Way Behind, But I Am Catching Up

It seems like 'ages' since I have posted but calendar-wise it hasn't been that long. My problem is I think I should be able to start something today and finish it in two days; and while there are some people who are nimble knitters and capable of knitting much faster than I, I have to accept that I am not superwoman.

I was finally able to finish the hat and scarf set for my friend Steve who lives in Arizona. He walks his dog Riley in the wee hours of the morning and for those who don't know, the desert can reach uncomfortably cold temperatures before the sun rises, especially in the fall and winter.

I was also sent photos of little Ruth wearing a hat and scarf I knitted for her this winter. She looks adorable and she is a natural for the camera. You can judge for yourself...

Here is Ruth, modeling her hat and scarf. She is 2 and a half years old and quite the fashionista! She loves clothes already.... Today's little ones are quite different from the 'old days.'

Here is Ruth with her brand new baby brother Andrew. I knitted a car seat blanket, sweater, hat and socks for Andrew as well; but he wasn't in the mood to model when this picture was taken. He just felt like relaxing and living the kingly life....

Here is the scarf and hat for Steve. I used Brown Sheep's wool and mohair blend.

I do have two pairs of adult socks, a shawl, another scarf and a vest on my knitting list, but I am not "feeling it" right now. Do you ever feel that you need to take a vacation from the usual things you do and turn your attentions elsewhere?? That is where I am right now. I have tons of reading I need to do. I've ordered three books and have only read about 20 pages so far. So to obtain more of a balance in my creative energy, I have already "pulled back" from the everyday 'picking up the needles.' I have drifted into 'casual mode.' It's time for me to languor and relax; to spend time looking at who I am and who I want to become over the next few years. It's time to nourish and nurture myself and spend a lot more time on me..... It's something we all need to do from time to time so that we won't get burned out.

Latest Off the Needles.....

It's been quite a while (at least by my standards) since I have posted photos of finished knitting projects, so here it is.

These items have been delivered to the Drake family in my town. It's not my first delivery, but this winter they added to their family and now have a baby boy named Andrew. So here's to little Ruth and Andrew Drake!

Here are some photos......

Here is a Car Seat Blanket for Andrew

Socks in wool for Andrew

Thumb-less wool mittens for Andrew...

Sweater and Hat for Andrew. The hat was knitted in wool for extra warmth

Sweater, Hat, Mittens and Cabled Scarf for Ruth. The scarf, hat, and mittens are wool.

The back of the sweater.........

Close-up of the hat......

As you can see; the background is SNOW...... That dreaded word. Thank goodness it was only about 3 inches of the stuff; all crusty and hard!

And Yet, Another Attempt

I have been "at it" again with the Baby Surprise Sweater. I can say that this time, my decreases finally 'lined up' properly, but I created a problem when I switched brands of yarn to add a color ( turquoise) and it was not the same 'thickness' as the main color, even though both yarns are listed as worsted weight. But I'll know better next time, and this only adds to my 'learning curve.'

Oh; I almost forgot to add that I increased the sleeve length to the Baby Surprise Sweater. The original pattern has sleeves about three-quarters long. That will never do in the cold weather, so I added length and ribbed cuffs to keep the cold out.

Both of these sweater sets are being given to two wonderful little children in my neighborhood. One, a boy is a year old, the other, a girl will be two years old in a few months.

When I create cold weather items for babies, I like to make the mittens and hats out of wool and "felt" them so that little heads and hands don't suffer.

Anyway; here are the photos of both. In case you are not aware; you can click on any picture and get a larger view of it.



This isn't a Baby Surprise Sweater. The pattern can be found on the Lionbrand website for free.
The hat is one I created myself.



Here is a close-up of the top of the hat



Another close-up of the side of the hat



Here is the Baby Surprise Sweater. I added a separate button closure along the side of the collar.



Here is the back of the sweater



Here is a close-up of the side of the hat



And a close-up of the top of the hat.

Here's the Latest....

Here is my latest attempt at knitting a Baby Surprise Jacket. This one came out somewhat larger because I used a thicker yarn. I would say it will fit a one-year toddler.

I also knitted a beret in green wool and a scarf in merino wool for my Aunt Lilly who lives in Baltimore. It was knitted using a sock-weight yarn and worked up pretty fast and has the most incredible bounce-back to it. Machine wash and dry too..

