Knits with a silent K

FO: Birth Hat for Susan's baby

2010-01-25T14:26:00.001-08:00

Birth Hat for Susan's baby
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

The Sweetie's cousin just had a baby boy. I'd planned to make this hat over the Christmas break, but you know what happened. Then the baby arrived 2 weeks before the due date (thankfully, my lack of knitting progress didn't hold the baby up). So I quickly whipped this out as I was able.

Pattern: The birth hat pattern I'm still tinkering with, with a fussy tubular cast-on that turned out looking okay after all.
Needles: Size 3 for cast-on, size 5 for knitting.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.

I didn't have a chance to weigh it, as I wanted to get it in the mail ASAP - I cast on 72 sts instead of 64 but neglected to knit it for a full 4 inches before starting the decreases (more like 3 inches - eek!).

Notes: The fiddly tubular cast-on was TechKnitting's 1x1 "Provisional tail" method, with extra help from commenter Rose Fox on how to slip the stitches when doing it in the round.

I cast on 72 stitches instead of 64, since I was running a bit late. I think I'll keep it bigger anyway. The trick was that I then had 9 repeats instead of 8. I continued with the decreases the way I had been anyway, and when I got down to 9 sts, I did 3 double decreases (centered, but I don't think that mattered much), then did the I-cord in 3-st I-cord instead of 4 stitches. I like it. Might keep it.

Next hat (and I've just found out a 2nd cousin of mine is expecting his first in May) I might try to do top-down, starting with the I-cord and finishing with a tubular bind-off. That might allow for less fiddling.

Bullet post

2010-01-19T11:30:00.001-08:00

Stopping in for some bullets:

Barbie is choosing a new profession. Go here to vote for Computer Engineer!
You can donate shoes to Soles 4 Souls. They are starting a new drive to send shoes to Haiti, but it's not clear from the web site how to designate that your shoes be used for that.
It's better when donating for disaster relief, to leave donations unrestricted anyway. That way the organization can use unspent money for the next disaster. Choose wisely.
I got a new camera for Christmas. One of the side effects is that I have to figure out a new system for downloading photos.
Yes, it should be easy with a cardreader. But it's a different one from my previous one, and apparently my computer doesn't like it.
I want to post with photos. Hence my blogging is being held up by technology. But heck, I wouldn't have a blog without technology. So we can be patient for a little while longer, mmm?

3rd Blogiversary

2010-01-08T09:42:00.001-08:00

Recent purchases
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Three years ago today, I started this blog. The first few posts were very list-y: listing fos, wips, future plans. This was the first photo I posted, several posts later.

Last year I was so busy starting up work and daycare I missed my blogiversary. This year, I'm a much more accomplished mom and knitter.

I wanted to take this opportunity to note the passage of time, and thank you, my readers, for your encouragement over the years.

And a contest! Leave a comment here, saying anything at all. I'll choose one randomly and send you a nice goodie. The contest is open until midnight Pacific time, one week from today, the 15th of January. If you don't leave contact info, please check back in a week (of course you'll be back to read about my grand plan for 2010, right?) and see if you've won.

Knit on!

2009 FO Wrap-up

2010-01-05T10:20:00.001-08:00

2009 FO Mosaic
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

This was a very productive year, knitwise, in terms of # of objects finished. Like last year, it consists of mostly small items. And I narrowly missed finishing the final two items, due to this year's Christmas plague, which is just now clearing up.

9 dishcloths (1 of them a NICU blanket, but I'm counting it as a dishcloth anyway)
8 hats (all for babies)
3 baby footwear
1 baby sweater
2 misc.

Incidentally, this year I finished the exact same number of projects as in 2007 - 23!

I finished all of the knitting but not the duplicate stitch or blocking on 2 Christmas stockings for TLD's cousins, before the Christmas plague hit. Oh well, they'll have them next year. They didn't miss them much this year, I expect.

TLD got a sinus infection which spread to his eye, and in order to prevent sharing his germs with his cousins (aged 1 year, and 3 months) we high-tailed it home on the 23rd. The Sweetie and I managed to also get sick (big surprise) and now we're mostly well again. TLD recovered splendidly and was a challenge to keep up with over new year's! But we were sad not to be with our extended family on Christmas.

Stay tuned for big knitting plans for 2010!

