Light Pink set and more dish towel tops!

I found this set and it needed the buttons and ribbons. If I remember right I used Bernat Softee baby yarn holding one strand each of pink & white together. It's a heavier fabric, great for winter time! I couldn't resist sticking that Ty teddy bear in the picture!



This has been lastest obsession in between sweaters, you know that quick, no thinking knitting? I found nice towels at the local supermart/ grocery store "Martin's" on sale $4.99 for a pack of 3 towels and they are soft almost a velour terry cloth. I sat down last night and forced myself to sew the buttons on 5 of them, I always dread sewing on buttons.....

these will make great gifts!

Jacket is done!!

Okay, I finished this last night as was too tired to post to my blog. I asked on the GarnStudio forum a question pertaining to the "8 outer most mid-front stitches to be put on a thread" and picked up later in the neck ribbing. I rec'd an answer and finished knitting last night, that was easy, I must have had a brain cramp, it was indeed the 8 stitches on each side ( buttonband) that you put on a thread/holder and then decrease along that edge as the pattern states 2 sts 2 times, 1 stitch 2 times every other row. This shapes the neckline. I have done that before in other patterns, for some reason I thought this one was "different".

The rest was easy! AND I have a small amount left of the 2nd skein, so roughly 300 yards of yarn to knit this. I will try it again for sure!!

Oh, and check out the GarnStudio baby drops site again, they have another new catalog for free baby patterns catalog #11, link is below in Oct 14th 2006 post. or copy and paste this:
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/oppskrift_oversikt_drops.php?drops=b11

only 6 patterns are up but I'm sure they'll get the rest available soon.

Now to find buttons for this sweater!

Jacket day 5 & I'm stuck!

This is how far I have gotten and now a problem with finishing the yoke! This is how the pattern reads:

Neck: At the same time when piece measures 25-27-31 (41-45) cm put the outermost 8-8-10 (10-10) sts towards mid front each side on a thread for neck. Now dec to shape the neckline on every other row: 2 sts 2 times and 1 st 2 times....?

I have gone to GarnStudio website and entered the forum for BabyDrops and asked a few questions to get some help. I can't tell from the pictures (or the diagram at the bottom of the pattern) where these 8 sts are put on a thread/holder......

If anyone has any ideas please email me!

Jacket day 4, whew!

remember to click on any photo to see a larger version!



I reached the point of knitting in the sleeves, that was a bit tricky, more of a tight fit than anything but I did it!! I bet if they were done on dp needles you would have the same problem.
trying to knit in 32 stitches in between 6 cast off stitches is a tight fit, don't ya think?


here's the back view

here is a close up of the tight spot!

and another front shot

Jacket day 3

here is a picture of the body of the jacket, notice the 6 stitches cast off while knitting that last garter stitch row. This makes a "space" for the sleeves to be joined in. You cast off 3 stitches each side of the 2 markers.


here is another view, nice and close:








okay now the sleeves I knit today, so quick & EASY!!!


I cast on and in no time I had the first sleeves done and on to the 2nd!
the pattern says to knit them on dp needles, I adjusted the knit and purl rows increases and decreases so they would work out .

I guess I have knitted enough sleeves thru the years that I know how most patterns are written. I did knit them separately as usual, I have always done it that way, fumbling around with 2 skeins of yarn and switching just seems to slow me down......





and here they are all done!!!

day 2 of the jacket

I have gotten this far on the GarnStudio jacket pattern today, up to the underarms ending with 4 rows of garter stitch and casting off 3 stitches each side of markers for the sleeves to fit in.




here is a close up of the side decreases.

Started the jacket from GarnStudio!!!

I had some serious dedicated knitting time this afternoon and evening, this is how much I was able to accomplish on the pattern b14-29. It is easy knitting, a K2, P4 rib ( which I have never done before) has an interesting effect, of course knit5 garter edges through out. You do some decreasing at both sides ( I did just a simple k2 tog on each side of the marker), this is done every 3cm, 3 times, easy to keep track just measure as you go!!

so far so good!!!

I am loving this Bernat Satin yarn, seems QUICK to knit & just so smooth on the needles.

More to follow.....

GarnStudio Baby Sweater project

I am about to begin this free knitting pattern found here

I have chosen Bernat Satin in color Lagoon, I have swatched and have the correct gauge
18 stitches & 23 rows = 10cm or 4" using size 6 US needles.

I will be knitting the smallest size sweater ( actually they call this a jacket), i'm not sure if I want to make the trousers or the booties, first I have to see how difficult it is with the different terminology but I'm up for the challenge!!

I hope to cast on tomorrow after a good nights sleep!!

