Acorn Costume and Hat

"Make me an acorn costume for Halloween, Mommy!" 

Who can say no to that? I mean, how cute, right? An acorn costume. Now how to go about it...

After three hours wandering around in Joann Fabric, trying to find a way to achieve the "roundness" needed for an acorn but still allow movement and play, I came up with the idea of the sandwich board. It's not perfect, and I'm not sure it's exactly what he had in mind, but after he won "Most Original" at the library costume contest, he was sold. 

The hat actually came first (or the idea for it) since I had been eyeing the Lemongrass hat and wondering what it would look like in the other stash colors I had. I made a taupe one, but that wasn't brown enough (although the texture was perfect for an acorn cap) so I picked up a couple of skeins of a browner variety, knitted an i-cord "stem" and voila. (Little Bear has refused to remove the cap and surrender the hat, so I guess it's his now for good.) 

METHOD:
Done in LionBrand Wool Ease Thick and Quick, from the Lemongrass Slouchy Hat pattern on Ravelry, in a dark brown tweed colorway. One skein. Used it all. 

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. Kids are cute. 

2. Eleventh hour Halloween costumes are the best. 

3. The entire costume came together with fabric glue, and no sewing machine. I'm amazed. 

Lemongrass Hat and Cowl (Bluprint Class)

The Hat was a project I sort of randomly came across on Ravelry as I was pondering getting back to knitting. (Actually what spawned the renewed interest was cleaning out the fabric closet and realizing I had a lot of yarn I needed to get rid of.) I had purchased a lot of this Wool Ease Thick and Quick, imagining I might someday make these little cardigans, but with that fantasy over, I had to figure out something else to do with them. 

Enter the Lemongrass hat. 

Now to be fair, the color of this yarn alternates between being a rather stylish off-green, like a lightly grilled spear of asparagus, to a true baby-shit green that nobody looks good in. Under store lighting, it's pretty. At home .... yeah, baby poop. 

So I found the pattern and thought why not. The instructions for the decreases are very confusing, and I should have been alerted to the weirdness by the fact that other people were commenting with questions, but I pushed on, thinking I'd figure it out. The main fabric is I think seed stitch, which gives this yarn a great texture, but the decreases at the top look weird and the color is just ... blech. 

So of course I had to make a cowl to match.

Now to be fair, the cowl was the second project from the Bluprint class, and I wanted to at least try it. I had two skeins left of the nasty Lemongrass color, so I made the cowl and it was pretty but gave me claustrophobia when I tried to wear it. So I frogged it, and made one twice as wide, which didn't really work either. Probably one that is about 1.5 skeins would work properly.

METHOD:
Done in LionBrand Wool Ease Thick and Quick Lemongrass (aka Babyshit Green)

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. This is a horrendous color.

2. Frog what doesn't work, but you can only do it a few times before the yarn becomes worn. 

3. Don't stash yarn. Only buy what you actually have a legit plan for using. 

Practice Mitts (Bluprint Class)

The Great Courses Plus offers other lectures in conjunction with Craftsy/Bluprint, and I thought it was about time to maybe try knitting again, since I really hadn't done anything for a couple of years. 

This was the first project in the Startup Library Knitting class, taught by Susan B. Anderson, "Practice Mitts" which was a good re-immersion.

METHOD:
Done in LionBrand Vanna's Choice leftover yarn from the Traffic Set, worked flat on #7 needles and seamed together. I made the fingers extra long so they could either flip up over the knuckles or be folded back for more access.

1. These were fun, and they ended up being warm enough for me to wear to my crosswalk a few times.

2. I love knitting things for winter while we're still in the middle of summer.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?

Yoga Mat Carrier

I started June out beautifully, getting up early to go to a Yoga class on the riverfront. It was a gorgeous day and a great way to start the summer. Everyone around me had snazzy little holders for their yoga mats, so of course I needed one. 

After searching around, I found this pattern, which looked cute:

https://gina-michele.com/2017/05/yoga-mat-strap-free-knitting-pattern-2.html

METHOD:
Using stashed yarn, the LionBrand Suede Ecru color, which I LOVE the feel of, this was simple garter stitch, and I did most of it while Little Bear was at the BioBots programming camp. It was easy, but turned out a little weird, and probably should not have been quite so wide. 

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
It's an easy and fun project, but the mesh "bag" style would probably be more useful. Still, I feel very fashionable when I wrap and unwrap my yoga mat at the Y.

Traffic Hat and Scarf

I found this on LionBrand's website and the pattern looked so cute! I made both of them for Little Bear and he said he wanted the matching sweater! He's very into "transportation" right now, but I'm afraid he'll be in college by the time I get a sweater finished. 

METHOD:
Done in LionBrand Vanna's Choice, in the recommended colors, with the recommended needles. I did change the garter stitch road to stockinette because it looked weird in garter stitch. Bear wanted a red pom pom for the hat, which looked great until the dog ate it. 

