Knitting Storm

I've just been knitting up a storm! When I look back at the amount of projects I've completed over the last 6 months, I'm shocked at how quickly things have flown off the needles! What a sense of accomplishment. Not much has been made for my Etsy shop, but I'm hoping I can knock out a few items before the holiday shopping truly begins!

Recently finished ones:
1. I completed the Dinosaur Wallaby for my son. It's not my favorite project because I have loved making the wallaby in the past, but I made a few changes that were not well thought out. I made the arms slimmer and did not do the increases as usual at the cuff. when I joined the sleeves to the body, this created an odd join that I don't love the look of. My son also requested that I leave the hood off. This adjustment then required some creative stitch counting and decreasing for the neckline. I think I frogged the neckline about 5 times and remade it. I finally have it so that it looks ok and will easily fit over his head.

2. I also finished a second pair of the Footies that I made. I did this second pair also in Malabrigo Rios and these are in my hospital bag to take with me for when the baby comes.

3. I've been making a few small Christmas ornaments as gifts, but also to sell in my Etsy shop. (www.etsy.com/shop/SeraCraft)

4. My mittens are almost complete, but the second one has been a real trouble maker and she has been put in a time out, with only the thumb to finish.

5. Baby Mittens for the newborn stage were ridiculously fast and are so tiny, I can hardly believe they will fit! 

6. My Pine Tree Place cowl is also done and it has moved to the front of my scarf wardrobe, since its perfect for fall, easy to wear, and matches me coat. It has become a quick favorite.

I should be finished with a sweater soon and I'm working on organizing my winter projects now. I will be looking forward to posting some new ones!

Socks

In the past I haven't been a sock knitter. I found them to be difficult because I always looked at intricate patterns and very fine fingering weight sock yarn. I realize, of course, that people have made socks out of heavier weights of yarn, but I wasn't sure about doing that. 

I did a little searching on Ravelry when looking to make a gift. I found some worsted weight patterns that were free patterns and decided to choose a yarn I love and dive in. While those gorgeous, fine sock yarns do make beautiful socks, I wanted to get some under my belt before attempting those again.

I came across a cute pattern for Footies by Quirky Bird Knits, a low sock that is an easy construction and done on a size 5 needle. Much more doable than the size 1 I had last worked on! I chose a yarn I love, Malabrigo Rios, a worsted weight yarn, in a beautiful color way called Liquid Ambar. It's a blend of very "fall colors" and I'm in love. The pattern was easy, surprisingly fast, and the yarn is soft and lovely. 

They turned out beautifully and I wish I had enough of that yarn to make a pair for myself in the same color! I do have a little stash yarn in Malabrigo Rios in 2 different color ways, and I should be able to squeak out a pair from each ball. I may have to get more of that color though, since I'm so in love!

Ok I've taken them off and I need to block them and cast on my own pair! 

Little House Shoes

I whipped up a quick pair of house shoes for my son. I held the Cascae 220 heathers double in a dark blue and a light blue. I followed a pattern that came with the suede slipper soles and it was incredibly easy. He wanted them to look a little like my slippers, which I would love to take credit for making, but I got them for my birthday from Padraig Cottage in Canada.

He loves the new slippers already and I think they will be his slippers for school. They wear slippers inside and pull on rain boots outside.

Am I nesting?

I always have several projects on the needles at any given time. It's almost a joke. Sometimes, it's sort of a ridiculous amount. Most of them are either finished or hibernating, but on occasion I frog a project or two. I'm happy to say that only 2 projects are currently hibernating: my Twigs and Willows sweater from Botanical Knits done in Madeline Tosh vintage and my Ishbel shawl done in Maui yarns.

Currently in the works:

1. Pine Tree Place- a cowl done in Malabrigo Rios in Archangel. 

Just bound off yesterday!!

2. My final Christmas stocking done in Cascade Chunky and Noro Iro I am just casting on.

(Picture coming soon)

3. I'm almost finished with the slippers for my son. It's a pattern that came inside a package of suede slipper soles lined with shearling. All I have to do is attach the base to the body. These are knit with Cascade 220 in two shades of blue, held together. 

4. Of course, the Wallaby is still in the works, but getting closer. That's done in mostly Cascade 220 Superwash with some Lambs Pride as the dinosaur. 

