baby basics

Two flannel blankets and one little knit hat for the precious newborn grandson.
Just practical stuff, but usually the stuff you need and use the most!

This blanket I bought with the holes punched for crocheting from The Fabric Mill in Provo, Utah.  I'm so happy I didn't cut into the stitches when I snipped the final thread like I did with the last one I made.  Ouch!

This blanket's edge is non-flannel.  Next time I will square the corners since I hate cutting fabric on the bias (didn't) but also hate fighting the curve when its not a bias cut (did).
All items have been shipped and are hanging out with baby.
I sure wish I were!

happy distraction

 

It was time to start a new semi-brainless knitting project now that So You Think You Can Dance will air this Thursday (*happy face*).  Working on this blanket will get me through those irritating but necessary commercials pain-free.  The free pattern from Knit Culture Studio titled Zig Zag Baby Blanket is found here.  

  

Mr. Bear for Mr. Cute!

Here is a bear I knitted for my grandson, Evan. The pattern is from the book Simple Knits for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight. The body is knit in four pieces and the head in three. Wish I had saved a label from this yarn. All I remember is that it's chenille and quite yummy! P.S. The baby is much cuter than the bear!!

Seamless Bolero

I loved knitting this easy one piece bolero by Debbie Bliss found in her book Simply Baby as well as free here. Knit with Cotton Ease yarn on size 7 and 8 needles. A little bulky, so if I make one again, I'll make a larger size for a bigger child to wear.

Earflap Baby Hat

The only boy item I've made recently that didn't find it's way into Evan's wardrobe! My daughter, Natalie, claimed this for her future firstborn son while I was knitting it to simply try out the pattern. I used Sublime's machine washable silk and bamboo DK yarn (although I'd hand wash any hand knit item)! 
A basic earflap hat pattern is free at Hey Julie or Ravelry.

Sophie

A darling poncho pattern named Sophie by Vickie Howell for Caron yarn. I instead used a skein of a Lion Brand yarn I had purchased called Tweed Stripes and knit the pattern in the larger size (24 mo). Now to find a coordinating fabric and sew a little dress....

I seem to always inspire a snowfall when I visit Denver. And my most recent trip was no exception! Little Evan didn't have a hat, so I quickly knit this up one evening (fortunately I had brought some yarn and needles with me). It's knit with worsted weight wool on size 9 needles. I think Evan is trying to say, "Thanks, Grams!"

Last night was a "Penelope" night. I just love the message of that movie. And the character James McAvoy plays is so darn sweet behind all that scruff! He sees Penelope for who she truly is before anyone else does, and I love him for that. Of course, I couldn't sit without knitting, so here is what I created - and, of course, named it Johnny. The hat is knit with self-striping Kureyon by Noro (100% wool) on #9 needles, sized 1-2yr.

Note: I didn't like the color sequence after the red stripe, so I broke the yarn and started with the color on the opposite end of the skein (yellow). Although it makes a hard line between the red and the yellow stripe, I think it looks better overall.
Even though it's slightly battered from living in my purse for the past 2 months, I wanted to introduce you to a great little knitting friend: The Altoids can. It perfectly holds placement rings, large eye needles, safety pins, needle tip covers, and anything else little that is knitting related which might otherwise get lost!

Blankets....All Sorts

Square crib blanket knit from Cotton Tots by Bernat. This yarn is 100% cotton and very soft to the touch (unlike the coarser Sugar 'n Cream by Lily used for dishcloths). The pattern is started at the center and worked outward. It is modified slightly from the Crochet Baby Granny Square Afghan pattern by Vanna White .



Play mat blanket knit on the diagonal with bulky yarn. This pattern is started in the corner (3-5 st) with a stitch added on each row until you get to the half-way mark. Then a stitch is decreased on each row until you get to the number of stitches you began with. Autopilot pattern!


Stroller Blankets knit with Cotton Ease. A great yarn weight and fiber (50% cotton, 50% acrylic) for baby blankets - dense but lightweight. Easy care, too! Both patterns are from Designer Sport Baby (booklet) by Candi Jensen.

Hats! Hats! Hats!

Once they arrive and are old enough, it will be fun for my granddaughters to come shopping for a new hat at Grandma's hat shop (name suggestions anyone?). I've gotten a good start already, and there will be even more to choose from as time goes on. I have another hat on needles right now!


(Red pom-pom fetish noted.)

K1, P2

Knitting is my therapy.  I always have a couple of projects going with at least one of them being quick and easy.  The small projects can follow me anywhere: doctor's/dentist's appointments, piano lessons, road trips, airplanes, meetings, etc.  With any project, I don't try anything too complicated because I don't want to have to concentrate too hard.  I knit to relax, and following a detailed pattern is not relaxing!  My favorite people to knit for are babies and my children - they are very forgiving and easily pleased.

This pattern is called Little Daisy Swing Coat and found in the Sublime pattern book #612. I used Sublime Baby Silk and Bamboo DK yarn (probably my favorite baby yarn) and knit it in the smallest size (0-6mo).  It's pretty tiny, so I'd say it would be tight on an average 6 month old! 

It hasn't been blocked yet, so please ignore the wankiness of it.

If you're looking for straightforward, this is it!

This sweater is simply called Baby's Pullover and is from the Bernat Organic Cotton booklet 542032 titled Mommy and Me.  I used Bernat Organic Natural Cotton and knit it in size 6mo - but sadly it was too small for my chunky grandbaby at 6mo.  

I knit it as a sweater to wear at the beach, something easy to take on and off.   I didn't take the time to block it because it going to get quite abused by sand and surf!

Finally, this is a blanket I made with some yarn I had purchased on sale in Placerville, California at a darling little yarn shop in old town.

I didn't use a pattern, but as you can see, I only used seed, basket weave, stockinette, and garter stitches.

The Aran weight yarn is called Tara by GGH (German) and is 72% cotton and 28% Nylon.  It's so very soft and snuggly!