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. This was my first experience with Intarsia, and it was a mess. When they say use spools, do it! Don't leave the strings hanging.

2. The scarf is a bit shorter than I like and it curls like mad, but Bear seems to like the "tube" shape it wants to take. 

3. I have the coolest kid.

Victorian Lace Scarf

I had leftover yarn from the Knitted Lace Edge T-shirt and the Teddy Bear and thought this would be a good way to use it up.

METHOD:
I found the pattern on Ravelry, called "Victorian Scarf." Knit on the recommended, with the KnitPicks "Crayon" yarn in Periwinkle.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. The thing about lace knitting is that you really have to pay attention to what you're doing on each row. I didn't, so this thing is weirdly off the pattern repeats. I'm still happy with it. 

2. I probably should have scalloped the final finished edge, but I was just so done with it and so ready to get it out of the WIPS bag that I took shortcuts.  3. I'm still confused about something that happened on a slip, k2, passo. I'm never really sure which strand to pass over. Need to look into that. 4. There is no way this cotton yarn will block or keep itself from curling. This pattern could have benefited from a stiffer yarn.

Teddy Bear toy

This little guy was just something I thought I would make to help use up the leftover Crayon yarn from Knitpicks.  I made this for my son and presented to him as a gift. He played with it for about 8 seconds and then threw it down. I guess this one is going on the shelf for me, instead. 

METHOD:
The pattern is called "Teddy" and I got it from Ravelry. (All these patterns are linked on my Ravelry account, if anyone wants them.) 

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. Trying to wrangle three stitches on three dpns is nuts. Just approach it like you're making i-cord.

2. This knit up pretty quick although it was weird sewing it together, as connecting tubes to a sphere was difficult. 

3. This could make a cute penguin doll as well. 

Coming Home Birthday Gift Poncho

I didn't get a picture of this because it was a gift, and I forgot. Suffice it to say it looks just like the purple one, only in the milk of magnesia pink color. I actually started this the summer of 2010 and intended to have it for Jen's birthday, but life (and a new baby!!!) got in the way. I ended up finishing it January 12, 2012

METHOD:
Martha Stewart's "Coming Home Plus Size" poncho, knit as per Homespun, "Cotton Candy" colorway.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. Keep the extra skeins handy. Somewhere I lost a skein of this and ended up having to buy a skein off a Ravelry member to finish the thing.
2. WTF is up with the seaming? Apparently it left a flat area and odd seam lines.
3. Jen suggested running sequins through it. I think that would make a cool border.

Baby Hats - Oh My Stars!

We are loading up on hats! Although I'm not super crazy about the envelope look. I started these on September 20, 2011 but didn't finish them until after DS was born. 

METHOD:
Done in extra stash yarn and from a pattern in Knit It! Spring 2007 magazine.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. The patterns overestimated how many stars each hat needed.
2. These are impractical, and the jersey hats that come with the onesies are much better.
3. I sort of learned how to make French knots, I guess?

Christmas Baby Hat

Precious!! The perfect little Christmas Hat for my little guy :)

METHOD:
This was from "Little Snowflakes," a pattern in my 2011 Knitting Pattern a Day calendar. I used Cascade 220 in Christmas Red, Green, and White.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. I sort of learned how to catch floats in the (fake) Fair Isle strands.
2. Elizabeth Zimmerman warns of fake Fair Isle that has more than 5 stitches between color changes. She's absolutely right. The extra floats make for weirdness inside the hat.
3. The decreases show up pretty obviously but I'm wondering if that's the nature of real wool, and can it be blasted out with a steam iron? Baby doesn't seem to care.

No Silk Garden Grows Tonight

Went to KnitWitts tonight because they were having a 15% off sale and I wanted 4 skeins of Noro Silk Garden for that entrelac scarf. Sadly, I hated the colorways on their small selection :( Now I'm thinking I might substitute a different, prettier yarn. Ended up grabbing a copy of "60 quick baby knits" and the skeins of red, green, and white Cascade 220 I needed for the baby's Christmas hat from the calendar pattern. Must remember to use 40% off coupon at Jo-Ann's for next year's pattern a day calendar. I thought this year's was pretty cool.

In other news:

Okay, so it's my fault for not being on top of my game and actually knitting the stuff right away, but seriously -- every project I've picked up lately either needs an additional skein of a colorway that has been discontinued, or I need a discontinued yarn/colorway to make a matching piece. Ebay and Amazon have failed me. Let us hope that Ravelry users will unstash and come to my rescue. ETA: YES! A Raveler came through and sent me a skein of that Homespun I needed for Jen's project. Woot!!

Baby Blanket for MY Baby!

I never thought I would be writing those words!