Knit Love

2009-12-17T09:25:00.001-08:00

img_1567
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

I just wanted to share this blog post from Pioneer Woman with you: Knit Love. She has been traveling a lot and here she appreciates some lovely hand-knit gifts from her fans. Wouldn't you know, the first photo I saw I said, "That's Fetching!" I love it when I can spot a knit pattern right away.

In the photo, TLD is actually drinking water from a measuring spoon. This is how he "helped" wash dishes the day after Thanksgiving. He loves playing in water and drinking water from cups as well as from spoons. We'll be leaving for the holidays in the next day or so, so I just wanted to wish all of my readers a merry Christmas and happy holiday.

Knit Love!

Long live the dishcloth...

2009-12-15T10:17:00.001-08:00

DSCF0039
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

The dishcloth is dead!

In the "where are they now" series*, here is a beloved garterlac dishcloth. Previously blogged here, it was well loved. But, it tangled too many times with knives in the dishwater.

After snapping this photo, I ~~took pity on it~~ declared it retired with meritorious decoration for its duty under fire, and sent it to its final resting place.

Thank you, dishcloth!

Lambtown, USA

2009-12-09T09:50:00.001-08:00

Sheep to shawl
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

In early October, we all went to visit my SIL and their new baby in Davis, CA. We got there nice and early (thanks to TLD's sleep schedule) and had our visit. The Sweetie was slated to attend an evening Cal game (TLD opted to go to bed instead) so we had a free afternoon, just TLD and me.

I happened to remember it was the weekend of the Lambtown, USA, in Dixon, just a few miles from where we were! Admission was $1 (free for TLD) although parking was $5. TLD had a nice nap on the way there, and when he woke up, we went to check it out.

Way back when I first learned to knit, my teacher told me about the sheep to shawl competition, and I've been wanting to see it ever since. Here it was all laid out. The teams (5-6 people) card a fleece and spin it, and weave it into a shawl. The loom is pre-warped. But they even ply the wool before weaving! The shawls are judged on aesthetics and quality.

See more photos here.

Our souvenirs: TLD got an alpaca bear, because I held it up to him and he grabbed it, held it against his face, and said "Ooooh!". I got an alpaca finger puppet. Originally I thought TLD would like it but after the initial 10 seconds he showed no interest in it. I managed to resist the wiles of the marketplace. Whew!

FO: Cal Football Hat

2009-12-07T13:40:00.001-08:00

Cal Football Hat
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

It was the week before the Big Game (Cal v. Stanford, football) and the time was set for 4:30pm. We decided to take TLD and just see how it went - if he needed to leave, I'd take him. Maybe he'd make it to the end of the game. Who knew?

But - in the fashion of "the cobbler's children have no shoes" - TLD didn't have a warm hat that fit. (He has lots of sun hats.) I couldn't BUY one, I'm a knitter! So I broke out the blue and gold yarn I'd earmarked for a sweater (THAT wasn't going to happen in a week) and made another football hat, this time in the largest size, 2+ years. TLD is average in size, except in head circumference. He has a big cranium, in the 90th percentile for his age.

The 2+ year size fit perfectly, and he looks adorable in it. The night of the game, he wore it a little, but this past weekend we were at an outdoor event and he wore it pretty much the whole time. Yay! It makes my heart warm just to see him wearing a hat that I made for him.

Pattern: Football Hat from Itty-Bitty Hats
Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Summit Hill, worsted superwash
Needles: Size 5 for seed stitch, size 7 for the rest
Notes: As before, I decreased the stitch count on the crown by 1 stitch in order to make the seed stitch work out, then increased just before the stockinette portion. Then just knit like crazy. The belly button at the top is a little more open than I'd like, but I could repair it. The ear flaps sort of flap in the breeze, but it's very endearing. I didn't do the football or even a C in duplicate stitch - I didn't have time. Maybe I'll add it later, but my guess is it's done and it'll stay that way.

Profile view:

Photos taken with my phone, because it seems to take impossibly long to get photos from my camera to Flickr.

Oh, and the game? Cal won, in a very exciting finish. And TLD made it to the end, falling asleep on me in the front carrier with only 10 minutes or so left in the game. He stayed asleep for the rest of the game, the walk to the car, the drive to the house, and into the crib. It was a splendid day.

Random Wednesday (on Thursday)

2009-12-03T09:39:00.001-08:00

...and pouring it out
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

My camera card is full, but I've been going to bed early every night this week fighting off a sore throat and cough. Hence, a random Wednesday (a day late) and a random photo. This is TLD doing what he loves best, dumping water out of a container. I think he's about to ask for more water.

