Lots of knitting of late. First of, in a mad spurt of "finishitis" I finished off a slew of UFOs languishing in my stash. They were all very near completion, but still I feel accomplished getting them all done:


Hats for my 2 kids, an apple hat for a baby, three hoodies, a 'sunhat' in woolease, a lacy pink hat and a round baby blanket. The three hoodies in the top right were a gift for a friend - for her toddler and twins. I also finished up two knit hats for my neices today:



Just in time for gifting tomorrow! I like them so much I might try for a boy version for my own son. And I'm considering knitting Berroco's free Snowflake Pattern in cotton yarn as a washcloth....

I need more knitting time! Or more hands, or something. There are SO many things I want to knit, and so many more I don't even let myself consider due to lack of time. My holiday projects (5 hats total, no more seemed sane) are moving along quite well, thankfully, but I want to make so much more!

Argen is outgrowing his second handmade by me sweater, Teagan long ougrew the last one I made her, I have sock yarn to make socks for them both, socks for myself in mind, baby gifts to make (for babies due in January!!) a charity hat project I want to participate in, something for a silent auction due in the spring, and a tank I want for myself. Plus a ton of other cute things keep catching my eye.

I'm also itching to do some felting and koolaid dying, try more fair isle, and do a lace project. Such aspirations for someone with no free time!

Almost finished the knit gifts for my friend. (still need to weave in some ends, block and wrap them) I also started the hats for my neices, they are knitting up really quickly, which is good.

I saw a cute sweater in the yarn shop today, knit cuff to cuff with veregated and then with jacquard yarn, contrasting cuffs, and little triangle flaps for the buttons. I wasn't thrilled with the yarn (Sisu Fantasy - really scratchy and cheap feeling) so I didn't buy the pattern and yarn right there. I may just use the free cuff-to-cuff pattern available online and add the flaps myself, they don't look hard. Then I can use a nice, soft wool if I like.

Still knitting. As much as I can....though not as much as I'd like. I have gift 2 of 3 on the needles, and 3 more in my mind. I started a felted box from Mason-Dixon Knitting, but it's turning out funny so I might give up on it. I also started a Branching Out scarf in Patons Brilliant glittery yarn. I don't know who it will be for, I just had an urge to do some more challenging knitting.

Well, the knitting curse is over. I've completed a Toddler's Knit Helmet for Argen, and 1 of 3 knit christmas gifts I decided on....so far. It's not a lot of knitting, but I haven't got a lot of time these days.

Our family just took a little holiday to Vancouver, and I managed a visit to Urban Yarns while I was there. What a lovely shop! They have so much fantastic, touchable yarn! I knew I didn't have time to knit up half of what I WANTED to buy, so I just bought yarn for hats for my kids. Some super-soft Berrocco Lullaby in blue and raspberry for Teagan, and Debbie Bliss Wool-Cotton (I've wanted to try this stuff for a while) in bright blue and brown for Argen. I'm itching to start them but I just got going on christmas gift #2 so I want to keep moving on that one.

Magknits.com has a new issue out, with a couple things that look neat. I'm liking the felted pumpkin bag, that would let me koolaid dye some yarn to get the orange, too......I need more time. An eigth day of the week just for knitting and drinking tea would do nicely!

I think I'm knitting-cursed right now. First I messed up the hedera sock. Then another sock that had been a long standing UFO. Next, I messed up a simple toddler hat, a pattern I've made a few times now, by messing up the gauge really badly. Finally, I can't seem to cast on for even a simple beanie hat tonight, the yarn splits like crazy! AAARRRG! My knitting "to do" list is growing and I can't knit a thing!

Hedera sock

hedera sock
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

So I did get some knitting done - though it's all headed for the frog pond. I thought I lucked out gauge-wise with the Hedera sock, but the increase in needle size meant the heel was WAY too long, and I'm just not up to recalculating and adjusting. I found out the pattern is intended for a size 7 foot. My 9.5 feet are not going to fit that pattern without some adjustment other than just a bigger needle, so I think I'll look for another. Jaywalker, maybe?

Brimed Hat

Brimed Hat
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

From Holiday Knits, knit in Woolease. I hoped the guage would come out well, and I lucked out! This hat is for a cousin, but I think I'll make one for Teagan next. I love how the brom isn't too floppy....I may do Teagan's in cotton which would make it even stiffer, I think.

I haven't been doing much knitting lately. I've been busy with another project....



Introducing our new son Argen. Born April 28th, 9lbs8oz and 22inches long. He and his big sister have been taking up all my time, so I haven't been knitting much at all. I'm also still suffering from some Carpal Tunnel from the pregnancy, so that doesn't help matters either.

I finished up the pirate hat. The finishing wasn't that bad, once I steam ironed the heck out of it, everything lay flat and nice for sewing up. I questioned the need for the lining but it finishes this hat off SO nicely. I was going to felt it down to fit baby boy early on, but I think I'll leave it and let him grow into it. I don't want to risk ruining the hat after all this work, and considering the big-headed babies I make, it won't be too long before it fits anyways.


