A Blanket for Molly

When I was pregnant with Molly, I spent most of my time knitting sweaters for her but I never quite got around to knitting her a blanket. When I was pregnant with Maggie, I made her a blanket but not as many sweaters. Molly was so intensely jealous of Maggie's blanket and asked me to make her one. I think she was feeling a bit replaced after Maggie's birth. She didn't quite understand that no one can replace her so I felt the act of making her a blanket was a way to show her my love for her.

I sat down with her and we cruised around Ravelry, checking out different patterns for blankets. We found an amazing pattern and I asked Molly what she wanted the colors to be. She was 2. 5 at the time so not very imaginative in her color choices. She asked that her blanket be the same colors as the pattern. I ordered the yarn and got to work. I knit for awhile and then put it aside for one reason or another.

This past June, I picked it up again and began to knit furiously. I knit and I knit and I knit. Within a few weeks, I had completed the blanket. Molly has loved it from the start. She likes to wrap herself in it (even on 90 degree days) and says she is wrapped in love.

I also love Molly's blanket. It was an easy yet entertaining pattern. I love that Molly asked me to make her a blanket. I'll pretty much make her anything if she asks. I love that the blanket really reminds me of Molly. The colors are perfect! Her 2.5 year old self knew exactly what she wanted. 

Unfinished Projects

Over a year ago, Molly asked me to knit her a blanket. We picked out the pattern together. She helped me finalize the colors and I quickly cast on. Then per my usual style, I got distracted and put the blanket aside. 

I've been trying to focus my unfocused mind lately so I picked up Molly's blanket again and I've been carrying it everywhere. Whenever I can, I try to sneak a row in. It's also what I knit on once the kids go to bed. I try to relax before bed every night so I knit a few rows while watching a tv show with Scott before heading to bed to read before falling asleep at a pretty early hour. Getting up at 5:15 a.m. to work out means that I tend to be sound asleep by 10 p.m. every night. 

I have so much going on that I need this little ritual to unwind, to collect myself, to re-focus my unfocused mind. I'm glad that I have this blanket to help me with this. It's a beautifully simple pattern and I know Molly is going to love this blanket once I get it done. I only have about elevenity-billion more rows to knit but it'll get done, one row at a time. 

Wee Knitting

When my friend told me she was having a second boy, I knew this little boy needed a handmade sweater. I searched Ravelry, dove into the stash and found the perfect pattern. Then I started knitting.

I'm quite pleased with how my Wee Envelope turned out even if it did give me a bunch of fits. I had to re-do the shoulders about four times each and I am eternally grateful for Ysolda's tutorial. I LOVE how the shoulder feature played out even if it took me awhile to get how to exactly accomplish the knitting. 

My friend's sweet baby boy was born earlier this week and I'm excited to meet him. I plan to plop this sweater on him and start snapping photos. I hope he's ready for me because I'm ready for him! 

Christmas Knitting: A Hat in an Evening

Last night, I sat down for my usual bout of television watching with Scott. As we sat mesmerized by The Walking Dead, I knit a hat. I have a few hats that I'm making for both new baby gifts and Christmas presents. I admit that I am sometimes worried that I have bitten off more than I can handle but after last night, I'm feeling pretty confident in my knitting plans.

This is a quick and fun pattern from Purl Soho, a yarn store I dream of visiting. This pattern has a ton of sizes and allows for quick customization. I think it might be the perfect gift knitting. You can quickly whip up one of these and present the recipient with a cloud of warmth for a cold head. 

What are your quick gift knits? Are your knitting ambitions (like mine) bigger than your abilities? 

Knitted Pumpkin Hats for Wee Ones

My hairdresser is due to have her second child on Halloween and I thought it was only fitting to make her kiddos some pumpkin hats! I couldn't find a pattern that had the exact look I was going for so I created up my own. 

I used Spud and Chloe Organic Cotton in Sweater for the hats since she won't have time for fussy hand washing with two little ones running around. 