Bullets:

Alana of Never Not Knitting is celebrating her 2nd blogiversary with a contest. Head over and congratulate her! For an entry into her big big prize, take a photo of yourself with a sign "I'm Never Not Knitting at ___" and send it to her.

This one's not on Ravelry (yet): Roller Skating Penguins knitting pattern. Adorable!

I saw this dress and I want to have it. I've also been actually planning to make a Polar Chullo and something by Alice or Jade Starmore, a child's vest or pullover in real Fair Isle. Might be 2010 is the year of colorwork.

I also want to make one of these. Probably won't happen this year, but someday I'll have time.

I've done the easy Christmas decorating. I swapped out the hanging on the back of the closet door from "birdhouse" to "Christmas tree" (we keep it hanging on the inside of the door during the rest of the year), got out red napkins (we don't do tablecloths right now because of TLD), and swapped out the everyday mugs for the Christmas mugs (these too, live in a high cabinet in the kitchen, so they're nearby). I'm ready for mulled wine!

Still reading? A short whine: how come it takes 2+ full knitting/pumping sessions to do finishing on a Christmas stocking? I got to Kitchener the toe and weave in 10 ends yesterday. 5 ends to go, plus duplicate stitch 2 hearts and Niecey's name (have to chart it first too).

Edited to add: I cooked this last night. It was really good and it used up food that was going to waste. Chicken thighs (unfortunately not on the bone, but it was still good) from the freezer (who knows how long), swiss chard that was wilty (but still good in soup), and we had it with a baguette that was hard but I toasted it in the oven and it was great, especially when dunked in soup. TLD loved it (well, he skipped the chard). The only thing was I couldn't find red lentils so I used brown, and I should have put them in sooner, because I think the brown take longer to cook. This morning at the store I found red lentils! I'll try them next time 'round.

Enough randomness for today. See you soon, hopefully with more pictures!

Even more cute babies in hats!

2009-11-23T13:15:00.001-08:00

zoe-pumpkinhat1
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Wondering what to get for a knitter friend? Look no further than these awesome sheepy flannel sheets!

Here is the recipient of the pumpkin hat. It fits! She's approximately 4 months old now. She wears it beautifully.

Here's another silly photo:

Continuing our parade of modeled knitwear...

2009-11-18T12:07:00.001-08:00

northwestern-football-hat
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

I've had the fortune of getting lots of photographs of modeled knitwear that I've given away. Here's Tim S., the recipient of the Northwestern Football Hat and Booties. He's now 3 months old and the hat fits perfectly!

In this photo, I think he's shouting, "Go Cats!"

Another YABH in action!

2009-11-17T13:28:00.001-08:00

Zoe M.
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Here is the sweet recipient of the Pumpkin Hat, when she was first born. She wore it home from the hospital and it became her mom's favorite hat.

I'm struggling with a name for my hat. I'm thinking of writing it up as a free pattern. I haven't had anyone ask for it, but I'm making so many I thought I'd write it up for my own edification.

I had been calling it "birth hat", as in put it on right at birth instead of the hospital-issued one. Trek dubbed it "Who Hat" but I want to avoid any copyright problems.

I want it to imply that it is for very young babies, just born. I have some ideas:

Natal

Soft Spot

What do you think? Do you have any name suggestions?

FO: YABH and Sweet Pea Shoes

2009-11-11T12:50:00.001-08:00

Sweet Pea Shoes and birth hat for Laura's baby
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A family friend is having a little girl in early December, and so I decided to make my signature "birth hat" (I guess I'm calling it Yet Another Baby Hat, or YABH, at the moment) in red with a little snowflake embroidered on it. Then Crazy Aunt Purl blogged about the cutest little Mary Jane booties, and I started searching Ravelry.

I found Baby Sweet Pea and I was done for. Paid, downloaded, and cast on. With about a week to finish, I thought I could make it.

I did. But I was weaving in the morning of the shower, whilst TLD was playing with his grandparents and great-aunt and uncle. I was going to finish the night before except TLD woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep in his crib. Actually, after an hour and a half, I put him down crying and went to finish the cast-off! That turned out to be fortuitous because The Sweetie watched TLD on the monitor and noticed he was grabbing his mouth. We double teamed him, gave him Tylenol, and he nursed and went to sleep beautifully. But I was shot and had to weave in the next morning.

