Classic Baby Blanket for a Classy Kid

Just wanted to share this baby blanket pic of Oliver in my favourite pattern from Stitch'n'Bitch "Bad Baby Blanket". I love this easy pattern and I'm currently knitting up a new project for my 'new house' in the same pattern.

Dan's Sweater

It has been some time since I posted, but things have been busy and I have been working on large projects this past year.

This sweater was a modified version of this pattern I found on ravelry:

http://www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=5306&cid=15

I created it for my brother-in-law, Dan! It was an enjoyable project and opened up my mindset to knitting sweaters.

Using a bulkier yarn than required I modified the pattern to fit the gauge and to attempt a more custom fit, I casted on 151- my gauge was 14stitches=10cm (horizontal) and 18stitches=10cm (vertical)

5mm circular needles- for a sweater  (I bought some cool cubic ones which were a dream to knit with)

Bernat Chunky Yarn- 5 large balls in the blue (http://www.yarnspirations.com/yarn/bernat-chunky-1.html)

Bernat Chunky Yarn- 1 small ball in the multi-colour (http://www.yarnspirations.com/yarn/softee-chunky.html)

Lightning Add On:

I used a pixel creator to add the lightening to the back of the sweater.

Some issues:

For the collar and lapel its important to pick up every stitch when beginning. I don't think I did this properly and had a very bunchy collar and lapel. The fix was some serious wet blocking.

Thanks to Alexandra(my sister) and Dan (my bro-in-law) for the photos!

Baby Bibs

It's been a while since I posted and I really wanted to share a baby bib pattern I found and loved in honour of the Knitter's Frolic today in Toronto!

Here is Arya sporting a new bib at Easter.

This is another one I made for a baby expected this summer.

Here is the ravelry link:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/i-love-stockinette-baby-bib 

Patter notes:

1. Wrap and turn- I found these to cause big gaps in this part of the bib so instead of wrap and turn I knit or purl then turned (It might be the Bernat cotton I am using OR the fact that I just can wrap and turn properly).

2. When it says to do a purl pick up, I just purled the stitches across the row.  

Phone Pocket

After breaking the screen on my phone twice and seeing how fas the battery dies in the cold I made a phone pocket for my iphone 5c. Yes! I have an old phone, but this phone pocket works for other old phones as well; iphone 5s and iphone 4s.

Here's how to make it:

Materials
- less than 50g of worsted weight yarn (I used Madeline Tosh vintage scraps I had from a hat)
- 4mm dpns (5)

Pattern
1. CO 32 stitches on to one dpn
2. divide as follows: 2, 14, 2, 14 (it might be awkward to knit with two on one needle- but I felt this kept the shape) and join
3. K1 P1 for 1 inch
4. Pattern
Round 1: K12, P4, K12 P4
Round 2: P12, K4, P12, K4 (knit every stitch in the manner it presents)
Round 3: K4, Cable 8 front (4 and 4) P4,  K4, Cable 8 front (4 and 4), P4
Round 4: Same as round 2
Round 5: Same as round 1
Round 6: Same as round 2
Round 7: Cable 8 back, K4, P4, Cable 8 back, K4, P4
Round 8: Same as round 2
5. Repeat pattern until entire piece is 5.5 inches or desired length
6. 3 needle bind off

Fingerless Mittens for my Hubby

I knit up these fingerless mittens for my hubby shortly after Christmas. They fit perfectly and couldn't have turned out better. I found this pattern on ravelry (free download) by Snapper Knits.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-or-not-gloves

Some notes about the pattern.

1. Yarn- I used cascade sock yarn- such a dream to work with.
2.  After thumb gusset is created the pattern requests 18 rounds until pinky which is about 1.5 inches- I only did 15 rounds which was a bit more than 1.5 inches.
3. Ring finger issues- I ended up doing the ring finger as follows: Knit 11, put 25 and 25 stitches on stitch holders (knitting as you do so) then knit 7 (the knit 7 stitches is missing I believe).
4. Middle finger issues- I would use 10 stitches from first stitch holder and 10 from 2nd closest to the ring finger.

Chunk Knit Hats

The hat on the right was made with TWO strands of worsted weight yarn, and the hat on the right was made with chunky weight yarn. Both fit the same and both were made with the same pattern.

Materials

- yarn of you choice (see note above- 2 strands worsted or chinky) 1 skein

- Size 5mm needles- short circular and dpns

- darning needle

Pattern:

CO 72 and join in the round

K1P1 for 2 inches

Then begin knitting in the round (you can add some increases on your last row of K1P1 every 8 stitches do a K1thfb if you want your hat to be a bit wider inside)

Knit for 8-10 inches

Begin Hat Decrease (I use the 78 method)

NB: 7/8 decrease method instruction
Round 1: Knit 6, K2tog (entire round) - except for last 5 stitches
Round 2: K5, K2tog (entire round) - except for last 5 stitches
Round 3: K4, K2tog (entire round)- except for last 5 stitches
Round 4: K3, K2tog (entire round)- include last 5 stitches
Round 5: K2, K2tog (entire round)
Round 6: K1, K2tog (entire round)
Round 7: K2tog (entire round)
Continue with round 7 until you have 4-6 stitches left
8. Use darning needle to pick up last stitches and pull tight and weave in all loose ends

Arya's Stocking

I knit my first stocking for my menina. 

I used the pattern for the shape of the stocking here:

http://thecaffeineatedknitter.blogspot.ca/2008/10/sparkling-sleigh-bells-stocking.html

Using the pattern I added a few parts of my own:

1. The hook/hanger- crocheted on after the stocking was complete in a double crochet stitch similar to what I used for my dishtowels

2. The top part of the stocking- I casted on and knit for 4 rows, then purled for 4 rows, then knit for 4 rows and then purled for 4 rows

3. Name- I used my pixel app on my iPad to see where to knit in the letters using a bit of fairisle techniques

4. I use some moss stitches to make some snow under the name

5. I added 3 cables in the front of the stocking 

6. The foot part came out a bit large for me and in the future I would try to decrease my stitches after completing the heel

Stocking Stuffers for Arya- Leg Warmers

Baby Leg Warmers 

Pattern Adapted from One More Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit

by: Leigh Radford

These leg warmers are a bit big for my niece now, but by spring they should fit her chubby legs.

Materials:

4mm dpns (different from pattern in book)

worsted weight yarn

Pattern Adaptations:

CO 42 stitches

Join in the round

KKP for 2 inches

K until desired length (I knit 8 inches)