Okay, okay. I've been working on something special.

I know it's been a while, but I have a good excuse.  I've been working on something special.  Here are two of my current works in progress:

That would be the Pine Forest Baby Blanket, and a 29 week old baby a-cookin'.  (And, of course, the ubiquitous Ravelry WIP maternity shirt.)  Tiny D is scheduled to arrive in early October.

Needless to say, this means that knitting for myself has been put on the side burner for now.  Because BABY KNITTING.  Baby knitting.  So cute all the time.  Also, one of my good friends is due in November, my sister-in-law is due in December, and a co-worker just had a baby this month.  So, baby knitting all the time! 

I had grand plans of knitting myself cardigans for this, but as we all know, my two sweaters are stalled and so is the shawlette I was working on for myself.  (Because baby knitting.  Also because it's freaking hot and I can't even think of sweaters at a time like this.)

Here's the first thing knit for Tiny D (whose sex remains a mystery until October):

It's a hat!  (clearly)  A tiny pumpkin hat!  (yes, I can see that)
Adapted from a couple of different pumpkin patterns.

The blanket is almost done and will get its own post because it's gorgeous.  But here's the yarn (Madeline Tosh Vintage) along with some Noro that will become a sweater.

Finally, here's a pair of adorable booties knit for the co-worker's new baby girl.  They claim to be a size 6 month, and clearly I have no idea what size baby feet are because they seem really huge. 

Pattern: Flower Stitch Booties from 60 Quick Baby Knits
Needles: Size 4/3.5mm
Yarn: Misc. Cascade 220
Ravelry Link

So, basically, expect lots more baby knitting to come.  :)

Oh, yeah - Christmas!

Hey there, blog!  Long time no... blog.

Here's the promised Christmas update - I made my brother the very coziest sweater in the whole wide world.  I LOVE this pattern!  My favorite part is the super wide raglan increases for the sleeves.  As I mentioned before, though, apparently you're supposed to wash your gauge swatches... hmmm... so it grew like a monster.  Also, this holiday season was particularly hectic, so there are only candid shots of him wearing it.  But, here you go!

Pattern: Ranger, by Jared Flood
Yarn: random yarn from the G-ma stash, DK-ish weight
Needles:  US size 7 & 8
Ravelry link

 

The Husband, the Brother and me in our Christmas sweaters

 

Paul looking classy by the fireplace.

My BFF texted me pictures all year of various Muppet and sock-monkey themed hats.  My BFF and I are serious Muppet fans.  Like, seriously.  We make involuntary Muppet noises when discussing the Muppets.  (Don't get me started on the new movie - OH MY GOODNESS.  PERFECTION.)  She did a project on Jim Henson when she was in elementary school, and my brother and I starred in her video.  So, anyway... I decided she needed a Fozzie hat.  (Did I mention she also says "wokka wokka" in casual conversation?  Truth.) 

While  I was crocheting the details for this hat, I kept involuntarily giggling.  Seriously, you can ask my husband.  Especially when I got to the hat.  I amuse myself so much.

Pattern: improvised
Yarn: random from G-ma's stash
Hook: K?  I think? 
No Ravelry link yet... I should get on that.

Pictures!

 

 She's wearing an apron because of reasons.  (Those reasons being that I gave her an apron for Christmas.  It's not a repressed women thing; it's an apron with a BEER POCKET and ATTACHED BOTTLE OPENER thing. You can find them here.)

 This is her Foozie face (seriously, have you SEEN the Muppets yet?  Best movie of the year.)

And one final picture from right after I made it.  LOVE!

Sometimes, Gwen crochets things.

So, the massive Christmas knitting project is coming along nicely, but you know me (okay, or maybe you don't) - I get bored with long projects and have to take a break for some instant gratification. 
One of my friends on the facebooks posted some hats she'd crocheted recently (for children, mind you), and I thought I should see if I could find a penguin pattern.  Oh, did I ever.  And it required bulky yarn.  And I bought the yarn this afternoon.  And took a break for a few hours to go to a hockey game.  And the hat is still done and on my head.

Crocheting is magically fast!!

Anyway, here's the ridiculous awesome hat.

Pattern: Penguin Bomber Hat, by Micah York
Hook size: K and G
Yarn: Bernat Softee chunky
Ravelry link

As you can see, the pets were not as impressed as they should have been.  And after the addition of tassels to tie the ear flaps up, I deem this hat complete.  And awesome.

Long overdue Christmas update

Greetings, all y'all.  So, I've been knitting away but have refused to post anything new here until I post the Christmas stuff because I'm stubborn like that, but have also been too lazy to post the Christmas stuff, but I realize now it's Valentine's Day, so maybe I should get on that, eh?  

Here's all the Christmas knitting in all of its glory:

For my brand new nephew who was born January 31, a delightful little sweater!  I bought the penguin buttons a while ago, and finally found a suitable project for them.  And, of course, after the freehanded llama worked out so well on the last baby sweater, I had to add a penguin to this one.  

Pattern: Paxton, by StitchyMama

Yarn: Debbie Bliss EcoBaby Fair Trade

Needles: US 6/4mm

Ravelry link 

Next we have a super pretty and soft and amazing Haruni shawl for my mom.  (Let me just say now that I really want everything I gave away for Christmas - yes, even the penguin sweater.)

Pattern: Haruni, by Emily Ross
Yarn: Malabrigo sock yarn
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Ravelry Link

 

Moving right along, we have a pair of Ysolda hats made for my aunts.  The yarn was an acrylic blend, and say what you will about acrylics, I thought it knit up very nicely and is soft and delicious to boot.  May not block as well as wool, but it works for me!

Pattern: Rose Red, by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Plymoth Yarn Encore DK

Needles: US 6/4mm

Ravelry link 

Pattern: Snapdragon Tam, by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore DK
Needles: US 6/4mm
Ravelry link

Finally we have these amazingly incredible convertible mittens I made for my BFF.  I LOVE THIS PATTERN!!!  Modified them from the original mittens using panuru's (Ravelry) mods.  Anyway, they are awesome.

Pattern: Chimera, by Julia Mueller
Yarn: some sort of blend - I think it's Wool Ease, but it was found in my stash, so who knows
Needles: US 6/4mm
Ravelry link

Since Christmas, I made an impromptu hat, started a fair isle fingerless mitt project, made an ill fitting sweater (which will need to be frogged to make a proper size - but more on that later), finished a pair of socks, and am about 80% done with another sweater.  So, yeah.  I've been busy.  :) 

I don't want to spoil you with too many posts tonight, so I'll have more tomorrow.

A Scottish Hat

So, my BFF went to Scotland donkey's years ago, and brought me two luscious skeins of Scottish yarn.  I kept trying to make something with the first skein, and nothing was turning out right, so I kept frogging it and setting it aside.  I finally decided to try the Foliage Hat from Knitty, and it worked!  It's a tad big for my tiny noggin, but still cozy.  And it was super quick to knit.

It was a hard color to photograph, but it's closest to this unworn picture - a nice deep purple.


Pattern: Foliage (Emilee Mooney), Knitty Fall 2007

Yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Marl, color - amethyst

Needles: Harmony interchangeable circulars - US sizes 9 & 10.5
Ravelry Link