Knits with a silent K

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.

Feeding frenzy

2009-08-05T09:54:00.001-07:00

0717090821.jpg
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A couple of weeks ago, the fish were jumping and there was this feeding frenzy of sea lions and pelicans. You can see the water in motion.

I'm just dropping in to say hi, blog friends! I'm still here. In fact, I have good news!

For the last 8 months, I've been pumping at work. At first I tried to improvise a system where I could have 2 hands free. But the pumping just didn't work as well, so I gave it up. But now I've found a product, the Simple Wishes pumping bustier, that allows me to pump hands free! I knew there were products like this around, but I hadn't seen one in person. This one in particular adjusts like crazy to fit your body (velcro in the back, for ribcage fit) and zips up the front - easy on and off.

So, I'll be knitting twice daily now! Woo-hoo!

Sadly, this won't help my photo downloading. For that, I still need like an extra 2 hours a night.

Old FO: Cat toy

2009-07-21T09:53:00.001-07:00

2007-5-20-CatToy 002
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Several years ago, my SIL and her husband adopted a kitten. For Christmas that year, I knit him a cat toy, and The Sweetie made the "fishing pole", complete with a rope-covered handle. (Sorry, sweetie, I forgot the fancy name for it.) We stuffed it with catnip. (We had to keep it in the fridge to keep OUR cat from playing with it!)

I recently dug through some old email and found photos that they sent of the toy, and it in use.

Pattern: Catnip Mouse by Wendy Johnson
Needles: Not sure anymore.
Yarn: Brunswick Germantown, leftover from Eric's Scarf.

It seemed like a lot of work to do cables for a cat toy, but it was small and fast and cute.

Here's an action shot:

FO: Birth hat for R&H

2009-07-13T10:29:00.001-07:00

DSCF0164
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

My DH's currently favorite student, R, is expecting a baby any day now. We haven't heard whether R&H's baby is born yet, but one day DH came home and requested a hat for them. I found out it was to be a girl, and I acquired some appropriate colors. These hats just keep popping out!

This time, I looked more closely at the instructions for the knitted cast-on - it appears I was supposed to be twisting the stitches as I put them on the left needle. I'm not sure I like it better this way - I'll probably go back to the way I usually did it.

Also, I wanted to try out a smoother way to decrease in ribbing - I'd read somewhere to pick out knit stitches (evenly spaced) and whenever you get to a stitch before them, do a k2tog - the previous stitch slips under the kept stitch and so the rib continues upward. I did it this time, and I do like the effect, although it's not as pronounced as what I was doing before. I sort of liked the look of the dome in Florence of the previous ones. Oh, also I miscast on 60 stitches, instead of 64, and so dividing by 8 was a little hard. I kludged it until it worked out.

Pattern: Birth hat (just like this and this). Someday I'll write up the pattern; I keep doing it over and over, so it'll be worth it for my own use!
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, pink and a tiny bit of purple leftover. I'm amassing quite a collection of this yarn!
Needles: Size 3 (for the cast-on) dpns, and size 5 12" circular (Addi turbo) and dpn (Clover/Takumi).

DH gave it to R, and he was surprised and thrilled. That baby is due sometime in July. Any day now....

FO: Football hat & sneaker booties

2009-07-09T12:59:00.001-07:00

DSCF0085
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

A friend of mine is having her second child, a boy. I happen to know that her husband is very much into college football, so I decided to make the football helmet hat for them, from Itty-Bitty Hats. I chose Northwestern University's colors, because that's where the parents went to college, and where they met.

I was looking around for an appropriate bootie to go with them (while the knitted Converse sneakers are very cute, they're not really footballish) and I found these great sneaker booties. I ordered some Cascade 220 superwash from WEBS and got started.

The ear flaps, while quick to knit, were HUGE. Like, they'd cover my ears and then some. But I persevered on (you know, like the Harlot has said many times before, your inner knitter knows this is wrong, but you have this hope that when you complete it, the rest will shrink to fit the size it was supposed to be?) Finally, I finished the hat and it was ... okay. The cap part seemed baby sized. The ear flaps were impossible. I thought and I thought, and I said, I am a knitter. I can fix this.

I decided that the culprit was actually that the ear flaps are in seed stitch, and my seed stitch (apparently) is way, way looser than my stockinette. (I'm starting to suspect that it's either switching to purl or purling itself that is looser than my knit stitch.) So I decided, the ear flaps are modules, I can cut them off and kitchener new ones on. But then I thought, well, the first few rows of the brim are also seed stitch, so I could just redo the beginning of the hat, and kitchener in stockinette. Much better. (And along the way, I can correct the number of stitches to be odd, so that I can seed stitch around. And I can center the ear flaps on the brim - the original offset them toward the back of the head.)

