Category: NaBloPoMo 2013

Knitting-Baby · NaBloPoMo 2013

Meanwhile…

Vicki5 Comments

Would you be surprised if the parade of finished baby knits carried on?

garter yoke baby cardi

IMG_4841

I love the sophisticated, vintage buttons that  Alison chose at Soutache.

IMG_4844

IMG_4848
IMG_4844

This little sweater is a free download on Ravelry, and I’m sure I’ll be knitting it again!

IMG_4839
IMG_4839

The color is called “Grandpa’s Jeans” — old, faded, dark denim. Comfy.

IMG_4847

* * * * *

I’ll be taking Ann & family to the airport this afternoon, as their impromptu, unscheduled, week-long visit comes to an end today… or, for them, tomorrow when the plane touches down in Rio.

Dinner-and-a-movie

So much bittersweet.

* * * * *

VoteLoLa

Once a day: VoteLoLa.com!

NaBloPoMo 2013 · Ten on Tuesday

Ten on Tuesday: 5 + 5

Vicki4 Comments

Ten on Tuesday:

5 Favorite Sweater Patterns +
5 Favorite Yarns To Use = 10 Things!

SWEATERS

Here are the last 5 sweaters I pinned to I Don't Have Enough On My Plate:

1.  Firth o' Forth by Kate Davies

2.  Maude by Carrie Bostick Hoge

3.  Sweatrrr by Asa Tricosa

4.  Spaghetti by Valentina Cosciani

5.  Faro Pullover by Amy Christoffers

YARNS

I'm not really trying to match yarn to project, but I'm dreaming and it just so happens that…

6.  My Kate sent me about 1750 yards of Belle Epoque lace-weight yarn for my birthday! On a clear day, she can see the actual Firth of Forth from her kitchen window, and it's just natural to my mind that this yarn and that pattern would make a wonderful pairing. I'm about 350 yards short but there are options:  a) I could make the sweater a wee bit shorter, b) I could make the sleeves shorter or possibly even eliminate them, c) see if Kate can pop over to K1 Yarns to see if there's one more hank in this color/lot.

7.  I like the idea of unpretentious Cascade 220 for Maude. After my weekend of moving stuff around, I am quite familiar with some aspects of my stash — worsted-weight being one of those aspects — and don't think I have quite enough of any one color. I love the everyday comfy vibe of this sweater!

8.  Low Tide is ready to rip. I ran into it over the weekend, tried it on, and it hasn't magically shrunk… it's still too big! That background color could be interesting for Sweatrrr… and there is no shortage of scrap fingering-weight yarn 'round here. I'd play around with making it a cardigan, though.

9.  For Spaghetti, I like the idea of saturated color… Tosh Merino or something similar.

10.  And for Faro, I have a cone of aran-weight yarn that could be anything at all!

Wow, perusing my Pinterest board beyond those five… there are SO MANY great sweater patterns out there! How does one even decide anymore?

 

NaBloPoMo 2013 · Weekending

Weekending

Vicki3 Comments

WomansWorld

There's been a three-panel french door leaning against a pillar in the living room for months. It was a "summer project" to get it installed. Ahem.

It seemed an overwhelming, almost insurmountable, project to begin at times; bookcases — five of them — and all of their contents needed to be shifted around in order to clear the space. I guess it's a testament to just how much I want those doors restored that I finally began the process over the weekend! Annie & her crew were visiting family in Madison and, well, if I want them in by Christmas (which I do), it has to happen now. Also, the place where they were leaning is sort of right where I like to put the tree!

Anyway, a move like this is like busting open the archives. I have found a bunch of stuff that I no longer need, stuff that tugs at my heart, and stuff like the knitting patterns shown above. Ripped from Woman's World magazine, I knit both the sweater and the girl's dress, ca. 1984, sitting in my little apartment on the Wilson River in Tillamook, OR.

They were both very interesting knits — the dress, in particular, with pleats, ruching, bobbles and lace! That little dress had it all and I learned so much! When I think of my early projects, and my progress as a knitter, it's this little dress that made me a knitter.

Annie's still here 'til Wednesday, I took an extra day off today, and we're having the first "Thanksgiving" of the season tonight, so I'm in the middle of this epic project that's just going to have to sit for a little. And that's fine. The hard part is over!!

 

Knitting-Baby · NaBloPoMo 2013

Wild & Crazy Baby Legs

Vicki5 Comments

IMG_4832

IMG_4809
IMG_4809

There are short rows and increases in the behind to provide the added fullness needed for a diapered baby butt.

IMG_4830

These leggings are knit in one piece — as seems to be my theme for recent baby knits — with one seam up the inside of each leg, continuing up the front from where they meet at the crotch to the waistband.

IMG_4830

And, of course, finished with the lovely machine-knit I-cord.

Baby Legs

Being a winter baby, I’m pretty sure Zim will make use of these!

* * * * *

VoteLoLa

Once a day:  VoteLoLa.com!

Knitting-Baby · NaBloPoMo 2013

I-cord all the things!

Vicki4 Comments

OMG, that was so FAST and so EASY!

Wool Soakers

Gotta say, that Embellish-Knit Machine is some of the best money I’ve ever spent! The boys weren’t quite as excited and intrigued as I’d hoped, but you should have seen Joe! My stepdad is a mechanical engineer and, well, he was fascinated by the mechanics! The Embellish-Knit recommends sport- and fingering-weight yarns, but I didn’t have any problem with either of the worsted-weights I used.

IMG_4825

  • Project:  Wool Soakers – Wool Soaker, Diaper/Nappy Cover by Val Turner (available on Craftsy)
  • Yarn:  Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool (Natural)
  • Needle:  US 6
  • Start to Finish:  October 26 – 27, 2013 (for the first)

I started with the smallest size and have worked my way up the sizes, knitting one of each of the first three, so far, all from the same skein of wool. I’ve also used some of that skein for some baby legs and I-cord, and there’s still more. The first/smallest soaker weighs approx. 45g with I-cord.

IMG_4826

This is the second size, I-cord is made with some leftover Encore Worsted.

IMG_4828

And this is the third size; I-cord knit with some leftover Socks That Rock Lightweight. You’ll see much more of that tomorrow!

The soakers are knit all in one piece with some grafting/kitchener to finish, and two tiny little seams to sew. I did as instructed on the first but, of course, had to change it up a little… and I tried a three-needle bind-off on the other two. The binding off is perhaps not quite as elastic, but I’m thinking that if that was the designated “front” of the soaker, where stretch isn’t quite as essential as in the back, it would be okay.

We’ll have our verdict in a few months! And then I’ll knit some more!!

VoteLoLa

Don’t forget to VoteLoLa.com!