Easy Baby Bootie pattern

these are shown in yellow in the post below dated Oct 10, 2006

KNIT BABY BOOTIES
Use 3 ply 100% acrylic yarn and size 4 US needles
1) Cast on 30 stitches
2) Knit 15, place marker, Knit 15
3) Increase in first stitch (knit in front and back of stitch), knit to first stitch before marker, increase in this stitch: slip marker, increase in next stitch, knit to last stitch, increase in last stitch.
4) Knit across
5) Repeat row 3
6) Repeat row 4 Repeat until there are 42 stitches on needle.
Knit 8 rows
INSTEP:
Row 1: Knit 24, knit 2 together, turn
Row 2: Slip 1, knit 6, knit 2 together, turn
Repeat Row 2 until there are 10 stitches left on each side. On last row, continue on over the last ten stitches (28 stitches).
Knit 2 rows.
EYELET BEADING:
Knit 1, yarn over, knit 2 together; Repeat across row to last stitch. Yarn over, knit 1.
CUFF:
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Knit 1 row Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Repeat the last 3 rows (K,P,K) 4 times until there are 3 purl ribs on right side. (15 rows) Sew up sole and back of booties. Crochet a string to run through beading. Tie booties together with a small yarn bow. You can also substitute ribbon for the crochet cord.

little yellow booties

I made these for my new "model" ( she's a doll, ha!), now her outfit is complete! I will post the pattern in a few days!



I also have been busy finishing up some more knitted towel toppers, I have been looking for grape kitchen towels and was able to find some here and there this summer. I live in the heart of the Lake Erie Regional Grape Belt, Concord and Niagara vaireties mostly. I live on a grape farm of 16 acres so I am always interested in "grape" themed items, they sell well here in this area and they make nice gifts too.
Every September they host a " Grape Festival" locally to celebrate the harvest. There's a craft show, rides and amusements, a wine tent and a big parade on Sunday afternoon.

Mary Jane Booties

It rained ALL DAY yesterday so I could work on a few more knitting projects in between decorating for halloween ( that meant going thru my many boxes in the basement, what a mess I have).

anyway.....these are the Mary Janes booties from the new book I mentioned in the previous post, they are fast and easy!

New little book-- knitting for babies

Here is the new book I bought @ Wal-Mart today only $3.49 they discounted it, it's marked $3.99. Title "Knitting For Babies", blankets, booties, bibs and more. There are 17 projects in all,
only 20 cents each! ( I found this by the registers of a Wal-Mart Super Center along with recipe books and other magazines)


Here are the Mary Jane booties I would like to do first:
these call for sport wt yarn and size 3 needles



and a cabled cardigan: this calls for worsted wt yarn and size 8 needles, worked in sections, back, fronts, sleeves and hood

Precious Layette size 2?

I Finally got this sweater finished! Yeah!! I would say it's more like a size one though, the hood looks small but is very stretchy, my new model is wearing it, see below!





Isn't she cute??? I found her at Wal-Mart in the toy department, $9.88, she came with the cute gingham outfit with a white hat. Only problem with these dolls, their arms are too short!

Last night I decided to knit her a beanie to match her sweater, which is one of my designs, I promise to perfect the pattern and share it with you. It's knit with Bernat Softee Baby another one of my favorite yarns for baby things. I started a pair of booties for her too. AGAIN I forgot to sew on buttons, I'll add that to my to-do list!

Marble Sweater Progress

I decided to knit the sweater in the Workbasket magazine ( Sept. 1981) shown on the cover.
This is all I have managed to get knitted even though it goes quickly on size 9 needles BUT of course I'm working on other projects in between! This is a pic of the back and both sleeves, I should finish the back today and begin the right and left fronts. I have just started the 2nd ball of this marble yarn and I really like it!

By the way, if you click on any of my pictures you can see a larger image, I keep forgetting to mention that!!

not much knitting!

After a busy weekend, this is all I have accomplished since Friday. Working on the Precious Layette design, changing it to be a size 2 like the pink one in my August 29th post. I like the Red heart TLC Essentials yarn, it's nice and soft.




This is one of my next projects, I found this yarn at AC Moore and I am considering knitting another Little Lillies's sweater or the sweater shown on the cover of the September 1981 issue of Workbasket. I made that same sweater using the yarn in the color they show for my oldest
daughter when she was 3 or 4. ( she's now 23, okay where did the time go?)

It calls for Lion Brand Unique yarn, an acrylic worsted weight which they no longer make! I think the James C. Brett Marble will be a nice substitute.....

Day 4 & Lillie's Little Sweater is a completed project!!

WOW, I had a chance to knit for 4 hours yesterday afternoon and into the evening allowing me to finish the sweater!!!
If you love top down knitting I highly recommend this pattern from Cottage
Creations! I did the 12 months size and it's just right!


Here is a picture of the back.









and here is a close up of the daisy buttons I used. If you double click on the pictures you can get a closer view, check out the neat edge along the front garter stitch bands. The pattern tells you to slip the first stitch purlwise of every row, yarn to back and finish knitting. This creates a nice, neat finished edge, I had never heard of this technique and plan to use it again on other sweaters!

Day 3 Lillie's Little Sweater!

I finished the sleeves and did 2 rows on the body section before I fell asleep! I wasn't happy with the coloring or " pooling " in the sleeves, it doesn't quite match the rest of the sweater. I guess it works out that way with only 39 stitches in the sleeves you can't avoid the striping. I just started the 3rd ball of Paton's Canadiana so that should be enough to finish this lovely little sweater!!