5. I'm getting ready to cast on the Ashby by Brooklyn Tweed in Cascade 220 heathers in shire, a gorgeous dark green.

6. Also just cast on a pair of mittens in Oh! Loops DK for a Harry Potter KAL on Ravelry. These are the Green Leaf Mittens by Spicy Jellybean Knits.

7. Soon, I will be casting on some bed slipper socks for a gift. 

This is a pretty good typical idea of what I have going! Looking at it seems awfully overwhelming, but really it's 2 projects that are fairly close to being finished and then some newbies that I'm very excited about!

Time to get those needles clicking!

Happy knitting!

Christmas in July, August, and September...

I know, I know...it's way too early to start thinking about Christmas, right? I mean, it was 100 degrees today here in Spokane, WA not very long ago and I could hardly stand it! I've been knitting lightweight and small items, like a baby sweater made of organic cotton, in a gorgeous super light lilac shade. I've also started a late summer/early fall transitional cowl that I hope to have enough yarn for to make it useful for a nursing cover as well.

Those pattern links are here:

The baby sweater is called the Cradle Cardigan and it is from a small baby pattern book called Mabel's Closet by Hannah Fettig. It was given to me as a gift by a very good girlfriend of mine. The entire collection is made with Quince & Co. Yarn, so it's been a treat to look through it and go through my stash looking for the perfect yarn choices. I ended up using a yarn that's been in my stash for a long time and I believe it's been discontinued. It's called:

The cowl/cape is the Standing Stones Cowl/Infinity scarf and I'm using Cascade Yarns Venezia worsted. Here are a few finished pictures. It will have to be blocked.

Why Christmas in July, August, and September? Well, I started thinking about Christmas stockings and Christmas gifts. I don't want to get down to the wire again this year, like I usually do. I always end up racing to finish projects. I mean, I started the stockings in July, and I was dying from heat while my lap was covered with wool. Now, here it is September....I'm on my 3rd stocking, out of 4. It finally started cooling off and the weather teased us, so we dug out long sleeve shirts, lightweight sweaters, and shawls or cowls. I was giddy with excitement! Then the weather channel tells us that it will in the 80s this week! I'm kind of bummed and looking forward to when the mini heat wave ends.

This is the big year that I've decided to make Christmas stockings. It's been a difficult choice for me because my late grandmother cross stitches some family stockings many many years ago. While I cherish them for the memories and because they were made by my grandmother, who I was very close to, I am a knitter and knitting stockings for the mantle has always been something I've wanted to do since I started knitting. I will eventually find a way to have handmade hand knit stockings hanging from the mantle, while still displaying the ones she made somewhere nearby. Plus, the only ones that truly match are for my parents, my brother, and myself. The ones for my son and husband are similar, but not matching. Now that there is another baby on the way, I'd like to have some for my immediate family that are all the same style and colors that reflect each of our personalities a little bit.

I've finished the first 3 stockings in this 4 part project and is was easy and fun, not to mention rather quick! The yarns are gorgeous, the colors are fun, and the deal on the yarn was impossible to beat! I have one more going on the needles and then I will be done! The pattern isn't one I can share, it's a pattern from my local yarn shop. A simple design that was easy to follow. The stocking is on the rather large size, but I don't mind. 

I'm having a great time working on these almost instant gratification projects! What are you working on?

The Wallaby

Ahhhh The Wondeful Wallaby... I have such love for this pattern. If you've never made one, it should be next on your list. I have yet to make an adult size, but it's only a matter of time. I've made 2 for my son and I'm just starting a third. 

The Wonderful Wallaby is an adorable little hooded sweater with a pouch on the front and a good. It's the hoodie sweatshirt that almost everyone loves for a casual day, but it's made better by using lovely yarn and hand knit. You use worsted weight yarn and simple stitches to create this sweater with very easy to understand pattern instructions.

This time, I'm doing something special and inserting a dinosaur into the pocket design. It will be a size 4T and my son chose the colors. The main body is light gray: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash in Spaceneedle. The dinosaur is done in black, using a Lamb's pride washable yarn in black. The teeth will be either duplicate stitched or embroidered on and the eye will be blue, using some leftover Cascade 220 Superwash in blue from the Abate Sweater I made him. 

The sleeves are something I'm playing with a little. I didn't do the increases as suggested by the pattern. I decided that since my son is so slim, I would do the sleeves a little slimmer so he isn't "swimming" in the sweater. I hope that the sweater looks good when I'm done. I'm finished with the first sleeve and on to the next one. The overall fit is a little larger so he will fit into it longer. I'm really unsure of how this will go....