Here are the photos....


Here is the latest Baby Surprise Jacket and Green Hat. Not that the two were made to go together. They weren't. I got the hat pattern online and just had to see if "I could do it."


Here is the scarf



Here is a 'close-up'

A Few Notes on the Baby Surprise Sweater.....

Perhaps I should say that according to the DVD instructions, you can knit this pattern to fit anyone from a baby to an Adult. All you have to do is use different yarn weights (or hold 2 or more strands together) and the appropriate needle size to accommodate the weight of your yarn.

Meg Swansen explains that the baby sweater will stretch to accommodate baby's growth for a few months because it is knitted using the garter stitch (which is very "giving").

I used Caron's Simply Soft yarn and a size 6 circular needle. I consider the Simply Soft yarn to be a light-worsted weight. If I had used Red Heart or Vanna White worsted yarn, I would have used a size 7 needle. Before knitting this sweater I strongly advise knitting a small swatch using garter stitch to see if the stitches are too loose. This is something you DON'T want because once you begin knitting this pattern, you CANNOT change needle size. It will throw everything off shape-wise.

The sweater when buttoned measures approximately 17 inches in circumference under the sleeves. It can easily stretch to 21 inches. Shoulder to hem is 12 inches in length.

Sleeves measured from cuff to cuff is 18 inches; but Ms Swansen says that the sleeves are knitted to come just below the hollow in the elbow. She says that it keeps the sweater from being chewed on by baby, and getting wet. However, the sleeve length can be added to once the sweater is knitted.

The sweater pattern also 'increases stitches' to accommodate the bulk of wearing a diaper across the hip section.

For the newborn baby, instructions call for 3 ounces of Shetland wool (6 stitches to the inch), and will 'grow' with the baby. Yarns knitted at 5 stitches to the inch should yield a size to fit a 1-2 year old or older.

I used a 6oz skein of the Simply Soft. I had yarn left over, and the skein has 315 yards. I would say I had enough left over to knit a baby hat. I also used a coordinating color on the sweater (the green one) but only for 24 rows.

I haven't done so, but I would imagine you can make a preemie sweater using baby-weight or fingering yarn and the appropriate needle size. No matter what size sweater you intend to make Ms Swansen says that you cast on the same amount of stitches which are 160. From there you either knit each stitch without decreasing or increasing, or when it is time, you increase or decrease every other row to achieve the shape of the sweater.

As I have said; the thickness of yarn and needle size will determine how large the sweater will be when completed. You can use any type of yarn you desire, but you must keep in mind how you would like it to look once completed.

I was at the yarn store yesterday and picked up two skeins of Caron's Painted Yarn (it's variegated) to knit another Baby Surprise Sweater. Also picked up some Vanna White yarn (which is heavier, or maybe I should say that it is a heftier worsted) to knit a Baby Surprise Sweater.

Instructions are also given for a baby bonnet (which I haven't tried yet). So..... Hop on the bandwagon! The Ravelry Community http://www.ravelry.com/ has over 3000 project photos of this sweater, so there must be something exciting about it!

What's on my needles now?? I am still working on a vest for a young friend. Luckily she doesn't need it until this winter (smiles). I am still working on a hat and scarf for my friend who lives in Arizona. Last week I knitted a wool Seaman's hat for a friend to wear this winter while attending to dairy farm chores as a 50th birthday present. And after these are done, I have at least eight things I need to knit as necessities for friends, relatives, town neighbors, etc. Can I get those wool socks for Yvonne in there somewhere by this Winter.....????

My Stash has been increased too.....
Here are a few photos!


Here is the Seaman's Hat I am knitting for my friend in Arizona. I really do not like knitting with double-points because it takes me a while to get a rhythm going. So; since I just finished knitting the same hat for another friend, I thought I would cast on stitches for this hat while my brain and mind was "in the mood."


Here is what the above hat will look like. This hat will be worn by my friend Randy Bates while tending to his dairy farm this winter. I used Lamb's Pride Worsted yarn. One skein does the trick (190 yards per skein) with a bit left over. Here is the pattern. It opens as a .pdf file:
http://images.acswebnetworks.com/2013/1271/SeafarersCapPattern.pdf
Here are photos of the cap modeled on a human:
http://pegotty.blogspot.com/2007/12/international-seafarers-ministry.html
I used the Watch Cap with a Cuff knitted pattern.