Hat:
Pattern: My own, birth hat or Who hat or what have you. 1x1 ribbing with an I-cord knot at the top.
Needles: size 5, Addi turbo 12", Lantern Moon dpns.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, a tiny amount of KnitPicks Swish DK for the embroidery.

Booties:
Pattern: Baby Sweet Pea, by Bekah Knits
Needles: Size 1, Knit Picks 16" circular for the shoes, and Lantern Moon dpns.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, KnitPicks Swish DK for the socks and embroidery.

Notes: I used a tubular cast-on for the hat. It is definitely a much neater edging than the picot cast-on I used to use, so I'm sold on tubular. Next time I'm going to try KnitTech's tubular cast-on. The snowflake felt wonky but looks great from a distance.

For the shoes, my previous attempt at a Bekah Knits pattern turned out really big, so I took some insurance out and went down a needle size. The second shoe's embroidery was a little wonky too but I was in a hurry. I also was playing it fast and loose (as it were) using DK yarn for the socks, when it called for fingering, but my experience with the KP Swish DK was that it squished down quite a bit. The result is the ankles are nice and stretchy but I think small enough to hug a newborn's ankles, and the shoes are just around 4 to 4.5 inches, which is roomy but I think it'll work for an under 1-month-old. They'll look cute and they'll probably stay on, and after all it doesn't matter to me. They were a hit at the shower and that's all that matters to me. Well, I'd love to get a modeled photograph when the baby is born.

Here's a close-up of the shoes:

The grandmother-to-be exclaimed, "I want a pair for myself!" It's possible, given that the cashmerino comes in Aran weight....I'd have to improvise it myself, although I'd probably start with the Adult size Moc-a-soc to begin with. Hmmmm....But it will have to wait until I'm done with two Christmas stockings.

YABH in action!

2009-11-10T11:05:00.001-08:00

joey-hat1
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Here, at long last, is a modeled photo of Yet Another Baby Hat! This is my brand-new nephew (will have to come up with an appropriate screen name, as I anticipate more handknits for him) wearing the hat I made and and forgot to take a photo of.

Such beautiful eyes! Must be related to my own TLD.

My, my! Looks like the hat is getting a little small already!

FO: NICU blanket for Kathy

2009-11-05T14:45:00.001-08:00

NICU blanket for Kathy
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Here it is, the NICU blanket for KathyB's "cookie sheet" blanket drive. She got 39 blankets!

Pattern: Official Son of Dish Rag Tag dishcloth pattern, only with 6 repeats (12 squares) instead of 4. Then it seemed like it was too wide to be 9" (it was) so I decided that I'd knit it to be 9" long, 4 repeats (8 squares). Turned out to be approximately 8 x 11.
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease, sportweight.
Needles: Size 7, KnitPicks Options.

I didn't even block it, just sent it out like this.

Here's my package for KathyB. I included a tchotchke: a solar-powered keychain that blinks her name!

FO: Dishcloth for Kathy

2009-11-04T08:42:00.001-08:00

Dishrag for Kathy
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A while ago, KathyB over at Irisheyes knitting gave up dishcloth knitting and wanted to give her dishcloth cotton stash away. She had a lot of offers to knit a dishcloth for her, but no one else said they'd take her stash. It's mine!

In return, I knit Kathy a dishcloth. I chose my very favorite dishcloth pattern, and I selected from her ample supply of cotton a colorway that included brown, blue, and white. Brown for the dirt it cleans away, blue for the water, and white for the clean!

Pattern: Garterlac dishcloth (pdf) by Criminy Jickets
Needle: Size 7 KnitPicks Options
Yarn: Sugar 'n' Creme

Love it! I sent it along with the NICU blanket. Stay tuned....

Dishrag Tag

2009-11-03T12:41:00.001-08:00

Dishrag Tag
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Here is the lovely dishcloth that my teammate Beverly (IL) sent me. We love the marled green and white color! The Emergency Sock Knitting Kit included some folded scissors, stitch markers, a coil-less safety pin (I've heard of them but never actually seen one) and some other useful things. TLD went for the tin immediately so I took the loot out and let him play with the box for a while.

We've put the dishcloth to good use and it has so far escaped any injury- that yarn must be made of steel!

A great pattern and a really fun swap. Thanks again, Emily, for organizing this fun event!

FO: Pumpkin hat

2009-11-02T13:24:00.001-08:00

Pumpkin hat
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A while ago, I made a hat for the new baby of a couple that The Sweetie once had as students. Two months later, the mom told me she was sad because her daughter was wearing their "favorite pink hat" probably for the last time, because it was getting too small.

