Baby Stuff Part Two or Way Overdue

Here is a completed baby IOU. This is intended for Swartz (see the list below). I ran short on yarn for the pair of baby socks so I made a second bib, instead. The specs are below:
Hat:
Yarn-Bunny Hop (The colorway tag has been misplaced).

Pattern- Just a basic rolled brim baby hat, no pattern really required.

Needles-Size 4 because that was what I could find at the time. I really like working this yarn on 8s, but really you could be okay with anything in between those two numbers.

Bibs
Yarn- Sugar and Creme of whatever colors they sell at my local Walmart

Pattern-Mason Dixon Bib of Love

Needles- Size 6

Changes in the Pattern- I forgot to put a button hole in the second bib so that one will be a Velcro closure (which I think mom might like more anyway).

Look for part three later today/tomorrow. Andersen is coming over and we're having a movie night. So while I'll get lots of knitting done, it might not get posted until tomorrow (especially if Sangria is involved). Have a great Sunday all!

Part One of a Three Part Series

In my list of summer knitting plans, I mentioned quite a few baby projects. This is the one for the shower on Tuesday for my mentee. She's having a baby girl (her second child, but first girl). The plan is to give her the hat and booties along with a cute onesie set in primary colors. Here's the specifics for the set:
The Hat:
Pattern- Children's Cotton Hats from "Last-Minute Knitted Gifts"

The Yarn- Bunny Hop (I love this yarn for Baby Stuff) in the Fruit Salad colorway.

Needle Size- Size 8 circulars, 12 inches long.

Modifications- I cast on 70 stitches instead of the 60 called for in the infant size.
The Socks:
Pattern- Made up the pattern as I went along. I cast on 40 stitches and worked in 2x2 rib for 2 inches. Knit the heel flap until it was a square. Turned the heel (left 9 stitches on each side for short rowing). Worked the gusset as usual. Total length of the foot before the toe=3.5 inches. Worked the toe down to 6 stitches on each needle and kitchner off.

The Yarn-Panda Cotton in the Fruit Salad colorway (This is a splitty yarn, I would be careful using it for a patterned (such as lacey) sock.

Needle Size: Size 1 DPNs (Brittany Shorts)

Amount of yarn left over- 25 grams of a 50 gram ball (I'll have enough to knit up a second pair).

Look for Part Two tomorrow. I'm almost done with the second of the baby projects...

I got mail!

My Hogwarts Sock Swap buddy came through for me big time. Look at the cool bag I got! And look at what's inside!!!! I got some Knitpicks DPNs (I almost ordered another set of these the other day, I'm glad I held off), Some very pretty stitch markers, and my Ravenclaw socks. Very nice. Thank you so much!!!!!!

Summer Knitting Goals

There's a great contest going on over here. Ali is asking everyone who enters to list their summer knitting goals. This is also a great way for me to track all the projects I need to get done with their due dates. Here we go:

1. Swartz's Baby Shower Present. I'm really late on this one and am hoping to finish off the last baby sock at put a button on the bib tonight.
2. Mayfield's Baby Shower Present: Again, on the late side (at least her baby hasn't been born yet). Purple baby pants to finish and a matching hat. I might also give her some baby socks, it all depends on time.
3. MC's Socks. I'm throwing her a Wedding Shower the day after Memorial Day and would like to have these done by then. I'm thinking some STR in the Monkey pattern, but I may change my mind. I know I can do that pattern quickly, though.
4. Chism's Baby Shower Gift. The day after MC's shower. What the heck have I gotten myself into? But she's my mentee and I can't let her down. I'll prob. make a fruit hat out of some of the Cashvero that Kathy sells and some socks out of some leftovers I have.
5. Emily's Buckeye Socks. I want to get these done by her Wedding shower on the first Saturday of May. I have the whole car ride to PGH to work on them. Plus they're in Glacier by Cider Moon, so it should be a quick knit.
6. Cable Headbands for a class I am going to teach someday (I might work on those this Thursday at Knit Night).
7. Socks for my Hogwarts Pal. They have to go out at the end of June.
8. Sockapalooza Socks. These I won't have to worry about until July. I'm thinking about something out of some LL denim.
9. The tank top kit that is the prize of this contest (If I win) I think it helps to think positive!

If you do decide to enter the contest, please tell Ali that you linked from here. Thanks!

Happy Mother's Day, Grandma!

Here are the socks I made my Grandma for Mother's Day. They are Chewy Spaghetti in the Fresh Colorway. Working up in my basic sock pattern on size 4 needles.

Here are the top 10 things I love about my Grandma:

1. She is a strong, powerful ,woman who raised 5 children on her own.

2. She encourages her children and grandchildren to go beyond the status Que and live up to all their potential.

3. She doesn't judge when you make a mistake but helps you to do better the next time around.

4. She doesn't stand for excuses or nonsense, but realizes that kids will get into mischief.

5. She volunteers her time to teach senior citizens about auto safety.

6. She is a great cook that makes sure that Becky and I have food that we can eat, too.

7. She's a knitter who took the time to buy me STR in colorways that she knew I would like.

8. She is a role model of how to age with grace and dignity.

9. She knows more about gardening than I will ever know.

10. She will freak out in a severe thunderstorm and make everyone go to the basement, just to be on the safe side.

Happy Mother's Day Grandma! I love you!

Happy Early Mother's Day to Rae

Rae is the mother of the adorable Julie and equally cute Godson (aka Mister). She also is a teacher. Not just any teacher, one of the best English teachers I have every met (who else would host a LCMS Idol where the kids had to make up songs based on Emily Dickinson lyrics). She's one of the good ones.

For her birthday, I was planning on knitting her some socks. At the time, I thought I had started early enough that it would be no problem (she's got really tiny feet). Well, Mister came a wee bit early, and then I was in Sock Madness for much longer than I thought I would be (Rae called it "Extreme Knitting"). Last Sunday, after the party, I sat down and finished the second sock. I can't think of many people, outside of my family, that I think deserves some nice socks more. Happy Mother's Day Rae! You're a rockstar!

For all you knitting folks, the yarn is Jitterbug (I can't recall the name, but make sure you wash it out really well. I had some DARK blue water). I knit these on size 2 dpns. They're just my basic sock pattern.

Sunday

This past Sunday was Julie's 4th Birthday Party. We had a blast! Julie liked her felted bag (although she liked the gum that I stuck in at the last minute more than the bag or the other presents inside). Rae (her mom) claimed the bag as her own saying, "That's too nice for Julie, that's a present for the Momma." We also dressed up Godson in his pants, hat, and Mysterio T-shirt (His future is to be a "big tipper"). He was not a fan of a cotton hat in 80 degree weather, so he's looking a bit grumpy.

He also can't understand why we would want to cover up all his hair!Total # of stash skeins gotten rid of: 5

Kathy's Workshop

I had a great time yesterday at Kathy's Felted Bag Class. I got to meet a lot of great people and within 4 hours of casting on, I had this:

After felting, it looks like this:

The best part about this is that it only needed 2 skeins of Cascade 220 to complete it (Kathy, I had less than a yard left when I finished the handles, mine were only around an inch wide). Now that the bag is felted and dry, I have to fill it with goodies and take it off to Julie's 4th birthday party. I'll take pictures. Got to run!!!!!!