This is the softest combination of yarns. I had six skeins of the "Wild" that I didn't know what to do with, so this was a great way to use them to soften up the Pound of Love.

METHOD:
Used LionBrand Pound of Love and Moda Dea Wild, using size 15 needles and the pattern "Henry's Fuzzy Wuzzy Baby Blanket" from Ravelry.

The whole thing is just garter stitch, using the two yarns together, and since it's easy, I plan on toting it everywhere, to finish the blanket on time. It's going to be pretty big, to use up as much yarn and to snuggle as much as possible.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. I ended up using almost all four balls and it made for a great size. Kind of lapghan size.
2. This thing is HOT. I think the nylon seals the heat in. It's also pretty heavy, too heavy to be left in the crib, but it might be a good snuggle blanket for the toddler years. I'm leaving it over the edge of the bed as a decoration now, but I can imagine snuggling under it in winter!

What to do; what to do...

So I have a lot of "finishing" to do in the next few weeks, before baby is born. I figure I'd better do it now, or it may NEVER get done! LOL. I have to:

1. finish Jen's poncho
2. sew up my tunic sweater
3. piece together and line (groan) the tiger jacket (this one I may have to put off until I learn the skill of lining, or can get somebody local to help me with it.)
4. finish or decide what to do with the Homespun car coat
5. make the baby Christmas hat
6. make a least ONE set of booties for baby
7. finish the baby's silky blanket (which is basically just about 6 inches of garter stitch away from being done DONE!
8. And I really wanted to make him a panda hat. I hope I still have time.

sigh. I'm also considering some new year's resolutions for the Celtic new year, and for life post-baby.

1. I vow to never buy cheap LionBrand synthetic yarn again. I'm tired of how it squeaks on the needles, I don't like how it pills and comes apart, and I think my time is valuable enough that I should spend it knitting with yarn that feels good and is good quality.
2. I vow to never buy a bunch of yarn just because it's on sale. I have no more room for stashing.
3. I vow to finish the master knitter basics course in 2012.
4. I vow to learn some decent finishing techniques, and really work hard on being careful and patient when I am finishing garments.
5. I vow to learn how to do steeks without panic.
6. I vow to learn how socks can soar on 2 circular needles! (Which should take up a great deal of my sock yarn stash!)
7. I vow to learn how to do cabling and entrelac and ultimately intarsia.

I think I'd like to start at the bottom, and over Christmas work on that entrelac scarf/wrap in Noro Silk Garden. I need to spend my gift cert at KnitWitts, and they have a good variety of colors. (I think I actually dreamed about yarn shopping for that last night! But I was disappointed because all the colors were grey. weird.)

Baby Hat

Stash busting. Made a hat for baby to match Daddy's scarf!

METHOD:
I made this from leftover yarn from Daddy's Dr. Who scarf. I couldn't find dpns in the size I needed, so I sort of rigged up two circulars to do what I needed. It was not an elegant solution, but it worked.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. Babies grow like crazy fast, so I don't think he got to wear this but once.

Magazines and Missing Issues - for my notes

Cast On

• Feb-Apr 2006
• missing May-July 2006
• Aug-Oct 2006
• Nov 06-Jan 07
• Feb-Apr 07
• May-July 07
• Aug-Oct 07
• Nov 07-Jan 08
• Feb-Apr 08
• May-Jul 08
• Aug-Oct 08
• Nov 08-Jan 09
• Feb-Apr 09
• May-Jul 09
• Aug-Oct 09
• Nov 09-Jan 10
• Feb-Apr 10
• May-Jul 10
• Aug-Oct 10
• Missing Nov 10-Jan 11
• Feb-Apr 11
• May0Jul 11
• Aug-Oct 11

Creative Knitting

• Jan 06
• Mar 06
• May 06
• July 06
• Sep 06
• Nov 06
• Jan 07
• Mar 07
• May 07
• Missing July 07
• Sep 07
• Missing Nov 07
• Jan 08
• Mar 08
• May 08
• Jul 08
• Sep 08
• Nov 08

Interweave Knits

• Spring 06
• Summer 06
• Fall 06
• Holiday 06
• Winter 06
• Spring 07
• Summer 07
• Fall 07
• Missing Holiday 07
• Winter 07
• Spring 08
• Summer 08
• Fall 08
• Missing Holiday 08
• Winter 08
• Spring 09
• Summer 09
• Fall 09
• Missing Holiday 09
• Winter 09
• Spring 10
• Summer 10
• Fall 10

Knit N Style

• June 06
• Aug 06
• Oct 06
• Dec 06
• Feb 07
• Missing April 07
• June 07
• Missing August 07
• Missing October 07
• Missing December 07
• February 08
• April 08
• June 08
• Aug 08
• Oct 08
• Dec 08
• Missing Feb 09
• Missing April 09
• Missing June 09
• Missing Aug 09
• Missing Oct 09
• Dec 09

