FO - Surprise!!!

Hooray - another FO & again, not a pair of socks. Now it seems like I'm on the baby sweater kick.

May I present Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket

Completed BSJ w/buttons, originally uploaded by Arctic Knitter.

This is actually the 2nd BSJ I've knit - but the 1st that I've finished. I cast on one earlier for the impending birth of my friend Jen & Steve's baby #2. The original BSJ was knit w/yarn in shades of blue. Then - on June 2 we received word that shades of pink might be more appropriate for the BSJ. Fortunately I'd thought ahead & had cast on during the Alaska cruise. Now that baby #2 had arrived with two X chromosomes, I was inspired to finish the BSJ completely. The original BSJ will have to wait for a baby who possesses a Y chromosome.

I love how it resembles nothing like a sweater while you're knitting & even after you bind off. I love how Elizabeth Zimmerman asks you to trust her. Trust indeed! Once markers are placed appropriately, construction is rather simple. Above you can see the 'amoeba' on the left. I had already seamed the top shoulder before I took a photo. I think I was just too excited to finish!

Inspired by Knitting Nuggets' YouTube video, I decided to also add two eyelet rows for a little pizazz. I added the first right after the increase in stitches to add fullness for the cuffs and then again after I bound off stitches for the neck. I think it looks pretty cute - just right for a little beba with two X chromosomes.



Details:

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock: Mediumweight
Colorway: Faulty Dyer
Needle: Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeable in US4
Mods: Eyelet rows, 3 buttons rather than 5, 3 stitch i-cord bind-off with integrated buttonholes.
Size: 3 - 6 months, I'd guess

I think I'll knit this several times more - great TV knitting. Now to find recipients!

~Ciao

Not Socks!!

Hey look - finally a FO that's not a pair of socks!!


Introducing the Tulip Cardigan, take 2. If you recall, I knit one for my niece a year ago. This version was cast on during our 2008 summer road trip & finished this evening. It's for my good friend, Julie (who doesn't read this blog... or at least I don't think she does....) - whose baby shower is this Friday. Nothing like a deadline to get 2 sleeves, attached i-cord & loose ends all tied up.

Details:

Pattern: Tulip Cardigan by Coldwater Collaborative

Yarn: Dream in Color - The fabulous folks at coldwater collaborative put together the yarn & pattern in a kit. I can't tell you how much of each color I used, but I know it's more economical than buying 6 separate skeins. Unless you happen to have lots of odds & ends of DIC lying around, I'd go for the kit. The kit comes in both girl & boy varieties.

Needle: US size 7. The pattern calls for a size 5 for the attached i-cord & seed stitch trim. But of course, while I thought I had all of my needles with me during our road trip, alas - no size 5 double points, or tips available. So - I did the entire garment with one size needle. I don't think the little be-ba will care, do you?

Here's a close-up of the applied i-cord (cast on 3, pick up stitch on sweater, slide 4 stitches to left needle, K2, ssk, pick up & knit stitch from sweater, slide 4 stitches to left, etc) & seed stitch trim. I made the ties a bit long so they can be tied in a bow.

A gratuitous photo our our almost 13 year old (look at her gray muzzle) dog, Joulee (named after the unit of energy, Joule - she was a very energetic puppy & adolescent). She just wanted her photo taken - I think she forgot how old she is. Isn't she sweet?

Okay - what to knit next? Hey, Teach, part 2? More of the February Lady Sweater that's gathering dust, finish the Shur'tugal mate? Choices, choices. I'd better choose soon - school's over in a week & then I leave to meet my fabulous Aunt for our north bound Alaska cruise. :0)

Ciao~

Better....

Do You Remember this? - It's the Sweet Baby Cardigan that the Yarn Harlot raved about last spring. Of course - I jumped on that bandwagon & knit one up for my niece. I was so pleased with the results & the yarn - oh, the yarn. Dream in color, is just so... dreamy. Anyhow, I couldn't imagine how this sweater could get any better...

