Knitting for Babies

Posted on March 10, 2010 by Heather

Spring is well on its way here in Southern Ontario, or at least in the GTA where I am.  Today we should get to 15°C and have a rain shower.  Of course, I’m no fool (mostly), and I know that we will quite likely have snow again before the weather warms up for good.  But, for now, I will enjoy the weather.

Even though my cold has now entered week three, I’m keeping busy.  I’ve knit another Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting. (Some of the links will take you to the Ravely pattern page, not my project page. You can now see the page without registering. Yay!) This one is also knit using Bernat’s Cottontots, but in colourway Sweet Dreams.  It is destined for the new baby of one of my husband’s cousins. (Their first child is one month younger than Baby Man.  I can’t imagine what it must be like to have a new baby and a hyper two-year old.) It is all done now, except the seaming.

Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting

I’ve also knit a Noggin hat for her too, like I did for my dad’s co-worker.

Noggin from String or Nothing

And I even knit my first pair of baby booties, which also still need to be seamed.

Baby Booties from Bernat

I may even try a Sweet Norwegian Baby Cap too. I have the perfect pink yarn for one.  Since we aren’t planning on having another baby, I need to take all the chances I can get to knit wee baby things.

For those keeping track, my Broadripple Socks are on hold because I left one of my knitting needles in my dad’s car two weeks.  I don’t have any more of that size, so I have to wait until I seem them again. I’m managing to keep busy, though. 😉  I’ve cast on for Shelves Upon Shelves Socks using Mary Maxim Bamboo Soft Stripes in colourway

And for ages I’ve been meaning to make myself a set of sock blocker out of an old placemat.  ThisI finally did it, and it took less than 15 minutes.  I have no idea why I waited so darn long.

Placement Sock Blockers

Here are the instructions I used.  They call for foam, but I think the placemat works fine.  I’ve had it for about nine years, and we don’t use them any more because we have a round dining room table and use round placemats instead.

Tonight is stitching night at Gitta’s, my LNS.  I’m debating whether I should take Sewing Seeds, which needs some love, or if I should start Nora Corbett’s Sunflower Fairy (assuming I can find my magazine and make a colour copy of the pattern). Decisions, decisions.

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National Craft Month – Cross Stitch

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Heather

March is National Craft Month in the U.S.  And, while I am not American, I am happy to embrace anything that urges us to celebrate the crafts we love, that help us remain sane, and that feed our souls. A few times this month I will highlight a designer who’s pattern I am working on and who you can support yourself if you decide you like their work.  I’m going to try to pick Canadian designers, for that added bit of patriotism. (Go Canada!)

Because my first love is cross stitch, I’ll begin with it.  (Really, my husband is my first love.  Right? *wink*)

Canada is home to many talented designers, such as:

The designer I am specially highlighting is Laura Dickson of Enchanting Lair.  She is  known for her dragon and fairy designs, along with her fabulous hand-dyed fabric.  She also has a line of medieval designs that includes her Once Upon a Stitch Journal (you can see my version here). Laura is a busy lady, teaching every fall at the CreativFestival in Toronto, regularly travelling to trade shows in the US, taking part in a retreat in Gananoque, Ontario this spring, and exhibiting in the bi-annual Online Needlework Show.

Right now I am stitching her Kitchen Blessings design, using more traditional colours than it was charted with. Like all of Laura’s designs, it is a pleasure to stitch and works up quickly.

Kitchen Blessings - March 4, 2010 Progress

I’m also going to stitching Mirabilia’s Winter White Santa on a piece of Laura’s hand-dyed Blue Frost fabric.

If you would like to support Luara directly, her charts are available for purchase from her website.  Your LNS should also be able to obtain them easily from her or from Hoffmans. Her fabric is available directly from her, and in several Canadian needlework shops (including my LNS, Gitta’s).

For more information about Canadian cross stitch designers, you can go to the Needlework Designers of Canada website.

