Baby Yours

So - now you get the whole story. I'd already decided to make a baby girl sweater and a baby boy sweater for my little Fiberfish. But, as the date for the fair approached, I got a bug in my butt to enter 3 newborn sweaters in the category for '3 Knitted Items'. With 2 weeks to go until the entry date. I had a sleeve completed for the pink one, the yarn for the green one, but needed to find what I had in mind for the blue.

I ordered some BMFA in Star Sapphire (too purple) and some Shibui Sock (right color, not right gauge). I finally found the 'just right' color and gauge in Dream in Color Smooshy, Some Summer Sky:


Details: Baby Mine, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Needles: Size 2

This was another sweet baby sweater to knit. Not as 'easy' as Baby Yours - but the results are worth it. I was spoiled with the other two baby sweaters that were mostly knit in one piece, as this one had some finishing work for sure. I also lucked out on the buttons... another perfect match found at my LYS.

So, now I have 2 sweet sweaters that I'm packing in my hospital bag for my baby to wear home! 66 days to go!

Onto some adult knitting for a change.

The Results are In!

The super secret 3 part entry (in the category of '3 knitted items' got 2nd place (beaten out by 3 pairs of socks):

See what I did there? It's called 'Ready for Anything' - newborn sweaters in green, pink and blue! I'll give the details of the blue sweater at a later date.

My socks got second - apparently the stitches on the bottom of one sock weren't even. Huh. I wonder why? Damn broken needle:

My Bird In Hand Mittens got second - the pair that won got the comment 'Not too long'! And I picked up the one I knit and put them on (because the first place lady was right there - I was showing her that my hand was just LARGE, and that my mittens weren't too long) and one of the judges came running over to tell me not to touch the knitting! And I said - but they are MY mittens. She still made me put them down, lol.
My Jeanie got second place also - but the winning shawl was really pretty, so I was totally OK with that:
And finally, my Pineapple quilt got 3rd place - something about 'needing to perfect my binding technique'. Sigh. I was happy to have won something, as this quilt is about 2 years old, and I've washed it more than a few times:
So - no first places this year... but everything still got a ribbon!

Never say die

Yesterday, from 3 - 9 PM, was the window to enter in your items for judging at the fair. I had finished my 3 part entry (to be disclosed at a later date), dug out my Bird In Hand mittens (I don't have high hopes for a prize on those - the cashmere yarn is used got somewhat fuzzy after a winter of use), and got my Jeanie ready to go. I also threw in a quilt I finished last year to the mix. I still had a few inches on the foot of the socks I had planned on entering to finish.

But - I also had a day of conference calls ahead of me, and didn't think I'd have an issue getting the last few inches completed. Until I pulled out my knitting for my 10 AM call, and found the broken needle. I taped it:

Let's just say that taping a needle together is not the BEST solution for this issue. I was severely slowed in my knitting by the yarn catching on the tape... but as I said, was on conference calls for the most of the day - so I wouldn't be able to pop out and get another needle. I even called a knit bud that lives close to my office, and sometimes works from home, and of course, she wasn't working from home yesterday, so couldn't come to my rescue.

By 4:45 PM, after hanging up on my last call of the day, I had a finished pair of socks:

Phew! These are really pretty... and I have high hopes for them to get a ribbon. I'm going to wait to give my 'official' finished project post until I have some better pictures - these are all phone pictures taken in frustration over the whole broken needle issue.

Sunday, I find out how I did!

Diabetics Beware!

Amysue, better grab your insulin! Baby Mine is finished! And it's really sweet:

Pattern: Baby Mine, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Needles: Size 2

Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy, Lilac

I have no clue as to what gender baby resides in my belly... so I'm knitting both a Baby Mine and a Baby Yours. But when I show this one around - everyone is all of a sudden convinced I'm having a girl. Probably because it's such a CUTE sweater - it has to be worn! No worries though, my neighbor 4 doors down is due 5 day before me with a baby girl. So if I don't have a girl, this sweater won't be thrown into moth balls.

When I saw Stephanie at Sock Camp in April, she hinted that she was making a baby sweater based on the awesome Lenore Socks from last year. It's a great lace pattern, and the construction of the sweater is also nice and seamless. Plus - everyone who sees this is so impressed with the lace and how 'hard' this sweater must have been to make - and it was seriously pretty simple to knit.