So while TLD was napping in the car, I took a deep breath and picked up stitches around the bottom of the hat, checked twice, and snipped the yarn. Pulled out that sucker, and I had a brim and a hat to attach to each other, with about the same number of stitches.

Then I had my inspiration - I could use the 3 needle bind-off instead of kitchener, and it would create a nice line between the seed stitch brim and the stockinette. I ran it past my knitting group, and it was decided.

I finished it with some brown KnitPicks swish DK I had around. Why is it that the Swish DK and the Cascade 220 knit at the same gauge? (I know it doesn't matter for the football but I used it in the booties below also). Exact same!

Pattern: Football, from Itty-Bitty Hats
Yarn: Cascade 220 superwash in royal purple, KnitPicks Swish DK in brown and white.
Needles: Size 7 circular 16" (my first needle; forgot the brand), DPNs (Bryspun), and size 5 circular 16" (Addi Turbo, I think) and DPNs (Probably Clover Takumi) for the seed stitch section.
Mods: I accidentally had too many stitches in the first few rows of the stockinette section, so I did a k2tog to fix it. It's visible, but I put it at the back. Should've seen if I could sew the football over it!

The booties were really wonderful, quick, and easy. And I'd wondered for a long time why I hadn't seen any bootie patterns that knit the bottom and attached the sides at the same time. I'd thought that's how I'd like to make a bootie, but I assumed there was something wrong with it that I'd find out. Nope, nothing wrong, just not a very common construction. This is great- it makes a rectangular sole, and no seams at all (no seam up the bottom, no seams up the side, just no seams!) The roll-top is perfect (I did sew it down, as it was threatening to reveal my woven-in ends), and the lacing was fun.

Pattern: Sneaker Booties
Yarn: Cascade 220 superwash in royal purple, KnitPicks Swish DK in brown and white.
Needles: Size 2 DPNs (Clover Takumi)

I gave these to my friend, and she asked if I'd put the hat on TLD. It was so cute, I've got to make another hat for him to wear during college football season!

FO: Brown Bricks dishcloth

2009-07-08T09:45:00.001-07:00

DSCF0093
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Here it is, at long last: the Ballband dishcloth. I made it with two colors of Lion cotton I got on sale (boy, those balls have great yardage!). It is a fun pattern, and I could get into these easy slip stitch patterns. So easy to make colorful stuff with no fuss! As I made this, I realized that a blanket that was given to TLD is the same pattern, except that it's all in stockinette instead of putting the "bricks" in reverse-stockinette.

Pattern: Ball band dishcloth, from Mason Dixon knitting or the ball band of Pisgah Peaches & Creme.
Yarn: Lion Cotton, red and brown.
Needle: KnitPicks Options, size 6.

I did this exactly as written.

Here's a modeled shot:

When I handed this over to TLD, he put it in his mouth (of course), but then he started polishing his toys and wiping the floor! So now of course it's his.

Still here Tuesday

2009-06-23T11:03:00.001-07:00

DSCF0001
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Leaving on vacation at the end of this week, so I'm working hard at work and The Sweetie's working hard at home. I'm hoping to get the 160+ photos off the camera before leaving so I can take more photos. Of course, I still have to get the good ones chosen and uploaded, emailed, shared, etc. But that can wait until after vacation if need be.

TLD is so great these days. Such a wide smile, such raw pleasure in simple things - running around and falling on the carpet, opening cupboards and taking cans off the shelf, replacing them and closing the cupboard, putting his hands under running water in the sink. This weekend he picked a tiny daisy and handed it to me. And he didn't even want it back, as he often does when he hands me treasures. And he blew a kiss to his grandmother as we were leaving.

Here is a "where is it now" photo of my Grandma's Favorite dishcloth. It seems to have had a run-in with a knife. Poor thing.

Have a great 4th of July!

World Wide Knit in Public Day 2009

2009-06-17T10:38:00.001-07:00

World Wide Knit in Public Day 2009
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

We made it to my local knit guild's World Wide Knit in Public Day this year. TLD hasn't missed one yet!

The ladies asked how TLD was while I was knitting. In fact, this is the first time he's seen me knit! I usually do it when he's asleep.

I've got lots to show you - but as usual, it's languishing on the camera.

FO: XOXO Baby Socks

2009-06-10T15:24:00.001-07:00

XOXO Baby Socks
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

I can't believe it's been over a month since posting! I'll try to at least present bullet updates more often. I've been knitting as much as I can (lots of babies are gestating this season...) but mostly it's been the lack of ability to upload photos in a timely fashion.

I knit these socks for up and coming younger sibling of the recipient of this, in the same yarn (had it left over).

Project specs:
Pattern: XOXO Baby socks (pdf)
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport
Needles: Size 2 DPNs (Clover/Takumi bamboo)
Mods: None.

