My Knitting Life

"Classic Cardigan"Size 3-6 MonthsDebbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino2 Balls Lt. Pink, Green Bits from Previous ProjectSize US 2, 3 needles

I thoroughly enjoyed both of these projects!  The green cable coat is a gift for a baby on the way, but the pink cardigan was just for fun.  I realized that it is a good idea to take on a small project when times are busy, because you can still get the satisfaction of finishing without lots of knitting.  I took my time and tried to focus on little details like seaming the set-in sleeves neatly.Although we still have one more week of school, my job has ended for the year, and that means more time for knitting and blogging! 

Why am I knitting this?

1. As a gift for a baby girl I know?
2. To use up the last bit of leftover green Baby Cashmerino from my last project?
3. Because simple little projects give you a great chance to practice basic skills like seaming and adding neck and button bands?
4. Because I'm in the zone with Baby Cashmerino and size 3 Addi's - might never knit with anything else ever again?
5. Because it is hot as blazes outside, the end of year activities have hit a fevered pitch and all I can handle is some light stockinette right now?
6. All but #1.

If you guessed #6, you are correct!  I really have no plans for this little sweater, size 3-6 months.  The original version can be seen here.  Nothing like a classic cardigan for a baby - now I just have to figure out who the baby is....

Debbie Bliss Hooded Cable Coat

Size 3-6 Months

7 Balls Baby Cashmerino

Size US 3 needle

May 6 - May 30, 2005

Notes: See the pattern version here. The pattern called for 6 balls but I used 7, although I didn't try to conserve. The pattern also calls for a size 2 needle, but it is never mentioned in the directions. I wondered if the ribbing should have been done on the smaller needle, but it looks fine as is on the size 3 needle. The yarn is lovely - very soft and squishy.  I had no problems with this project, except that I re-wrote the sleeve increases because the pattern version was too confusing.  The buttons - shell buttons from JoAnn.

This is a gift for a friend who is having her 4th child in August!  I suspect there will be a shower for her in June, so I am happy to be done early. 

Pocket and Hood Detail

Pockets are like magic to me. First you knit the little liner. Then you knit across to where the pocket belongs, put the front stitches on a holder and knit from the liner in pattern, then across the rest of the row. Seam the back and add an edging, and you have a pocket. Simplicity is a beautiful thing.

Speaking of beautiful things....Yesterday we all headed out to my son's baseball game. He has to be there half hour early, and the ump was late, so I sat huddled in the car, knitting away, waiting.

My daughter was getting "REALLY BORED", so I suggested that she read to me. The only book we could find was Nancy Wiseman's Finishing Techniques, so I asked her to read me the chapter on pockets. Could there be anything better than knitting away while someone reads to you about knitting? My daughter thought it was "totally WEIRD"!

I'm sticking to one project these days.  It is so calming to knit this simple little cable pattern.  This would be a great first cable project, by the way.  I often feel the need to apologize for lack of new and exciting blog content when I get focused on one thing.  I see all the exciting purchases made at the festivals and all the creative new projects coming from them, and I think I am so ho-hum with my one-project-going-at-a-time.  This one is going quickly though.  And it is a pleasure to knit.  So I won't digress.  I won't.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

We're off for our long weekend! We will see the new baby, Anna, for the first time! Her blanket was completed and blocked yesterday. It turned out to be a 45" square - a nice generous size and I think I like the square idea for a baby. The yarn was lovely to work with.

Here are a couple other peeks:

In addition to gifting, we'll be celebrating Valentine's, our 11th anniversary :), and the kids will try skiing for the first time! (Oh, and I'll be sneaking around looking for yarn shops. Any recommendations for western Massachusetts (Lee-area?) Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

My Achey Breaky Hands

Our friends had a baby a week ago. Thing is they thought it was a boy the whole pregnancy. Which put me to work on a sweet little top down cardigan in a handsome blue. Two weeks before the birth, they find out ultrasound #1 was wrong - It's a girl!

Now we are going on a little family get-away with them for President's Day weekend. So last Sunday I started the above. It is Plymouth Encore, worsted weight on size 8 needles. I am power knitting, averaging about a ball every day and a half. Knitting while eating, sleeping, driving. I'm almost done the 4th ball, and I think I'm going to use 7-8! I cast on more stitches than I needed, dragging out the pain.

It's a sweet, romantic pattern in a soft, durable yarn. My 10 y/o still treasures the one she got as a baby (called "softie") from my Mom. The gifts I made for their first child were well used and appreciated. So this must be worth it, RIGHT??