Here is what I did to make the newborn hat:

Gauge: 5 sts/inch

Needles: size 7

Yarn: 1/2 skein of Spud and Chloe Organic Cotton in Orange and a small amount of Spud and Chloe Organic Cotton in Green

Cast on 64 stitches with your main color (orange) and join in the round. Knit 9 rows of stockinette. On the 10th row, knit into the back of each stitch (this keeps the brim from rolling too far). Continue in stockinette until your hat measures 4.5"

You will now add in the contrasting yarn (green).  Follow the chart for rounds 1-5. 

Start decreasing on round 6. 

*K2tog, K6*, repeat around

*K2tog, K5*, repeat around

*K2tog, K4*, repeat around

*K2tog, K3*, repeat around

*K2tog, K2*, repeat around

*K2tog, K1*, repeat around

*K2tog*, repeat around

You will have 9 stitches left. Knit an i-cord for approximately an 1 and a half to form the pumpkin stem. Bind off and secure yarn ends. Take your kids to the pumpkin patch and take lots of photos of them! 

Now I need to go and make a hat for Molly Pop!

Phoebe Mouse

This year I decided to get a head start on Molly's 2nd Birthday Sweater which is good since I've been having some issues with fit. While I've been contemplating my plan of attack, I decided to work on the other part of her birthday present, Phoebe Mouse!



I also used Phoebe Mouse as research since she has a sweater that matches the one I'm making Molly so it gave me a chance to check out the fit and gauge. Phoebe Mouse came together so fast and was so much fun to knit! Her hips came out a little twisted for some reason but I decided to leave them because 1) it is funny 2) Molly will never notice and 3) I'm not knitting it again!



You will noticed that Phoebe Mouse's sweater does not yet have buttons. I haven't decided what buttons I'll be using on Molly's sweater and since I'd like for them to match, I'm holding off on adding the buttons.



I'm so excited about giving Phoebe Mouse to Molly that I almost want to give it to her early. She's already seen Phoebe Mouse once on accident and gave her the biggest hug. She also started undressing her which is her current favorite activity to do with all of her baby dolls. I have a suspicion that this will be a well received gift!



Until November though, I've hidden Phoebe Mouse and will be re-starting on Molly's 2nd Birthday Sweater this week. I also have some plans to make more outfits for Phoebe Mouse and my being SUPER ahead plan will hopefully allow for that.

A Sweater for Abigale

My brother and his wife had a little girl in January. Since they didn't find out the sex, I was at a loss as to what to knit them. I made them a Wee Austin Hoodie but to be honest, I didn't love it. Then Abigale was born and I saw a pattern named just for her, the Abagail Sweater and I just knew that I had to make it for her. 



I loved knitting this sweater for her. The free pattern was very well written and the lace detail is so sweet. It was so just interesting enough that I was never bored but not so hard that I couldn't catch up on The Game of Thrones while knitting. I also loved that I was able to use up some more stash yarn. I'm working hard to use up my stash. I'm planning a huge stash re-org soon and I'm going to toss/give-away/sell all the yarn that doesn't excite me so that my remaining stash is a joy instead of a burden. 



I'm giving the sweater to the sweet baby today and I'm so excited. This is a girly sweater for a sweet little girl. 



Ravelry details can be found here.

A Love Scarf

Back in December, I asked my best friend what she wanted for Christmas while also telling her that she couldn't ask for world peace or a donation to some organization. I also told her that I would be happy to make a donation in her name BUT I was also going to give her an actual present, one that would hopefully make her happy.



My best friend though is quite sassy and asked for world peace and love. She said she wanted love and that was that. I told her that I love her to which she replied that she appreciated my love but wanted romantic love.



Now that is a gift I know I can't provide so I thought and thought. Then I decided well if I couldn't snap my fingers and give her romantic love, I could knit her something and while knitting it, knit all the love I could into it.



Scott accompanied me to the yarn store where we found a yarn that reminded us of my best friend. Scott made the final selection based on how soft the yarn was. I bought three skeins and hurried home to figure out what I was going to knit. I searched Ravelry high and low until I found a wonderful pattern, the Strangling Vine Lace Scarf.



I knit and knit away on the Love Scarf for her. I knit until all the love I had was knit into the scarf. I've not given her the scarf yet as she's off traveling in India but I'm very excited to give her this present. I do hope that she feels all of the love that has been knit into it for her.