I also whipped up a Kidlet Tank in some Lion Brand Microspun I had lying around. It takes about one full skein to make the smallest size, following the pattern using a 4mm came out to a slim size 2. I'm going to see how this one washes up (pilling, etc) and then maybe make another in the next size up. This one fits funny after she eats a big meal, it's that close in sizing. It's a super easy/fast knit, though!

THe pirate hat is nearly complete. I've finished all the knitting, and just need to tack under the lining, then felt it a wee bit to shrink it. (it's about toddler sized and it's meant to fit my new baby - when he gets here) I finished the knitting a couple days ago and have been putting off the finishing......it requires tacking the UN-boundoff stitches to the inside of the hat. There are over 100 stitches so it sounds like a bit of a headache to do.

Stash Flashing Time!!

Click here for the YARNAGE

I finally got photos of all of my yarn, needles and UFO's uploaded. I have a LOT of yarn, ove 100 skeins! Still lots of "cheap" yarn, but a bit of an improvement over last year, I think:

Last Year's stash flash

I was amazed to see I have 12 UFOs right now, not counting the THREE baby hats I found almost done, and finished up, while sorting this morning. Lots of stuff close to completion, too. I should get busy and finish things up!

I started a new project, We Call Them Pirates From Hello Yarn. I'm Knitting it in a thin alpaca yarn and it is SOOOOOOoooooo soft! I've never knit with alpaca before, but wow, it's so nice and cuddly! It sheds a bit, and sticks together somewhat, but it's cuddle factor makes up for that. The hat is coming out a tad larger than I want, I'm making it for my baby boy, but I'll felt it down a bit I think. The edge tension is a little looser than it is where I'm getting into the pattern, but hopefully it will all work out. Overall for my first fair isle I think it's going well:



And it's just so fun knitting a design that is so not-traditional, especially in soft fuzzy yarn!

I THOUGHT that the baby sweater I was working on seemed 'off' in a way, but I carried on. I've mad this particular sweater twice before with no issues, so I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Unfortunately, I should have paid better attention when I thought it was wrong, I had screwed up pretty badly. Instead of continueing to increase the shoulders/sleeves to the THIRD buttonhole, I stopped at the second, a difference of 18 rows. That makes for a pretty warped sweater with tiny little arms. It's totally unsalvagable. I can either rip back about 80% of what I've done and fix it, or just start over completely. I'm not sure I feel like doing either.

The baby is due mid April, so I have a little time, but not much. I checked my stash and I don't have any other "gender neutral" yarn so I'm sort of stuck redoing this sweater, or something similar. I hate when knitting, which is supposed to be fun, gets frustrating.

I finally finished the doll-sized placket neck pullover:

It's a little bigger in the body and the neck than I'd like, but at least this way it will be easier for my daughter to put on and off the doll. She seemed pleased with the sweater, but I think the real joy will come when her doll and baby brother can dress alike.

I'm starting a simple cardigan in Patons Look at Me for a friend - the mom of a child at Teagan's daycare is due 8 days before me!

I've started the doll-size placket neck sweater. I'm just about to start the arms, but it should go pretty quick. I'm a little worried that the neck won't be wide enough, this doll has a monster head, but we'll see.

I bought 4 skeins of yarn in a blue veregated colourway to make Teagan a matching style sweater. I debated on a more girly colour, but this way I can hand the sweater down to the boy, getting more use out of it. She looks good in blue, too. The yarn I got this time doesn't do the fake fair isle thing, but I figured that the larger size would distrort the effect away anyways, and this colour was nicer.

No photos of the yarn because I'm currently sorting my 18million photos on the computer for printing and archiving - damned if I'm going to take more knitting photos to add to the mess until I'm done!

It's finished!

I finished the Child's Placket Neck pullover tonight. There was so little finishing, just kitchener under each arm and sewing the front of the placket down. The knitting itself was fast and easy, so it was a great pattern/project. My daughter was confused about which baby this sweater was for (we got her a baby doll for christmas she promptly named 'baby brother') So I'm thinking of making a matching one for her doll with the 3rd ball of yarn I bought. This sweater only took 2, so I am hoping I could squeeze out a doll size one with one ball and the little leftovers I have.

I am considering making another for Teagan, too, in another colour. The yarn is soft and nice to work with for an acrylic, and the pattern is just so nice.

The Olympics sweater is progressing nicely. I really like this yarn, it's very soft for an acrylic and the colourway is so pretty. At this point I'm considering making the sweater in a larger size for Teagan, too. Of course, I'm still on the stockingknit body section so it's all easy at this point - we'll see if I still want to make another after dealing with the upper part. Here's the sweater so far:

I finished the baby cardigan last night. It still needs blocking (in a bad way!) and buttons, but otherwise it's all done. I'm still not thrilled with how the sleeves attached, but even with fiddling that's as good as it got:

I'm hoping some blocking will help them out. It ended up bigger than I expected (Debbie Bliss' sizes do run large) so it may be for the fall rather than when he's a newborn.

Here is the yarn and the start of a swatch (warmups) for my knitting olympics project. It's an acrylic yarn but really nice and soft.

I really, REALLY dislike finishing work on knitted items. One or two simple seams I can handle, but putting together a whole sweater is so frustrating for me. It seems like the pieces don't match up, my sleeve ends up crooked, or there is some other problem.

