Well there are babies in my life now. Albeit they are other people’s babies, but babies I can knit for nonetheless. As we all know babies can pull off some of fashions silliest items a lot more smoothly than grown ups. As I was cruising Ravelry a couple of weeks ago I found this adorable pumpkin hat that I figured would be smashing on my niece for Halloween. In a fit of pouting aimed at my Master’s project I decided to cast on something quick and easy Tuesday night. It knit up amazingly quickly (go figure, eh?) and now I present you with adorably cute pumpkin headgear:
Pete modeling Sophia’s hat. It doesn’t quite fit him right. 
Hopefully it fits her better
Description: Pumpkin Headgear for Sophia
Pattern: Pumpkin Hat by Susan Esser
Yarn used: .43 skeins of Bernat Softee Chunky Colorway Burnt Orange (100% acrylic ) 100g / 164 yds
Care Instructions: Machine washable
Needle Size: US 10 (6mm)
Modifications: I knit on a US 10 just because the fabric looked better than on a US 9
Finished Size: about 17″
Date Started: 9/30/2008
Date Completed: 10/1/2008
Notes: If I were to make it again I think I would plan out the leaf layout better from the beginning but I swear once she puts it on she’ll be too damned cute for it to matter.
Sophia’s Hat - leaf detail
Sophia’s Hat - side view
Tags: FO, Knitting, Ravelry
Part of my package to my swap partner for the yoga swap was a water bottle cozy. It actually knit up pretty easily (once I stopped being a goober). I did attempt to knit it in the round at first, however the pattern doesn’t completely lend itself to being knit in the round. It leaves a weird seam that doesn’t look as good as when it is properly seamed. I finished up all the weaving in of ends while I our power was out on Sunday. Good timing, eh?
Cory’s modeling again - water bottle cozy
Description: Water bottle cozy
Pattern: Lacy Yoga Bags by Alison Green Will in the small size
Yarn used: 1.72 skeins of Tahki Cotton Classic in Colorway 3872 (100% mercerized cotton) 50g (1.75oz)/ 108 yds (100m)
Care Instructions: machine or hand wash, dry flat
Needle Size: US 7 (4.5mm)
Modifications: none, since my initial modification didn’t work out.
Finished Size: Small bag size
Date Started: 9/5/2008
Date Completed: 9/14/2008
Notes: This bag is pretty nice and I would totally recommend making one. It’s cute to boot.
full shot of the bag
I love the detail in the bottom of the bag.
The top of the bag has an eyelet row for the icord straps and has a turned hem. I quite like the technique.
Tags: Knitting, Swap, Yarn, Yoga
My friend won a skein of handspun yarn at Sticks N Stitches 2007/2008. She doesn’t knit so she gave it to me. I decided (perhaps with some prompting from my mother) to find something to make for her with it. I searched around on Ravelry looking for something that would highlight the handspun nature of the yarn without overpowering it with a strong and busy pattern. Plus, I only had about 200 yds so I couldn’t do anything super large. A scarf seemed like a good idea and modifying the Clapotis to scarf size looked easy enough. I hope she will wear it in the winter all the time.
Cory’s been doing a lot of modeling lately. The scarf is a little big on him.
Description: Mama T’s Handspun Scarf
Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn used: 194 yds (177m) of Coridale Sheep spun by Judy of Five Points Llamas
Care Instructions: Handwash
Needle Size: US 6 (4.0 mm)
Modifications: I modified this to be a scarf so it’s a lot smaller.
Finished Size: 5″ x 64″ (13 cm x 162 cm)
Date Started: 8/23/2008
Date Completed: 8/28/2008
Notes: This worked out pretty well. I could have probably done another repeat but I was afraid I was going to run out of yarn. I had also already ripped it back once to add in another repeat so I decided to just go with it this time.
Full length view (folded in half)
Detail view
Tags: Knitting, Ravelry, Yarn
I knew there were was going to be a good bit of car time while the boy and I were traveling to/from/around New York. I finished up a Christmas gift on our way to New York (well in the hotel that evening) and then I swatched for Liesl the long. I cast it on and then didn’t pull it out of the bag during a couple of our shorter car trips. I pulled it back out on our drives to and home from Canada. Then last night I worked on it at knit night and once I got home until I finished the body. All that I have left right now is the sleeves. It would be awesome if I could finish it tonight. It turns out that the sleeves are more finicky than I would have thought. I only have circular 7mm needles so I am having to magic loop the sleeves. Here’s a picture of my current progress.
PS - When knitting a sleeve, be sure to pick up the stitches on the correct side of the sleeve…unless you really want a purled sleeve with a stockinette body… don’t ask me how I know… 
Tags: Knitting, WIP
Last night while visiting my sister and her daughter in the hospital I finished knitting my Liesl. I can’t believe it only took me two days of actual knitting to make this. It’s lovely and I may make another in the future. Partly because I am a child of the 80s and I totally love “Choose your own adventure” books and that’s what this sweater reminds me of. After we got home from the hospital I wove in the ends. All that is left now is blocking to open up the lace. Look for an FO post tom’w or Monday. I am super excited to have successfully completed two projects for Ravelympics. I really thought I was going to be pushing it to finish just the scarf. Of course now this means no more excuses about items taking forever, if I just spend 3 hrs knitting a day I can finish anything quickly!
For now I am off to visit my grandmother for the weekend. Tschus .
Tags: Knitting, Ravelympics
