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!

WIPs & New Charity Knit Project

WIP#1: Minimalist Cardigan

The last sleeve!! This whole project is done in moss stitch, which is beautiful yet tedious. I have found reasons to knit many smaller projects in between. But now I'm on my last sleeve, I must. finish. soon.

WIP#2: Chris v. 2007
I make my husband a winter hat every year (I think he decided this) and every year the hat is a little different and shows my progress as a knitter. Chris picks out his own color every year and is surprising particular about it.

This year he chose a crayola green. Its really pretty and varigated, and its all ribbed. I will share the pattern after it is finished. I also think I should show the progress in Chris Winter Hats, that would be neat.

AND now onto my new charity knit project:

I will be knitting Warm Up America blankets for Hope's Door Women's Shelter and I will need help. If you are not familiar with Warm Up America, please visit their website for more information. Basically, you knit (or crochet) 7'' x 9'' squares to donate and they are assembled into blankets for people in need. Receiving a donated blanket is more than just keeping warm, its knowing someone cares. I think this is a great idea. I am going to knit, collect, and assemble the squares into blankets and deliver to the women's shelter.

Please help me out!!

Knitting & Crocheting patterns can be found here. Or you can make up your own.

I don't have any color restictions. Baby colors are welcome, as I will be making smaller baby blankets for new moms and toddlers.

If you are interested in participating please email me at: heather1082 AT hotmail DOT com. Title the email: warm up america.

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.