Knitter in training

knit, purl, repeat: garter rib baby blanket

 

First baby project done!!  I found this pattern free on ravelry, by Orange Flower.  It was super easy to do since the only counting involved was k3, p3.  Between knitting at nap time (of kids I nanny), in the evenings while watching tv and a few coffee and knitting meetups it went by pretty quickly -- as far as knitting a blanket goes!  

I bought 4 skeins of Vanna's Choice yarn in mustard and used just over 3.  The finished size of the blanket is about 30x30.  The rest of it I'm using to making a smaller sized "lovey" blanket, which is ending up to be about 10x10 I think, that we can take along with us in the car if she decides it's a favorite thing.  For anyone else that wants to do this I took a stab in the dark and cast on 51 sts. I'm not quite finished with the leftover piece but can tell I will have little bit of yarn left to toss in the random bits of leftover yarn bin :)

 

 

Also have been working on a snuggle sleep sack and have yarn for a hat as well.  Madtosh had a great yarn sale on Black Friday so I splurged for myself and bought some GORGEOUS hand dyed yarn for a cardigan pattern by Jane Richmond.  I had planned on waiting to start that, but caved and have worked on that a little bit.  Contemplating the right pattern for some other Madtosh yarn that I have a little bit of, perhaps a new hat since I neglected to leave any out for this winter while packing things up in September when it was still 90something out.

Baby Blanket Love

Had a Sunday afternoon and no plans so I convinced Chad to come with me to Joann's to find some fabric for a baby blanket.  What I have in mind is just for a play blanket to throw on the floor with some toys or can take outside to enjoy some sunshine.  Very excited about the fun colors and patterns!

Also started knitting a blanket.  Not anything super special but easy to take along and throw in the wash when it needs cleaned.  And it's yellow : )  Here's the pattern from Ravelry.

Knitted Baby Love

I've had these pants finished for awhile.  As soon as I found out we were expecting I wanted to work on something to help pass the time.  I forget if I used the recommended size needles/yarn on this pair but felt like they turned out kind of big for the 3 month size that I followed, which is okay since it will be June then and too hot to wear them.  Maybe we'll get away with having a small baby that can wear them in the fall.  The pair I'm working on now I'm doing in a lighter weight yarn and smaller needles, so hopefully the little guy or girl can wear them right away.

[ SCD handmade with Kanoko Pants Pattern ]

This week won't go by fast enough!  On Friday we'll be at 18 weeks and have an ultrasound appointment to find out if we're having a boy or a girl. And then we can get started on narrowing down nursery ideas and I can finally shop for some yarn to start some knitting projects!!  I don't have all of these planned, but they all look wonderful to make.

 

 [ Garter Rib | Chevron ]

[ Knee High Socks | Boston Cowl | Big Heart Cowl | Snug as a Bug Sleep Sack ]

[ Crochet My Love | Raevyn Slouchy | Cable Baby | Simple Newborn ]

[ Barberry | Abernathy | Granny's Favorite | Binic | Odette | Maile ]

knit, purl, repeat: chalice scarf

I found a pattern for a blanket that I really liked on Ravelry, but for lack of enough yarn and no time to look for and buy any before my knitting group I decided to modify the pattern and use up some yarn that I already have for a scarf.  Here is the beginning of it.  I went a little bit farther with the pattern and started to realize how much time it would take.  Being a lazy knitter I decided to switch to stockinette knitting until the end of the scarf and repeat the pattern there.  Then realized that I did not like how that was looking, so torn that out back to the chalice pattern and decided although it will take awhile I will enjoy wearing this more if it's done from start to finish with the pattern.

Don't know when this will get done, but vowing to finish this, along with 2 hats, my third chunky lace scarf, and seam/felt 2 pairs of slippers before starting anything else.  However, that doesn't really stop me from checking out what I wanna do for the next project.  Baby fever has got me wanting to knit some kiddo stuff.  Might have to make something for someone else until I'm able to do so for myself.

 

( Posie Gets Cozy )

( Rasmilla )

knit, purl, repeat: big lace scarf

I've been loving the library lately. Awhile back I scoured the craft books there and found More Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Flipped through it and found a pattern for this scarf which is so super cozy.

It doesn't take long to knit up with the chunky yarn and big needles. I've made 2 so far - in the mustard color (more on my yellow obsession later...) and another in a grayish blue (that somehow photographed this brighter color...).

But as today was 80 degrees it may be next winter that I actually get to use them!

knit, purl, repeat: shannon cowl

Making quick progress on my first cowl pattern. Multiple finished projects to post soon!

knit, purl, repeat: kathleen hat

I reclaimed my knitting basket a week or so ago. After moving I took the time to really go through my crafts so all the yarn/needles/etc are all together (as well as all the other crafty things). And as I wasn't doing much knitting during the summer and while planning a wedding, most of it all stayed in their designated bins. And my little green basket that I bought with the specific purpose of containing in progress projects became the PS3 controller basket!

