slightly off topic...

I am easily distracted at the best of times, and I definitely like diversity in my knitting projects, and lately it's felt a bit like all-sweaters, all-the-time.

So despite needing to sew up my Peasy, and having a Ferris Wheel to finish...not to mention a Miette on the needles as well, I decided to take a slight detour this weekend and work on some instant-gratification projects.

Firstly, I whipped up not one but THREE of these wee little baby hats.  Knit in the round using aran yarn, they zoomed off the needles and into the blocking bath. I made all three in a 24-hour span.

The pattern is the Garter Ear Flap Hat, a freebie from The Purl Bee, and I used some Rowan Pure Wool Aran (pink) and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (grey and teal).

Super cute!  I just need to add the tiny tassels to these and they are ready to go in the gift stash box.  I think I've even got enough leftover from each ball of yarn to make another two to three hats, probably with some colour blocking.  This pattern is definitely a win, in my books - free, quick, small yarn usage, and CUTE!  I think it's turned my baby-knitting mojo back on, for sure.

I also had a delivery of some Murano wool from Bendigo this week, that I bought because it was on special, and I wanted to make a blanket of some description.  I toyed with a mitred square pattern, and a knitted chevron, but in the end I decided to give crochet one more crack and try my hand at the Round Ripple Baby blanket.

And with all the stars miraculously aligning, I managed not to stuff it up!



This is a really simple pattern, and I found the instructions very clear and straightforward - perfect for those among us that perhaps struggle with crochet terminology, or reading stitches.  I usually always end up with extra chains, or not enough, and I'm never exactly clear about which is the "next stitch" the pattern asks me to slip stitch to!!

The yarn is great for this type of blanket too.  Self-striping in fairly long repeats; it makes impressive work out of something really rather simple.

As far as blankets go, this is also working up very fast.  In two evenings work, I have just finished the second 200g ball, using a 5mm hook.  I was debating whether to stop here, as it's probably big enough for a baby blanket, but I think I'll persevere and use up the third ball I ordered so the finished blankie is nice and snuggly.

shoes for scale...

And the best thing is, now that I have got that instant-gratification out of my system, I feel like I'm ready to knuckle down to seaming and probably a bit of garment knitting. 

What's exciting your needles this extra long weekend?  I'm working at Sunspun tomorrow, then we are shut for Good Friday but will be open 10-5pm Easter Saturday, so pop in if you're in the area?   I had the pleasure of finally meeting missfee last week, after probably 7-8 years of "knowing" each other online (hope your yarn purchases are bringing you much happiness, lovely lady!).  I really enjoy meeting more of the people I regularly chat to but have never met in person, and I feel like Sunspun might just end up being the great facilitator...

Hope to see you one of these days soon xx

and then it was done

ahh, in my traditional fashion the completion of my Show entries was a chaotic, frenzied, mad-dash!

After staying up till after 11pm putting final touches on pieces, I ran out of work this afternoon and made it to the Pavillion with 8 mins to spare.

That said; I'm very happy with my 2014 submissions.

A baby's garment (under 18mths)...

Baby booties...

An adult garment...

A tea cosy...

and an "Other"...

There seems to be a prevalence of "pink" in this year's entries too.

Lucille

This week has been all about sorting out my Red Hill Show entries.  I've sorted out my frustrations of a couple of weeks ago, wrote my list (oh, I love a list!) and I'm now feeling much more in control of the situation.

Follow your Arrow will be one entry, as well as a couple of other pieces from late last year.  
Projects knitted specifically for the 2014 Show will be a baby cardigan, a tea cosy, and a pair of baby booties

After the disappointment of my previous baby cardigan knitting, I have already had much better luck with this project.

The pattern is Lucille, from Kelbourne Woolens and I'm using some Berocco Ultra Fine Alpaca in the colour "Turquoise Mix ".

The beautiful alpaca yarn and it's rich colour are perfect for this wee vintage-insipred pattern.  I love strong colours on babies, and this particular shade is so pretty.  It's probably a little more vibrant in real life, but it's hard to capture on camera. 

Originally I cast on using bamboo dpn needles, as they were the only 2.5mm's I had at hand. My thoughts were as the stitches increase, I'd just add another dpn.  Easy, like the old-school style you see in charming European photos.

Ha!

Seriously, do I not know myself by now??  By the time I got to 200+ stitches and 5 needles, I was done with that foolish notion.  It was SO cumbersome; I kept losing stitches off the ends, and my tension around the needle transition was terrible. Plus I was about to start the lace. I could my future, and there were tears.

I hunted through my needle stash and found some circulars in the required size and now we are all much happier.

The lace is absolutely lovely in this pattern. A little more geometric than floral, it's lacy but not too lacy. Pretty without being prissy.  I think I've rediscovered my baby-knitting love, and the key is definitely vintage or vintage-inspired.

I've only got one skein of yarn, so there might be a bit of yarn-chicken happening on the sleeves, but I have my fingers crossed. If the worst happens and there's not enough yarn for full length sleeves, I still think it's rather sweet with short sleeves anyway.   

I'm a little sad not to be able to complete the matching bonnet though.  I do love a sweet bonnet!

bonnie wee cardigan

one of my oldest and best friends is about to have her first baby - all the way over in Scotland, can you believe it?!

I can't fathom that she is going to be a mother and I won't be able to just call in and give her a hand, or cuddle this little babe for many months.

so of course, I'm sending some knitted love to wrap her/him in until I can do it in person.

a really simple, fine-weight cardigan, with 3 buttons at the yoke, and a slip stitch pattern on the border using some beautiful handpainted yarn.