Well - now I know. Sweaters for babies are always better on the actual baby. Don't you agree - take a look... Here's my new niece sporting her new duds...

Isn't she just the cutest thing? And smart too - I imagine she read this book on her first try. Don't you just love the baby 'comb over'? Just like her grandpa.... (Are comb-overs a genetic thing? I must have missed that lecture during my undergraduate studies....)

Ooh - don't you just want to give her a big hug? Unfortunately, my new baby niece lives almost as far away as you can get from Anchorage, AK - on the East Coast. Fortunately, her mommy, my younger sister, has agreed to fly over 12 hours w/a 6 month old to visit this March (ha ha ha ha ha....). I can't wait to meet her in person & give her a big ole' Auntie smooch. Of course, I can't wait until she's a teenager & gives her parents all sorts of grief. (Said by a mother of two boys, a teacher of teenage girls, and a woman who can remember what she was like as a teenager). Oh - Niece S. and I are going to have lots to talk about. :0)

But - here is my favorite picture of Niece S. sporting her new sweater her Auntie made especially for her....

"I Don't Want to Wear This Sweater, Mommy!!!!"

Yup - it doesn't get better than that. :0)

Out There Having Fun

In the warm California sun. Ahh... San Diego. So much to do! San Diego is a wonderful place to visit. Great weather & lots of activities for the whole family to enjoy. My husband's family is originally from San Diego and he and I graduated from U.C.S.D. so we find ourselves down here almost every summer. I can't imagine trying to enjoy all San Diego has to offer in one visit.

Let's see - since my last post, what have we done? We've been to the beach. No photos - I was worried about getting sand in the camera. I just hung out on the sand watching the kids play & enjoying the "scenery" - use your imagination here. :-)
I've done a bit of knitting. I finished Jaywalker #1. I don't think the Jaywalker & I will have a long term relationship. In fact, I think we need a break. Sure - I'll come back for a visit. We just weren't meant to be. On the other hand, I did find another love. Remember the "Tulip Sweater" Stephanie blogged about June 5th? Remember how she just couldn't stop knitting it? Well - I jumped on the sweater bandwagon & immediately fell under its spell. The yarn! Dream in Color yarn! OMG!!! It is sooooo soft, the colors so rich. I just couldn't take my eyes and hands off of this yarn. While I was knitting this sweater, I kept fantasizing about what other projects could benefit from this yarn. I mean - knitting this sweater almost made me want to have another baby so I could knit more sweaters! Wade is relieved that those thoughts quickly passed. My sister is expecting a baby at the end of August, so I'll just have to knit for him/her (the gender is yet unknown). If you would like to fall under the spell of this sweater, please visit Coldwater Collaborative . All babies should have this sweater! Have a peek of where I am thus far: Only the sleeves to go. Did I mention there is NO SEAMING involved? Anyone who knows me well (Hi Margaret!) knows I avoid seaming like the plague. However- I've vowed to turn over a new leaf & pick up that needle & actually finish some projects that are sitting at home in my closet waiting to come together.

The Lower 48 Yarn Crawl has continued. While here I've visited "Common Threads" and "The Black Sheep" both located off S. Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas. Both fabulous stores. No new yarn - a couple of books (including a finishing book). I'm waiting to find some STR yarn when I get up to the Pac Northwest.
Today we went to the Wild Animal Park. I haven't been there since I was in college (14 years ago!) so it was nice to return. Nice day - not too hot thankfully. Here's some photos of what you can find in the park:











Tomorrow is my birthday - I'll leave it that my age contains two of my favorite digits & that my favorite band is Duran Duran. Nothing planned thus far - hopefully dinner out & getting together with a college friend. I'm sure some knitting and coffee will also be on tap. I've cast on a Monkey Sock using my new Lorna's Laces yarn in colorway "Somerset".

Ciao~