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Archive for the ‘baby stuff’ Category

Yesterday, I finished a Sock Monkey.

All Ready for Easter

All Ready for Easter

Don’t you just love the bows on her ears?

While I love the finished product, I did not love the process as much.

I don’t know why, but the whole thing seemed fiddly, tedious, and n0t at all portable like a good pair of socks usually turns out to be. Perhaps because these sock Monkeys are knit out of BMFA STR Heavyweight and so I kept thinking the whole thing should have fit a little easier into my knitting bag (which is absurd, really, since a sock monkey is a lot bigger than a sock) and I hated the part where I had to work around the stuffing.

However, the finished Monkey is really, very cute and will be well loved by my own little Monkey.

Pattern details here.

And, not to be left out, Bunny will also be thrilled that I have finally finished something for her. I cast off a new cardigan in the perfect spring color; yellow.

Spring, Here I Come

Spring, Here I Come

She picked this yarn out almost a year ago and asked for a sweater. Procrastination is expensive… I had to go back to my LYS and pick up a new skein because she has grown so much over the last year that I ran right out of yarn.

This pattern took me just under a month and although it was tedious at times, I have to say overall, I really like the finished project.

Pattern details here.

I seem to be in a spring-y mood. I cast on for a new spring sock.

Monkey in Repose

Monkey in Repose

The yellow and purple remind me of crocuses which will shortly be in bloom. I can’t wait.

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Ick…

Monkey appears to like my favorite silk scarf almost as much as I do. However, she found a new, and strangely icky way in which to love it.

Oooooh, Pretty

Oooooh, Pretty

Great For Picking My Nose With

Great For Picking My Nose With

Anything good?

Anything good?

She did this over and over for about an hour until I tried to take it away.

Ewww...

Ewww...

Anyone know how to get boogers out of a silk scarf?

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Well, I finally have a FO to show you. Even Bunny is shocked…

Monkey Pants

Monkey Pants

As I mentioned in my previous post, these were finished while I was recovering from the eye surgery and I finally had a willing model (or two) and some time for photos.

Mind you, getting the photos was another project in itself since the model in question is super fast and not very willing to sit (or stand for that matter) for a picture or two.She has been dubbed the Tasmanian Devil by Grandma and Bunny.

Monkey Pants

Monkey Pants

Pattern: Picky Pants (ravelry link), sized for a two year old.

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted in Sherbert (1.75 skeins)

This is my favorite yarn for baby or kid projects. It has incredible sproing (is that even a word?), beautiful colors that knit into incredibly beautiful garments every time, and best of all, is machine washable. Makes it a winner all around in my books.

Needles: US 8 (5.0mm)

Mods: This pattern comes with built in mods. You can choose drawstring or folded (elastic hem) for the waistband; flat bum, little room, or lots of room in the bum. I choose lots of room since Monkey is still in diapers. It also has you add a crotch gusset for those “thunder thighs” which Monkey definitely has and as an added bonus, you can choose from a ton of finishing options; such as i-chord, ruffled, hemmed, ribbed, etc. legs.

I love this pattern and can see myself using it over and over again.

Photoshoot Fun

Photoshoot Fun

Overall, I think that this pattern was a hit.

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On Progress

I have been chugging right along on the stripe-y socks. I have to admit, I was really, truly surprised at just how much yarndage is contained in one little skein of Lorna’s Laces sock.

I started a pair of size 6 socks in the last few days left in December and this is how far one ball of the LL Shepherd Sock will take you.

Stripe-y Socks

Stripe-y Socks

That’s one whole sock and almost 3/4 of another one out of just 215 yards. I suspect that it would be possible to get a whole pair of socks out of only one ball if you were to use a contrasting skein for the heels and the toes. Granted, you could only do this if the socks were for someone with small-ish feet, but still. That’s not bad for one 50 gram ball.

And, I have made some progress on the Picky Pants. These are being made out of some other stashed Lorna’s Laces worsted in the Sherbert colorway.

Lornas Laces Worsted

Lorna's Laces Worsted

I haven’t done any more on these however, as I am saving any work on them for this week.

I have a scheduled eye surgery coming up – I finally broke down and made an appointment for PRK – and I am hoping that I will be able to knit at least a little over the next week. So, I figured, big needles, thick yarn, and stockinette ought to do the trick.I also downloaded a few books on tape for the post healing time, just in case.

So, I guess this means that I won’t be posting next week, however, here is a picture of my before the surgery to give you an idea of what I look like in my glasses.

Please excuse the mess... we live here.

Please excuse the mess... we live here.

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Well, I haven’t made much progress on the stripe-y socks because I cast on for something new.

Lornas Laces in Sherbert

Lorna's Laces in Sherbert

This is the start of a pair of Picky Pants by Little Turtle Knits. I must say, this is one of the most well written and thought out patterns that I have ever had the joy of working with. Seriously, it’s chock full of ways to alter and change these little pants.