I finally finished all the knitting for the baby cardigan I'm knitting, and started the assembly today. Several hours of seaming in, and I'm only halfway done. What I have done doesn't look right, so I may be ripping it to start over. The sleeve looks kind of puckered, I think I need to space out the stitches more than I did. Unfortunately, that means ripping all the seaming I've done on the arm so far, which is most of the work I did. The sweater is looking cute, but at this point of the project I remember why I always favour top-down/seamless projects. Once the knitting is finished (the fun part for me) I still have to tackle this frustration, and I end up feeling like the quality of my finishing work detracts from the end result.

I'm going to work at it, though. I want to finish it tomorrow night, so I can feel free to start my next project (a SEAMLESS baby sweater) for Friday's Knitting Olympics beginning.

The Knitting Olympics!


This sounds like too much fun to miss:Knitting Olympics. Basically you have to cast on for a new project during the openning ceremonies of the olympics (Feb 10th)and finish before the flame goes out. (Feb 26th)My plan is the Child's Placket-Neck Pullover from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I have some neat self patterning acrylic I'll use, assuming it swatches up alright. It's not a very ambitious project, but I don't have tons of free time these days, so I think it's enough of a challenge to finish in 16 days. The additional challenge is finishing the cardigan I'm working on now, first. I don't want to start the new sweater until the old one is done - better get knitting!

Petal Baby Hat

Petal Baby Hat
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I made This Petal Hat intending it as a baby gift, but as you can see it ended up a bit on the large size. Teagan likes it, and it looks cute on her, so I'm not worried it came out so large. The pattern is written flat but I just knit it in the round. There is a wide plain patch because I forgot to remove the 'seam allowance'. The top came out nicely, too:


I really like this pattern, once I get it started it was easy to remember and just knit away. I started a second hat in some cascade fixation yarn. The yarn is pretty crazy bright, but hopefully ok for a young baby:


I altered the pattern to cut out the seam allowance which eliminated 3 stitches and the cascade is thinner yarn, so even with the same size needles it's coming out smaller. The cascade is knitting up quite stretchy, too. There is a lot of yarn so I may be able to make matching socks or mitts.

I lost my hook. I settled in at the hospital yesterday (waiting for an ultrasound) ready for some time to work on the star blanket, and I didn't have my crochet hook! I looked at home and can't see it, so my only hope is that it't in the car, having fallen out of the bag. I don't know what size I was using so replacing it won't be easy if it's not int he car.

Someone linked to an amazing shawl at http://www.needlebeetle.com/lace/swallow.htm. I have never had any desire to make a lace shawl, but this one is tempting!!

Star Blanket

Star Blanket
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Got a little farther on the star blanket. I like how it looks framed in blue, though I really REALLY wish I had made the yellow part in the centre bigger. Too late now! I'm not sure how much blue to do, and I was thinking about doing some blue, and then some yellow, or striping back and forth, I'm not sure what I'm going to do.

I brought it to work with me, because I had an ultrasound appointment this morning. I knew I'd be waiting so I thought I could get a lot done. (I finished a round and a half doing my glucose test at the lab the other day, over 800stitches!) I get to the waiting room, pull out the blanket and.......no hook! So I had to sit and read out of date magazines and curse myself for not double checking that the hook was in the bag this morning.

Star Blanket

Star Blanket
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I've been working on my star blanket a bit. It's an easy portable project where I don't need to refer to a pattern, and I can stop and start easily since I'm not counting stitches or anything. It's really slow going, though. I realized why - it's over 400 stitches per 'round' now, and each round only nets me another cm around the blanket. I don't know how big I'm going to make it, but it's going to take me a while.

I'm wishing I'd made the middle yellow part bigger, but I am NOT ripping back now. I'm going to edge it in light blue, but the bulk of it will be white, I think. The pattern is neat, but if I made it again I'd use thicker yarn and a bigger hook. The blanket wouldn't be as fine and soft, but it wouldn't take half a century to finish.

Given it's taking me so darn long to make, I think I'm going to keep this one for our baby boy to use.

I'm very excited, my friend is getting a local Stitch n Bitch organized. There is another group that meets monthly, but I never clicked with them. They're nice, I just didn't connect, plus they meet downtown on weekends, which is harder for me to manage. It's just going to be the two of us this week, but hopefully next week there will be more interest. Lots of folks off the local parenting board are interested, they just couldn't make it tonight. I'm looking forward to dedicated knitting time, out of the house, with a fancy coffee drink :)

The Debbie Bliss sweater is annoying me. The shoulder shaping made NO sense, so I'm adapting it and hoping I can make it all work out. I've just started the second front piece, so there isn't too much more to knit. I need to make the second pocket before I can progress much more, though.

I'm working away on a simple baby sweater for the boy. My goal is to finish this one BEFORE going into the hospital to have him! I'm using the Simple Baby Layette pattern from one of Debbie Bliss' books, and some cotton/acrylic yarn by Patons. (Rio) It's looking a bit big, but then he can grow into it. I've already got the back and one pocked finished, so it's working up fairly quickly.

