More Finished Goods!

     I'm apparently really on a baby roll.  Larissa called me a few weeks ago asking if there was any way possible I could make Easton a pair of baby mittens and a matching hat.  Since I was already planning on making him a hat for Christmas, I said, "Of course!"

     I had just finished my first hat in Swish, and it turned out to be very stretchy, so I decided to use that pattern again (Little Boy Blue Ribbed Baby Hat), and found an easy thumb-less pattern for baby mitts (Basic Baby Mitts). She told me to use whatever yarn I had on hand, but clearly this was an opportunity to place a Knit Picks order (plus I needed to order yarn for a project for my little sister), so I picked up a skein of Swish Worsted in Dublin and one in Dove Heather to make the perfect MSU set!
Once I finally got to knitting it, it was super quick - mittens took about an hour apiece, and the hat was two easy nights of TV knitting.
     Up next is my sister's wrap around sweater using Biggo.  We'll see how it goes!

Baby!

     With my baby boy due in December, I decided it was (finally) time to start some baby knitting. My husband kept bugging me - "When are you going to make something for the baby?" - as I worked on my Zora sweater, so once the knitting on that was mostly done, I went for a sweater.  I had a few sweaters in my queue already, but ended up finding a striped sweater in the book 60 Quick Baby Knits (rav link) that I figured would work nicely and, more importantly, quickly.  I ordered two skeins each of Gulfstream and Pebble (disc.) in KnitPicks Swish Worsted. I've never worked with it before, but decided I didn't want to mess around with handwashing things.
     I'm really happy with how quickly the sweater worked up, although there are a few little things I'd do differently. I didn't want the bottom to roll up, so I purled a RS row to make a hem.  The sweater still wants to fold up, so there must be a better method there. I didn't really know what I was doing, so I'm sure there is something I'm missing there.  Also, the bottom corners where I picked up stitches for the button band look a little wonky. I like how the knitted on buttons bands LOOK, but while knitting, I much prefer one that is just a continuation of each row, using intarsia if multiple colors are used.

     I started this on Thursday and finished on Sunday, so all in all, a super fast knit.  It still needs buttons, so I'll run to JoAnn's today and decide on the color and shape. Right now, I'm thinking bright yellow, but I don't know about dressing my kid in blue and yellow. . .(Go Green!). Hopefully something will catch my eye!
     Now I need to get back to work on my Zora - the back, front, and sleeves are all knit, but not seamed together yet.  Once that's done, I need to do a 4 inch 2x2 rib all along the front and neck. This could take awhile. . .I will probably end up starting another baby project somewhere in there.

Chugging Along

I've made pretty good progress on both the Moderne Baby Blanket and my owls sweater.  I'm almost done with the first sleeve on the sweater, only about an inch or two to go (which is nothing when it's in bulky weight yarn). Hopefully I'll finish that up during the MSU basketball game this afternoon, and start the next.  The blanket is coming along as well, although by looking at it, you can't really tell. It's incredible how much longer it takes to do a row by just adding a few stitches. I'll just keep chugging on both of these, someday I'll be able to say I'm done!
I've picked up spinning again, and I can tell I've gotten better.  My problem now is that I'm making the yarn too thin. Also, my plying is off. I think I'm underspinning each single, which is making it harder to ply. I spun up one of the PhatFiber samples from September (Farmers Market) that looked like a watermelon. I lost the label for it a long time ago, but it was a bright, fun fiber.  I'm thinking I should have left it unplyed, though, because the act of plying really muddied the colors and it doesn't look nearly as bright anymore.  I just tried to take some pictures, but the lighting was awful. I think I'm in struggle mode today. . .

Housekeeping

As per usual, I haven't updated this blog in about a bajillion years.  Oh well.

I've been working on a Moderne Baby Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting lately.  I'm using Knit Picks Shine Worsted yarn in Creme Brulee, Cream, Clementine, and Begonia.  I purchased 5 skeins of each color. Based on stitch count, etc., I think it will be more than enough of cream (I should have plenty for an applied i-cord border, I hope), just a little extra orange and yellow, and not enough pink.  I'll have to reassess the pink when I get closer to the end, but it's looking like I'll need to buy another ball. I'm hoping maybe I can send one ball of the orange or yellow back and just exchange it.  We'll see what happens!
So far, I love the yarn. It is super soft, and the stitches just look really nice.  Also, as the name implies, it has a nice shine to it.  Sometimes I lay it out and I just smile because of how nice I think it's turning out.  Right now, I'm a few rows back from finishing block 6. I'm starting to get a little tired of all of the garter stitch, which might be a problem since I'm only 36% of the way done :/.  Oh well, its potential recipient isn't due until July, so lots of time!  It is not known yet whether the baby is a boy or a girl. I really wanted to make this blanket in these colors (and have for some time), so I figured I would start, and if it turns out to be a boy I can make something else.
I've been doing a few other little projects here and there, but nothing huge.  I have one sock finished from the Threadbare yarn I bought awhile ago, but haven't begun sock #2 yet. I really like the yarn AND sock, but I've been spending all of my knitting time on the baby blanket.  When the baby blanket gets less portable (as it quickly is), I'll start the next sock.
I've also started the owls sweater. I have an extra skein of yarn, so I made it fairly long. Now I'm at the armpits and I've quit.  I need to make the sleeves and keep going, but once again, the baby blanket distracted me.  I am typically a super loose knitter (socks on 0's are still pretty loose gauge), but for some reason, have an iron grip on this sweater. I actually had to go UP a needle size, which is completely unheard of for me.  Because of this tight knitting, it's hard for me to work on it for too long. My hands start to get tired and ache.  The actually knitting moves pretty fast, so if I just dedicate a few nights of knitting (or a long weekend), it should be done. Maybe that can be my project today, once I finish up block 6. . .