Darling Daughter's Darling Cardi

"Trellis" from Knitty in  Superwash Cascade

'Have to say I love having FO's seemingly "pop up" around here. Darling Daughter finally got the buttons sewn on and they finish it off so nicely!

She needed very little help knitting/assembling. Hard to believe she'd only been a knitter for six months when she cast on for this.

"Chocolate" Bunny FO by Jackie Erikson-Schweitzer

Pattern: "Knitted Bunny" by Jackie Erikson-Schweitzer

Source: Free Ravelry Download

Yarn: Remnant "Chocolate" Worsted

Needles: 4mm straight

Modifications: None

Just in time for Easter a one evening project (despite being "chocolate" its even zero calories!) to get this knitter in the mood despite our "little boy" being across the ocean and no reason for the Easter Bunny to visit our house! :(

This ingenious little pattern has you start by knitting a square. Using either the knit or purl side up you gather a section in the middle of one side and stuff it to make a head.

Then stitch the corners together so the section in the middle becomes the body and the sewn corners the legs for this wonderful crouching bunny shape.

The final touch is also an excuse to make a pom pom!

We're meeting the new baby today - the one for whom I knit the most recent Tomten (here). This little bunny is for her. We'll take it along tucked into this giant basket of goodies Darling Daughter assembled for her.

Hope you're having a great weekend too, whatever you're up to! Thanks for dropping by!

Like Magic

I'm cleaning out 25 years' worth of kid's memorabilia from this house and with every box I sort and purge new found space is left behind. The more stuff I take away, the less remains and the bigger the resulting space! Addition through subtraction!? Magic!

In addition to resulting in a compact archive for each of our kids to take and tote away after our funerals, (hopefully) many years hence, I also hope to "make" enough room for a car in our garage much, much sooner than that!

Photo-documentation is a great tool in this process. One shot can capture the contents of a box of bulky once loved items (trophies, stuffed animals, favoured items of clothing) into a single 4x6 picture. More magic!

This all sent me off on a parallel project - assembling and sorting precious baby items, many of which are hand knits, into a manageable and meaningful collection of their own.

I took a snap of each item and printed it "credit card" size, making a little label of sorts.

On the back I wrote the date the item was made, its' origin, material, washing instructions etc..

Where possible I'm including any "provenance" I can, such as the card or note that came with the gift and a snap of the knitter who crafted it - I'm able to do this because of the great garage purge of 2015 (see above).

In some instances I need two snaps because both Darling Daughter and her mother "hundreds" of years prior also wore the item.

Once all the pieces are together each bundle will be wrapped in acid free tissue and the whole lot will go into the cedar chest enclosed in a single fabric bag.

So where I once had "stuff" jammed into boxes, stacked on shelves I've now got space and a little archive of heirlooms that's compact, readily accessible and possibly useful (babies of the future could wear the items). Importantly to me, a knitter of baby gifts, it does justice to the significant efforts made for us and our wee ones many years ago.

And speaking of wee ones, we'll be seeing the newest addition to My Beloved's family over Easter so I'm making a "Chocolate" Bunny of sorts to take along for her. The link for this intriguing pattern is on Ravelry here. Can't wait to see how this knitted square will magically turn into a bunny!.

I've also got this last little bit of knitting magic to share...the umbilicus start to a "Traveller's Shawl" by Veronik Avery from my favourite book Knitting 24/7 . Such circular beginnings always seems so unlikely to produce anything successful, or for that matter, anything square don't you think?

I nonetheless have faith and with the mittens finally done I can move on to another project!

Thanks for all your kind comments about them and also, thanks for dropping by today!

Baby Hats Project FO

Four options from which I'll be able to choose to include with Tomten for a big or tiny newborn, a boy or a girl due in three weeks or so...

2 "Troll" Hats by Gabriela Widmer-Hanke

Source: Free Ravelry Download

Yarn: (Biggest Hat)Worsted size: Berroco Ultra Alpaca "Winter White"

        DK size (Second Largest Hat): Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino "Denim"

Size: "Baby" on 60 stitches

Modifications: None

'Love the neat, graphic decreases all slanting one way and the thick-looking garter stitch band across the forehead. It infers a watchman's cap roll without having to organize one on the baby and handily echoes the garter stitch of the Tomten. 'Bet this one goes onto a little head easily and stays put once its there!

After working up these modern caps I moved on to Vintage patterns beginning with one for a little girl...

Infant Girl's Bonnet

Source: Vintage Baby Book "Beehive for Bairns"

Yarn: Viola Sock "Blossom"

Needles: 2.25

Modifications: Affixed ties to alternate point and only sewed 1/4 of neck edge closed.

Another garter stitch piece, I followed the knitting instructions for this exactly but then moved the spot where the ties that go under the chin are affixed substituting blush satin ribbons for the knitted band with button closure.