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February Review and March Goals; and a Gold

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Heather

Thank goodness for March!  Spring is on the way, even if we have just experienced our first real snowfall of the Winter.  Flowers will be starting to popping up soon, the rain will come by the end of the month, and we may even see the return of some birds shortly.

February was not quite as productive as I would have liked.  We did, thankfully, get Baby Man back to sleeping through the night.  He is so much happier now that his crib has the side off and he has a small rail to keep him from rolling out.  I managed to start sleeping again, and I’ve even survived my first cold in almost three years.  (I forgot how unpleasant they could be.) As for the goals I shared at the beginning of the month, they were:

  • Finish Francie socks (I’m aiming for a pair a month right now, I think)
  • work on my husband’s socks
  • work on Egypt Garden for the Stitching Olympics
  • work on Sewing Seeds
  • seam up that baby jacket I had finished for my dad’s co-worker
  • repair my Enchanted Dreamer pillow which Baby Man tore the beads off of
  • chart border for Kitchen Blessings

Let’s see: I did finish the Francie Socks (and I love them).  I didn’t work on the socks for my husband, or repair my Enchanted Dreamer pillow.  I did do a wee bit of stitching on Egypt Garden, but I decided to participate in the Ravelympics/Knitting Olympics instead.  The baby jacket was finished, and I also finished the Hope panel of Sewing Seeds.  Overall, I think I did pretty good for a short month.

So, my Ravelympics/Knitting Olympics project.  Do you think I finished it? Of course I did! And without the extra ball of yarn I thought I would need.  The last seam was finished yesterday afternoon, and I am very pleased.  I still need buttons, but I say I am finished because I’m not able to get out to stores that sell buttons often and Hey Teach is totally wearable without the buttons.  (I’m hoping to get out on Thursday to look for buttons.)

Hey Teach Cardigan from Summer 2008 Knitty

How will I top all of this for March?

  • Finish a pair of Broadripple Socks (my socks for this month)
  • Complete at least half of the Friendship panel of Sewing Seeds
  • Fix the Enchanted Dreamer pillow (I mean it this time, and I’ve even started already)
  • Stitch at least half of the Kitchen Blessings border
  • Start a Christmas gift, even if it is a token attempt

I think that is pretty good.

Like last month I have a couple of personal goals.  I didn’t have success with last month’s, so, this month I will share in hopes that I will do better.  First, I need to get back to eating well.  I had lost about 30lbs from late 2008 into mid-2009, but I’ve put back on 15lbs, most of it in the past 4 months.  That isn’t acceptable to me any more, and it is time to smarten up.

My second goal is to limit my stash buying.  I don’t need anything.  I don’t even need to collect for the sake of collecting.  I’m overwhelmed. New charts aren’t really a joy for me any more because I have so damn much.  They make me feel antsy and like I will never accomplish anything.  That isn’t what stash collection is supposed to be about.  Even new fabric and fibres make me feel that way, unless they are for something I am working at the time.  (I will admit I need a couple of small charts to finish a series, and I will probably buy them, but only on sale. I mean it!!! Seriously.) Clearly, I need to make a change.

March may end up being a difficult month for me.  I know it isn’t wise to be too hard on myself, but at the same time I really do need to make some changes.  Wish me luck!

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A Knitting Meme and Some Hope

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Heather

I’ll start you off with a little Hope.  I’ve made great progress on this panel.  And while I won’t say it is easier than Teresa Wentzler’s Love panel, I will say that Jennifer Aikman-Smith’s panel is less complicated and therefore it is much quicker to stitch.  I still need to do a rectangle of beaded rice stitches and finish off the border, but I may  have it done by the end of the month.

Hope Panel

My Knitting Olympics project is coming along well, too.  I finished the right front today and seamed up the shoulders, which means I got to sort of try it on.  I think it might be a touch big, but it is hard to tell when the side seams aren’t actually sewn in.  I’ve cast on the first sleeve, and I’m forging ahead although I am sure I won’t finish it before the closing ceremony of the Olympics.