Matching Socks

Matching Socks
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Teagan and her new baby doll model matching socks. I made the socks for Teagan first, and then thought I may as well whip up a matching doll pair with the leftovers. Various (stupid!) mistakes caused the doll socks to take longer than the toddler socks to make, but she seemed happy with them in the end.

I did find that homemade socks don't seem to stay on kid feet as well, so I may stick to knitting her hats and things for now. They'll be fine in shoes, but running around in the socks they kept slipping down on her.

I'm killing the Accordion sweater. I've been frustrated with it all along, it's just not fun, and I'm getting too many signs to "give it up already":

• the ribbing will need MUCH blocking to widen out enough
  
• it was painful to knit woolease on bamboo needles
  
• now that I switched to metal needles, it's only bearable, not fun.
  
• I'm questioning the colour choice
  
• I saw a sweater that would be much nicer than this one promises to turn out, for a mere$12 in the store
  
• I just realized I knit the left front backwards.
  

SO I think this sweater has a date with the winder, to be turned back into centre pull balls for some other purpose. I'm both frustrated and gleeful about this.

I'm looking forward to my next planned project - tiny knit doll socks to match my daughter's, so on christmas she and her brand new baby doll can wear matching socks. (they're girly sock colours and her doll is a boy, but she won't care)

The socks have been knit, though I still have to weave in the ends. I hate finishing work, seaming, weaving, all of that stuff. In this case I have only 4 short tails to weave in and I haven't done it. I really should, then I can wrap the socks up and be done with them!

I'm back to working on Teagan's Accordion sweater (from knitty.com). I have done too much to abandon it, and if I don't finish it soon she'll get no wear out of it before she's too big. I've done the back and the left front, and am about 1/3 done the right front now. It's moving much faster on metal needles, if I really work at it I might finish it for christmas.

Teagan's sock

Teagan's sock
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Progress so far on Teagan's sock. I haven't had a lot of time to work on it, but it goes fast when I do get to it! It looks small, but the ribbing stretches quite a bit. Seemed like a perfect fit this morning. Teagan knows I'm knitting them for her, but I'm hoping after finishing (and trying on) the first one, she'll forget for a month so I can gift her with them at christmas.

New Yarn

new yarn
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I went to the yarn store in Colwood this weekend, in search of some veregated Sox yarn (Bernat) for socks for Teagan. They had the colourway in the photo, on the left, that I think should do nicely. The yarn on the right just called to me from the shelf - they had a sample knit up and it's so pretty and bright. I might make an earflap hat for Teagan out of it.

Face Cloths

Cloths
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I've been knitting some face cloths lately. My bigger projects (Accordion sweater for Teagan, blanket, etc) were all bugging me, and I needed some instant gratification. I'm enjoying the simple lace patterns, enough detail to keep it interesting but still portable tv knitting.

I'm thinking of making up bath Tea or bath salts to package with them as gifts for the daycare staff where my daughter is....

Knitting Meme! I was tagged by Shetha for this one:

What is your all time favourite yarn to knit with?
I haven't knit with a lot of nice yarns. If the 'cheaper' yarns I like Bernat Satin, and Lion Brand Woolease. Sirdar Rio (cotton/acrylic blend) was super nice to knit with, and I liked Patons Look at Me, before they discontinued it.

Your favourite needles?
Circulars, for everything. I like doing socks on two circs, and even flat knitting feels better on them. Most of my needles are Aero or Susan Bates Metal and plastic needles I've picked up at thrift stores. I have one pair of casien DPNs that are nice to knit with (but taste and smell nasty) and my Pony Pearl DPNs are comfy, too. I don't really like bamboo, they grab the yarn too much.

The worst thing you've ever knit?
I tried making Chicknit's Boatneck Shell, but I tried to do it in the round and adjust the measurements. This was as a very new knitter, and I didn't even know about guage. I used Phildar's Paper Phil yarn which is hard to knit with and impossible to rip, so this project lingered for a few years before I finally just threw it out.


Your most favourite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it...but it was the most fun to knit)
I love making these cabled hats:

Super easy to knit, but work up fairly fast. Good portable knitting that isn't straight stockingknit. The pattern was from a book called Hip Knits, I think.

Most valuable knitting technique?
I don't know the name for it, but when you need to rip many rows, and you insert your needle into the stitches, then rip-rip-rip and the stitches land back on the needle automatically at the intended point. Saves so much time and stress versus trying to get all the stitches back on the needle one by one after some frantic ripping.

Best knit book or magazine?
I don't really have one. I really like "Adorable Knits for Kids" but I haven't knit anything from it yet. I love Debbie Bliss' items, but don't like her patterns. if that makes sense.

Your favourite knit-a-long?
I haven't completed one. I joined the Soleil-along, and failed out.

Your favourite knitblogs?
Sandra at Stay at Home Knitter, Carrie at Carrioke.net, Spring at Twistedstitcher.net. Wendy at Knit&Tonic is really entertaining, too.

Your favourite knitwear designer?
Uh, don't know if I could name enough to pick a favorite! I like Debbie Bliss' stuff quite a bit, though.

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)
I haven't knit a lot of things for myself to wear, actually. Ironically the one handknit top I wear the most, though, is the very first one I made, one of the first things I knit. The pattern was in the first Knit It, and I used Lion Brand Homespun.

