Baby Hat

I would love to have a written pattern if anyone likes.

Knitter Quitter

I almost not knit anymore.

But a very lucky friend chose to delight us with the best news of the year. She was going to have a baby!

Opportunity of baby knit knocked! So, let's just say, I quit knitting but knitting didn't let me. Grabbed me and didn't let me go until I finished that baby clothing - sweater, booties and hat. So, I told myself I was done.

And as any knitter would tell you, you just can't stop at one. That's almost unethical in the religion of knitting. So flew my needles and there was one more! Yes, the whole set - sweater, booties and hat.


Well, I forced myself to stop there. Really! But there was this last skein of stash left in the bag. And you can't be heartless to leave it there without turning it into a wearable. Think about the poor yarn. So. I had to crochet a scarf. I didn't even try but it got made. Like a miracle.

I tell you, I am finally done for this season. Until next project!

Knitting Season Coming to a Close with 70 FOs

Yes, its Spring! 

Spring has such defining effect on everyone - its but natural to let loose and allow oneself to be one with the nature. Birds, buds, flora and us - we all love saying goodbyes to the chilly winter mornings and open our arms and hearts to the pinkness of the warm Sun.

Its that time of the season when the knitter inside me starts to put down the tools of the trade, wraps up and hands over the keys to the painter in the waiting.  Spring also calls for the review of the knitting season before its over for the year!


I am quite happy to have finished the fiber projects that I started this year. The numbers are higher than last year, which keeps me hopeful for better for the next time. My Rave account shows 70 projects so far, which is reassuring for a season knitter and I say,  just a beginning for more handknits in the future.


How do you celebrate this season?

Chenille Baby Girl Cardigan

I made this for my niece this Summer.

Chenille Sweater

Each part is made separately and then joined together. I have some more yarn left in chenille that would probably be used to make matching hat and booties.

Baby boy cardigan

Baby boy cardigan

This is a no-sew top-down cardigan for a baby boy due in winter. The yarn is a leftover from the Sky and Clouds sweater I made a few years ago for my husband.

I was super excited by the top-down method that I learnt very recently. The gauge was a little off so I unraveled it completely and redid it now. I shall have pictures of the newer and smaller version.

Complete Baby Set - Pictures

Baby Hat

Baby Booties

Baby Set

Creative Blogger - Julie

I just learnt something super exciting that I would love to share. Converting a highneck to a cardi! Its awesome. Check for yourself.

Pink & White Stripes Baby Cardigan

.

This cardigan is knit in one piece from the top down. The sleeves are knitted in the round using Magic Loop method. There is no sewing in the entire sweater.

Baby Sweater

Bubblegum Sweater

.




I can't believe I finished this one! Thanks to the Ravolympics challenge, I finally had the inspiration to sew and get the pullover ready.

Hat

Baby blankets

Made this baby blankets for NiN.





These were knitted in garter st using the standard 'CO 1 st and then incr on either side' method. Both acrylic yarns, machine washable and bright colored. I thought about the babies all along the knitting and prayed for the welfare of the little bundles. I am not sure if I ever felt so much connection during knitting as much as I did this time.

Baby Hat

To fit : 3 - 9 months
Yarn: Bernat Satin, medium
Needles: US 8
Swatch: 4 x 4 = 18 S x 24 R

Pattern

CO 70 st and transfer to the circulars.
Knit for 8 rows for the seam to roll.
Knit until the hat measures 6.5in.

Shaping

*K2tog, knit 6*, repeat for the round.
Knit a row.
*K2tog, knit 5*, repeat for the round.
Knit a row.
*K2tog, knit 4*, repeat for the round.
Knit a row.
*K2tog, knit 3*, repeat for the round.
Knit a row.
*K2tog, knit 2*, repeat for the round.
Knit a row.
*K2tog, knit 1*, repeat for the round.
Knit a row.
*K2tog, repeat for the round.
Make an i-cord for the remaining st.
Cut the yarn and pass it through the st when the i-cord measures 1 inch.

Block it lightly.

Dancing Dolls Red Sweater

I am so glad to finally have this post put together to publish!


This sweater was made only for its sentimental value. My mother made red crewneck pullover when I was younger. The sweater still fits me so I wear it occasionally. She gave me the leftover yarns last year. And I made this for my little angel. Her is more crayon-inspired, just so you know!

Now both of us can wear same colored sweaters made by our mothers. How cool is that!



Technical Details

This is a machine knit piece and the dolls pattern is taken from this with slight modifications. Sweater is my original design and the pattern is available for free to anyone who asks.

Stash, Spring II, New Stuff

I am glad to report that all my knitted projects are complete with entire bulky yarn stash used up right before Spring. I have some left overs (that green yarn)and some chenille that I am saving for something in future. All things are well packed and put away in a box. I have moved on with painting and may return back to some fiber arts in Fall.

The current project is Spring II which is nearly complete. So another FO for a busy mommy! Yay...

Now I am waiting for the right concept for the next painting - all fueled up with the recently gained knowledge. I know I want some landscape or something like that to paint where I can describe the clear contrasts of light and dark. But first, have to make sure I am super clear about the concept so that it may be conveyed lucidly.

“Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation, and a pinch of creativity.” - Bo Bennett

Vogue International Winter Issue

I could not believe my local library is going to have this on their shelf. This is the first issue here.

