My latest Baby Sophisticate is cruising right along. I through the raglan increases and divided for the sleeves. (please ignore the dog hair…)
I really like the color but I can say this yarn can be a little splitty. It’s Cascade Heritage Cherub Aran in navy. It’s very soft from the acrylic content and should be easy care for the new mom and tiny treasure. So I can think I can deal. The baby shower is set for April 30th so now I have a deadline! Should be easy as pie…famous last words.
It’s still pretty darn cold here so I’ve been snuggling Jellybean in hand knits. His reaction is priceless…
Not sure what I did or said to provoke this face….but when I saw it I laughed till I cried. Parenting win for sure!
This is my Baby Sophisticate #4. I didn’t add the button holes or button instead opted for an open cardigan. I made this for a friend and she returned it after her baby bear outgrew it. Now it’s keeping my little one warm. Proof that well made and well cared for knits can be passed down and down!
Happy Knitting!
Just a quick post to show off my favorite Jellybean. Here he is in a teeny tiny Baby Sophisticate! (Mind you this lasted 10 minutes until he got an unnamed bodily fluid on it but it’s acrylic so into the wash it went!) Doesn’t he make the cutest tiny little old man?
I seem to be addicted to baby sweaters lately….baby fever anyone?!?
Pattern: Baby Sophisticate – Free by Linden Down
Needles: US 8s
Yarn: Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Pistachio (190.6 yards, 157 grams, or 1.85 skeins)
Size: 12 months
Mods: I knit short sleeves by working the garter rib right after separating for the sleeves. I also knit the button band solid with no button holes. I just wanted something that would look great thrown over a long tee to keep baby snugly!
Into the baby shower stash this goes! I love this pattern, but I will admit by the end of this project I was ready for a different pattern….
Happy Knitting!
Just a quick post today…
A dear friend requested a light cardigan for her 14 month old. It has been quite cold this winter and she worries about keeping her baby bear warm!
Knitting to the rescue!!!
Pattern: Baby Sophisticate – Free by Linden Down
Size: 12 months
Needles: US 8s
Yarn: Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Berry Jam (I used just over two skeins of yarn, or 211.2 yards, or 174 grams)
Time: I whipped this out in a couple of evenings
Mods: I chose to knit short sleeves because this little tornado gets her hands into EVERYTHING and Mom is always rolling up her sleeves anyway.
Now I’m off to work and to spend some serious hours studying for my CMA exam!
Happy Knitting!
Its finally done, buttons on, and tag sewn in! 2013 Stashbustin’ #38 is complete! This officially completes all my (non-hybernating) WIPs from 2013. I feel a great weight lifted off my shoulders!
Pattern: Sophisticate by Linden Down
Size: Medium (I should have made the large)
Needles: US 8
Yarn: Caron Simpy Soft in grey
I used 1,043 yards of yarn or 562 grams. That is about 3.31 skeins of the 6oz Caron Simply Soft.
I worked on this project on and off for several months. I should have finished waaaaay faster. But I chose to savor the process and the soothing stockinette.
I love it open or all buttoned up. (Sorry for no modeled pictures….the husband has been working overtime and therefore is unavailable to help me photograph my projects while the light is good.)
The buttons are my favorite. I found some plastic buttons that look like wooden/brushed buttons in a coordinated grey tone.
I highly recommend this pattern to all knitters! It’s a paid pattern but so worth the money! It’s creative, yet simple. And the instructions are very clear….trust me, that’s not always the case!
Happy Knitting!
I had the best of intentions to finish this sweater on Christmas vacation. Yeah right, lol!
I did manage to finish both sleeves whilst traveling. (Sorry about the low light, our days are too short to get good photographs!) Here is the back view. And don’t worry the sleeves are the same length, I just didn’t get the sweater laid out very well.
And the front view:
All that’s left is to pick up and knit the button band and shawl collar! All in glorious knit stitch so it should go fast!