Sorry for the darkness, it's the only photo I could find.

Tagging Sandra at Stay at Home Knitter

Not making much progress on Accordion. I dropped an edge stitch and had to rip back abotu 12 rows = lame. I'm just not motivated, Woolease on Bamboo needles was a mistake. It's also just really boring knitting 4x4 rib.

I started a baby hat because I wanted something different, we'll see if the break can get me moving again.

I'm still working on Accordion. I finished the back and got a good start on the one front panel, but it's slow going. I haven't had much knitting time. The few times I've managed to flop in front of the TV in the evenings, I haven't wanted to knit, even. I've got to hurry, the cooler weather is starting and I want Teagan to be able to wear that sweater!

I'm craving quick knits, so if I can't get motivated to work on Accordion maybe I'll whip up another baby hat or a dishcloth or something. Christmas is coming, so it can't hurt to have a couple things stashed away.

Accordion

accordian
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Here's my progress on Accordion so far. It's 8 inches, so I'm a little over halfway done the back. I thought it was going to be way too big when I first cast on, but the ribbing really pulls in.

I'm working on straights for a change. Usually I use circs, even for flat knitting. If I could have found a circular needle in the right size (4.5mm) I would have used it this time, too. Oh well, I wanted to give the bamboo ones a try anyways. They're nice and light in my hands, but a bit catchy on the woolease yarn. I can't get over how LONG the straights feel as I'm knitting. I feel like I take up more space knitting with them - hah!

Wow, almost a month since I posted! I really haven't been knitting much, so I haven't had anything interesting to say. I'm nearly done a fruit hat for Teagan, out of Handicrafter cotton, and I made one chunky baby hat that just needs it's ends woven in, but that's about it.

I did start knitting up a chunky cardigan from Yarn Girls' Guide to Kid Knits, but my guage was off and the rolling was way too much for me to imagine it blocking out, so I ripped it. Then I started on Accordian from knitty.com, but I'm worrying that it's too wide. I was on guage for the swatch, so I'm going to go a little farther and see. It's all ribbed so it should shrink in a bit. Photos when I have more than an inch knit up.

I've been knitting a bit, just no time to take photos, so I haven't bothered posting. I made one and a half mittens to match the pink hood, it's WAY big. So the hat is too small, mittens too big, sigh. Teagan found the hat on the couch (my fault leaving it out) and tried putting it on. It was bound off but not tied off, so a LOT of it unravelled. I haven't figured out if I will fix it or start over and make it bigger. I really do like the pattern, I may try AGAIN with different yarn.

I finally finished the blue pinwheel baby blanket. I like how it turned out, but I'd like to block it. It's acrylic, but I still think some blocking could make it look even nicer.

I've started a chunky 3-pointed hat, and have lots more projects in mind, just not enough focussed knitting time. I really should start on some christmas knitting. I should decide WHAT I'm knitting, so I can start on it, eh?

The Tiny Tot Helmet was an abysmal failure. I tried about 12 times to make it work, following the pattern exactly, following it fairly closely, making up my own ideas, and every combo of those. It would not work out no matter what I did, so I gave up. And then I found a new (and much better/cuter/comfier looking) pattern, the Toddler Knit Helmet! My first one, int hat koolaid dyed yarn, ended up really large. I could squeeze it over my head, it was that big. I'm debating trying to felt it. If I put it away until it will fit her.....that would be a LONG wait, and I'm just too impatient for that. I'm a little worried that felting it would make it funny at the neck though, since the ribbing wouldn't stay stretchy.

I really liked the pattern, and the size issue was my own fault for using the wrong yarn and needles, so I gave it another shot. Here's the second attempt:

It's a little smaller around the face than I'd like. I think I would knit a couple more rows in height, maybe increase by a few more to make the head bigger around, and add a couple rows of ribbing. It's knit in a cotton/acrylic blend, but despite living in Canada, it really doesn't get THAT cold, so it should be perfect. I'm working on matching mittens now, with the rest of the yarn.

Red Koolaid Yarn

Red Koolaid Yarn
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I dyed up a HUGE hank of wool I had kicking around. I used kiwi strawberry and Raspberry koolaid to make the lighter pink (a tad lighter than the photo shows it) and Tropical Punch + Raspberry koolaid for the darker shade. I'm happy with the colours, girly but not wussy - perfect for my daughter! I'm going to make her a Tiny Tot Helmet and maybe matching mitts, I'm sure there is more than enough wool.

Tivoli is workin up fine. I tried it on and it's a tiny bit looser than I'd like around the chest, but otherwise great. I'm working the waist decreases now so not much left.

Still working away on my Tivoli, I'm into the waist shaping now. It's getting a bit boring, but I really want to wear this top so that is keeping me motivated.

There are a whole bunch of things I want to make, baby things, christmas gifts, stuff for my daughter. I think my next project could be this Tiny Tot Helmet for my daughter. It would look great in some koolaid-dyed wool, I think. Now I just have to find the big stash of white and cream worsted wool I bought for dying. I got a bunch at a thrift shop (50cents a skein!) and then some Lana at Walmart ($2) knowing I'd use it, but I haven't seen it since we moved......I sense a search and rescue mission this evening.