The focus is on super-chunky yarns. I am relieved my recently knitted pieces are still in! *phew* But on the flop-side, I won't be making any of this soon for two reasons I just finished a lot of chunky yarn, one and two, Winter is almost over!

I think everyone can enjoy little bit of eyecandy. So sharing some pics.




Now I sit and wait for the next issue.

Blue & White Sweater - II

A picture is worth a thousand words. So here are some from my recent project.

This is the swatch from Vogue Stitchionary that I thought could become a point of start for a two-colored sweater

Or may be this one

So I tried both combinations in the colors I had
but neither seemed promising!

So, I decided to alter the approach altogether and considered the following for a possible restart point.
It has more than 4 colors but I modified it to only 2 for my project. And the result was quite neat!

I combined it with seed stitch
But it looked kinda rusty. But I didn't want to go back to stockinette or texture. That made me gravitate towards garter. Hmmmm....let me try it, I thought. And here is the final result!

Blue & White Sweater

I am glad I finished this sweater. I can't believe I did this despite the super-busy week!

Anyhoo.... I can't wait to go out to show this one off. And this time I didn't take any pics. No reason, really. So I will model for it and post pics.

"What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit." --John Updike

Vests Galore

I will post the little stories behind these vests, but enjoy the visuals till then -

Rosemary Petal - Pattern & Chart

Pattern for the Lavender Pullover (Rosemary Petal)

Yarn: Lavender Jazz of Chunky USA
Swatch info: 12 x 16
Needle size: US 10 and US 11

Front

1. Cast on 48 st using either methods(I used thumb method).
2. Make a ribbing of 2k2p for 13 rows
3. Divide the stitches in three parts. Prepare central panel for the cable pattern 1.
(See below for the chart)
4. Rest of the stitches are worked in stockinette st.
5. Knit even until the armhole shaping.
6. Shape the neck for a turtleneck.
7. Shape shoulder at 76th row and BO at 78th row.

Chart for Cable Pattern 1



Back

1. Cast on 48 st (same as front)using either methods(I used thumb method).
2. Make a ribbing of 2k2p for 13 rows (as for the front)
3. Pick the central panel of 44 + 4 extra st.
4. Work Cable pattern 2 (Bubbles) on the central panel.
5. No shaping for the armholes needed in the back.
6. Shape shoulders at 76th row and BO at 78th.

Chart for cable Pattern 2



Sleeves (Make two)

1. CO 48 st.
2. Divide the st in three parts and worked cable patt 2 on central.
3. Decrease 1 st at either side every 4th row.
4. Make ribbing when desired 26 st reached.

Neck

1. Join shoulders and pick up st using tp needles
2. Work in rounds for 12 rows in 2k2p ribbing.
3. BO, break the yarn and darn it in neatly.

Finishing

1. Sew front and back using invisible stitch.
2. Sew the inside of sleeves.
3. Darn any loose strands.


Some Pics for fun

This is the swatch of the 'Bubbles'


Here is my swatch


Swatch for Cable Pattern 1


And this is how it turned out on the sweater.


Disclaimer

Just to make sure there are no copyright issues with the patterns I adopted for this sweater let me report the sources for both cables. These are taken from "Vogue Knitting Stitchionary, Volumes 2".

If you are interested my review is available at http://knitting.about.com/od/reviews/fr/stitchionary.htm#bvmr

Here are other details on the project with more pictures.


Enjoy!

Rosemary Petal

Yes, that's what I call this pullover. I have to pinch myself and remind that it's over. It's actually done. I had so many retakes on this project that I am kind of exhausted (hand then to machine, mistake in pattern, again back to machine, finally landing on needles). And so very glad to get it done, finally!

I kept a day-by-day picture record of the project. When you see the pics, you'd know what I mean.

Day 1


Day 2
I know! It was quite a progress in the second day. And not to mention the coziness the handknitting had brought to the piece.

Day 3
I had finished the front and started the back.

Day 4
The back is nearly complete.

Day 5

I worked on the sleeves. The initial idea was to make the sleeves upside down because I started to have the feeling that I will run short of yarn if I stick to initially planned long sleeves. So I started sleeves using circular needles with an estimate of 66 st. It was very obvious that this count was way more than what I could handle, secondly, I didn't really enjoy knitting in circle for the sleeves. So, here I was, unraveled the sleeves entirely and redid it using sp needle.

Day 6
Okay, by now I had serious doubts about the remaining skeins and I chose to make the neck first and use the leftover for the sleeves. I was sincerely hoping for some sleeves!

Day 7

The sleeves are worked and I kept thinking to myself, when would I know to stop to start the ribbing. Guess what, I managed to make a decent 3/4 sleeve and correct amount of ribbing before exhausting all of the yarn.

Day 8

No work - I had a bad case of upset stomach.

Day 9

I joined all the parts together. Yum yum! My first formal sweater is ready to wear!





Final Word

The best part about this sweater was the use of my statsh! It was there in the original brown bag since I bought it last year. I knew that 4 skeins are just not sufficient for my own pullover but finally I put my creative self to work and the result was a completed piece! I am just so proud of myself that I want to make another sweater for me! I am sure my HD would be little horrified at the idea but hey, he is the biggest fan of my work :-)