My City Boy

More knocked up knitting. I need to make this a tag for my blog.

Before the weeks of rain we had what is most likely our last blast of summer weather. And my son finally fit in one of the sweaters that I made him. He had it on for a whole 2 hours before he woke up from his nap and then promptly spit up all over it. Unless we have a September heat wave (been known to happen) then this will be his one and only time wearing it. Awesome.

Pattern is Pixie Purls’ Country Kiddie. Yarn is some random sock yarn that I lost the label for.

Nature Rattle Set

Another edition of the ongoing series I am now calling “knocked up knitting.” That being said this project is crochet. Yeah I know, it is a sin to call crochet knitting but knocked up knitting just sounds cute. So what did I make? Why toys – what else?

A set of rattles with a nature theme seemed like just the right finishing touch to the boy’s forest nursery. Since then I have made a few for friend’s babies. If you would liek to make your own I have made the pattern available for download on Ravelry.

Craft: Crochet
Type: Toys
Yarns suggested: Rowan Handknit Cotton
Yarn weight: Worsted / 10 ply (9 wpi) [Information on yarn weights]
Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in single crochet
Hook size: 3.5 mm (E)
Yardage: 40 – 60 yards
Description: Make these fun forest-inspired rattles for all the little sprites in your life. Whether your little one is just starting to get a handle on things or your child loves pretend-play, this whimsical toy set will accompany your children throughout their development. Soft yet sturdy cotton soaks up drool and holds shape after washing.
This pattern is available for $5.00 USD.

Pebble

At two months old my little man is growing out of and into clothing. And what better to dress a little man in than a “manly” vest like Nikol Lohr’s Pebble.

The pattern was easy to follow and a snap to knit. Perfect for something to keep your hands busy as you watch Battlestar Galactica episodes back to back like I did while pregnant.

It took a little over one ball of artful yarn’s candy that I picked up years ago in San Francisco. I like how the elsatic makes it where I do not even have to use the buttons right now and will provide lots of give for when that belly fills out more.

First Knits

About two months ago my husband and I welcomed a new member into the family. One of the first things that needed to be attended to was making sure that the tiny head of our 7 week premature baby was kept warm. Don’t worry, Mom can take care of that.

Learn to like it kid, this will not be your last mommy-knit cap.

Ear-a-ma-jigs

I am happy to announce my newest pattern Ear-a-ma-jigs. I am trying out Ravelry sales and would love to know what you think.

You know a kid that needs an extra set of ears? Well I knew a few. These 3 fun hats are great for keep little heads warm or for dress up play. Short row shaping means no annoying seams and perky ears that will not just flop over.

Craft: Knitting
Type: Baby
Published: February 2009
Yarns suggested: Dark Horse Yarns Fantasy
Yarn weight: Aran / 10 ply (8 wpi)
Gauge: 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Needle size: US 7 / 4.5 mm
Sizes available: preemie, baby, toddler, child
This pattern is available for $5.00.

Wet Days

The last few days have been dark wet and fairly warm even though the calendar says January. But while derry weather normally inspires me only to nap, I have been feeling the knitting bug again. Most of this winter so far the needles have been down and what little knitting have have done has been disastrous – thus the quiet blog. I am not sure why I can’t share my mishaps and failures like other braver blogers. But maybe with this new year and the hopeful feelings that always come with it I will be a better blogger. I promise that there are several big things on the horizon this year so check back every once in a while to see what is going on.

Oh yeah San Fransisco.

Plush You! San Fransisco opened this Friday and I hear it went well. I wish I could have been there but two plush trips in a season is way beyond my budget. Unfortunately I did not have time to take more than one photo of my work before it went out there because I was rushed for time. Somehow I did not get my acceptance letter (spam filter ate it?) and therefore did not know I was in the show until 2 weeks before the show started. Luckily I had half of a another Whaley McBlubber compleated and a Snow Sprite from last year. So I only had to make one toy fresh and finsh up the whale. Still with it being halloween and a baby and wedding shower to go to it was a bussy few weekends. So this crappy in the box shot is the only evedence of all that hard work.

Seattle

I had a great trip to Seattle where I got to go to the Plush You! show. Sorry the images are being posted so late. Enjoy.

 

Dream Eating Monster

My dear college bud Cynthia asked me to make a toy for one of her close friends in Italy early this summer. Cynthia’s friend had requested “something American” and anything I make is American because I am American right?

While we were in college Cynthia used to always tell me what she dreamed about the night before. Her dreams were always funny to hear and I was always amazed with the details she was able to remember.

Cynthia also always loved dream catchers (and I never knew her to have a bad dream) so a monster that ate bad dreams just felt right. Of coarse he needed a web in his mouth to catch the bad dreams.
I hope this toy makes a newborn Italian baby happy.

Oh and before I forget! Plush You! is this Friday, Oct 10th at Schmancy in Seattle. If you live around there you should defiantly check it out.  I’ll be there!

Simple Scarf for Fall

Something about fall always makes me want to knit. Maybe it is some sort of residue instinct for winter preparation from when my ancestors lived in colder places and did not have central heat. I know I always feel restless in the fall and I need to move around. Work becomes hard. But not knitting. That becomes easy. My hands just feel right knitting in this weather.

The first tinglings of the knitting urge hit last week I went to a new local yarn shop called Sheepish. I got some beautiful Lorna’s Laces yarn but after knitting about a foot of scarf and scratching off about half my neck I reluctantly admitted that I was having some sort of reaction to the yarn. So I had to put that aside, still not sure what I am going to do with it. Yarn swap maybe? But now I am working up a new slightly different design in my new favorite cotton yarn Blue Sky Alpaca’s Dyed Cotton bought from Atlanta’s hippest yarn shop and my new knitting group hang out Knitch. Almost all my Plush You toys were made out of this stuff so finding some fall inspired striped to go with the tan base was not hard at all.

I think I am in love with fisherman’s rib. Is it wried to say that about a stitch pattern? It just feels so chunky and soft.