Thursday, May 24, 2012

A Sweater Success!

Buttony Knit Model 3

It fits! She visited today... tried it on... took some photos... and took it with her (though under strict orders to wrap it up and stick it under her Christmas tree)! I call that a success.

Buttony Knit Model 1

In my original post about this sweater, I mentioned that the pattern was not very specific... and required some knitting guesswork. It turned out fabulous, fits fabulous, and I am so glad I know how to add short rows and waist shaping!

Buttony Knit Model 2

Just look at that lovely waist (shaping)!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Babies love Hats and Blankies

Last week I finished up a little sewing project, requested by a friend... for her friend :)

Urban Blanket & Hat 1

I am loving the Knitted Hat and Sewn Blanket combo right now! Minky/Dotty Orange Fabric combined with cotton in the Urban Elephants print - too cute! The hat is just made out of some Caron Simply Soft I had in my unending yarn stash.

Urban Blanket & Hat 2

I made the blanket by laying the front sides facing each other (with some batting behind the print), sewing around the edge (leaving a 1 ft hole to flip it right side out), flipped it, smoothed out the corners, top-stitched along the very edge and than again about a 1/2 inch in from the side (making that nice band around the edge). The "U" was appliqued onto the minky before I sewed the pieces together.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Knitting for Boys: Soaker Shorts

Since I am usually knitting up items for my little girls, it is fun to occasionally make boyish knits. And when a good friend is expecting a baby boy and planning on cloth diapering, it is the perfect opportunity to knit up some boyish shorties!

Mama's Favorite Longies 2

This time I tried out a new pattern: Mama's Favorite Longies by fellow Texan Annie Soutter. I also tried out a new yarn - Peace Fleece - one well know for it's awesomeness as a diaper cover wool.

Mama's Favorite Longies 5

I really loved the pattern, it was very easy to follow and would be a great first longies pattern for a new knitter. The Peace Fleece was also great - love it's wooliness! It is much rougher than some of the more mainstream yarns, but after washing is softens up.... but stays strong for rough and tumble little boys!

Mama's Favorite Longies 4

This colorway is called Grass Roots... and it is brownish with a green undertone. The multi-colored flecks make it perfect for pairing with brightly colored boys' t-shirts. These shorties used a little less than one 4oz hank of Peace Fleece.

Mama's Favorite Longies 9

Link to my Ravelry Project Page: Mama's Peace Shorties

Sunday, May 13, 2012

If I could knit a mile a minute...

2011 Sept Friend Scarf 3
I wish I could knit a mile a minute... and make every special woman in my life a gift full of stitches, and prayers, and thanks. God truly blessed me by bringing each of you into my life. The teachers, the friends, the role models, the sisters, the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and my own precious daughters. I think of you and wish, wish so much that I had the time and talent and energy to thank you for all you have done and all that you are. Each of you. Someday, you will open your mailbox and find a little knitted item... but, in the mean time...

Happy Mother's Day, and thank you for being a part of my life.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

On My Needles: May 2012

There has been a lot of knitting going on around here.

I finally finished sewing in the ends of the Christmas hats for my nephews and niece... yes these are their presents for Christmas 2011. I am a horrible aunt. However, I think they turned out really nice considered I was trying to knit for teenagers! And teenage boys no less!

Turn-A-Square 1 Turn-A-Square 2
Turn-A Square 3 Meret 5

The boys' hats are all the Turn-A-Square pattern by Jared Flood. In my opinion it is really a great pattern for boys.  I used 3 colors of Red Heart Eco-Ways yarn and just rotated them as base color and stripes in each of the hats. 

Meret 1 Meret 4

Helen graciously modeled the sweet little beret I knit for my niece. It is the the pattern Meret by Woolly Wormhead... also free. I used the Eco-Ways on this and wish I had chosen a yarn with some wool content to show off the lace pattern better.

Blue and Orange Baby Hat 1 Blue and Orange Baby Hat 2

I finished up this little hat to go with a special project I am working on for a friend. Clare had fun ripping it off every time I tried to take a picture of her in it!

Grammys Shawl

Grammy's Shawl.... trying to finish this to give her in June.

Gift Shawl

Another REALLY late Christmas 2011 gift, for a swap partner on Ravelry... sent her the rest of the package without this Wisp free pattern from Knitty.com.

Libby Sweater

The back of the Libby Sweater. (#6!)

Lightweight Sweater

A sleeve of my light weight summer sweater. (#7!)

Baby W Blanket

A blanket project for a special baby.... will be ripping this out and starting over today.

So there you have it, my long list of WIPs. Yes, I have been knitting :)

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Sweater #5 - The Buttony Sweater

Sweater #5 is complete! This one is destined for my baby sister who will be celebrating her college graduation this upcoming weekend.... though, I may have to be mean and save it for Christmas as I had originally planned.

Blue Bonnet Buttony 1

The Buttony Sweater is a well-loved free pattern on Ravelry.  It is a very basic pattern and written in the size of the designer.  Each individual that knits it has to adjust the pattern to suit their own yarn and size.  And most use the notes of others to make these adjustments.

I was no different.  I referenced the notes of WindingRiver's Tweedy Fall sweater and Raptwithfiber's Bulky Buttony.  Adding some short rows in the top for a little more breathing room, and following the lead of many of the knitters by keeping the sleeves short and sweet. The result will hopefully be a sweater that will fit my sister!

Blue Bonnet Buttony 2

I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky Yarn in Indigo. I have never used this yarn before, but really liked it. It is soft and washed up nice. I wanted something machine washable and not super-pricey, so this was a great choice. And the fact that it is a Bulky weight yarn meant the sweater knit up very fast. I have one skein left that is destined to become some kind of chunky baby sweater for my stash of baby gifts.

Here is my Ravelry project page: Blue Bonnets for Amee
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