Shortsleeve Baby Cardigan

I know it's been a long time since I've posted. Hopefully you will cut me some slack. It's not because I haven't been knitting. I just haven't made time to post. What a bad blogger I have been! This cute little baby cardigan makes up for it though.

I had this odd ball sitting around the house that I had started making a hat from over a year ago. I frogged that bad boy when I came across it and look at what it turned into - only the cutest little sweater ever.

This is a very simple pattern that I made up as I went. Knit in a royal blue wool acrylic blend (read machine washable since it's for a tyke) on #7 needles this little jacket knits up quickly. It was knit straight across with the roll hem, I treated the little arm holes like finger holes for gloves, and used a raglan shirt sleeve decrease to shape the shoulders. After finishing the collar I went back and knit the little sleeves in the round. You know what all this means? NO SEAMS! Nothing to bug the lucky baby to wear it. I added snap tape in a medium gray to add some interest instead of the traditional zipper or buttons.

I think it's brilliant and if you do too here's the pattern for Size 1:


What you'll need:
-Large skein of worsted weight hypoallergenic/kid friendly yarn (your color choice just check the weight of the yarn)
-#7 straight needles
-#7 double pointed needles
-yarn needle
- 13" snap tape in a coordinating color
- needle and thread or sewing machine

With #7 Straight needles cast on 83 sts.
R1: knit across
R2: purl across
R3: knit across
R4: purl across
R5: knit across
R6: k3, p77, k3
Repeat rows 5 & 6 for 6.5 inches (about 40 rows).
R41(increase row): k22, k1 into back, k1, k1 into back, k39, k1 into back, k1, k1 into back,k22
R42: k3, p81, k3
R43(increase row): k23, k1 into back, k1, k1 into back, k41, k1 into back, k1, k1 into back,k23
R44: k3, p85, k3
R45(increase row): k24, k1 into back, k1, k1 into back, k43, k1 into back, k1, k1 into back,k24
R46: k3, p89, k3
R47(bind off row): k22, loosely bind off 12 sts, k39, loosely bind off 12 sts, k22
R48(yo row): k3, p19, yarn around needle 18 sts, p39, yarn around needle 18 sts, p19, k3
R49(decrease row): k18, ssk1, k18, k2tog, k37, ssk1, k18, k2tog, k18
R50: k3, purl across, k3
R51: purl across
R52: k3, purl across, k3
Repeat rows 49 through 52 five times.

Working neck and binding off:
R1: knit across
R2: k3, purl across, k3
R3: knit across
R4: purl across
R5: knit across
R6: purl across
R7: bind off all sts

Working arms:
Pick up and evenly distribute 30sts on your double pt needles.
Knit in the round for 10 rows. Bind off.

Finishing:
Go through sweater with yarn needle and weave in all loose ends.
Arrange snap tape on sweater and sew into place with your sewing machine or needle and thread.

Enjoy!

Cabled Fingerless Mittens

Making the pattern for these I wanted something that would combat the drafts that sneak up my sleeves all winter long. As well as something practical that would coordinate with my various coats, while having more interest than a plain stockinette stitch. I think I struck a goldmine with these and the large chunky cable up the length of the back. Let me know what you think!

Yarn:

Jo Sharp
Silkroad, Aran Tweed
Color: Bark

85% Wool, 10% Silk, 5% Cashmere
50g ball
Gentle hand wash/ Dry flat in shade
www.josharp.com.au
Made in Italy

Now that I have made two projects inside of two weeks I feel the need to keep on knitting! I am working on a TOP SECRET project right now for Christmas, which means I will not be posting it until after Christmas for shame that the person(s) they are for would find them and spoil the surprise. In the mean time I will try and do a few more small projects. Stay tuned to see what happens.

Fall Shawl

Fall is officially here in Brooklyn and to celebrate I am breaking my needles back out.

My first finished project this season is the yellow ochre hue chunky wool shawl below. The color makes me think of the golden leaves lining the streets and the warmth of the afternoon sun.


It is a very simple project and I was able to complete it in a couple sittings over the weekend. I wanted to show off the loftiness of the wool and juxtapose it with a lace technique. So instead of going out and buying gauge 100 needles (if anyone knows what size needles I would have actually had to use please let me know - this number is an assumption!) I used my hands and forearms. I have never heard of anyone doing this before but I would love to hear about it if you have. The result was this very airy and whimsical shawl. I think it will also transition to cooler weather as an over-sized scarf.


This is the same wool that I thanked Beth for last Spring; thanks again Beth! I never would have conceived of such a thing as knitting with my arms if it was not for your gift. Which makes me think - if anyone else out there has any wool sitting around that they will not be using you can ship it to me and we will all see what comes of it.

Stay tuned for some little brown arm warmers in the next week or so. Here's the beginning:

Missy's Market Bag

My sister-in-law had a birthday in April and I wanted to make her a birthday present; inspired by the spring and the fact that her favorite color is red. It took longer than I expected it to, but I finished. She still doesn't have it (and doesn't know it's coming unless she reads this), but what is a month and a half late when you are dealing with something handmade right?

Based off of many market bags I have seen around town I decided to make it personal for her and vary it a little. I used two tones of red yarn to give it texture and sewed on an added a flower at the top for fun. I think it turned out well given that I was making the pattern up as I went along. It is very expandable to hold all sorts of fruits and veggies that you might find at a farmer's market.

I hope she likes it!

I love spring!

Okay, so I know this is a lot of activity on my blog after being absent for months on end but I guess you could say I have been working hard and storing up. I'll try to space out my other projects that I have done in the last couple months so that you aren't too overwhelmed. Today is a little rainy and colder than just a t-shirt would allow for so I am wearing one of my favorite sweaters that I made. Since I haven't posted it before I thought I'd share it. Like many of my projects this sweater was inspired by yarn that I had laying around. It just goes to show you that if you don't act on impulse occasionally you may never know what could come of it.



For next time: I am currently working on fun spring/summer project. It's hard to know what to knit in the summer when it's hot everywhere you go and the last thing you want is to put something warm on your body. Stay tuned for a preview in the next couple weeks.

Also, a big thanks to my dear friend Beth who sent me some delicious blue and yellow chunky wool in the mail!!! I can't wait to see what it turns into. I'll try and get to it before the weather get's too hot!

Spring is Here

Belted cardigan with tulip-sleeves and shell buttons!

Warm weather has come and with it all the new leaves and flowers. This cardigan is inspired by the new growth I see all around me. I saw this mohair in the yarn store a few years ago and knew it was meant for something special and could not pass it up. After holding onto it for a while I started sketching some ideas and low and behold here she is. Soft, lofty, romantic and just warm enough to layer over a t-shirt on a spring afternoon.

Two-Tone Cable Sweater

I made this sweater a couple of years ago to keep warm in the winter when it's butt-freezing cold. (I have a friend that tells me there are two kinds of cold: Butt-freezing and Booger-freezing.) I wanted to post it now because I feel like this year out of all the previous years that I have had it I have finally gotten to really appreciate it for what it is.

It was made from a 100% wool yarn that my grandma had started to make a sweater for my mom from when my mom was in high school. My grandma had only made the first eight inches of the first panel so it was not too hard to pull out and reuse with my own design. I gave it double pockets and a two-way zipper.


Note:
For those of you that are wondering why I started this blog but don't keep it up it's because I knit too much to make the time to sit at the computer! I will try and get some pictures this week of some of the projects that I made this season and post them for all of your enjoyment.