I love the little detail on the sides of the bonnet where the chin strap is intended to go (That little band edged with eyelet yarn overs) and how about those adorable swirling eyelets around the back of the head!

I worked it up right on the recommended 8st/inch gauge but 50 years ago when these patterns were written people (and their babies) were a lot smaller. I don't think this will likely to fit an average newborn today.

Nonetheless I finished it and dove into another garter stitch vintage pattern. this time for a boy...

Infant Boy's Helmet-Style Bonnet

Source: Vintage Patons Baby Book

Yarn: Koigu KPM Sock "Cloudy Sky Blue"

Needles: 4mm

Modifications: Tacked sides back, substituted ribbons for knitted ties and buttons for ribbon trims

The pattern states this Layette is knitted on "big needles" and after the 2.25's of Little Blossom Hat, that's just how 4mm  dpns seemed. Despite the bigger needles on the same sized superwash wool sock yarn this one, on 10 more stitches than required for Blossom didn't yield a piece all that much bigger.

The zigs and zags in garter bring the finished piece "in" quite a bit I guess,

I felt the "zags" protruding either side of the ears onto the cheeks were a bit excessive so I tacked them back with a button detail when adding ribbons for tying under the chin.

I've wondered for years about this question of relative size for Vintage patterns and what the effect of using different yarns for newborns versus babies might yield with baby patterns in general. This little exercise has given me some idea about that and has me looking at my remnants with a newly enlightened eye.

And a new desire to cast on a hat for myself which is just what I did during the Super Bowl last night. Its a slouchy toque but in Aran weight yarn at a much larger gauge, its on roughly the same number of stitches as the two vintage bonnets which is kind of interesting.

Oh and by the way, I saw the expectant parents over the weekend and gave them "Gus in his Dog House". They were tickled by the likeness to their "first baby" as they call him. Pregnant mom noted I've given her gifts related to the dog in the past that she cherishes and so was very pleased to receive this as a nod to both dog and soon-to-be-arriving daughter or son.

Lots of finishing over the weekend=lots of fun over the weekend. 'Hope you had a good one too!

Baby Hats Project WIP

'Making hats this weekend to compliment the latest little Tomten. The first one is "Troll" by Gabriela Widmer-Hanke.

Remember what I said about putting that Rowan purelife Wool together with white...check out this pairing in worsted Berroco Ultra Alpaca "Winter White"...

Or a blue dk version in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino...

Then there's this one using a vintage Patons pattern from a collection called "Baby's Very First Woolies". Its in remnant fingering weight Viola sock "Blossom".

'Love my jerry-rigged tiny "straights" using dpn's and rubber stitch holders!

Tonight's efforts will be put against another vintage design, again in fingering weight, this time Koigu KPM in the evocatively named colourway "1010".  (Kind of matches the name of the collection from which this pattern comes - its called "Layette".

Hope you're having a good weekend - obviously I am! Thanks for dropping by!

Tomten Coat/Yarn Love

First of all - this Yarn! Fantastic!  Big! Round! "Meaty" and with bona fide sheepiness scent too yet easy on the hands to knit.

There are 5 undyed colourways available in this yarn - my choice this time being "Steel Grey Suffolk 954" and as you can see it looks so rich against brown but then look at it on a cream background and the white in it pops calling the Grey in there to the forefront along with it.

Knit up in garter stitch there's no stiffness, it feels substantial but also light and easy on the hands. It will be cozy and easy to wrap around a new baby despite the thickness of the garter fabric.

Its still in need of buttons - I'm hoping whatever I get will be able to infer gender while also being of a naturally occurring material (Mother of Pearl, Wood, Horn?) to best compliment the wool yarn.

Of course the pattern is genius - I'll likely gush further on that aspect in my FO post once the buttons are on and I'm ready to wrap it up and send it off to the new parents.  Baby is still almost a month from due date so I've got time to also toy with lining it in flannel - maybe something with a cute print if I can find some.

This being the third Tomten I've worked up and modified I'm amazed I'm still intrigued by the pattern's possibilitites. 'Not sure how much of that is prompted by how this particular yarn/pattern combination has come together. There is such satisfaction when all the elements "click" isn't there?

Meanwhile I've been working on little hats to include in this new baby package - more on that tomorrow!

Gus in his Doghouse FO by Susan B. Anderson

Pattern: Dog in the Doghouse by Susan B. Anderson

Source: Topsy Turvy Inside Out Knit Toys (from Local Library)

Yarn: Mondial Merino Special and Remnants On Hand

Needles: 3.75

Start: January 19 Finish: January 22, 2015

Modifications: Changed the Dog's Face and Used His Name Over the Doghouse Door

First a small disclaimer - I am not in love with how the doggie's face looks. The one in the pattern is much cuter but I'm going for something that looks like their dog "Gus" rather than a generic doggie face. Their pooch is a beagle/pug cross that has a very "puggish" puss. Much like this. So that is what I tried to replicate.