Here is my Tivoli T so far:



I'm halfway through the "knit straight for 5 inches" section. It's a little boring at this point, but knits up fast at least. I really want to finish this so I can wear it. We're having our first 'coolish' day in a while and it's making me more aware that summer won't last forever.

The reclaimed yarn is well on it's way to becoming a Tivoli T. It's kntiting up nicely, and fairly fast. I just finished casting on for the underarms, so it should go pretty quickly now.

I'm having severe startitis pains these days. I keep seeing more stuff I want to start, but I've got the pinwheel baby blanket AND Tivoli on the needles, plus an abandoned fruit cap. That should be enough for now.

Reclaimed Yarn

Reclaimed Yarn
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

Reclaiming this yarn was a lot easier with the winder! This yarn used to be a failed attempt at Knitty.com's Bob sweater, and I may try this time to turn it into the Tivoli Tee. That's definitely the next pattern I want to make, I just haven't decided if I should make it with this yarn, or some other cotton yarn I have.

Baby Hats

krishats
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I finished up a couple baby hats for my friend. She had twins a couple weeks ago, so they had to be smallish, I hope these do the trick. I used the same yarn for both, the blue/green is the stuff I dyed before, the reddish hat I dyed after knitting. It took two attempts but the dye soaked into the cables ok, there aren't many spots where the old colour shows through, and they're really subtle, so I'm leaving it.

I love the swift and winder. The swift made setting up for koolaid dying, and winding after, so nice. And the wound skeins are great to knit from. The yarn doesn't get stretched, they don't roll around on the floor or table, and they remain tangle free RIGHT TO THE END!

I bought a bunch of wool for koolaid dying before we moved into our house. Some Lana from Walmart on clearance, and 5 or 6 smaller skeins of wool from a thrift shop. I don't have a clue where they are! I would love to do some more dying, but I don't know where these yarns went. Maybe I'll work on organizing my stash this weekend. I need to sort out all the yarn I don't want, maybe try to find some local knitters to swap with or something. It's hard to find the yarn you want when it's burried under lots you don't want.

I got a couple of neat knitting gifts for my birthday on Saturday: a ball winder and swift from my husband! The swift is so pretty, soft light coloured wood, so smooth. The winder is industrial looking but works great. I've been resisting the urge to wind up everything in site! (I did do a few balls right away)

I got a chance to do some koolaid dying yesterday so I put the swift to use making hanks. Let me tell you it is SO much easier using the swift than winding around chair legs, which is what I used to do. Way less tangles, too. And once everything dried in the morning, winding the hank into a ball using both pieces was so fast and easy!

Here is the yarn I dyed, using ice blue lemonade and changing cherry koolaid. You can see the blue in pretty hank form, and then in skein form, with a tiny ball of scrap I dyed using spiderman koolaid (thought it would be green but it was red so I dyed the scrap rather than waste it)

Blue Pinwheel Blanket

Blue Pinwheel Blanket
Originally uploaded by wendymc.

I started another Pinwheel Baby Blanket and have abotu 9inches done so far. I REALLY like his pattern for mindless knitting, and it grows quite quickly. This colourway looks really nice to me, but I'm dissapointed to notice that it's not as soft as others in this yarn. The solid white and solid pink I've used before were much softer than this one. It's still okay, just not as nice. I've heard of this happeneing, different dye colours affecting the yarn differently, maybe the veregated yarns have to go through different processes as well. (It's Bernat Satin, incidentally)

I think I want to make the Mu Shu throw from Berroco's latest newsletter. It was the "no finishing" note that grabbed me, but I think it could make a really nice baby blanket. I'm not sold on their yarn, I'll have to think of what I'd like to make it in. The Vibe yarn they use looks interesting, but nothing amazing, and I suspect it would be expensive as most Berroco yarns are. Surely Bernat or Patons have something I could use. It might look good only in two colours, just a checkerboard pattern as well.

I knit a little more on the baby hat in "be mine" but I'm not loving how it's turning out. I like the yarn, it's a lot like snowflake but stronger so it's not as delicate to knit with. I was aiming for a roll-brim hat, but my cast on was a bit tight so I'm not sure how that will work out.

I've been working a bit on my soleil top again. I haven't got much done but I'd like a chance to wear this during the summer, so I'd better get knitting! The cotton blend yarn is knitting up nice and light, so it's easy to cart around, not too bulky.

I am still knitting.....a little. We just moved into a house we bought (go us!) and life has been busy and stressful to say the least. At a time when knitting would be most welcome, I didn't have time for it! I finished reknitting the hat for my neice in time for her birthday. I don't know if my sister liked it, the party was on our moving weekend so I couldn't go. She didn't get that it matched the cardigan, my mom made her dig it out to see that. (thanks mom!)

I bought some Patons Be Mine yarn yesterday. It's SO soft, I'm going to make a fluffy baby hat out of it, I think. Probably just stockingknit in the round - nice and easy.

