Still knitting, kind of

Indeed. I am. Not even secretly since all my projects are dutifully entered on the project page on Ravelry.

I finished something on Saturday and, oh my, it is NOT knitting but crochet. A 'Granny Stripe Blanket' for Egg, who had picked the colours and keeps telling me "I just loooove the colours!".



I am also blogging. Here. Every week on Monday about some or other knitting related stuff. This time I did a 'how to' on casting on with beads.

On a totally unrelated note: I had some cabbage leftover and am improvising the veggie part of our dinner tonight. Cabbage with Caraway - a dish we usually only get at Christmas Dinner at a friend's house. I have really no idea how it is actually cooked, but so far it looks and tastes pretty good...

Shopgirl

Well, yes, that would be me. The girl (ahem, rather: woman) working in a yarn store. Making money by selling lovely yarn, advising people with their knitting...and, most of it: Having time for selfish knitting! Over the last six months I have been knitting for myself more than in six years time. It's fantastic. I'd forgotten how that goes.

This year alone I have knit EIGHT sweaters etc. for myself (not all of them a success, but that's another story) and several other smaller things. Then there are some gifts and store samples...I can't believe I've been that productive and didn't have to give most of it away. Also, I've been choosing fun projects, meaning they were quite a digression from what I would have knit three years ago. FUN!

That's why my designing life got put on hold - more or less. I haven't given up designing, but I think I needed a real break. I won't deny it's hard to go back, but there are some ideas that need attending to!

Egg has been going to daycare since last August, she's loving it and I'm loving that. It's easier to have a life on your own when you know your kid is happy, too.

Life is good. (Apart from the trouble with my teeth. But, honestly, WHO wants to know about that?)

Two of my favourite knits:

Drops Design No 108-33 "Jacket in Lin"

Carol Feller's "Adrift" (Ravelry link) in Noro Sekku

October!

So, this is what happens when you don't pay attention. Time just trickles away, one day at a time, and whoosh! it's the middle of October. In the meantime, Egg turned two, I'm working away at Espace Tricot, and I crocheted a sweater (ravelry link) or rather, a shrug thingie that I finished yesterday and yet have to photograph.


We had some glorious fall weather, and my Mom was visiting for two weeks. During that time we went apple picking. Egg just loves it. She would go again any day.


Egg is still not happy when I drop her off at daycare, but I know that she's fine about three minutes after I leave. The payback time of my getting opportunity to work and some hours off mothering is night time. Going to bed usually was an easy thing. Since Egg started daycare it is a nightmare. She screams almost every night in protest. And three days ago she climbed out of her crib for the first time and hasn't stopped. She's also gotten quite good at it - after only five or six tries. I think I'm off to IKEA to get a bed rail to convert her crib into a bed. Somehow this leaves me uneasy, but she's getting out anyways, so I guess it doesn't really make a difference.

This might be too much.

I finished a pair of knee highs for Egg on Sunday. I always try create outfits to show them off, since I think her chubby legs look übercute in them.

Newsboy cap, Allison cardi and Kickers. Darn, I don't have knickerbockers. Well, let's roll up the legs of her jeans, they are a smidgen too short anyways.

She was quite disobliging when I wanted to take pictures. But maybe you get the picture. (And, I do realize that you can't see the knee highs, but I do know they're there!)



Is this too much?

(I'm acutely aware of the fact that I won't ever win a photographer's contest. I suck.)

One Step forward, two back - but this is finished

I think I have come to the conclusion that trying to finish everything before starting a new project is just not the way it works for me. When one project is almost done, I usually feel the urge to start another, or twonother, for that matter. The almost done project gets either done quickly or, sadly, lingers for a long while before it is completely done.

I get excited about new ideas and want to start them right away - which in return keeps me from finishing 'other crap', as I like to call it myself. (Not in a derogatory way, just because I don't feel like dealing with it.) Also, Egg often needs a certain item right away - or so I tell myself - and she has been a priority in my life ever since she has been born, hence the bestest excuse ever to start more crap.

Having said that, Egg didn't really need this hat, but I wanted to make it anyways. An adventure from beginning to end, and I'm not sure how it ended. You tell me!




ETA: I used Reynolds "Cool Cotton" (90% Cotton, 10% Steel - yes, really!) and the hat weighs 76 grams.

Done

Just to let you know: the beret is fixed and done and I wore it today. Love it.

