A Sweater For Jellybean

Its spring here in Kansas but a tiny part of me is thinking ahead to fall. Jellybean is 7 months now and already wearing 12 month clothing. I REALLY want to have some hand knit sweaters for him this fall. I’m guessing I need to knit 18 months or bigger, lol.

My problem is that I don’t have a lot of knitting time let alone Ravelry browsing time. I hopped on my queue the other day and fell a bit down the rabbit hole. So I’m asking dear readers and fellow knitters for help. What should I knit? Here are my requirements:

  • Top down seamless construction 
  • Masculine pattern
  • Sport weight yarn and bigger
  • No lace
  • No cables 
  • Sizes 18 months and up

I might be willing to negotiate on seamless and willing to do seams if the pattern is that good. But I need to know your suggestions and “go-to” toddler knits. I’m looking for chic and simple for this sleep deprived knitter. Please post or link them in the comments. I can’t wait to see what comes!

Happy Knitting

Goals and The New Year

I have a thriving baby, a career, loving family, and a pretty amazing husband. I just don’t knit as much anymore as the aforementioned things are taking a bit more time. I don’t mind, to all things there is a season. I’ll soon enough have more knitting time and miss these previous days.

That being said, I still have some knitting goals for 2015:

1: Ravel all my projects
2: Keep better track of my yarn in versus yarn out (I heart spreadsheets)
3: Make at least two pairs of socks for my loving husband
4: Knit a winter sweater for Jellybean (12-18 months size)
5: Finish all my 2014 carryover projects
6: Find a space for and use my cedar chest

There you are, nothing drastic but rather logical and reasonable goals for a knitting mommy and wife.

Do you set goals?

Finish It or Frog It

Jellybean is napping and I’m taking advantage of it. It’s the end of the year and it’s time to go through my WIPs in a “finish it or frog it” frame of mind.

Here is what I’ve decided so far..

The Baby Bunting from Jellybean’s nursery…Frog it!! With Jellybean coming early I just couldn’t finish this and honestly don’t have the time or energy to work this now. I’d rather knit him cute clothes now that we now that we know he’s a he, lol./home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2036.jpg

A random ribbon scarf from at least two years ago…Frog it!! I was working these for craft fairs, and in which I’m no longer interested. So into the frog pond this went and the yarn back into my stash./home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2037.jpg

Fingerless Mits from who knows how long ago made from leftover bits from some sweater yarn? …. TBD. I don’t want to frog these as I could really use some fingerless mits, but I don’t have the urge to knit them currently. I’m going think more on these./home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2038.jpg

My Plain Rye socks…Finish them!! These woolen socks are perfect for my cold feet. I’ve finished the first sock and then fallen victim to the dreaded SSS. I’ve put these on my night stand to finish this winter!!/home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2039.jpg

Random sock project…Frog it!! These pre-date my Ravelry tracking. I don’t even know what in the heck these are, lol. Nuff said../home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2040.jpgMy Cuff to Cuff Sweater…Finish it! I’m excited to wear this. It might not get done this winter. But get done it shall! I’m enjoying this knit so I’m not in any hurry.

IMG_0679

 

There you have it! My craft room feels so much better already and my project bags are organized and ready to go for 2015. Anyone else out there do any purging these last few days of 2014?

 

 

WIP Wednesday: Cuff To Cuff Sweater

My sweater is growing! Here is the latest progress on my Cuff To Cuff sweater!

IMG_0845.JPG

This is an interesting construction. It’s worked side to side. I’ve completed the first sleeve, one front, and the back. Now I’m on to the second front. The stockinette is very curly and I’m concerned this is going to be small. But I believe in the pattern and my search. Blocking is indeed miraculous! I have faith 🙂

Happy knitting !

WIP Wednesday: Cuff to Cuff Sweater

My knitting time is basically nonexistent now that I’m nursing Jellybean. But I manage a few rows here and there when he is napping or chilling in someone else’s arms.

Since my last post on this sweater I had completed the sleeve and now I’ve finished the first front/side panel (depending on how you look at it). I’m now working the back portion of the sweater!

IMG_0679.JPG

IMG_0680.JPG

(The true color is closer to the first photo)

These few stitches here and there really help me find my center in the midst of baby poop, crying, laughing, and nursing. This motherhood stuff is no joke and I’ve never been so tired in my entire life. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Pardon me while I go take a short nap whilst Jellybean is down for the count as well!

Happy Knitting!

Multi-tasking Saturday!

I feel a bit like a proper knitting mother today. Who says you can’t take a breastfeeding class and knit your Cuff To Cuff sweater at the same time?

IMG_0318.JPG

I’ve finished the first sleeve just knitting in class and cast on the body stitches. Not to mention learned a million things about nursing. I call this day a win!

Happy Knitting!!

Finally…Cuff To Cuff

Now that the pressure of Jellybean’s blanket is off and I’ve started the nursery bunting, I’ve finally let myself start my fall sweater!

The yarn has been wound, pattern read/notated, and the whole shebang organized into a project bag for a couple of weeks. I can’t tell you how excited I am to get my fingers into this yarn!! It’s some Berroco Vintage in a luscious teal I picked up at a yarn shop going out of business awhile back.

IMG_0315.JPG

This color just makes me happy! What makes you happiest about your current WIP?

Sweater For Fall

I’m less than two months away from Jellybean’s arrival and I find that pregnancy has fired up my urge “KNIT ALL THE THINGS”. I’m almost done with Jellybean’s blanket. Only one more row to go and then a simple crochet edging and it’s done!!

Yeah yeah…I have two pairs of socks on the needles for #sockswithsarah. And I haven’t really touched them except for a stitch here and there. I’ve been really busy nesting in my nursery, cooking tomato sauce, making apple jelly, and having some alone time with the hubby before Jellybean gets here.

I perused my Ravelry cue looking for an easy to wear open front sweater. Something I can throw over a long sleeve tee in winter or tank in the spring! And I found the Cuff to Cuff Sweater by Julie Farmer.

LW2594_project_medium2

(Photo: © Coats & Clark)

I love this sweater for so many reason not least of it will be forgiving to my post baby body as I adapt to being a mom, lol. This sweater was Knit ‘n Style in 2012 and I’ve had my eye on it since. I have some smushy Berroco Vintage in a lovely teal/blue color burning a whole in my stash. I picked up a sweaters worth at a LYS closeout sale last year for a steal.

Any change to get this done before Jellybean…who knows? I’m not stressing about it. Everything will get done eventually. Just need to take good pattern notes along the way in case it takes a longer than expected time out!

One downside to this project….the yarn is not caked. Sigh, time to break out the yarn swift and ball winder. So much winding to do before I can put yarn on needles!!!

FO Friday: Sprout Cardigan

Ladies and gentlemen….we have a winner! 20140720-072515-26715709.jpg 20140720-072514-26714640.jpgI had to add almost 5 inches of garter stitch to the bottom of this sweater. But you know what? It looks pretty darn good! This is now a very comfy and gorgeous sweater.

Pattern: Sprout Cardigan

Yarn: Berroco Comfort Chunky in Pumpkin

Size: Medium (I should have made the large)

Needles: US 9

Even with all my struggles with this sweater, I still love it. This is definitely a keeper in my wardrobe. Not to mention on of the few sweaters that fit around the growing baby bump. I think all of my initial problems would have been solved by simply making the large sweater. The large version better fits my torso length even those my bust measurement matches up with the medium. Please don’t let my struggles deter anyone from this pattern. It is a pretty nifty garment!!

Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!