I seamed with the cast-on tail, and the only hitch was the pattern has you hold two stitches when you join (the cuff is knit flat and seamed, then joined in the round to finish the sock), and it didn't say what to do with them. Turns out you just thread the seaming yarn through them to secure them; they create a nice transition between the seam and the in-the-round, where the selvedge stitches are taken up.

FO: Propeller Hat

2009-05-06T10:31:00.001-07:00

Propeller Hat
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

I made a Who Hat (it was named by trek) for R..., but when I gave it to her, her son Island Boy tried to put it on, and I realized I had brought no gift for him! I went home determined to rectify the situation.

A while back I made a sweater for him (this was before he arrived) and I thought a matching hat would be just the thing. I even had the yarn leftover, so it would be a perfect match. It took me a while to finish it, but I did finally do the propellers (fiddly, but really short work) and mail it off. The parents took photos and emailed them back!

Pattern: Autogyro. Be sure to get the errata on the Ravelry page:
Erratum
Rounds 15 and 16 of the propeller section should read:
Round 15: K1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k1 twice. 12 sts.
Round 16: K1, k2tog, ssk, k1 twice. 8 sts.
Needles: Size 4 and 6, 16" circular (Susan Bates, I think) and dpns, I think Clover/Takumi
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash. Yep, it's washable!
Mods: I didn't do the turned hem with elastic - I did a picot cast-on for stretch and 1x1 ribbing instead. Then I replicated my stripe sequence from the sweater, in reverse. I tried out slipping stitches to avoid jogs as described by TechKnitter here. They look okay in the photo, but at the time I still wasn't too satisfied.

And here is the little scholar wearing the ensemble, studying to be a Cal Bear like his dad:

FO: Wee Tiny Sock 2009

2009-05-04T11:52:00.001-07:00

Wee Tiny Sock 2009
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

Wow, this little knitblog seems to be turning into an FO blog. It's because I seem to be able to download photos from the camera in small bursts, and by then there aren't any in-progress shots. That and my new schedule (baby and work) seems to only allow small projects - they really don't admit much by way of in-progress, because by the time I get a photo, they're done!

Here is my Wee Tiny sock, waiting to be mailed. I took it on my camera phone because I forgot to take a photo at home, but it was mailing day so mail it I did. Note the vintage Flash Gordon stamp, which I had to lick! And the collection of ~~antique~~ 1c, 4c, and 5c stamps with antiques on them. The notecard is by rkbezzie who blogs at Random Meanderings, but doesn't seem to have anything for sale just now. She's been working hard at work and just had a baby, but I hope she'll pull out the sheep print again, because I love the cards!

Pattern: Wee Tiny Sock pattern (pdf)
Needles: Size 0 dpns, Brittany birch (slightly warped)
Yarn: KnitPicks Risata

I only did 6 plain rounds for the toe, which ended up with a short toe, but there you have it.

My pal was Grace and she loves it. She made her Wee Tiny Sock as her first (well, second) sock. She kept the first "practice" one, as her first sock, and made a second one for the swap. You go, Grace! I'm sure it won't be her last sock!

FO: Lace Easter Egg dishcloth

2009-04-29T09:40:00.001-07:00

Easter Egg dishcloth
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

This was the speediest, easiest lace I've ever done! It's 37 sts wide and only 50 rows, only 17 of which are pattern. No chart, but it's really short and not that hard to follow. Just a word of caution: in this pattern, m1 means to do the increase AND knit the following stitch. I've never seen m1 instructions include knitting the following stitch before.

Pattern: Easter Egg Washcloth Pattern, by Obsidian Kitten.
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton, variegated pastels.
Needle: Size 7, KnitPicks Options.

I love it! My only misgiving was because it's stockinette, it doesn't have those lovely bumps for scrubbing. But it's in use right now and it's very nice.

The photo would have been better if I'd blocked it, but it's a dishcloth. I refuse to block dishcloths.

Modeled shot (the model seems a bit tired of this game):

FO: Easter Egg "Circles" dishcloth

2009-04-28T12:35:00.001-07:00

Easter Egg "Circles" dishcloth
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk

I saw this dishcloth somewhere on the Internet, where someone had made one in a variegated yarn, and said something to the effect of "Tee hee! The circles look like Easter Eggs!" and I instantly had the urge to make one for Easter.

I cast on earlier that week, and The Sweetie said I was crazy for trying to finish it by Easter. But lo and behold, TLD took a long nap in the car and I ended up finishing this and knitting most of a second Easter dishcloth (forthcoming blog post).

Pattern: Circle Cloth
Yarn: Lion Cotton for the variegated, Sugar 'n' Creme for the solid green.
Needles: Size 7, KnitPicks Options

It's pretty heavily textured with the reverse-stockinette framing stockinette. We'll see if it's a good scrubber or unwieldly thick. But it is happy and Eastery.

Modeled shot: