Wave Jumper

I finished! I actually finished knitting on Friday, and wove in the ends early Saturday morning (early, like 5:30. Not only couldn't I sleep, neither could either of the boys.) Yesterday, I went to Joann's to find buttons (cost me $0.75!), and I sewed them on this afternoon.



(That's little girl's dolly who so graciously agreed to model the dress, until the live model arrives. I don't know if I should be nervous that it will be too small. Oh well, if it is, the doll will come to own it!)

Here are the details:

Pattern: Wave Jumper by Leslie Barbazette, in the 101 Designer One Skein Wonders book.
Yarn: On Your Toes 4-ply by S.R. Kertzer
Modifications: I put the button holes on the back straps, rather than the front. If I were to make it again, I would make the front straps shorter and the back straps longer. Also, you wind up joining yarn and then immediately binding off for the neckline. I would have knit across the first strap, bound off for the neckline, and then worked the second strap. That way, I would have joined the yarn at the strap, and not the neckline.

Today's knitting is a baby hat for charity. I've started it, but I'm not feeling great today, and plan on taking a nap. Tomorrow I will either continue with Cotton Kisses Cardigan I cast on for yesterday, or cast on for the Ellis Dress. (I meant to cast on for the dress before the cardigan, but I couldn't find the right size needles yesterday. I found them this morning.)

Happy knitting all!

A Little Freak Out

So, I've hit 33 weeks in this pregnancy. And I just learned last week, that I'm considered full-term at 37 weeks, and not at 38 weeks. Which means, theoretically, this baby could arrive anywhere in the next 4 to 9 weeks (which is kind of crazy!) Now, I'm not one to freak out, but 4 weeks sounds REALLY CLOSE and I do NOT feel ready!

Besides the lack of knitting (of which there is a HUGE lack of), I haven't washed any little clothes yet. We haven't figured out where this baby is going to sleep once we're passed the feeding every two hours stage. We have no name for this child. Not a single thing (except for one little outfit) has been purchased with this new little one in mind. I might start to freak out a little bit.

I can say, however, that house cleaning/organizing has been happening, and that definitely helps the prepared feeling. We've done this before, and we know that newborns really only need a place to sleep, some clothes, and access to food. So.....I should probably get on that clothes washing deal.

6 1/2" of the wave jumper are completed. (Because I knit through Bible study tonight. But, we didn't really have a study - more of an organizational meeting). It might actually be finished this month!!!!

Happy Knitting!

Something for Baby

FINALLY!!!

The fact that this baby has not ONE knitted item from me has really been bugging me. And I've been working on the loooooongest project ever (otherwise known as the Wave Jumper), but I don't even think I've hit 4" yet. So, last night I put the jumper down and knit a quick hat.


The yarn is Berroco Comfort DK. The pattern is from Claire Montgomerie's book Easy Baby Knits. I've knit a number of these hats for other people - it's my go-to quick knit hat. Plus, this hat will fit nicely under the baby's going home sweater set. (It's actually the same set my brother, me, and the other little ones came home in. My mom made it. However, the bonnet doesn't really keep their heads warm - my brother was born in April and I was born in June.)

I feel better that baby on the way has something knitted. I will feel MUCH better when the Wave Jumper is done.

Also to do this month (besides finishing the jumper, of course) - a hat for charity and a knitted Christmas ornament. (I joined a group on Ravelry that is preparing for next Christmas, and I found a Norwegian Star Ornament that is PERFECT for all the Norwegians in my family!)

Happy Knitting!

The Slowest Project Ever

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know I'm a huge fan of the One Skein Wonders series. (BTW, I neglected to include the fact that my husband got me the newest book - Luxury One Skein Wonders - for Christmas in my knitterly gifts post. Shame on me!) It won't be a surprise then, that my first baby knitting project is the Wave Jumper from the designer book. The dress is a modified feather and fan pattern, and super cute. It's knit using sock yarn on size 1 needles. (I'm using something called "On Your Toes". I wasn't sure if I would like this dress in a variegated colorway, but I'm loving it!)


SIZE 1!

I cast on for this project on January 2nd. As of today, I have knit 2 inches. I need 8 inches before dividing for the armholes. I had to take a little break.

So, I cast on for a cabled baby hat from the Luxury book (not in luxury yarn.)

Happy and speedy knitting to you all!

Gifts Received

I did receive some WONDERFUL knitterly gifts this Christmas.

From my mom, I got this:


The pattern book for the Great American Afghan. I can't say that I plan on ever making the entire afghan (although I've seen one, and it's SO BEAUTIFUL!), but I thought I'd make some of the squares and hang them up as art. Or, make a smaller blanket. I love that each square has something to teach, and is a small way to practice new skills.

Mom also gave me this:

The kit includes enough yarn to make one hat, but the directions for all of the hats pictured. (Which is really 3 hats, with varying borders and ear flaps.) I probably won't start the hat until the fall, but I'm excited nonetheless. I was very pleased with the Norwegian Hat I made myself, and I'm excited to make one for one of the kids (and who knows, maybe they'll all get one next winter.)

Finally, my best friend gave me this book:


It's really brought back to mind my resolution to be knitting for charity. (And there are a TON of different charities for knitting.) This book includes some history of charitable knitting and highlights different charities, as well as having some really cute patterns (the preemie jester hats are TOO CUTE!) Because of the craziness that a new baby is going to bring, I want to be reasonable in my charity knitting goals, so I think I will plan to make at least one baby/preemie hat a month this year. Hold me to that, okay?

Happy Knitting!

February Lady Sweater

Saturday night, I finished weaving in the ends of my February Lady Sweater. I'm very pleased with it, and can't wait to wear it! (Hopefully, today!) I used Encore Worsted (because I have small children, and I needed this to be washable and affordable), and knit it with my Denise Needles, using a 52" cord (which made trying it on very easy). Hopefully, I'll wear it today and get my husband to take a picture of me in it!

Happy knitting!

Gifts

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL and BLESSED holiday season! I certainly did - our Christmas Day at the in-laws was much more relaxing than normal (30 people in a house makes it difficult to relax), and no one went overboard on gifts for the kids this year (thank goodness!) My in-laws did give our family a gift - a Nintendo Wii, the sports edition. Now, I'm not all that into video games - I think the last one I put any effort into was Super Mario Brothers 3 on the original Nintendo - but I am very excited! I LOVE to play tennis, and so rarely get the opportunity. I'm hoping the Wii Tennis will make me feel better! I got some knitterly gifts too, but I'll post about those another day.

Today, I'd like to focus on gifts given. I'm pleased to say that everything I knit seemed to be well received. My sister-in-law LOVED her Winter White Tam. She and her husband own a Model Ford A and participate in these driving events where they try to dress in clothing appropriate to the era. She is psyched that the hat fits into her wardrobe. Also, out of all the in-laws, she appreciates hand made items the most, and so it's such a pleasure to give them to her!

(That's a necklace little girl gave her.)

My other sister-in-law really liked her Branching Out (although, I don't seem to have a picture of her with it.) She had stated at Thanksgiving that she was going to buy some scarves, as they seem to be the new in accessory. I was happy to help her out!

My nephew was super into his Reasonably Hip hat. I think that was the gift I was most excited to give.



Finally, I gave a hat and scarf set to my husband's sister's-in-law brother. He works outdoors most days, and really appreciated having something to keep himself warm.