And for a bit of fun, I thought I would share a knitting meme I came across somewhere a while back.  I know that not all of you knit, but if you do and you do this meme yourself, please let me know.

Instructions: Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

  • Afghan
  • I-cord
  • Garter stitch
  • Knitting with metal wire
  • Shawl
  • Stockinette stitch
  • Socks: top-down
  • Socks: toe-up
  • Knitting with camel yarn
  • Mittens: Cuff-up
  • Mittens: Tip-down
  • Hat
  • Knitting with silk
  • Moebius band knitting
  • Participating in a KAL
  • Sweater
  • Drop stitch patterns
  • Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
  • Slip stitch patterns
  • Knitting with banana fiber yarn
  • Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
  • Twisted stitch patterns
  • Knitting with bamboo yarn
  • Two end knitting
  • Charity knitting
  • Knitting with soy yarn
  • Cardigan
  • Toy/doll clothing
  • Knitting with circular needles
  • Baby items
  • Knitting with your own handspun yarn
  • Slippers
  • Graffitti knitting: knitting items on, or to be left on the street
  • Continental knitting
  • Designing knitted garments
  • Cable stitch patterns
  • Lace patterns
  • Publishing a knitting book
  • Scarf
  • Teaching a child to knit
  • Knitting to make money
  • Button holes
  • Knitting with alpaca
  • Fair Isle knitting
  • Norwegian knitting
  • Household items: dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…
  • knitting socks- or other small tubular items- on two circulars
  • Dying with plant colours
  • Knitting items for a wedding
  • Olympic knitting
  • Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
  • Knitting with dpns
  • Holiday related knitting
  • Teaching a male how to knit
  • Bobbles
  • Knitting for a living
  • Knitting with cotton
  • Knitting smocking
  • Dying yarn
  • Steeks
  • Knitting art
  • Fulling/felting
  • Knitting with wool
  • Textured knitting
  • Kitchener BO
  • Purses/bags
  • Knitting with beads
  • Swatching
  • Long Tail CO
  • Entrelac Knitting and purling backwards
  • Machine knitting
  • Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
  • Stuffed toys
  • Knitting with cashmere
  • Darning
  • Jewelry knitting with synthetic yarn
  • Writing a pattern
  • Gloves
  • Intarsia
  • Knitting with linen
  • Knitting for preemies
  • Tubular CO
  • Freeform knitting
  • Short rows
  • Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
  • Pillows
  • Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
  • Rug
  • Knitting on a loom
  • Thrummed knitting
  • Knitting a gift
  • Knitting for pets
  • Shrug/bolero/poncho
  • Knitting with dog/cat hair
  • Hair accessories
  • Knitting in public
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Knitting Olympics Update 2 and Love

Posted on February 21, 2010 by Heather

Happily, I am moving along very well with my Knitting Olympics project Hey Teach.  Last night I finished up the back and left front and seamed them together using the invisible 3-needle bind off (sometimes called Japanese 3-needle bind off, I think).

Hey Teach - February 20th Progress

I have a 6th ball of yarn on the way to me, but I’m pretty sure now I’m not going to need it, even though I’ve lengthened the cardigan by a little more than 2″.  I suppose it is much better to know I will have extra than to worry about running out at the end.

And speaking of the yarn, I really like the 2nd Time Cotton I am using.  It is from Knit One Crochet Too, and is a 75% cotton/25% acrylic blend that comes from recycled sources.  I think possibly leftovers from commercial knitware manufacturers.  It is very soft and has a nice drape.  The only issue I am having is that the off-white ply in my colourway sometimes has a wee bit of fluff stuck in it.  It is easy to tease out, though, and is none the worse for wear afterwards.  I do think that this is a yarn I would knit with again.

I also finished up the Love panel of Sewing Seeds last week.  It is lovely, and I am really looking forward to getting back to work on it once Hey Teach is done.

Love Panel of Sewing Seeds

Out of curosity, does anyone know of any cross stitch-related iPhone/iPod apps?  I’ve found several great knitting ones, but nothing for cross stitch.

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A Little Cat and TUSAL

Posted on February 16, 2010 by Heather

Things are getting back to normal around here. Baby Man has slept through the night three nights in a row. I’m not yet ready to admit success, but it is a good start. And with full nights of sleep, all of us are starting to act a little more like ourselves. That is a very good thing.  It may be time to tackle potty training soon!

In other happy news, I received a gift in the mail from Pauline of A Stitching Frenzy. The kitty is My Favourite Kitten by primitivebettys.  The fabric is just perfect for a project I have planned, and I love the ribbon and note cards.  And really, I can never have enough DMC. 🙂  Especially in such  pretty colours.  Thank you so much, Pauline.  (Baby Man says the kitty says “meeeeooow!!”)

Pauline's Generous Gift to Me

And, as usual, I am a little late posting my TUSAL picture.  For those who don’t know, the TUSAL is “Totally Useless Stitch Along”, started by Yoyo or Dragon My Needle.  The point is just to collect our orts (thread ends) in a pretty jar and share them on the new moon every month.  Why? No reason at all, but also as a way to see all the  progress we’ve made and all the lovely colours we’ve worked with.  If you are interested in signing up, head over here for all the details.

This month I added a bunch of floss from Sewing Seeds and some yarn from Francie and the Kris Knits dishcloth, and even a wee bit of silk from Egyptian Garden.  I think I made good progress considering my sleep situation.

TUSAL Jar for February 2010

Inside the TUSAL Jar

Any guess whose hands those are in the bottom picture?  They aren’t mine.

I’ve got good news on the Hey Teach yarn front.  One of the people on Ravely with that colour for sale has returned my message, and has the same dye lot as me.  Hopefully we can get the final details worked out, and I should have the extra skein I need.  (Watch me not need it now! lol!)

And one piece of news to pass on: Martina of Chatelaine is offering 10% off her class designs for a week.  Head over here for more information.  This makes me want the lotus temple class even more.  Time to ask the husband sweetly. 🙂

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Knitting Olympics Update 1

Posted on February 14, 2010 by Heather

Happy Chinese New Year! Gong hei fat choi!  (That more or less means “Congratulations and be prosperous.”) Welcome to the year of the tiger.

I’ve been a bit of a busy bee the last few days.  On Friday afternoon I finished up my pair of Francie Socks. They are fabulous and fit perfectly.

Bottom of Francie

A Pair of Francies

Oh, aren’t those awfully pale legs, and so chubby looking because of the angle!  And there is my weird strawberry birthmark. Yikes.  But the socks are great!

On Friday evening I cast on my Knitting Olympics project, Hey Teach.  So far I’ve finished most of the left front and made some progress on the back.  I haven’t finished the left front for a very convoluted reason.  You see, I’m a wee bit curve on the top.  So, to make sure the banding sits in the right place, I wanted to do a front piece first and make adjustments.  But, when I reached a certain point for the front it said “continue until the same lenght as the back.” Ack!  So, I’ve put the nicely adjusted front aside, and I’m knitting the back to match the front adjustments, and then I will return to the front.

But, all of this means I might not have enough yarn to finish the project. Oh noes!  I’ve sent notes to the people on Ravelry with the same colourway for sale, and hopefully I can get some yarn from one of them.  I think it will just be the button bands that I won’t have enough for, so if the dye lot is a little off it won’t be the end of the world.  My other option is to get another (solid) colour of the same yarn to do the button bands.  I’m not sure how things will go yet, though, but I am forging ahead.

Hey Teach - February 14th Progress

This project is going so fast because it is worsted weight yarn on US9 (5.5 mm) needles.  That equals a quick knit (I hope!). So, onward!

I did take some time to work on Sewing Seeds today, but I want to make a wee bit more progress before I share another picture.  The Love panel is nearly done! Yay!

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