Here is the Caron "Paints" yarn I was talking about. I live in a rural area and close by Walmart is "it" for acrylic yarn. I do have about 4 Yarn Shops that sell natural fibers nearby, but each one is a minimum of 25 miles round trip. Augusta, Maine has Michaels and now an AC Moore store and this is where I went yesterday to get additional 'yarn stash.' Augusta is about 90 miles round trip. Yes; I do order online as well. Stash arrives "by any means necessary" in this house!


Here is some Vanna White Yarn manufactured by LionBrand. I love the feel of this yarn. Nice weight, plump. I haven't knitted with it yet. But this yarn will be used on a Baby Surprise Sweater as will the "Paints" yarn above.


And last; but not least. Here is some Paton Classic Merino Wool (223 yards per skein). Toddler and baby hats and/or scarf out of these. Geez! AC Moore was selling this for $4.99 and I thought I had a bargain! I just looked and Knitting Warehouse is selling these for $3.64! Time for an online order! Can't beat that with a stick if you order 10 or more along with their $5.99 flat rate shipping.

Second Baby Surprise Sweater

In between my other projects I slipped in a second Baby Surprise Sweater. I am still not "perfect" with the technique. The problem I find myself having is keeping precise track of where I am supposed to make decreases. I mark them with a safety pin (there are only two decrease points), and it works perfectly until the pattern calls for an increase in the number of stitches on the needle... thus throwing your "perfect track" off kilter.

You have to knit the pattern to understand what I am talking about. The sweater still works up fine; it is just not visually aligned to perfection. I am STILL going to continue knitting sweaters using this pattern because it is capable of rendering so many creative colorful combinations. The Ravelry website has quite a few beautiful Baby Surprise Sweater creations.

Here are some photos of my latest attempt, and my latest 'stash' additions. I had to visit my favorite yarn shop to get two skeins of yarn to finish a vest I am working on, and of course I just could not leave without buying something......!


Here is the latest. I used Carons Simply Soft Yarns


Here are both of my Baby Surprise Sweaters side by side.


Here is how they look on the back.


Here is a closer view of the newest attempt...


Here is my latest addition to my Yarn Stash.


I picked this up at Walmart to knit dishcloths for my kitchen. I have been knitting my own dishcloths for about 9 years and I refuse to use store purchased ones again! I also find the old ones work perfectly for dusting furniture.

Baby Surprise Sweater Results.......

I just could not help myself.... I had to stop my 'regular knitting' and try to knit my first Baby Surprise Sweater! Even with written instructions and the DVD, I had a few bumps in the road, but I did manage to get a decent finished sweater and I have to say, I WILL be knitting another one as soon as I get some purple yarn. Would you believe I don't have any in my Stash?? And after I said I wasn't going to buy any more acrylic yarn for a while?? But these little sweaters are sort of 'addictive.' The color combinations are just endless, and this pattern just fertilizes the imagination. It knits up fairly quickly too, which is exactly what I like!


Well, I promised some pictures, and here they are. I made buttons as well.


Here is the Sweater as it looks after you have finished the knitting instructions and now you have to figure out how to fold it to create sleeves, the front and the back. You're looking at the 'wrong side' facing you.



Here is what it looks like with the 'right side' facing you.


Here is what it looks like after you have 'solved the puzzle' of how to fold this 'baby' so that all you have to sew are the two shoulder seams on either side of the neckline.


Another 'step toward folding the sweater.


Neatly folded; ready for needle and yarn to stitch the shoulder seams.....


I decided to knit a collar on the sweater, and here is what it looked like afterwards...


Here is another view with the collar.


Here is what the sweater looks like from the back after the collar has been added.


Here is a'close-up' with buttons sewn on...

Here is a better look of the completed sweater.


I made a few 'mistakes' while knitting this: Beyond a certain point, I did not keep perfect track of my increases so that they form a precise line. It looks a bit messy, as you can see, but my next sweater will be an improvement. I just had to get this one out of my system to see how this pattern works. I already plan to knit plenty more of these!! The DVD was a great investment! I don't think; in fact I KNOW this sweater would not look as good as it does had I not had the DVD to help me over the perplexing points.