Ravlery Details: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ReeBeckiSupergrl/strangling-vine-lace-scarf

Crabby Baby Pants

My co-worker is pregnant and she's decided to not find out the sex of the child until he/she arrives. Now I love this idea but also found it difficult when I was planning what to make for her new addition.

Luckily a friend suggested the Cargo Pants from Knitty which led me to remember that I had some Rowan All Seasons Cotton laying around and that I had picked up a onesie this Summer at a craft fair (I figure people are always having babies and this one was super cute!). When I pulled out the yarn and the onesie, I was in for another treat! The crab applique on the onesie perfectly matched the color of yarn that I had and they were all pretty uni-sex.



Then I got a third treat, the quickness of this knit! I cast on for this project on Friday at the DMV, I knit most of the first leg while waiting there (oh the torture!) and the second leg that night. I then knit up the remaining bits of the pants on Saturday (my birthday!) and sewed the elastic piece in today. All in all about a 2-day project! I did decide to leave off the pockets but I think they would be adorable on the pants too.

These might become my standard baby knit project. They are just adorable and a bit more of a statement than a hat. I am however going to also knit a hat for this present, I have yarn and time left so I might as well.

Owl Obsession

My Owl obesession started innocently enough. Someone at work gave me this little Owl candle and I named him Owen (that's my Grandfather's name too!).



Then Owen the Owl was joined by Ollie the Owl Mug at my desk.



Now I've started knitting Owl sweaters!



I do have to say that this wee little vest is turning out super cute. I've been on a deadline to get it knitted up this week since it is for a friend who is allergic to cats. Luckily for her and for me, I'm dog-sitting this week which provided me with the perfect opportunity. She is still a bit allergic to dogs but I've keep it far away from the dog and dog surfaces. Also this house is why tidier than my house so any loose dog hairs are few and far between whereas at my house, the cat fur flies!



Tonight I'll finish up the arm holes, weave in some ends and block this baby up. Then I'll take it to a friends house for pet-free storage and wait for the baby shower.

FBS Completion

On Sunday evening while catching up on Dollhouse (I am really enjoying this show, seriously!), I weaved in my final end and sewed on some simple buttons for the February Baby Sweater.



This sweater is for one of Scott's dearest friends and I can't wait to send it to him and his wife. Scott pronounced the sweater to be re-donkulously cute and I have to agree. I love making this sweater and get so excited when people have girls because it means I can knit this sweater!

I am planning on making the February Baby Hat as a matching piece and have gathered some basic onesies to send too. Of course now I'm thinking that I might want to sew something onto the onesies to cuten then up. I'm not sure what I'd sew on but maybe just a simple little fabric patch?

May Babies Bring February Baby Sweaters

One of Scott's dear friends is having a baby girl in May. Before I could stop my knitting fingers, they started twitching and I now have a beautiful February Baby Sweater on the needles.



I love this pattern for all of it's pithy directions and for the loveliness that seems to fall off one's needles. I hope to knit up a lovely February Baby Hat and some booties to go along with this sweater. It really all depends on how long the yarn holds out.

Foxy Hat

I've been promising my co-worker hats for his two adorable sons. I am finally delivering on this promise by actually knitting the hats. I finished the first one on Saturday which is a FOX hat and I love it! The pattern comes from Carey Huffman of Full of Fluff.com



Raveled

Pattern: Ear-a-ma-jigs - Fun hats for babies and kids by Carey Huffman
Size: Child
Needle: US 7 / 4.5 mm
Yarn:Cascade Yarns 220 Wool, 0.5 skeins of Colorway 2414 and .1 skeins of Colorway 7822

Finally Finished Socks

After many months of trauma knitting these socks, I finally finally knit a pair of socks on one circular needle and they are awesome!

Raveled

One Down, One to Go!

Over the weekend, I finally finished the Child's Placket Sweater. All in all, it took me about 7 hours to complete this sweater and since I'm a fairy quick knitter, I have to say that I was disappointed. The book says that this sweater will take 4-6 hours to complete. I don't know if they only timed the project with the smallest size or how they gauged it but I made a sweater size right smack in the middle of the sizes and it took me more than 6 hours to complete it. That is disappointing! I wonder how long the second size will take?



I still need to add a small applique or something to the sweater for a finished touch.

Now I need to make one more Child's Placket Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I started that one last night.