Recent projects

So, actually I've made many a thing since I last posted. But I feel in the mood to post again so I'll just share a couple of recent projects.I'm pretty proud of this homespun pillow. This homespun yarn was something I started, then forgot about for like a year then came back with renewed interest. Hooray for not total abandonment! I got the pillow at Hobby Lobby and sewed the knitted piece on. I love the colors of this yarn (which is merino wool, ooo fancy). Multicolored yarns are more fun to spin because you don't know how it will look knitted up until you actually do it.

Frida also appreciates how this pillow really classes up the chair. She also enjoys that it really brings out her kitty eyes.

Another little project is baby sized. This is a soaker pattern, free on ravelry. Love me some free patterns. This is the first time that I did a nice clean kitchener stitch & I'm pretty proud of myself. It finally clicked for me, so now I won't avoid patterns with the kitchener anymore. This was a fun quick knit and I will definitely be knitting more. Its especially good for using up bits of wool in my stash.

More baby stuff

I just found out the our friends Dave & Tiffany are having a baby boy. I've been awaiting this announcement because I really wanted to make gender appropriate gifts. I had already embroidered a onesie with a guitar, because I knew either way it'd be a hit with them. So today I did another sublime stitching pattern.I plan on making some more, not exactly sure what other designs yet. So then I really needed to make a trip to Micheal's to get some yarn for a blanket.
So I'm really close to finishing Hew and I am not going to start the blanket until I'm finished with that. But obviously that doesn't stop me from buying for the project. Also it was an excuse to buy needles- Bamboo Size 8, 29'' circulars. I'm excited about using the cotton ease for the project because its really soft. And I think baby blankets should be machine wash & dryable, because come on what new mom is going to handwash and hang dry a blanket every time junior spits up all over it.

Baby Knits & Embroidery

I have alot of preggers friends and co-workers lately. And I've been looking for the cutest knit patterns that are quick and attempting to stock-pile gifts. SO when it comes time for the shower, I am ready and don't have to pull something together really quickly. Saartje's Bootees are my new favorite baby knit! They are so quick and actually really fun to knit. Plus they are really stinkin' adorable and I love picking out matching buttons! These buttons are easy to see in the photo but are white with little flowers, vintage from my button collection.

The recipient will be some close friends of ours, if they have a girl. If not, I'm holding onto them for someone special.

I have another preg friend who is due this month. She was preg in my wedding :) She is having her 3rd boy so she really doesn't need anything. But baby Nathan deserves a little something of his own. The blue hat is my Little Man knitted hat, I varied that pattern by making a 1x1 rib.
The embroidered rubber ducky is a simply a pic I found on google and then free-handed directly onto the onesie. I added a little duckie on the sleeve for good-measure. I need to get these in the mail pronto!

Little Man Knitted Newborn Hat

I decided to make a newborn-sized hat for one of my preg-o coworkers. She is having a little boy and I wanted it to look more like a little version of an adult hat. I searched and searched and just couldn't find any pattern to my liking, so I made up my own!

And here is the result:

So, I'm super proud of myself for writing a pattern. And to share my joy, I will share it with you!! Hooray free patterns!!

Little Man Hat (for newly born people)

Yarn: I used Debblie Bliss Cathay. Cotton/Silk blend

Needles: Size 5 double pointed needles

Pattern:

CO 60 sts

Place 20 sts per needles

*k2, p2, rep from* for ribbing.

Join in the round and continue k2,p2 ribbing for 1 inch.

Next: Knit -continue knitting in the round for 3 inches. (now hat is 4'' total)

For Decrease:

*k2tog, k10, rep from*

next round: *k2tog, k9, rep from*

next round: *k2tog, k8, rep from*

next round: *k2tog, k7, rep from*

Continue decreasing until...

*k2tog, k1, rep from*

Now you have 10 sts remaining.

next round: k2tog 5 times

Draw yarn through remaing 5 sts and secure on inside of your adorable hat!!

Here's what the top will look like: swirly

Since I do not have any adorable newly born people in my home Mr. Matrioshka Doll will model for relative size (understand is head is much smaller than a baby human).
If you have any questions about my pattern, please feel free to ask. This is my first one to ever actually write out so it may not make sense.