Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Why don't toddlers stand still?

Oh! I know... because they can't. Duh. And here is the evidence...

Oh Emma! Just .....



..stay....








..STILL!




Gotcha!

All because I wanted to take a picture of her wearing this.....



Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Sourpatch Kid

Sourpatch kids. Mmmmmm. Doesn't the mere mention of the name make your mouth water just a little? I remember going to the movies as a kid with my friends where we'd stuff ourselves with movie theater popcorn and Sourpatch kids. Ah, youth.

Alas, the phrase above does not refer to the tart candy. It refers to my daughter, Emma, who is wearing my latest finished project, Sourpatch.


The pattern is from a wonderful website called Petite Purls, which offers articles and adorable and unique patterns for children for knitting, crocheting and also sewing. I must admit that I have several (and I mean several) of these cuties in my Ravelry queue. This pattern was my first complete project from the website and I'm delighted to report that I loved it! The "bubbles" (as the designer refers to them) are not bobbles or entrelac. They are created by (after knitting and increasing for 5 rows) dropping a stitch for 4 rows, then picking up the 5th row's stitch and knitting all the ladders  (created by dropping the stitch) and the new stitch together. It really is much easier than it sounds. Once you try it the first time, you'll have an "Ooooh! So that's what she means!" moment.


The pattern called for Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn, a favorite of mine. And I fully intended buying said yarn when I walked into my local yarn shop, Studio Knits, a week or two ago. However, I came across something new and I swear I could hear it calling my name, begging me to buy it.


Sidar Snuggly's Baby Bamboo was a dreamy second choice. The colors in the store were so soft and creamy. They reminded me of the Sourpatch candy, covered in sugar, muting the candy's actual bright color. Yum. So, of course, I picked up several skeins and began the project that night. This yarn is so smooth and creates such a gorgeous drape. I was concerned that it might snag, but I didn't have any difficulties at all. The project took about a week to make and a couple days to block and dry. I highly recommend you checking out Petite Purls to see what cute (and might I add FREE) pattern could be in your knitting future.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Easter Eggs

My town is about to get blasted again with another 8-12 inches of snow tonight. So in an effort to urge spring to come sooner rather than later, I made these little cuties to brighten up the gray days ahead.

I came across this adorable pattern for Easter Eggs on the Purl Soho blog the other week and knew immediately that I had to make them.



The pattern is written for fingering weight yarn and constructed in two parts. Well, I have tons of sport weight yarn and, to be honest, did not feel the need to make a little egg in two parts. Why not just knit it all in one piece and be done with it a little more quickly?


So here is my adapted version of the fabulous Purl Soho's Easter Eggs.

Materials:
Small amount of sport weight cotton yarn ( I used Knit Picks Shine Sport yarn)
US 3 dpns (you need 4 needles)
Tapestry needle
Small amount of poly-fiber filling
Scissors
Stitch marker

Key:
K = knit
KFB = knit through the front and back loop
CO = cast on
K2tog = knit 2 sts together
Sts = stitches

Instructions:
Using long-tail cast on method, CO 12 sts and divide evenly over 3 dpns. Join for knitting in the round. Place stitch marker if you need it.
Round 1: *K1, KFB repeat from * ( 18 sts)
Round 2: * K2, KFB repeat from * (24 sts)
Round 3: K all sts.
Round 4: * K3, KFB repeat from * (30 sts)
Rounds 5-11: K all sts for 7 rounds
Round 12: * K3, K2tog repeat from * (24 sts)
Rounds 13 +14: K all sts for 2 rounds
Round 15: * K2, K2tog repeat from * (18 sts)
Rounds 16 + 17: K all sts for 2 rounds
Round 18: * K1, K2tog repeat from * (12 sts)
Cut yarn leaving an 8 inch tail and thread tail through live sts, but do not pull tightly yet.
Stuff the egg with the filling to desired plushness. Pull the tail tightly and secure.
Thread the cast-on tail through the bottom opening of the egg and pull tightly. Secure.