Tag Archives: top down

A Sweater…Minus The Buttons

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PB’s Gidday Baby sweater is all done but the buttons.

I need to give this thing a good bath and blocking. It’s not going to solve my obvious sleeve tension issues but it will even out the body stitches and give a nice fresh smell. The sleeves didn’t turn out as long as I thought and I probably should have extended them. But I was kinda over knitting them and bracelet length are okay for babies right?

I need to dig out some buttons as well. I’m really not sure what kind or color I’m looking for. I may just hit the fabric store and browse until something strikes my fancy.

Happy Knitting!!

Gauge Is A Thing

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PB’s Gidday Baby sweater has one sleeve. But my sleep deprived noticed one small problem.

Guess what…..gauge is a thing….

I just grabbed the DPNs at the bottom of my project bag and merrily knit away. Well, they are one size smaller than the needles I used for the body. And boy howdy can you tell they are different gauges. I quickly made the executive decision that I don’t get enough knitting time to rip them out and redo them. I’m just going to call this an “unintentional design feature” and move on the second sleeve.

On the upside….I did manage to minimize the laddering between my DPNs, lol. Happy Knitting!!

Gidday Baby Update

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PB’s Gidday Baby cardigan is done through the body!

I’m so glad the button bands are knit as you go. Not that I mind button bands but I’m absolute rubbish at picking up stitches as I go. I never get the ratio just right. But I’m pleased with this cardigan so far. Berroco vintage is a nice washable workhorse yarn. The sizing is working out decent. I’m not sure this is a 12 month exactly but it’s big enough to fit PB this fall. I still have to work the sleeves and they include some striping.

The only hesitation I have about this garment is the color combo. It’s not horrible but the cream and blue sometimes just catch my eye in an odd way sometimes. But considering PB is gonna spit up and chew on it…..I’m not sure the colors matter all that much, lol. And this is using up some relatively old stash for me so that’s a plus. My hubby keeps saying as long as she warm that’s all that matters!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Gidday Baby Cardigan

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I can’t help myself…..my tiny PB is coming to work with me and she is gonna need A LOT of sweaters. So after the Sporty Cardigan was complete I did some Ravelry searching and came up with my next sweater for PB.

I picked the Gidday Baby Sweater by Georgie Nicolson because I loved how the garter yoke looked with the stripes and the eyelets. And I adored the simple two button closure at the top while the rest of the sweater is worn open.

The only catch was that I wanted to make 9 or 12 month sized sweater for PB to grow into and this pattern is only written for newborn and 3 months. So I decided to be the boss of my own knitting and used some logic with a sprinkling of math. I took the yarn weight from DK to worsted and the needles to US 7s and 8s. Based on my known gauge with Berroco Vintage and some slight length alterations…I was pretty sure I could make this a larger sweater.

I’m following the 3 month size stitch counts for the pattern instructions but modeling the schematic off of a 12 month sized commercially made baby sweater. Fingers crossed this doesn’t come back to bite me. If so, then it will make a good story for the blog! I’m only 8 rows in and it seems okay so far, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: PB’s Sporty Cardigan

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Hey look….it’s an adorable baby sweater! The Sporty Cardigan for PB is complete and even washed and blocked….

Pattern: Sporty Cardigan for Boys and Girls by Cecilie Clark

Yarn: Frabjous Fibers Messenger Kit in Color #13. I used 100 grams of the 170 gram set for a six month sized sweater.

Needles: US 4s and US 6s

Mods: Omitted the sleeve shaping for my hulk of a baby. Omitted the bottom button of the button band because Jellybean lost the fifth button before I could sew it on or take it away from him….

Seriously this chunk of a two month old is ALWAYS fussy when it’s overly air conditioned. Pop a sweater on her and shes happy as a clam. But don’t you dare put a hat on her! This six month sized sweater fits just about right for my two month old….insert insane laughter here…. I snapped a quick photo of her in it before I had the buttons sewn on, she didn’t seem to mind.

Happy Knitting!!

 

Sporty Cardigan Update

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I may have an addiction. My Sporty Cardigan for PB is cruising right along.

I managed to work through the raglan increases, separate for the sleeves and work a good chunk of the body! It’s been a quick minute since I had to do so many purl back rows. So much of my last few projects have been garter or in the round that I haven’t had much occasion to do many purl rows!

I’m really hoping against all hopes that I can get this done before I go back to work or before she out grows it….which ever comes first, lol!

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Downpour Socks

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The PALKAL or Podcast Along Knit Along hosted by Michelle of the Actually Knitting podcast was in full swing this summer. I didn’t play along as my knitting mojo was more geared to working on non-podcast related things. But I sure did take advantage of some of the coupon codes. When Susie White of the Prairie Girls Knit and Spin podcast released her latest pattern I jumped on it and used her PALKAL coupon code.

These top down socks feature a slipped stitch style panel down the leg and foot and utilize an afterthought heel. I don’t usually do top down because I hate turning a heel and having holes. I just haven’t gotten my brain to work that way yet. So this seemed to right up my alley.

Now I know, awhile ago I started Susie’s ZigZagular Socks back in early 2016. I still have the toe of the first sock hibernating in my box downstairs in the craft room. I just couldn’t deal with the cable and counting and being interrupted by a toddler. It’s an amazing pattern and yarn combo I will get back to some day…I swear.

But for now I want to try these! I pulled some Kirby Wirby self-striping sparkle sock yarn from my stash and printed the Downpour pattern. I’m getting ready to drive 8+ hours with my 2.5 yo…I feel like special knitting and a lot of coca cola is going to make that bearable…

Happy Knitting!!

WIP Wednesday: One Sock Down

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My #sockswithsarah progress has been slow but progressing. I finally finished my first plain rye sock.

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I’m using Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Squirrel Heather using the Rye pattern by TinCanKnits.

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And to avoid SSS or second sock syndrome I’ve already cast on the mate!

Are you following along with Socks With Sarah?

FO Friday: Assisted Hatchling

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I finally have a FO to show!!! 2014 Stashbustin’ #12 is in the books!

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Pattern: Assisted Hatchling by Elizabeth Ditchburn Dew

Size: 3 months

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda

Needles: US 8 circulars and US 8 DPNs

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I used 217.7 yards of yarn or about 117 grams. This was just over half of one skein of yarn. The pattern is free and well written. I would definitely make this one again. My bind off at the hem went kind of wonky. Even blocking didn’t fix it all the way. Can’t decide if it bothers me enough to rip out and redo, lol. I do love the open neck detail that makes sure it fits over babies big noggin.

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Now I just need to add buttons at the next. Nothing in my “button stash” fits the character of this garment. So I need to go shopping. Or….I’m seriously considering snaps. How easy would those be for a new mommy to fasten!? Any thoughts from the blogging world?

WIP Wednesday: Assisted Hatching

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My knitting has been few and far between lately. But before I lost my knitting mojo, I did make some good progress on my Assisted Hatching sweater…20140217-123332.jpg

 

For a memory refresher, you can find the pattern here. I’m making the smallest size using Caron Simply Soft in Pagoda. My cast off edge at the bottom has quite a bit of curl….I may or may not rip it out and re-do it. I can’t decide yet. Next up, sleeves!!

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I do love the side vent opening for baby’s big noggin. What a great way to get a good fit and not smush baby’s face as it’s going on!

Happy Knitting!