First FO of 2010 - and lots of irritation

Gaaah. I'm having a bad day because Egg is having a bad day. She just does not want to nap. And I can tell she's tired, very tired. She's cranky, needy, pick-me-uppy, whiny...It's just - I have no words.

She's also wearing my first FO of 2010 - a dress made from Noro Iro which was a Christmas present.


I don't know how, but she must be aware that I am irritated beyond anything, because after our second try to get her to nap, she came to me and smiled, said 'hello' and tried to give me kisses, all the while not wanting to nap...Gaaah.

ETA at 3.35 p.m.: I might have overreacted. A little bit.

I been busy

With life. You know how it goes.

With knitting. Small things for small people.

With working. Now, that's a lie. Though, it depends on what one calls 'work'. So maybe not.

Here are some of my favourite FO's:

The "Lili Kimono" - I think Egg just looks übercute in it. Two balls of Diakeito Diamusee Fine I had in my stash did the trick. I'm working on the pattern. The sample knitter is already waiting for it. And there will be a vest version, also.


This is the "Shishiza Cardigan" - it was a gift for my nephew's first birthday. It's worked from yarn from my stash.


This scarf is inspired by the "Baktus Scarf" - I modified it and as you can see it looks great as a head scarf also! This one is Malabrigo Worsted. What can I say, it's just the perfect pink.


The "Purpleneck" - Egg can totally grow into this sweater. Lorna's Laces DK Swirl Blackberry. Love it.


And, last but not least and only finished yesterday (sewing on the darn flowers!): "Flower Power". It's also large so Egg can wear it for a long while. (First thing she did was try to pick off the flowers...) It's made from Noro Kureyon Sock yarn. Who else could get away with colour combinations like that??

Whirligig Shrug

Saturday Egg and I spent the day at the Roxham Woolgathering with some friends. More about that tomorrow. Today it's about the Whirligig Shrug from Interweave Knits Weekend that I finished after we came home from said Woolgathering. I had started it Friday afternoon.

It's a sweet little knit and I didn't think I would like it that much, but I do! And Egg looks really cute in it. I used Reynolds Odyssey, a 100% merino yarn in variegated reds. It took only 86 grams (about 200 yds) for the 12-18 months size, so it is the perfect project for leftovers I dare say. Come to think of it, why not hand spun??

Are you fed up yet with Egg pictures?

Thanks for your good wishes - the toe is on the mend. Today it's already much better!

More than one year later

Remember last Summer when I was put on bed rest when pregnant? Some of that time was spent in the Hospital, which was no fun at all. While being there Mary and Molly Ann brought me two skeins of Schaefer Anne, which is one of my all time favourite sock yarns. They even brought me a set of dpns to get knitting. Problem was, I didn't feel like knitting socks.

So after looking through some pattern books which Rolf brought me I cast on for what I thought a small cardigan. I had to think of that baby in my belly a lot, after all. It turned out a bit large, I thought Egg might be able to wear it in Spring, but it is only now that it fits. I didn't use the whole skein, and it's quite loosely knit on a 3.5 mm needle. The body is a lace pattern and the sleeves have garter ridges, that can be found in the raglan decreases also.

Here, have look again:

We're still knitting

This is "Evangeline", a cardi knit in bulky yarn with a leaf pattern edge. It knits up real quick, I did it in two days.



Egg likes it, too.


Find the download link for the free pattern in the sidebar. Or click here.

'Told you so!

My daughter and I had an argument - we often do, almost every day. The topic is: "to nap or not to nap". She apparently thinks she can do without napping, I, on the other hand, am convinced that napping is very beneficial to her.

She usually falls asleep while nursing, and it works (mostly) well. Now, it's been very hot the last couple of days and she just wouldn't. This afternoon after two failed attempts she was sitting on the floor so tired she almost keeled over. So - hard hearted Mommy that I am - put her in her bed without nursing and awake (gasp!). There was some wailing, some "mamamamamaaa" going on but after five minutes it was suspiciously quiet. Don't you know it, she was out like a light. Mind you, it doesn't work all the time, and I prefer her going to sleep happily, but I'm glad she's napping for now!

The heat is slowly but surely driving me insane (ah well, not far to go anyways) and it's not even been a hot summer so far...

I finished some knitting for Egg. For some unfathomable reason she likes my knitting and also playing with it, so here's her first knitted blankie:


The "Moderne Baby Blanket" from Mason Dixon Knitting. Lots of garter, soothing to the tortured soul. Sometimes. Other times it is torture.