I already have my 3 buttons picked out from "Dress It Up". I bought 3 packages knowing I could use them for sweaters, I like the bright colors!
here they are:

Day 2 of Lillie's Little Sweater

I worked on the sweater last night, finished the yoke and divided the stitches for the sleeves which I have decided to knit first seperately before knitting the body. The main pattern suggests knitting the body part first but I read further in the book and Joan
who helped design the pattern gave the instructions to knit the sleeves before the body. I have done sweaters similiar to this before and I prefer to knit the sleeves first. Sometimes it can be tricky meaning TIGHT getting that first row knit on the sleeves. I have enjoyed this design so far!! Already thinking of what yarn to use for the next one, heaven knows there's plenty in my stash.....

my newest project!

I received my pattern ( Lillies Little Sweater-- by Cottage Creations) in the mail yesterday from The Naked Sheep http://www.nakedsheep.com . I ordered this pattern on Thursday Sept. 14th and rec'd it Monday the 18th, WOW fast service!!! I'm impressed and will definitely order from them again. Oh, and the shipping and handling are always free!! Take a peek and see what they have! I'm not affiliated with them, just a very satisfied customer!

Just a note too, the pattern comes in a little book form as you can see 24 pages in all and color photos inside.

So, I started this in the evening last night( while watching the Yankees game) , look how far I got!!! The Paton's Canadiana is a nice soft acrylic, the color is pastel parade. I am making the 12 months size and the pattern states I will need 460 yards of worsted weight yarn, using size 7 needles. The pattern ranges from 0-3 months, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. It starts with the hood, down to the ribbing at neckline is where I'm at, then on to the raglan shaping, all top down!! YEAH!! I think I'm going to like this one!!

my design sweater idea is done!

here is the sweater itself, this is my design, the pattern stitches I call "sea shells". Now this is only my prototype, I hope to re-do the number of stitches in the body to make it a little fuller, also I again forgot buttonholes!!! so i will work those in as I re-write the pattern. For this I used Caron CuddleSoft 3 ply almost a fingering weight so I held 2 strands together. The yoke and sleeves are knitted with size 5's and the body sea shell section with a size 7. I did not use double pointed needles for the sleeves, I placed everything else on holders and knitted the sleeves using regular needles and then seamed them.

here is the matching hat.....

My sweater design!!

Lately I have been designing in my mind a baby sweater so here is what I am working on...... this little yellow sweater, a top down and making it my own design, sort of scallop shells across the body portion, also I have added a collar. I'm planning on doing a little hat to match too!

more later!

And another one!

All this needs is to finish the one sleeve, of course on double pointed needles which I don't like! I worked a few rows last night trying to make myself finish the set. See, the booties are all done, I have must have made those first, why i don't know, I must have been in a knit bootie mode!

The sweater pattern can be found here:http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babysweyokecard.htm

The yarn I bought from Smiley's a few years ago, it's a yucky acrylic by Phentex sport wt. Color is apricot and not very soft! Maybe I better wash it before giving it away, hopefully that will soften it. Could be why I stopped working on it too! I don't like the yarn. Glad that one ball is all I have left.

Finished this set too!

This is another of Suzanne's matinee jacket from the yahoo group babysweaters. I had the sweater done and started the bonnet, got that knitted up yesterday and sewed on the button for the jacket. This is Lion Brand's Babysoft yarn, the bonnet looks small to me but is very stretchy!
I love this pattern too! I found another one I had started in yellow, I'll post of pic of that soon! I'm busy knitting on it today in between laundry and cooking.

Pink Set is done!

I finished this the other day, YEAH!
I changed the pattern a bit and added an extra stitch under the sleeves, so instead of casting on 2 on each end, I cast on 3 stitches. I think it looks better and is a little bit fuller giving baby more room to be comfortable! I also didn't thread the drawstring for the bonnet thru the eyelets, I attached crocheted chains to each side instead.

trying to finish this next!

Mary Thomas top down pattern in the American School of Needlework book "First Steps in Knitting", again I took out the eyelet rows and am just doing plain knit and adding 3 buttonholes along the way. This is Red Heart TLC Lustre ( a 4 ply soft yarn that is no longer available) it was in my stash. I have the booties and hat all done, why I knitted those first is beyond me, I usually don't work patterns that way! So all I need to do is finish knitting the body portion.

SEE I really am trying to finish up those old projects! AND I have few more to get done, just found another bag of goodies last night, funny how you can get so excited about a project, start it and then get bored with it, start something else and before you know it--- nothing is getting completed!!!

But I know I'm not alone!

Small Baby Surprise Jacket

I finally took a picture of this ( actually I loaned it to a friend so she could follow along with the pattern and she just gave it back to me). It's the Elizabeth Zimmerman small version of her Baby Surprise Jacket, I used 4 ply soft yarn and size 4 or 5 needles, quick to knit and I have another one going in my knitting basket.

2nd Precious Layette for a boy, size 2

I have started it and this is how far I have gotten, not far!! I got sidelined with other projects but I will get this finished soon! I am using TLC Essentials yarn by Red Heart in shaded denim, it is a very soft yarn and I love the coloring, great for a boy!
I am making notes as I go along so hopefully I can share the pattern.