I had to return such appreciation with another hat!

Pattern: Little Pumpkin, from Itty-Bitty Hats by Susan Anderson.
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy, "Flamingo Pie". I had most of a skein leftover from swapping out the pinkish colors for rainbow colors on the Paintbox sweater. The other colors for the leaf, the curl, and the stem, were also leftover from that sweater.
Needle: U.S. 7, probably my first needle and Bryspun DPNs.
Notes: I found someone had made the curly as an add-on on Ravelry, so I added it.

I love this hat! The yarn is a perfect color for all of the parts. I love the Dream in Color yarn and how rich the semi-solids look when knitted up. I'm going to have to make more of these (perhaps next year) and get more yarn for the stem and leaves.

I dropped it off but haven't yet gotten a modeled shot. I made the smallest size, which turned out kind of big (I usually end up with bigger than the size) but hopefully it can be worn this year with the brim turned up and next year with it turned down.

Random Wednesday

2009-10-28T13:36:00.001-07:00

DSCF0074
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

This is a photo from the spring, when our CSA was just beginning. I think we have one month left and we're winding down, as we began, with hard squashes. Remind me to take a photo of the latest on, a trombono or something. It looks like what it sounds like.

Last night we had squash and bacon risotto, so not unlike this, only it was topped with seared duck breast. Yum! It was precipitated by TLD's grabbing a small pumpkin-shaped squash from the farm, and trying to take a bite out of it. He managed to injure it, hence we decided to cook it ASAP.

Bring on the randomness:

Photo coasters from Shutterfly are a great holiday gift. I gave them to my in-laws and my mom last year for Christmas, and I plan to continue (with some for me this time). They look great, they're small, and you can pass them around and not mind if they get fingerprints on them. And they're great for little hands to play with.

I watched the movie Milk a few weeks ago. I'm still thrilling in the memory of watching it. The bonus features included some footage of them re-enacting the scenes in San Francisco, with emotional people who were there at the time. What a moving film, about persistently fighting for human rights. And Sean Penn is an incredible actor.

Last year, I made TLD's Christmas stocking. I cast on on October 21 and finished on Christmas Eve. This year, I am planning to make two stockings, for each of TLD's cousins. I cast on one of them on October 22. Let's hope I can knit twice as fast this year.

I did download photos off the camera last night. But didn't get a chance to upload them to Flickr, so no FO blog entries yet. Soon. I do need to upload photos so I can order coasters before the sale ends. See the first item.

I did manage to finish a tiny 8x11 "blanket" for Kathy B. She said smaller than 9x13 was okay. I might have misestimated and not made a swatch ahead. You still have time to send one and be entered into her contest! If you can get it in the mail by tomorrow, I bet it'll get there in time.

Happy Wednesday!

Coveting

2009-10-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

No photo - sorry, no time for uploading these days. I'll so have so much to blog when I do get them uploaded!

I just wanted to show you something I picked up on from Mim's blog: Romi's pin and knitting kit club. I'm so coveting this. Not that I ever get to finish lace projects. But I do love Romi's designs and think this is such a great idea!

FO: Dish Rag Tag dishcloth

2009-10-12T10:25:00.001-07:00

1006090824b.jpg
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

This year's Dish Rag Tag required you to do a specific design. It turned out to be a checkerboard in basketweave, so easy to memorize and a great cloth! Also, since we switched to the Priority Mail Small Box, it only fit one ball of yarn, so you didn't have a choice in yarn. Here is mine, ready to be sent to my teammate. Sorry for the poor photo - I forgot my camera and had to use my phone. Couldn't delay mailing it for lack of a camera!

In the foreground are some sheep soaps and an alpaca finger puppet. My next teammate was April (TX) and she reported that her son made off with the puppet. I had trouble parting with it myself.

Pattern: Official Pattern of Dishrag Tag: The Sequel (.pdf)
Yarn: Lily Sugar 'n Cream, in a gorgeous dark brown/tan/white colorway. Coffee and cream...mmm...
Needle: Size 7, Knit Picks Options.

Our team, the Dishrag Divas, is almost done!

I've decided to make a little NICU blanket for Kathy using the Son of Dish Rag Tag official pattern, expanding the middle to 12 squares and going until it's the right length. I have some Lion Wool-ease in sportweight that should make a nice little blankie. It's up next for TV knitting....