Egg says "hi" - here she is today before her oh so needed nap:

Walking on Sunshine

Today was such beautiful weather so Egg and I took a walk.

She enjoyed it immensely. Sitting in the stroller she babbled along, while I pushed her down Sherbrooke Street.



I also finished 'Brown Eggs' - the sweater is yet too big, but that was intended. I hope it'll fit next fall.

She's my Supermodel - look at the pose!

And, in case you wondered: we have a new camera! Taking pictures is suddenly a breeze...

Velvet Yoke

Hi there, Egg here.

My Mom finished some knitting some time ago, and now she makes me show it off. It was fun for a while.

See, looking cute and all.

Then she wouldn't stop.

One picture after another. I told her  I had enough. 

Mom, you irk me. This is irksome. I'm leaving. 

Coulda Shoulda Woulda

When I started this little project I shoulda contemplated the yardage and size a bit longer - I probably woulda figured that the yarn lasts further than I imagined and then I coulda knit the sleeves long to begin with. As it is, I decided to knit kind of 3/4 sleeves - which, as it turns out, look a bit funny on a three month old. Alas, as Robbie Williams says: No regrets, they don't work.

I present to you the "Fire Tee".

Like the cat?

No puke on this one yet, but Egg wore it only for taking the pictures.

It took less than two skeins of Rabbit Ridge Designs Superwash DK wool, colorway Fire. (Ravelry link)

Tapestry Tee

Two balls of Rowan Tapestry can make a cute little layering piece for Baby.



It's a bit large yet, Egg looks like a linebacker. I figure the size is more 6-9 months.



Egg likes it. She showed her appreciation by puking on the new piece about five minutes after I put it on her.

It's a fun little knit, all in one piece with little finishing work. Once I get the time I'll write down the pattern.

Look what I can do! (The many faces of Egg, part 2)

Weeks ago Egg discovered her tongue - she liked sticking it out. She's pretty much stopped doing that, maybe the novelty wore off. But just because it's so much fun, here's another pic.


Now she's into toys. She can grab them and gnaw on them, her coordination gets better from day to day. She's still not into her soother, mostly I trick her into taking it when she's half asleep. Doesn't do much good, though. One time she's taken it out with her hands and stuck it back in (only to pop it out with her tongue), which is amazing since her coordination is of course not that sophisticated yet.

I kind of had forgotten how much fun it was to play dress up doll. It's even more fun with Egg! Here she's wearing her little pinafore I made before she was born. Somehow I can't believe it already fits.



BTW, still think she looks like me? She looks like her Daddy a lot, too.



Even though she wears pink (I know, pink!) a lot, I get asked often if she's a 'boy or girl'.


Girl, definitely!!

Well, sometimes it's a bit dubious, I admit.




Especially when she wears her new raglan. But the pink teether ring should be a tip off!!



Or maybe I just put it with the pinafore, as intended:

There's knitting to be had

Yes, indeed I have been knitting. Yesterday I even figured out a way to nurse and knit at the same time. (No, I'm sure you don't want to know the particulars but there was a pillow and a ball of yarn involved.) It's easier now that Egg is a bit older.

I made fingerless mitts for Nadine. They are made of a fluffy, very light yarn from a company I forgot and I can't find the ball bands. One ball is 25 grams, I got two in different colours and have about 10 g left of each. The yardage of this yarn is unbelieveable.



I knit a pair of socks for her, too. (Nadine has small feet. Knitting socks for her is quick and dirty, if you know what I mean.) They are made from Mountain Colors Bearfoot, which is one of my favorites.



There's a cute little boy's sweater with cables. A Christmas gift for a cute little boy I know. It's a pattern from the Reynolds Kids booklet No 82467 for Fall 2008. This one is knit with Adrienne Vittadini "Lisa" (sadly discontinued) but the original calls for Reynolds "Hop Scotch" which is a thick'n thin superwash wool and very soft.



The next picture shows a raglan for Egg in progress, but in reality it's done - it just needs some snap buttons. I'll take a picture of Egg wearing it once they are attached. It's made of Reynolds Cottontail and uses only 3 balls for the 6 month size.



And, my latest adventure: the Tapestry Tee for Egg with the infamous Embossed Leaves pattern. I'm up to the armholes. Let's see how quickly I can finish it.


Oh, and can you see the little heart stitch marker? Isn't that the cutest thing? It's Japanese and comes in a package with three different sizes. I couldn't resist.