I have been knitting the medium size as that is what fit my measurements and gauge. However, trying this on (pre-blocking of course) it’s a bit tight. It fits, but I was hoping for more of a loose cozy sweater. I probably should have knit the large size or gone up a needle size on the medium. Live and learn! It will still be a lovely sweater.
That reminds me, I need to find some coordinating grosgrain ribbon! I want to reinforce the button band so that my button holes don’t sag. I’ve never done this but I have seen it lots in the blogging world. It always looks so sharp and sneaky!
This is Stashbustin’ #38 for those keeping score. I hope to finish this in the next couple of days to wrap up my 2013 year!
Remember this cozy cardigan from long ago? Yep, it’s finally getting some knitting time since it fell to the bottom of my WIPs back in November.
I finished the waist shaping and bottom hem in no time back in October/November. Then it fell to the bottom of my priorities. I know exactly why,. I like my sweaters to go past my waste. But I didn’t measure carefully enough when I was working the stockinette body section. I switched to garter and was several rows in when I realized it was short. Instead of ripping back I worked 3 inches of the garter border at hem instead of the pattern written 2 inches. I made the sleeve to match so all in all I don’t mind the deviation. And at least it won’t make me look like a short torso freak.
I picked it back up these past few days and I finished one sleeve and started the other. I’m making modifications from the original pattern. It is written for a totally tapered sleeve. Which is fine for a garment you don’t intend to wear anything but foundation garments under. But I want to wear this as more of outer sweater/jacket. So I’m omitting some of the decreases around the elbow.
You can see in the photo sort of what I did. I worked the first four decreases, then worked four repeats without, and finally worked the last four decreases. These makes it loose fitting on my arms and bell out slightly at the cuff. This way I can fold up the cuffs I’m working or cooking. I’m praying to the knitting gods I can make the second sleeve match (I took notes, fingers crossed).
I hope to finish this one by the end of the year, but if I don’t oh well. It’s my sweater so who cares? This is Stashbustin’ #38 for the year if you are keeping score.
Happy Knitting!
I have a BA in accounting, an MBA, and I’m a full time working accountant…but apparently this week I can’t count or read for comprehension.
My Sophisticate or Stashbustin’ #38 is finally making forward progress. I’ve completed the yoke and divided for the sleeves.
But getting to this point has been a battle. I thought I was following the increases according to the pattern. I did a stitch count at a couple of pattern repeats before the end and I was WAY closer to the end total then I should have been. Now I probably missed making some marks on my pattern as I completed a row. And I probably worked too late into the evening after a glass of wine. I literally couldn’t count to save my life. So I’m claiming total responsibility.
So I put my big girl panties on and did some quick stitch calculations. This was made a little difficult as the pattern only indicates how many sleeve stitches and how many total stitches I should have. But I’m supposedly smart so I figured it out. And just fudged the pattern to get where I needed to be. And after some re-knitting I completed the raglan increases.
It used “firmly” backwards loop cast on stitch. Not my favorite but it looks ok. But I really had to keep the loops tight to avoid holes.
Now, enter stupid error number two. I got off a section and started to complete the men’s sweater directions instead of the women’s. I knit two extra inches of stockinette that upon realization of my error I frogged those two inches….I could not follow directions to save my life. This time because of movie watching with my hubby.
But I digress. I’m off and running on to the waist shaping instructions. No wine, no late nights, and I’m making clear and dark pattern notes. At this rate I should have a sweater by spring, lol.
Happy WIP Wednesday 🙂
Remember the secret project I mentioned I started at my friends wedding? Well, I finally made enough progress to merit an update. Albeit, a small one at that.
After making a few baby sophisticates, I decided I deserved one in my size! This is Sophisticate by Linden Down and will be #38 in my stash-busting efforts. I had just not quite enough Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather….so I had to hunt down two more skeins in my dye lot. Having conquered that, I grabbed my needles and cast on!
I’m making the medium size and I’m still in the yoke section. I have a feeling that this will feel like it’s taking forever after making the mini size!
Happy Knitting!
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