I've been asked by my son to leave the good off on this wallaby. I sure wish I'd have known he didn't want the good sooner, as I would have chosen a different pattern for this, but no worries, I will come up with something. I'm at the point of attaching the sleeves, so it's time to search through the patterns I have and  read over them to make any changes needed. I think it will be rather straight forward, since I will follow the wallaby up to the neckline and then just not of the v split in front or the hood. I will post when finished.

New Tools

Oh how fun new knitting tools can be! Whether it's a new measuring tape that looks like a chicken or turtle (my favorites), funky stitch markers, a new notions bag, or something else, knitting notions and tools are lots of fun and can renew your interest in a project by simply being something fun to look at. 

I love to keep organized with fun bags and small plastic containers for all of my markers. I have several project bags of various sizes, markers with birds and lady bugs, and I've felted a large bag to carry my precious knitting from place to place. 

This year, I've just received a very special birthday gift from my parents. They knew I was getting more into knitting but they had no idea the depths of my "obsession." On a recent visit, I had a little show and tell of the projects I've completed since their last visit. Needless to say, they were surprised that I had accomplished so much and certainly impressed with how much better a knitter I've become. It actually brought tears to my Dad's eyes as he spoke of his mother knitting many years ago. I was very close with my late grandmother, but she had given up on knitting many years prior to me picking up a set of needles. She favored cross stitch later in her life until she wasn't able to do it anymore. When they saw my passion and skill, they bought me a very special gift: a set of Lantern Moon interchangeable rosewood needles! How lucky can a girl get? I'm so excited and I immediately cast on a new project with my smooth, beautiful new needles! 

This new project is the Standing Stones cowl by Andee on Ravelry. I'm using Cascade Venizia worsted yarn in Winterfresh. This picture doesn't do the color justice. I will work on a better photo!

I love this project, the yarn is beautiful, as always with Cascade Yarns, and the needles are amazing! Lucky me!

Chevron Baby Blanket

I started another beautiful baby project. This time I'm making a colorful chevron baby blanket. I'm not one for pastels usually. I like more interesting colors choices and I prefer something unique. This chevron blanket was the perfect place to play around with a fun color combination. I chose a mix of colors and it turns out, a mix of yarns. They are all washable too.

I'm loving this pattern and my color choices! It's been a pretty quick project, so far, but I did put it on hold the other week due to very hot temperatures here in Spokane, WA. I just couldn't bear the thought of sitting under a wool blanket to knit when it was 95-102 degrees! 

Now it's complete and waiting for the arrival of Baby Girl.

The pattern for this one is called Chevron Baby Blanket from Espace Tricot. It's a free pattern on Ravelry.

I am very happy with the outcome! I added a few rows here and there and I'm very happy with how large it is. It will be a cozy blanket for her for a few good years this way. 

Farmers Market Bag

I love my LYS, both of them. They are equally awesome, in very different ways. One is A Grand Yarn, and they are a smaller shop, with lots of very cool yarn choices, many by smaller, independent companies. They often hold Knit Alongs that are free to participate in, and there's a chance you will win a small prize. It's fun to connect with other knitters, some who you are friends with and some new folks. This summer is a Welcome to the Lake series of KALs that features a new topic each month. In June, we each hose a shawl to knit, July has just been posted and it's a bag. Within this theme, you can choose any pattern and any yarn. I am using some stash yarn Kollage Riveting Worsted made of recycled denim to make The Sully Market Bag. What a fun, quick knit!

I finished this project this week. I have to say, I'm happy to be done, but I'm not super happy with the end result. The yarn isn't my favorite and while the pattern was quick and easy, I just don't like how it turned out. Maybe it was te yarn choice. Ah well, they can't all be favorites. It's a little flimsy and will only hold lightweight items, but I'm happy to have it complete and will be taking it to the market this week.

Baby Elephant Sweater

Knitting baby stuff is so fun! It can be a pretty quick project too because everything is so tiny! It's great for small projects in between larger projects like adult sized sweater, large shawls, and afghans. Even something simple can be a nice change from a complicated pattern.

I've recently started a new baby sweater for our 2nd baby arriving in the fall. I've been very excited, scouring Ravelry for fun baby knits! If you've never looked at Ravelry, you must check it out! It's free to join and it's a great way to find millions of projects for both knitting and crochet, but it's a great place to chat with other fiber friends, the perfect social media network for fiber fanatics!

