Never Will I Ever…

I never thought I would ever have the urge to crochet….and then this happened…

 
I have several LARGE skeins of Bernat baby blanket and my mom has been dropping hints hard core that she wants a lap blanket out of this. I tried to knit with this chenille yarn several times and HATED IT. The yarn is very grippy and sticks to itself. (My last project was here)

A couple fiber friends reccomended crochet. I experimented with double crochets and half double crochets. I settled on the half double crochet and an ergonomic size N hook. Mostly because my fingers found it comfortable and I could remember it. I chained a butt load of stitches then took off.

  
This will be a baby/receiving size blanket. I’m still working on hook placement, reading the stitches, and evening out my tension. This yarn is definitely easier to work with in crochet than in knitting. This peice is definitely a practice object. I don’t plan on giving it away as it’s terribly uneven. But I want to get better so I can do a nice blanket for my mom some day!

Happy Knitting…er, I mean Crochet!

The Project of Loathing

I really wanted a blanket on the needles this winter. I do so love snuggling under a warm winter project while the snow is swirling outside. Thus I cast on my Knitted Chevron Baby Blanket in a rainbow theme with some Homespun from DEEP stash.

  
It’s a pretty straight forward garter stitch chevron blanket. Back in November I started with red and only got three rows done and it’s been sitting ever since.

I just don’t like it and I have tried really hard to like it. The texture of the homespun obscures the pattern. It’s incredibly hard to “read” as I knit. I have zero desire to pick this up. So this iteration is going to the frog pond. But I really want to use this yarn in a blanket! Stitch definition is going to be a problem so I was leaning towards a straight up garter rectangle with the rainbow colors progressing in order.  Though I really feel that a baby blanket needs a distinct border to look a little more polished and finished.

I have black yarn in Homespun so I could outline the rainbow square to set off the colors. Perhaps I could work a small seed or moss stitch black section at the beginning and end of the blanket. Then pick up and knit the long sides of the blanket log cabin style. Or maybe it should be ribbing instead of seed stitch? 

Any thoughts from the blogging world?

A Cast On Storm

It’s almost July and summer is in full swing. But I can’t help but think towards fall. I really want jellybean to have some hand knits. I have the itch for a couple of hats and at least one sweater. I also have at least two baby showers coming up. This has led to a bout of start-itis this past weekend. 

I cast on a Knit Tutu from Smashlee. It’s a pink number for a baby girl due I’m September.

  
Next up is a Dino Cap by Kris Hanson jellybean. I’m knitting the two year old size in some Caron Simply Soft from my stash in hunter green and chocolate brown. I’ve already messed up the pattern but I’m soldiering on.

  

Last up is Double Rib Toddler hat by Torunn Espe. I pulled some Berroco Comfort DK Solids from my stash in blue and minty blue-ish?
  

Now I have more projects than I have hands and time. So this should end well, lol!

Happy Knitting!

FO Friday: A Camo Tutu

I whipped up a real quick FO this week. One of my FAVORITE baby patterns and go-to shower presents is the Knit Tutu from Smashlee Stitches.

  
This is Red Heart sashay yarn in Conga and a teensy bit of leftover Knit Picks Swish Worsted for the waist band. Topped it all off with a bit of remnant gold ribbon. I finished this up in a day and all my details are here. I’ve literally  made over a dozen of these and highly recommend the pattern as it’s very easy to follow.

Now I’m off to get this in the mail and winging on the way to the new momma to be! They are HUGE outdoors people and I figure the little princess they are adding to the family deserves her own tutu….in camo of course!

Happy Knitting!!

WIP Wednesday: Garter Ear Flap Hat

It’s turning cold here in Kansas and Jellybean has outgrown all his store bought stocking caps. (Even the 6 month sizes….) So being the knitting momma I am I cast on for a hat posthaste!

Pattern: Garter Ear Flap Hat by Purl Soho

I made the toddler size to make sure it was going to fit. But I didn’t pay very good attention to the instructions and neglected to go down a needle size after I finished the brim portion. The result is a lovely hat that won’t fit Jellybean until the middle of the blazing Kansas summer…shown below…IMG_1053.JPGSo I have regrouped and cast on again, this time with a number of total stitches between the infant and toddler sizes AND the correct needles! This first hat really is just a big gauge swatch right? I totally meant to do that…

For those that are curious the yarn is some Berroco Lustra that I picked up eons ago during a trip to my first actual yarn/knitting shop. I’ve been saving it in my stash and surely Jellybean deserves only the best from my stash right?

This pattern like so many from Purl Soho is very easy and delightful. It shouldn’t take me long at all to whip out this next hat. I’ll pause for your laughter considering Jellybean is now two months old and ruling the roost and most of my free time…

Happy Knitting!

Knitting and Snuggles

Just a quick check in from Jellybean and I!

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This was a Chevron Baby blanket that I made back in 2013. It’s a Purl Bee pattern that was super addictive. And now it’s keeping my little man warm!

We haven’t accomplished much other than nursing, sleeping, and making dirty diapers. I’m just rolling with the flow and soaking up ever minute until I go back to work…

Happy Thursday!!

Baby-Itis….More Hats

Still counting down to Jellybean’s arrival. Sorry if it’s getting a little repetitive but I don’t have a lot else to think about lately since I’m smuggling a watermelon under my t-shirt, lol. After the success my Candy Corn Hat and Booties last week I felt the itch to make more winter hats for Jellybean. I figure it wouldn’t hurt to have several in different sizes on hand.

First up, Newborn Hat with Seed Stitch Trim by the Mucky Mackbook. This is a free pattern and not a lot of people have made this yet. So fingers crossed it works well. I plan to knit this some super soft Berroco Comfort DK in a royal like blue color.

Next, Checkerboard Hat by Heidi Sunday. This pattern has a lot more hits and completed projects. So I’m guessing this one should be pretty easy. For this cap I pulled some Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in Celestial.

Lastly, I felt Jellybean needed some more booties. I found these adorable creations in my queue, Rolled Cuff Baby Booties by Nickie Alexander. This pattern has a crazy amount of FOs so I don’t have any worries. And the photos of the projects are adorable! For softness and ease of care I pulled some Caron Simply Soft from stash. I chose the color Pagoda for a nice rich dark fabric.

Stayed tuned to see my progress! Happy Knitting 😉

FO Friday: Candy Corn Hat and Booties

Happy Friday!! I have a FO to show you 🙂

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My Candy Corn Hat and Booties are done! This was a crazy fast knit. Including the fact that I basically knit the hat twice. I chose to knit the hat in the round on a circular instead of double pointed needles. This caused an EPIC pattern reading fail that I didn’t notice until I was almost done. But I digress…

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IMG_0366.JPGPattern: Candy Corn Hat and Booties by Lion Brand Yarn

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Off-White and Sunshine and Vanna’s Choice in Terracotta. I used very little yarn. All told it was 47 gram or 67.7 yards of yarn. Obviously much more yellow and orange than white. This would great for using up scraps!

Needles: US 8 circulars

Mods: I cast on 68 stitches instead of the pattern prescribed 60 to allow for growing room for Jellybean and the fact that my husband’s family tends to grow big headed babies, lol. My project is Raveled here.

Depending on baby size and weather, this might be Jellybean’s Halloween costume. We will see what the baby brain fog brings. For now I’m just going to continue to knit until he or she gets here!

Happy Knitting!