet

I have knit this pattern many times before, but it is always more fun to make something for your own, soon to arrive, child.

Pattern: Baby Bonnet by Joelle Hoverson from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Made for: Baby Girl
Yarn: Rowan Calmer
Needles: US size 10.5 for cast on, 9 for body and 10 for I-cord
Started:  July 19, 2012
Completed: December 14, 2012

As I was linking the yarn to a Ravelry link, I noticed that Rowan Calmer may have been discontinued which is a shame.  I have used this yarn several times and I love its softness and drape.  I have found it the perfect yarn for this bonnet and also used it for my February Lady Sweater.  I think I may have enough in my stash for one or two more of these bonnets.

There is lots of other blocking and finishing happening this week, so be on the lookout for more posts to come.

Getting closer.....

I am dangerously close to having no projects on my needles, except for the long-term Never-ending Sock Garden Blanket, that I expect will be a project for years to come.

Today I show you my completed Electric Fruit Loop Socks, which are now dry after blocking.

Pattern: Fruit Loop by Kristi Geraci from Knitty, Spring 2008
Needles: US 1 Circular
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Superwash Merino/Nylon Fingering Weight - hand-dyed with Kool-Aid (for details on how to dye your own see my tutorial)
Started: October 24, 2009
Completed: December 3, 2010

 

The yarn is delightfully squishy and soft knitted up and I think the hand-dyed yarn worked well for this pattern.  And just in time for some very cold weather, I will definitely be getting some use out of these socks sooner rather than later. 

Another One Bites the Dust

I have been frantically working on Lotus Blossom Tank over the last several weeks. I am not sure if it is the weather (I love the brisk fall days) but I have really been on a knitting kick over the last month.

I am not sure why I liked this pattern, as like many others, I found the pictures in the original pattern to be ill-fitting in a boxy sort of way.

I have worked the modifications that Lickety Knit describes on her blog. These modifications make the tank longer and give it a much more feminine fit.



The only additional modification that I made was to make the armholes a full inch smaller than the pattern called for (versus the 0.5 inch modification that Lickety Knit made), to make the armholes 7 inches instead of 8 on the 39 inch size. In keeping with the smaller armholes I picked up slightly less stitches for the armhole edging (86 stitches per armholes) and 32 stitches for each side of the neck. I solved the disconnected flap that is formed by the picked up neck edging by knitting it together at the junction with stitches from the top of the knitted on front edging.


Although this pattern took me awhile to complete, it is actually a very quick knit, and once my summer knitting hiatus was complete (reading a book was just more appealing to me when sitting by the pool), it knit up rather rapidly.


Pattern: Lotus Blossom Tank by Sharon Shoji
Size: 39 inches
Made for: Me
Yarn: Artful Yarns Cliche, 7 skeins
Needles: US Size 4 for body, US Size 3 for front neck bind-off, and US Size 5 for first 9 rows of the pattern.
Started: April 29, 2010
Completed: November 19, 2010

The yarn is a linen/cotton/acrylic mix, and I love the color and thought the fiber content perfect for a summer tank, but it was prone to splitting. I got a great deal on this yarn at Slip Knot in Newtown Square, when the yarn was discontinued.

I worried that the 39 inch size might be a bit big for me, based on comments from some other knitters, but it ended up being a pretty good fit. I could have tried to modify it the be a custom size, but going down a full size would have likely been way too small.

Sorry for the indoor photos, but I couldn't stomach an outdoor photo in a tank top with the recent cold weather.

All I have left on my needles right now are two pairs of socks, so it will be time soon to pick my next big project. I am thinking of doing an easy Elizabeth Zimmerman sweater that would provide hours of stockinette which although boring, does allow me to give my attention to other things at the same time (namely reading a book). I have a perfect yarn whose beauty lies in the variations of thick and thin, but could not easily be used for say lace or cables for the same reason.

I also have enough yarn for two other sweaters that could be more patterned. Plus some shawl options! I need to think about what I want to do next.

In the meantime, I may be starting some baby knitting for friends soon. I love starting new projects!

Bell Sleeves Waiting for a Zipper

Par for the course, Bell Sleeved Jacket has been finished for awhile now and waiting for a zipper. I have even worn it a few times. But alas no pictures were taken until the zipper was in it's place (and that place is not on my bookshelf collecting dust where the zipper has sat for months)!

Well, the final task is done and here are the photos to prove it.

The yarn was something I picked up on sale at knit picks and I love the color and stitch definition, but it is a little itchy. Not such a problem as this is a jacket, and will almost always be worn with a long-sleeved shirt underneath. It should see a lot of use this fall and winter.






This was my first attempt at a Vogue Knitting Pattern, and I do have to express my dissatisfaction with the many pattern errors that were not even listed in the Errata. I also was shocked that the pattern's largest size was only a medium!?!? I added stitches on each side to make what I call a medium plus size. I kept all other sizing the same (I am petite, but a needed a bit more room through the bust).








Pattern: Bell Sleeved Jacket, Vogue Knitting Holiday 2006
Size: Medium Plus (modified medium)
Needles: US Size 7
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes - Color Hush 15 skeins
Started: January 2008
Completed: November 6, 2010

Alaskan Mobius

This blog comes a bit late, as this has been complete but not photographed for awhile. This was my Ravelymics project.