I finally settled in my first baby project of the Ella Funt sweater by Pamela Wynne.

My color choices are all Cascade 220 Superwash Sport

The main body cast on in gray.

The sweater was a very fun knit and a little but challenging for me, since I haven't done much color work, but I think it went pretty well. 

It's complete, for the most part. I have the finishing bits of weaving ends and closing under the arms. The biggest challenge will be to find buttons I like. 

I'm very happy with how it turned out and I absolutely adore the yarn! It's washable, so I just hope it holds up well, although it's Cascade yarn, so I know I will be happy! Their yarn is my favorite!

Update 7/20/14: I finally have buttons! My Mom chose some yellow and green simple circular buttons before we knew the baby was a girl. They match quite well and I will close the arm holes and put on buttons then post a picture! Excited to add this to the finished items for the baby.

Little Newborn Sleep Sack

I'm knitting a very cute little baby item this week. It's a tiny little newborn sleep sack for our baby girl, coming in November. It's done on a size 13 needle and the patter calls for super bulky yarn, so it knits up extremely fast! I only cast on late last night and I'm 3/4 of the way finished!

I'm using Spud & Chloe Outer in a gorgeous salmon-pink color. It's my first time using this yarn and it is so incredibly soft and squishy! I'm already in love and dreaming up the next project that I can use this yarn for. I also now am dying to try all of their yarns!

 

 

You can see my project notes on Ravelry here. I will post an updated picture when it's complete.

Update: this was such a quick and easy knit! I can't wait to see the baby in it! It's going to the hospital with me for sure!

My son put his stuffed puffin inside to test it out. So cute! I may need to make another one of these!

Quick Baby Knits

I'm working up a quick baby hat from the Hats For All Pattern by Carrie Bostick Hoge featured in Taproot Magazine issue 8:: RECLAIM. 

First of all, if you've never read Taproot magazine, stop what you're doing and look it up. It's an amazing magazine that I am in love with. I look forward to each of the quarterly issues like a child waits for Christmas morning. The issues are filled with homesteading tips, recipes, sewing patterns, knitting patterns, and more. Plus, they are happily free of advertising pages. It's the perfect blend of things to read while enjoying your morning teas or coffee. I find myself savor inch each issue and saving it to refer back to and read all over again.

But back to knitting... An issue a few months back had a lovely simple pattern for hats. It's a basic hat with several sizes and variations to fit anyone on your knitting list. I chose the baby size for the bundle of joy arriving in November 2014. I'm hoping to have quite a stash of beautiful hand knits for this baby as well as my almost 4 year old son, who quickly outgrows everything I knit for him!

The Hats For All uses a worsted weight yarn, making it a super quick knit in any size. I am using some stash Queensland Bebe Cotsoy in a gender neutral, and very happy aqua. It's a super soft yarn that will be perfect on that little head for the winter.

Update: 6/25/14 I frogged the hat and will CO again with smaller needles because although my gauge was correct, the hat looks enormous! The yarn is quite soft and was a great deal, as it was free at the Stash Bash I went to. (Stash Bash is a little get together thrown by friends each year, where we all bring unwanted knitting items: yarn, patterns, magazine, books, and even sometimes finished knit items. We lay the items out and each go around with bags, filling them up with these items destashed by friends. It's the perfect way to trade in things you won't use and come home with some real treasures!)

The beginning of The Knitting Mommy

I am The knitting Mommy. I first began knitting about 10 years ago, but I really got into it in 2008 or 2009. I've quickly become quite addicted and I now knit as often as I'm able.

I often have several projects on the needles at any given time and choose the one I'm most inspired by  to work on each day. When I go a whole day without knitting, it feels weird and I feel like I'm missing an important part of my day. Knitting is my relaxation, my meditation, and my creative outlet. It's the thing that keeps me sane during stressful times and I believe it makes me a better wife and Mommy.

I currently do not really design very much of my own items, just a few little items, but I hope that one day I am able to design my own sweaters and such.

I'm beginning this blog as a way to document and showcase my knitting, even if only for myself and maybe a few friends and family members. 

I will update as I want to share projects I'm working on, learning new techniques, visiting new yarn shops, and anything else knitting and yarn related. I look forward to sharing my projects and hearing what you are working on and learning. 

Thanks for stopping by!

-The Knitting Mommy