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!