Pattern: Moebius Cowl by by Cat Bordhi
Needles: US 10 Circular
Yarn: Raven Frog Fiber Arts Marvelous Merino ; 1 skein
Started: February 12, 2010
Completed: February 28, 2010

I picked this yarn up on our honeymoon to Alaska, and it reminds me of the rich, earthy colors that surrounded us on this wonderful trip.
See my previous post for a video link for the cast-on.

I am glad I tried this technique, and it was a fun project with a beautiful result, but I don't think that I will be doing many mobius projects as they are somewhat limited in their scope of usefulness.

On a roll.....

The result of more seaming and finishing....



Pattern: Gavyn by Amanda Blackford
Made for: Baby C
Size: 1 - 2 years
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Solids; Colorway: Royal Palm
Approximately 0.5 skein (710 yards per skein)
Needles: US Size 9
Started: August 21, 2009
Completed: January 9, 2010

Because this is knit in an Aran/Worsted weight yarn, it is a very quick knit. I actually finished all of the knitting in just a few sittings, but again, it sat waiting for me to seam in the arms from the time I finished knitting in August until now.

The Bernat Cotton Yarn is so soft and I like this earthy green color.

The Gavyn pattern is one of the few sweaters I have found that is truly meant for a baby boy. Most baby sweaters are really meant for baby girls and are too frilly for boys.

I am quite pleased with how it turned out and will probably knit this sweater again as it is enjoyable and easy and looks great!

Seam away

It has become apparent to me that I avoid seaming to the detriment of my unfinished projects. Remember when this was blocking back in August? Yes, August. I just finished seaming it up and sewing the ribbon and buttons on yesterday. It only took me 5 months to get to it.



I finally had to forbid myself to knit anything else until I buckled down and took care of this long overdue task.

And although I really don't like seaming, I love the end result of seaming and love watching the raw seperate pieces turn into a beautiful finished product.

Pattern: Smock Coat by Debbie Bliss from Simply Baby
Size: 12-18 months
Made for: Baby G.
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport; Colorway - Fedora
10 Skeins
Needle: US Size 2 and 4 Addi Turbos
Started: October 12, 2008
Completed: January 9, 2010

Shine Sport is so increadibly soft and I love the end result of this jacket, but the seed stitch was a little tedious at times.

Proof that I have been knitting......

I haven't posted in awhile. Its been a little hectic, but this one has actually been off the needles for awhile and awaiting a photoshoot. I brought it with me on my 2 week Hawaiian cruise in October and did a lot of knitting on it during that trip. I really wanted to try to get some outdoor photos but the snow and bitter temps are not cooperating with my interests.
So here it is:





Pattern: Flower Basket Shawl by Evelyn Clark
Yarn: Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud - Colorway: Tide Pool;
3 skeins (knit with two strands held together)
Needles: US Size 6 AddiTurbo Lace
Started: March 8, 2008
Completed: November 15, 2009

Despite taking me a year and a half to complete, when I actually devoted some time to the project, it is a relatively quick and easy pattern. And the Tide Pool colorway is a rich mix of teal, blue and flecks of gold. Pictures just don't do its beauty justice.

The past week has been devoted to seaming and finishing up projects that have been neglected in finished but unfinished states. Perhaps the new year has convinced me to tidy up and finish the unfinished and move on to bigger and better things.

I don't think I did very well on my 2009 New Year's knitting goals, but let's see. Last year I resolved to:

1. Finish my unfinished business.
2. Knit more socks.
3. Knit my man a sweater.
4. Shop from my stash.
5. Try Mobius knitting.
6. Try Entrelac knitting.
7. Knit more, now that I have the time.

Well finishing unfinished business is an ongoing problem. I go through spurts with my knitting and hate seaming, so whileI did manage to finish some projects, I still have a few that have been in hibernation and haven't come out yet.

I finished 1 pair of sock this year and started another, but did not knit very many pairs of socks.

I did not knit my husband a sweater, mostly because I still have a sweater on the needles for myself that is unfinished.

I did do a bit better at not buying a lot of yarn. I think I realized that my yarn buying was far out pacing the speed at which I actually knit, and that if I did not slow down the buying, our small apartment would be overrun with yarn! Additionally, toward the end of the year, my husband and I developed a new resolve to increase our rate of saving for a house, and expensive yarn doesn't jive with that goal.

I did not try mobius or entrelac knitting. And lastly I did knit more at times, but my knitting time comes in spurts. One accomplishment I was proud of was learning how to read and knit at the same time (although both the knitting and the reading have to be reasonably non-challenging in their own right to combine such tasks).

So what are my knitting goals for 2010? Well this year I am going to make it simple.

First, I want to continue the ever present goal of finishing what is on my needles and make a new resolve to only allow myself to have three different projects going at any one time. I at times have had up to seven going in the past, and although this does give a project for any sort of mood, it also means I tend to work a little on each one and never finish any of them.

Second, enjoy the knitting!

And that is all. This year I am going to keep it simple.