The instructions in the pattern stipulate that the head of the dog should be placed forward of the top of the body - likely to ensure it fits inside the doghouse so I did that but again, it creates something less than appealing to my eye at least.

I added this embroidered tail after the fact - again attempting to make it as "Gus-like" as possible.

The house has a kind of sloppy look about it - I think the designer's idea was to invoke something knocked together by a kid for his dog rather than a pristine puppy palace so I went with that too - right down to a kind of scrawled lettering over the door.

Whatever the details, the idea is super cute and making it look like their dog was fun to do and will no doubt be a great hit when its opened but also, I hope as baby grows.

I haven't made a toy in ages. I do enjoy all the quick shaping instructions and seeing how the designer uses them to invoke the image of something or someone. Fun! Just like knitting should be. Thanks for dropping by!

"Pull Gaspard" by Christine Rouville FO

Pattern: "Pull Gaspard" by Christine Rouville

Source: Download from Christine Rouville Ravelry Store

Size: 24 months

Yarn: 4 Balls Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Source: Passionknit Toronto

Colour: 69 Lot:340027

Needles:

Start:March 16 Finish: April 4, 2013

Modifications: None

I loved this pattern from the moment I saw it on Ravelry, and once the English version was released and I got my hands on it, the pattern itself did not disappoint! So many thoughtful little details on this clever knit. Like the little shirt tail openings at the side hem...

This little pullover is worked from the bottom of the front, up and over the shoulders, pausing briefly to work the adorable sailoresque collar, then down to the back hem...

I think the combination of garter and stockinette strikes a great balance of classic and and modern for boy or girl that suits a gift for someone of whom I have little knowledge and whose baby I have never (or likely will ever) see. I can imagine making this for a yet-to-be-born baby of unknown gender in grey or how about  the wee tiny infant size in white!

But getting back to this knit...sleeves are picked up from the shaped arm scythe and incorporate short rows at the tops of the sleeves (rarities in my experience of patterns for baby!)

Next you're on to the super fun front pocket where stitches are picked up from one side, across the bottom and then up the other side. After that you knit back and forth working the handsome mitered effect at the turns until its time to decrease up towards the neck for a 3 needle bind off at the collar.

The pattern thoughtfully incorporates a lot of picking up of stitches so that the only sewn finishing is joining the back collar to the sweater back and the short little side and underarm seams - quick and easy after blocking. Still it doesn't look as though its knit in one piece at all!

I did struggle with the double row of crochet edging that rims and joins for strength and stability the pocket and collar. It took many tries to get a neatish and almost consistent line along the bobbly edge where ever the decreases are worked. If I make this again I'll try moving the decreases in from the edge a stitch to avoid that problem.

Love this Debbie Bliss yarn for baby knits - great colours and a beautiful, soft, machine washable fabric! With the label attached...

 ...and a bit of pretty ribbon its ready to go! 

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Wild Week

Unloading photos from the camera, just realized why I failed to post last week.

There was a birthday (celebrated twice!)...Skiing...A screening of the Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts...A Pancake Party...Valentines Day...A Black Tie Event...Sniffling people staying home with colds...Beethoven's 9th at the Symphony...The Auto Show...Number One Son (with laundry) arriving home for Reading Week....Multiple subway trips downtown and back and then yesterday, the Family Day Holiday.

None of this was good for Ranger. It did, however, provide an excuse to work up my own DK version of Veronique Avery's Fingering Weight Pinion mitts almost to completion (you called it Mary!)

And add a few inches to my subway travel receiving blanket.

Back onto Ranger now enjoying the looooong straight rows. Lovely and so cozy draped across my lap, its going to be a light, warm cardigan. Immediately ahead are the second set of 10 short rows adding length to the back then the decreases will start as I head for the collar - 30% or so of the knitting is all that remains - the end clearly in sight. My Beloved will have it on in no time (she types optimistically!).

The plan for the dark and dreary day ahead is a bath, blow dry and scissoring for a certain creamy white fellow I hang around with. (Start to finish its probably a 4 or 5 hour event!)

Then tonight its still all Hudson all the time as we head off to his Obedience Class. I hope to start Obedience Trials with him next month. Its something I've always wanted to do so we didn't stop with basic puppy training classes, we've kept up weekly lessons for the last couple of years. He's really gaining control of himself now - undoubtedly the hardest "trick" of all - so its time to put that "steadiness" to the test by putting him through his paces in an arena filled with a couple of hundred other dogs!?! (It will be the first Trial for both Hudson and ME! I'm working on my "steady work" because the speed with which my energy travels down that leash to him has to be seen to be believed!) Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer says "... you don't get the dog you want to get the dog you need." Interesting to think of it that way!

Thanks for dropping by and catching up!