I love it. Totally making is again for other baby girls.

It's my birthday!

I'm not as super excited as other years, mostly because I've managed to get a cold. But also because this year, I've got a few more things going on than normal.

33 is the year I become a mom. Pretty damn cool.

Oh. And the year I get a Kindle. I know a few people who have gotten these, and love them. I can't wait to see it! I think Aaron will hand it over at my birthday dinner tonight. Hurrah!

The Vision, Part One

So - my vision for my knitting entry into the town fair is a '3 parter'. I don't want to disclose the FULL vision until the entry date is over.... you know.... since I want to WIN. But I can't resist sharing a cute baby sweater:

Pattern: Presto Chango from Jimmy Beans Wool (free pattern), 6 month size

Yarn: TLC Cotton Plus

I love this sweater! It's a really neat idea too - the front panel is buttoned on, so you could make numerous fronts, and if the baby spit up on on it - no need to change the whole sweater- just throw a new front panel on! And you could do different patterned panels too - I was thinking of making a cabled one also. But I love this one as is.

When I looked at different versions of this on Ravelry, I noticed that the ones I liked the best had buttons you barely noticed - so I was psyched to find these that seem to me to be a perfect match.

Re-gift?

Today, my SIL visited from Portland ,OR. She brought with her a bunch of the sweaters that I had knitted her children over the years:

That bright blue one I'm excited to have back! I was planning on knitting another for this baby. Next to it is a snowman sweater - I had actually planned (10+ years ago) on knitting 2 of those for my twin nieces.... ha. ha. ha. I'd never done intarsia before and let's say it was a bit of a nightmare. The felted jacket is pretty 'girly' but I have a friend on the street who is due the week before me with a girl - I'll send that her way of I have a boy. And the orange? That is a Trellis sweater... and I already made one for this baby! Guess I liked that one too!

I'm in the middle of completing my 'vision' for my knitting entry in my local fair. I'm a bit obsessed with it, actually. You are all shocked, I'm sure.

Baby Mine

I totally know why Stephanie, as a knitter, thinks that all babies should be girls. I've been knitting gender neutral stuff for my baby stash for THREE YEARS. And it does get old. Baby girl stuff is just so much cuter.

I started my version of Baby Mine over vacation - and really didn't get all that far - as I got all distracted by the new fun yarn and hawks and massages and stuff. You know how things like that happen... But now - my Susie Hoodie is WAY to big to carry around, so this project will get some more action. I'm using Dream in Color Smooshy, and I love the color - not too pink, not too purple. I have this vision of knitting both Baby Mine and Baby Yours, and then getting sweet little gender specific onsies to go under them as the 'going home' outfit (depending on what comes out, of course). But I have yet to find the blue color I want for Baby Yours. There is still time.

Well, 86 days, give or take, but who is counting?

Much to report...

But I'm still in vacation mode! I'll give you a very quick highlight tour of my vacation, so I can get back to my last day of it!

We went to Manchester, VT - where on my first day, I visited Yarns for Your Soul - and I got yarn (Online Linie 194 Solo ) for a great scarf I've seen on a few of my favorite blogs. I actually had seen this yarn over a year ago at a yarn store in Portland, OR - but the lady there was nasty - so I couldn't justify buying it. This time, I had a blast hanging out for over an hour knitting with some great ladies (while waiting for Aaron to return from the bike shop...). Anyway - it's a quick knit - and turned out really fun:

This is a sculpture that was in the spa's pool area.... I did take full advantage of the spa services while on vacation also.

Another fun thing we did? A Falconry lesson at the British School of falconry! I wasn't too sure what to expect, but it was AWESOME! Here I am, just meeting my new friend Haggis:

And then, Haggis taught me how to let him land on my arm (first time, a bit scary... after that - just plain fun)

After we did this lesson, we went on a Hawk Walk - where it was so cool to watch these guys in action. It's hard to describe how amazing it is to handle a real bird of prey, and see then in action - so I'll stop trying. Needless to say - an unforgettable experience. Aaron and I joked that it was a good thing Haggis didn't have any idea of what is cooking in my belly - she may have thought that was rather tasty... (I know, I know, black humor).

I have done loads of other knitting this week also - but I'd rather get back to it instead of taking pictures.... more to come!