PSA: Blankets for Preemies drive

2009-10-05T12:32:00.001-07:00

DSCF0008
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

KathyB over at Irisheyes knitting is collecting blankets for the NICU (Neonatal intensive care unit) where she works. Make a blanket no bigger than a cookie sheet (c'mon people, that's like 2 dishcloths) and send it to her by Nov. 1, All Saints Day. Everyone who sends one will be entered in a drawing.

Yarn must be washable. Blanket must be no larger than a cookie sheet (can even be smaller).

[edited to add: I stand corrected. KathyB says a cookie sheet is 9x13. That's only a dishcloth and a half!]

FO: Yet Another Baby Hat

2009-09-22T11:15:00.001-07:00

DSCF0034
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Doh! Forgot to snap a photo. Well, it looks like this and this and this, only in yellow and no embroidery. It actually looks the most like Niecey's hat, because I purposely used a centered double decrease to make the decreases stick out, like Brunelleschi's Dome (the Duomo in Florence), except the hat has 4 sections instead of 6.

Pattern: My own, still evolving.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino
Needles: Size 5, size 3 for casting on in picot cast-on.

I used the picot cast-on, and I've decided it just looks kind of messy. I'm going to try a tubular cast-on for the next one.

I also used centered double decreases (slip 2 tog as if to knit, K1, psso) and they also looked a bit messy. Next time I'm going to do single decreases K2tog, twice as many, evenly spaced, on a knit stitch.

I intended at first to embroider balloons in red and blue. Then I thought I can make red, yellow, and blue balloons knit onto the top, with tails pulled out as balloon strings. Then I ran out of time, and since the baby is breech and resisted efforts to turn it, a C-section got scheduled, 1 week before the due date, so I decided I'd better just finish the thing and send it. My mom and The Sweetie said it looked fine without any adornment (we don't know if it's a boy or a girl, and a daisy seemed too feminine) and I stuck it in the mail before I even snapped a picture.

This photo is my son running down to the shore of Lake Tahoe. (Due to careful framing, it does not appear as if anyone is nearby, but The Sweetie is giving chase just off the right frame.)

FO: Presto Chango

2009-09-10T13:13:00.001-07:00

DSCF0123
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

I finished it just in time for my SIL's baby shower. It was still a little damp when I wrapped it in tissue and stuck it in the bag. The party was a great success!

Pattern: Presto Chango, a sweater pattern with the idea that you can knit multiple front panels and change them out as they get soiled.
Needles: Knit Picks Options, size 5. Size 3 for seed stitch cast-on.
Yarn: Mystery cotton from KathyB.
Buttons: wooden, from Fabrics Unlimited in Stateline, NV. Gorgeous shop!

I started out assuming that the gauge would be smaller than 4 sts/inch. So I cast on for the biggest size. However, I realized after getting into the stockinette portion that I was in fact getting gauge, so for the rest of the pattern, I followed the 6 month size.

For the seaming, in the underarm I did that seaming technique where you make it look like another row of knitting. For the side seams I used mattress stitch.

My opinion, now that I've had a baby, is that babies don't (need to) wear clothes (that is, anything but onesies and footie pajamas) until at least 6 months, so there is no point in knitting sweaters for them smaller than that, except by accident.

After blocking, it grew enormous (the panel still needed severe blocking to fit, but that's the fault of the cast-on for the biggest size), so I told the mom-to-be to throw it in the washer and dryer. Hope the buttons survive!

If I am moved (and have time), I will make another panel, although I don't have enough yellow to do the whole panel. Maybe I'll make it yellow and blue stripes. Maybe I can make it for Christmas!

Next up: finishing the birth hat. I ran out of time and my hand hurt. Several days of non-knitting and now I'm back to it.

Cool knitting retreat!

2009-08-13T10:40:00.001-07:00

DSCF0026
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Okay, I just joined Facebook, and as it turns out, one of the ads struck my fancy. It's for a knitting retreat in Santa Barbara with Joan McGowan-Michael. It would be so cool! It probably isn't realistic, given that my little guy still likes to nurse to sleep, and staying in a hotel isn't really that fun when you have to be nearby once he is in bed. But it does sound fun.

Anyway, just wanted to throw it out there. The fee includes transportation from San Diego or San Jose and lodging (double occupancy). Pretty good!

Here is the link.

The photo above is my little guy running toward the water of Angora Lake, in the Sierras. Later that day, he had his first official wading.