My friend, Kim, decided to have a baby.
Well, actually, God decided to bless her with her fourth child.
As soon as I found out, I purchased yarn and got to work.
The work was slow.
The pattern was, initially, tedious.
My teaching responsibilities often interrupted my progress.
And then something happened.
I finally “saw” the pattern in my mind…”got” it, if you will. If you’re a knitter, you understand what I’m saying.
Then, the knitting began to fly.
Before long, I had a finished product…
Priceless Diamonds Baby Blanket…
The pattern is in the Leisure Arts #3219 book.
I completed twenty pattern repeats and added 44 tassels on each end…
The yarn is Loops and Threads Snuggly Wuggly Sport. I used 2.5 skeins on size 5 needles.
I have made or worked on more blankets than I can remember. This is, by far, my favorite one thus far. After I blocked the blanket (it’s acrylic, but those diamonds needed to be stretched out to show them off better), the blanket had a beautiful drape to it.
I’m going to have to tuck this pattern away. In a few years, I’m going to make another one.
Now, the fun in gift giving is in surprising people.
Kim had messaged me on Facebook and asked if I would make her baby a hat. She had seen a pattern that she liked. It was, however, crochet. I’m not very good at crocheting, so I found a knitted pattern that was very similar in style. She liked it and requested a brown and blue version.
I went with the Big Wool Little Hat pattern, a free download on Ravelry. I used Lion Brand Wool Easy Thick and Quick in Wood and Sky Blue. My needle was size 13.
This pattern originally had long, braided tassels hanging from each ear flap, but I decided not to make them. I was concerned that they would be a choking hazard.
One other thing I decided to do was make the toddler version. I had read that the infant size was too small, and Kim’s baby, who was by then out of the “oven” had weighed in at over nine pounds,
The only thing I didn’t like about this pattern is that it was knit flat. I suppose that I could have knit it in the round, but I didn’t feel like thinking too hard. So, I went with it.
It was a quick knit, as promised, and I finished in two hours.
Fun stuff, I tell you!
The pictures really do not do this hat justice.
I gifted both items yesterday. I had to leave the wrapped package on Kim porch. She and I were like strangers passing in the night…both of us had crazy schedules.
The text she sent me after she got home indicated that she was touched by my generosity.
It truly is an honor to make things for people. I often get told that I should sell my knitting, but that would take the fun out of it. I knit for people I care about. That’s where the payoff comes.
Filed under: Knitting | Tagged: baby, Big Wool Little Hat, blanket, Knitting, Lion Broand Wool Ease, Loops and Threads, Priceless White Diamonds | 2 Comments »
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