Knit Simple

• Spring/Summer 06
• Fall 06
• Holiday 06
• Winter 06-07
• Spring/Summer 07
• Missing Fall 07
• Holiday 07
• Winter 07-08
• Spring/Summer 08
• Fall 08
• Holiday 08
• Winter 08-09
• Spring/Summer 09
• Fall 09

Knitters Magazine

• Issues 82-87

Vogue Knitting

• Winter 05-06
• Spring/Summer 06
• Fall 06
• Holiday 06
• Winter 06-07
• Spring/Summer 07
• Missing Fall 07
• Missing Holiday 07
• Missing Winter 07-08
• Missing Spring/Summer 08
• Fall 08
• Holiday 08
• Winter 08-09
• Spring/Summer 09
• Fall 09
• Holiday 09
• Winter 09-10
• Spring/Summer 10

Knit It Magazine

• Fall 2006
• Spring 2007

Knit Scene

• Spring 2007

Finally Organized my Stash!

OMG it took me like 5 hours, but I finally organized my stash and got it all listed in Ravelry. Now I have to find photos of everything. But that's for later -- next up is to make sure my pattern library is current with the library list I have in Ravelry, and to check the magazines for baby and toddler patterns I like. Eventually I'd like to actually do some knitting again...

Clearing out what was the "sewing room" and making it into a nursery meant that fabric and yarn were everywhere. Organizing it in the hall closet was the best thing I think I could ever accomplish, although I think this is a result of nesting, and I'm sure there were other things that needed doing. Still, it's done.

OMG I'M PREGNANT! Baby Jacket

OMG the cuteness!! I have a baby!!!

I started this project April 1, 2011 after finding out a couple of weeks prior that I was PREGNANT! No more making baby blankets as gifts - now I can knit for my own baby!! I joined all the "Expectant Knitters" groups on Ravelry and now I have a long list of projects to make, but this one was queued up first. My due date is November 10, so I'm planning some warm fuzzies for baby!

METHOD:
This project is called "Adorable Baby Hoodie" and it came from Creative Knitting, May 2008. The yarn is Sugar N Cream in Violet Veil Ombre and it was worked on size 8 needles. I added yellow buttons so as to not have blue overkill but either purple or yellow would have worked. Baby is a boy!

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. As usual, the hardest part was finishing the silly thing.
2. WTF is up with these Creative Knitting patterns? They have so much weirdness to them. What is up with the hood???
3. Working from a schematic is so much easier than just instructions. Remember that for your next project!

Tarot Bag for Jeff

I'm pretty sure we got the yarn for this around June of 2010, but I don't think I ended up actually finishing the bag until I think spring of 2011. I'm calling this one a March 1, 2011 finish, just because I have no idea. I'm fairly certain I finished it before I found out I was pregnant, but since I neglected to write anything down ... !!!! 

METHOD:
I found the pattern on Mary Greer's website, and since Jeff said he was looking for a cool tarot bag, I volunteered to make this one. He bought the yarn: Plymouth Yarn Kudo, in colorway #41. I have a ton of it left and would like to make something pretty with it. There's nearly a skein left.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. KEEP NOTES! I hate not knowing when things were made.

Baby Blanket for Morgan

The best laid plans... I originally intended to give this to Morgan for her baby shower, but I didn't get it finished in time, so I gave it to her for Christmas. I'm going to call this a Christmas finish, since I didn't write down the actual completion date.

METHOD:
The yarn is called Heaven (and it's oh so heavenly soft) made by Plymouth and I picked it up on sale at KnitWitts. It's done on size 15 needles because the yarn is so fat. The pattern was a free pattern by Plymouth, but it's garter stitch and nothing fancy.

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. Those huge needles HURT! I don't care for that size.
2. Take a picture of stuff before you give it away! This is the sample photo from the pattern, but the actual looks exactly like it.

Plum Cardigan

I absolutely LOVE this thing, It's so soft and cuddly. I put off finishing it once I'd made the pieces because I was afraid of sewing in the sleeves, but that part was actually easy! I started it on March 3, 2007 (!!) but ended up losing the yarn when I went to back to finishing, so it got put aside for another year. When I finally found the yarn, I did the neckband and button band in one day.

METHOD:
This is a Moda Dea pattern, and this is done in Moda Dea "Dream" in colorway "Plum." It was done entirely on size 6 needles. I added Swarovski buttons and cut out the fringe. 

AND WHAT DID WE LEARN?
1. So it's more like a cropped sweater, since the fringe was probably supposed to add length, but as it is it makes a great cover up for dance class.
2. I ended up having a lot left over so I'm drooling over maybe making a beret or something to match.
3. The bottom wants to flare out and makes my waistline look bigger than it is, but it's so soft and fluffy I really don't care!