I want to make another pinwheel baby blanket. I have been looking for a nice veregated yarn in a large skein, but not much other than the cotton seems nice. Walmart has some Red Heart Comfort, but it feels scratchy and the colour repeats are really short. I'm thinking about Bernat Satin, it's really nice and soft, and thick so it would knit up fast. I'm not sure if the blanket would end up really heavy, though. I'm liking what Emily did with hers, she put garter rows in. It looks really nice, if I don't go with a veregated yarn I might try that.

Off to the frog pond with this hat:

The only thing wrong with it? It's too big. It's for my neice, to match the cardigan I made for her in april. It's meant for fall, when the cardigan will fit, and she'll be the age my daughter is right now. I tried the hat on Teagan this morning, and it's a bit too big, and my daughter has a BIG head. No sense making a matching hat that can't be worn with the item it matches, so I'm ripping out and starting over. I made it 96 stitches around, maybe I'll go down to 80, that seems like it will be about right.

The purses felted up ok. Sophie(blue) is a bit stiff, and quite heavy for the handle. I may consider putting on a different handle later. They're a little pilly too, so I'll shave them later.


Teagan's purse(purple) was a made up design and it turned out pretty well, I might make more like that. She seemed to like it:

Both purses are finished, and felting away (I hope) in the washing machine as I type. I'm excited, this part of felting is scarey and cool at the same time, you're never quite sure what's going to happen to the pieces........

Very little knitting time these days. We just bought a house and are renovating it before we move in, so we're quite busy. I try to sneak in a few rows driving to and from the place each day, though. I'm working on a sophie bag (magknits.com) and a made-up purse for my daughter, both to be felted.

I've been 'outted' as a knitter at work, big time. I carried my current knitting project (a just-started baby hat) around with me in my work bag, in case I found myself with some down time, and headed off to my departmental all morning meeting. I was the first one there, and it was in a sort of auditorium (we're a big department, 50+) so I found a seat and pulled out my knitting. As people arrove I got some interesting comments, people checking out what I was making. My boss seemed quite amused that I was knitting. And as the meeting started I didn't bother to stop, since I wasn't causing a problem. It turned out to be a good thing to be knitting, I have trouble with my mind wandering in long meetings, sitting so still and inactive drives me nuts, so keeping my fingers busy let me concentrate better.

Anyways, as my boss got up to give the summary of his group, who's new, etc, he says "and knitting away there is Wendy, just back from maternity leave" *blush* I could feel the eyes on me. Later near the end they were doing a draw (they gave away silly prizes for fun) the person drawing joked that the prize was the hat I was knitting. *blush again*

But I did finish the hat!

It's finished!

I finally finished the round baby blanket. I actually finished it a couple days ago but I wanted to wash it before taking a photo. I think it shrunk a tad in the wash, as it's cotton, but that's ok. It's a little over 2 and a half feet accross, small for a blanket but a nice size for a stroller or lap or carseat. I found most baby blankets too big when Teagan was very young, hopefully the recipient feels the same. I was dissapointed in how it wouldn't lay flat, it's not actually a circle, and looks like I could have skipped one of the sections (there were 10) to make it turn out better. Here it is folded in half, you can see how it's bigger around than a circle:

I didn't find any mistakes, so I'm not sure what happened, maybe my row guage was way off or something, I certainly didn't bother with a guage swatch for this.

I enjoyed making this a lot, even though it wasn't difficult or exciting, and I could see making more in the future. The price is right, a whole skein of the veregated cotton I used is around $7, the solids would make a slightly larger blanket for the same price.

I had to rip out about 10 rows of the pinwheel blanket. I got the increases messed up so half the round was on an increase row and half wasn't, and I couldn't find where I went wrong. It might have been ok, or the blanket might have ended up lopsided, and I didn't want to chance it. I'm almost back to where I was, though, since it knits so fast. Good thing, I have 2 weeks to finish this.

I need another quick project too, something I can finish in a week. I was thinking of an apple hat, those are cute and fast, but I have no red yarn. Maybe I can make it to Michael's in the next day or two. I'd love a cotton or cotton blend since it's heading into summer. Wool is warm and acrylic scratchy for a baby.

Here's the pinwheel blanket, as of 2 days ago:

I haven't made a lot of progress since then, maybe 5 rows? It's getting big, barely fitting on the TWO needles even. Since it's a baby blanket it doesn't need to be too big, I'm just going to let the yarn be my guide, I seem to be about 2/3 of the way through the skein now, so when I get nearer the end I'll finish off with some seed stitch. Cara did that with hers and I like how it looks. I don't want anything too frilly for a boy blanket

I'm still really enjoying working on this baby blanket, mindless knitting is a nice break these days. It's about 20inches accross right now. I'm not sure how big to make it, I was thinking about 3 feet would be good. I'll have to measure some baby blankets I have at home to see what a nice size would be. I might need to get a longer needle, or use two. This circular needle is around 36inches (do you measure tip-to-tip? I did) and I can just manage it at the current size. A few more rounds of increases and I don't think it will fit on the needles, I'll have to see if I have a second one this size. Maybe I will see if they make them any bigger, though I don't make a lot of blankets I might be better off just using 2 shorter ones.

