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Knitted Baby Capris, Kitten Hat, and Bonnet

Now, before you start wondering why I’m knitting baby items, let me just tell you that Chicky has a friend from high school who recently started her own photography business.  She asked me to knit up a few baby items to photograph her clients in.  She showed me a picture of something she wanted to use in her studio, and together we selected a couple of patterns that fit the bill.

We met at Hobby Lobby, and I gave her a crash course on yarns…especially their weight.

She purchased a few skeins, and off I went.

Here’s what I made. Specific pattern notes can be found on my Ravelry project pages.

First off is a pair of newborn capris and kitten hat to match.

The pattern can be purchased here.

This is the kitten hat that I made. The pattern was included with the one for the capris (which also had instructions for making shorts, capris, long pants, and longer pants)…

Amber, my daughter’s friend, wanted a second pair of capris from a different skein of yarn.

I purled the last row of the legs and bound off purlwise as suggested in the pattern (I didn’t do this with the first pair). I like the results much better!

I bought the designer’s pattern for a newborn baby bonnet. Amber wanted tassels, and this pattern had them.

Both brands of yarn were FABULOUS to work with!

The pattern designer was also a gem and got back with me quickly when I sent her a question.

These were super fast knits, with the patterns so easy to follow!  I highly recommend this designer!

It was fun to knit up these small items, and I can’t wait to see pictures of Amber’s clients all dressed up in the finery that came off of my needles!

Knitting ADHD

I think I have knitting ADHD.  Do you know what I’m talking about?

I have always been a one-project-at-a-time gal, but lately, I find myself dreaming of other projects.  The project I currently have on my needles are the Knotty or Knice socks from the latest issue of Interweave Knits.  I’ve completed the first sock and have worked two pattern repeats of the second sock.  But I have to admit that I’m getting distracted.

Perhaps I could blame it on the holidays…except that I’m not planning on doing much holiday knitting.

Nope, that’s not it.

I think it’s simply that I’m tired of working on the socks.  I’ll jump at any chance to put them aside.

A few days ago, Rockin’ Rooster asked me if I would make him a beanie.  I’ve had this pamphlet laying around for a few months now:

I bought it at Hobby Lobby and have made one hat out of it already.

Needless to say, I was extremely pleased that a member of my immediate family would ask me to make them something.  The next day, I headed straight to the store to find the perfect yarn.  Look at the pamphlet above…at the fourth beanie on the second row.  That’s the one that Rooster wanted me to make him.   He wanted it in green and orange.  The official name of the pattern is Nothing But Ribbing Beanie.  I bought two skeins of  Lion Brand Wool-Ease.  The colors are Paprika and Forest Green Heather.  I was a bit unsure…thinking that the colors would be too dark, but Rooster gave me the green light to proceed, so I did.  Here’s the result:

I modified the pattern a bit to allow for the striping, and I am pleased with the way it turned out except for the places where I carried the yarn up.  I’ve got to figure out how to do this in such a way that there’s not a heavier “seam” going up the hat.  The average person wouldn’t notice it, but I do.  Anyhow, I worked three rounds of the green and then one round of the orange…all the way up the hat.

With the hat finished, I turned to my next project.

I recently learned of an effort to provide mini stockings to the troops serving overseas.  You can read more about it here.  The thing that touched me about this project is that these stockings are going to servicemen and women who are not receiving mail.  Believe it or not, there are many who receive little to no mail.  That must be very sad.  One of the gals at KnittingHelp.com has organized an effort to contribute to this project.  The response has been incredible.  We’ve already made over 100!!

Here’s my first one:

I’m subbing for four days in the same classroom this week, and I’m going to ask my students if they want to decorate note cards for us to place inside some of the stockings.  I’m hoping they decide to do it.  Of course, this will have to be done at home as I don’t want to interrupt the work already planned by the teacher.  However, I have faith that the kids’ hearts will be touched, just like mine was when I heard about it.

Excited about this project, I went shopping for more Christmas-colored yarn today.  I ran into Ms M, and we went from one craft store to another.  She’s been crocheting some stockings too!  Here’s the yarn I bought at Hobby Lobby today:

Fortunately, the store manager kindly found a 40% coupon, so I saved some money on the purchase.

And here’s a skein of yarn I bought at Michael’s (with a 40% coupon):

I’m going to make the hat on the label.  Soccer Chick’s sports trainer (who was also her physical therapist after her sugery) is expecting twin girls in January.  When I paid for this yarn, another 40% coupon printed out, so I’m going to go back and buy another skein, in a different color.  Mr. AuburnChick wasn’t even mad when I told him.  He wants to give these as Christmas gifts.  Whew!

So, do you see what I mean?  My focus is totally gone.  I want to knit EVERYTHING!!!

Sigh…

Was It My Birthday Today?

Mondays are never fun. Back to work, back to getting up early…

Grrr…

However, my demeanor changed when I arrived home. Now, to be fair, I only work part-time. I take my children to school, and I pick them up. I am blessed to have a flexible schedule that allows me to work from home in the afternoons, if need be.

Anyhow, when I got home, I spied a package on my front doorstep. As I got closer, I realized that, what at first appeared to be one package was, in fact, TWO packages! Yippee!

I couldn’t get in the house fast enough to open them!

The first package I opened was from a gal in KnittingHelp.com. She sent me the Oddball blanket that she started while on vacation. It’s called Melon Medley. And look at the goodies she sent along with it!

Yes, folks, you see before you two skeins of Tahki Cotton Classic yarn, color #105. It has blues and greens in it.

She also sent me the book The Friday Night Knitting Club.

The next package I opened was from another KnittingHelp.com knitter. She sent me Pretty Princess, another Oddball baby blanket. Included in the box was a fabulous tin of Peppermint Herbal tea. Everyone, including the dogs, keeps smelling it!

How in the world did I get so lucky? Knitters are some of the most generous people!


During my son’s swim practice, I cast on for Ocean Blues. I am going to use the Ripple pattern that I found here. I’ve suggested to my co-knitters that each person continue the pattern in their own choice of yarn. I think it will look lovely. Here’s a picture of what the pattern should turn out like…

I also decided on a pattern for my friend’s comfort throw. I’m going to use a pattern I found in a Leisure Arts stitch pamphlet I had on hand. The pattern is actually for a cabled pillow, but I love the cable so much that I’m simply going to use bigger needles, double-strand the yarn, and make it longer than the pillow. The cable is a Saxon Braid. See the picture that I found online…

It looks like I’m going to have a busy week. Wow!

Oh, and one last thing. A customer service representative commented on the blog entry that included my story about shopping for the yarn for the comfort throw. Remember how I was frustrated because I couldn’t find enough yarn of a particular color? Well, she explained that customers can place special orders for yarn that they have in their warehouse. Interesting! Kudos to Hobby Lobby!