Unfortunately for Chad he doesn't have quite the need to have all 5 or 6 controllers out all the time for guys game night -- although I do miss seeing all the guys sitting on the living room floor like 10 year olds harassing each other for watching each others screen space. So the remotes have found a new container to live in as I've got skeins of yarn all over the living room again.

I started on my new hat at the knitting group Tuesday night and made lots of progress last night as well. I'm using yarn that I already had, and thought it would look good in this tweedy brown, but I think a lighter colored yarn would show off the cables more. I found a dark turquoise to make the next one out of that will. It's not really light, but will match a jacket I have ... plus color is more fun : )

Knitting Rediscovered

When we first moved to Fort Worth I was a little bit bummed that I wouldn't be apart of the quilt guild I was going to in Bozeman. It was really fun meeting once a month with other women interested in the same things I was. So when we moved I wanted to find a group to join here. I found a few groups except you have to factor in distance when deciding what to be apart of here. I found a group called the Fort Worth Knit Stitch Bunch that meets every other week at a Barnes and Noble to nibble on some Starbucks treats and work on whatever projects people had on their needles.

I went once. And I had a really fun time. And even met someone there my age that I exchanged numbers with to get together with outside of knitting. Despite really good intentions to keep going, I didn't. Because my job at the preschool kept me there until 6:30/7, it would be near 8 before I'd get there and only have an hour to knit with the group, or because I had to drive in the dark, or because I wasn't feeling well, or because I took a babysitting job that evening, or because Chad and I would have a free night together that fell the same evening.

But things are different now!! I know my way around town and there is a very easy way to get to the bookstore, even though it's still dark and a little bit far :( And I'm not working so late in the day now, I have time to decompress between work and fun time. And lately Chad's been scheduled to work during the evenings, so I'm free to do what I want to with my night.

Sometime this week I got an email reminder that the group is having their first meetup of the new year and today I rsvp'd that I'll be there!! I've been working on some gifts (pictures coming later, after they've been given and no surprises are ruined) but at the moment am projectless. So I looked up some Jane Richmond patterns I've had my eye on and ordered them. I love her patterns, they are so easy to follow and super fun to knit. Will have a hard time deciding which to do first!!



(photo source: Jane Richmond)

IT'S SPRING!

If we were in Montana right now we'd be skiing, but the last couple days here have been in the 70s and all the bulletin boards at preschool have spring time themes on them, so I guess it's springtime in Texas!

I have been on a major knitting binge! These 4 hats, plus 3 more custom ordered ... and yarn for 8-10 more that I hope to have done to send up to my mom for the Rainy Day Bazaar in Sitka in April. Alaska kiddos wear hats all year long : ) And these colors are super fun!

{SCD} CUSTOM ORDER

So excited to share with you my first order via a facebook fan!

She saw a similar pair of mittens on {scd} on facebook and asked if I could make a pair with a dark grey hat to go with them. Here's the set she'll be getting!

The mittens are super cozy. They're made of coordinating wool sweaters and lined with fleece, so they keep your hands very warm. And the hat is both machine washable and dryable!

If you're interested in a custom order, give me a shout!

BOOK PROJECTS: FELT FORWARD

I don't personally have this book, but I bought it for my mom before I knew how to knit and had her copy me some patterns from it. Finishing up another Jane Hat, and then am going to start on these felted boots!

FINISHED: FRENCH PRESS SLIPPERS

Discovered on luvinthemommyhood
Pattern by French Press Knits
Yarn by I Love This Wool Yarn in Antique Teal
Silver Buttons

FINISHED: JANE HATS

This is my hat of the moment. It's a pattern by Jane Richmond, called "Jane". I really have made quite a few. The guys I know think they are a little girly, so I need to find a great pattern for the fellas that I know.

It's super quick to make and as you can see I went a little crazy on buying different colors of yarn ... it's so hard not too. Another yarn buying trip is in order soon. I will have to avoid the really nice yarn shops downtown because I know I will cave into buying something that feels incredible but comes with a pricier price on it!

IN PROGRESS: HAT OF THE MOMENT IN MUSTARD

Sneak Peek!

This is such a fun hat that I've made somewhere between 8 - 10. . .I can't even remember. I made one a month or so ago and after that just went and bought all kinds of yarn to make more. Hoping to get this one done by the weekend so I can bring them to the farmer's market. Just in time for fall . . .

FINISHED: OATMEAL PULLOVER

I found this pattern through SouleMama and fell in love with it right away. The pattern by Jane Richmond and you can purchase the pattern at her Etsy shop.

Rather than using a more expensive yarn, I found a similar weight at Michael's for $4/skein. I was a little nervous about how much I'd end up using since the skeins weren't the same size, so I bought 8 and ended up using 5 (hoping that I can return what I didn't use!). After looking up a couple knitting abbreviations it was quite easy to do. It's knit from the top down, so it doesn't require seaming pieces together at the end.

Next time I may decide to make the body a little longer, and the sleeves a little longer with a bigger section of ribbing on them (like on the bottom). Can't wait for some cooler weather so I can wear it!

IN PROGRESS: MY FIRST SWEATER