I started a new project, because the 50-odd ones going on now weren't enough. I'm making the Pinwheel Baby Blanket in a pretty purple/blue veregated cotton. Here's my progress so far: It's easy to knit, and I love how it looks, we'll see how boring it is in another 20 rounds though. I love the colours, the yarnwas going to be for a top for myself, but that didn't work out. I hope it's "boyish" enough....

I'm feeling a little unravelled. (har-de-har-har)

I can't focus on one project, there is so much I want to get done, and should get done, stuff I haven't even started yet, and I can't figure out where to focus. Current WIP list(ACTIVE WIPs, not mentioning the abandoned ones)

• Soleil (just finished the lace)
  
• Sophie Bag
  
• Crochet Star Afghan
  
• Knit socks for Teagan (nearly done)
  
• Cotton cap sleeve top for me (nearly done)
  
• Bulky Assymetrical Baby sweater
  

Stuff I need to do and haven't started yet:

• Sun hat for Teagan
  
• Gender Neutral baby gift for May
  
• Slippers for neice - June
  
• Boy Baby gift for June
  
• Gender Neutral Baby Gift for June
  
• Boy baby gift #1 for July
  
• Boy Baby gift #2 for July
  
• Girl Baby gift for July
  
• Gender Neutral Baby Gift for August
  

*not mentioning planned xmas gifts at this point*

I've made it a little further up soleil, but quite a ways to go yet. I haven't had a lot of knitting time, and I fear I will have to set this project aside to get wroking on more baby gifts. Thankfully baby items are small and fairly fast, but I really want to finish Soleil!

Here's my progress on Soleil so far, just about done the lace repeats:

I love how the lace looks, assuming the designer's promises of the curling blocking out come true......It should move quickly now, just miles of stockingknit with occasional increases and decreases after the lace.

And a photo of the rainbow baby set I made for a couple of gals on my lacrosse team that just had a baby boy:

I made it before I knew if they were having a boy or a girl, so I tried to choose a neutral (but fun!) colourway. It's Patons Look At Me, which is a nice acrylic, since we're heading into summer I didn't think wool would be a good choice. I found I really like a 1x1 rib for baby stuff (sock and hat cuffs) since it's soft and plushy, and looks pretty even while still having lots of stretch.

Someone commented that I was having a BLUE mood with all the photos in the last post. I realize my Sophie Bag I also have on the needles is blue too! I did do one baby project recently that's not blue, it's bright rainbow veregated, actually. I'll try to snap a photo before I gift it tonight.

I'm still working on Soleil. I ripped out what I had done to cast on again, hopefully fixing the curling issue. It didn't help, it's still curling, but it appears others have the same experience so I'm just going to hope it blocks out okay when I'm done. I'm just starting the third lace repeat now. Hopefully I can pick up speed a bit, the weather turned warm here laely so I'd like to get this done to wear it!

I found an old abandoned sweater in my stash that would be great for the warmer weather. About 2 years ago I started making a cap sleeved cotton sweater, knit in the round from the bottom-up. My own design.(I had delusions of submitting it to knitty, even, though it was far to plain and then I lost my pattern notes) It got forgotten for a while, and then I realised it wouldn't fit, as I'd gained a few(cough) pounds, so I just abandoned it. Pulling it out the other day I realized it would almost fit me now! It needs about an inch more in the yoke, then trim around the neck and it will be done. No finishing since it's in the round, either! I'll have to find some time to work on it soon!

And yes, it's blue too ;P

I sent a couple of knit hats up to my cousin, who just had a baby boy. It's still cold where they live, so I sent one wintery hat, and one summery hat:


I REALLY like the design of that cabled hat, but I can't seem to find out where I originally got the pattern. (someone asked for it so I've been searching but I can't seem to find it) I thought it was in one of the minnowknits books from the library but I've checked them all. I've made this hat about 4 times now and love it every time, I can make it from a photo now, so no worries about finding the pattern.

I've gotten a good start on soleil from knitty.com, here's where I was at yesterday:


It's rolling a bit but I'm going to press on and hope blocking takes care of it.

I'm currently swatching for Soleil from the new issue of Knitty.com. I was looking for something sleeveless to make that I could wear to work as the weather warms up, and luckily this showed up at just the right time! I have some Patons Rio (discontinued I think) that should work nicely, in a light blue colour.

I also started Sophie from magknits.com. It's a nice easy knit, and works up fast on 6mm needles!

Finally finished it, within an hour of leaving for the party! Nothing like finishing something at the last minute, eh? I was pleased with how it ended up, blocking (ironing with steam) helped it out a lot, relaxed and softened the fabric up nicely. It ended up quite large, despite making it in the 9-12 month size and being close on gauge it came out like an 18month+. Oh well, it will work for my neice in the fall. Here's the sweater:

I had to snap a photo quick after gifting, I forgot to take it before I wrapped it up.

Next? Felted bags. I'm in the mood for some quick knit projects, and haven't felted in a while. Maybe I'll even dye some yarn.

Still having trouble with the sweater, found ANOTHER error so I didn't get to block last night, I'm still knitting! I might have to skip the pre-assembly blocking I'd planned.

In other news:

Check out my [cough] large assortment of yarn HERE Sorry the photos and layout are so sad, I don't have time for anything nicer.