The original design was meant to be worn by babies over cloth diapers to keep their little backsides dry, however, the pattern gives options for elastic or drawstring closure; shorts, capris, or full length pants; and ruffled, i-cord, foldover, or rolled, etc. hems.

So super versatile. I love this pattern.

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I woke up ready to try it again. Like anything was possible again.

Last week was super rough. Seems like there is enough of this feeling going around right now. People seem kind of broken. Maybe it’s the holidays.

Doesn’t it seem like, as an adult, it’s Xmas all the time? Really.

 

In knitting news, I learned a very valuable lesson yesterday. Place your hand firmly over your heart and repeat it with me. Ready?

“I solemnly swear that I will always commit to sewing in my ends as I go.”

Otherwise, you are left with this…

 

Too Many Ends

Too Many Ends

It took me a very very long time to weave all those ends in. The pile in the picture actually shows only about half of all the ends that needed weaving in.

But, now it’s done and on Monkey’s bed and she loves it.

So, that leads right into a contest. I counted all the ends as I wove them in. Can you guess how many there were?

Closest person to the actual number will win this:

 

L & V Yarn

L & V Yarn

 

This is an exclusive Lime & Violet Colorway for the Loopy Ewe and is called “Midnight in the Garden of Loopy”. It’s a nylon/wool blend and has sufficient yardage for a good sized pair of socks.

To enter, leave me a comment with your guess between now and December 13, 2008. I will be drawing the next day and will announce the winner on the blog. Good luck.

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I am sick. Running a fever, coughing, runny nose sick.

The saddest part? That being home sick today was the first full day that I have had all to myself in more than a month. I ate soup, drank tea, watched movies, slept a lot, knit a little, and spent the day in my jammies. It’s crazy to look at being sick as a gift, but there it is.

So, basically, I guess, once you are a mom, sick rocks. And, tonight, Monkey and I get to hang around for a while together while TG & Bunny go swimming.

Today was a good day all around.

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I finished the second of the five projects that I entered into the Ravelympics. Remember this WIP from last year?

 

Monkeys Entrelac Blanket

Monkey's Entrelac Blanket

Yarn: Misti Pima Cotton Silk in Eggplant, Green, Blue, and Cream. I think I used about 2 skeins each (this stuff has fabulous yardage) to make this crib size.

Needles: US 7 Denise

 

I also managed to pick up some Perchance to Knit laceweight in the last Loopy Ewe sneak up.  

 

Midnight Rainbow/Harlots Peacock

Midnight Rainbow/Harlot's Peacock

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Someone had a birthday today. Two someones actually.

We had a Mega Bounce House.

 

 

We had presents.

 

 

And we had cake.

 

 

Good fun was had by all.

In other news, I finished the first Cleopatra Stocking.

 

SOS 2008 - Cleopatra Stocking

 

Are you wondering what the white tail is sticking out? That’s a lifeline that I inserted into the sock when I strayed from the pattern. I wanted to be sure that I could quickly erase my modification to the back of the sock if it wasn’t looking like it fit with the rest of the sock. Luckily I love it. Hopefully I will be able to duplicate it when I cast on for the second sock.

 

I am also working on a set of Embossed Leaves socks.

 

Embossed Leaves Socks - Pair #2

Embossed Leaves Socks - Pair #2

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Yesterday something came over me (really, I think it must be the lack of sleep) and Bunny and I baked cookies for three hours. I. Don’t. Bake. Ever.

Most days I am simply content to look at the flour, sugar, spices, and evaporated milk stuffs, as things that one should have on hand during an emergency, like a power outage or a world war or something. But, for some reason, the other day while I was at the grocery store (shopping – another thing I hate to do) getting a veggie burger for dinner, a bunch of other things found their way into my cart.

So, I bought these cute little cookie cutters thinking, I am sure, that Bunny would find some non-baking way to use them. Silly me. Of course, the moment that she saw them, she immediately worked out their use -despite not ever having seen anything else like it in our house -and  asked to make cookies. So, we did. And we baked and baked and baked. And came up with these little wonders.

Those are almond chocolate chip biscotti, spring sugar cookies, and chewy ginger cookies. Bunny is beyond thrilled.

Cookies. Seriously. Baked by Bunny & me.

As well, I got something very cool in the mail yesterday and couldn’t not show you. Check out my new sock bag bug!! How cute is that?

Sock Bug

Pretty and functional at the same time. I love that it’s deep enough to hold a two stranded sock project and the two balls of yarn that goes along with it. Even TG had to laugh at how cute (and ridiculous according to him) it is. I lurve it and that’s good enough for me.

Finally, I finished the Bunny socks that have been on the needles for so long. I will be honest and say that I really hated knitting these and only found the motivation inside of me to finish because I wanted to cast on for a new pair of socks and needed the needles. Honesty should count for something. Right?

Bunny socks.

Pattern: My own “Not So Vanilla” vanilla socks

Needles: US 1 (2.25mm) needles

Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino – Monet colorway

I am still working on the Loopy Monkey sweater, but no pics today. I am feeling way too sluggish from all the cookies I have eaten. I just remembered why I don’t bake…  

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