Little Flap Cap

This is just too cute!

In just a few hours worth of time, I've gotten this far already today. I'll be making a "mommy-sized" hat for Little Miss B and her mommy to wear this winter in Michigan. I know...kinda hard to knit in 100% wool, when it's supposed to hit the 90's today...but...

When using Cascade 220....in Chocolate, white and dark Teal....Like "Mr. Food" is so fond of saying...OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, it's so good!

Ruffled Baby Socks

Ruffled Baby Socks

© September 11, 2009 Cathy Waldie

Must have the book, "Knit a Dozen Baby Socks" from American School of Needlework.
I used the smaller sized sock with a (US)2 (2.75mm) set of dpn's. I used the pattern for Denim Blue, but omitted the CC color around the beginning of the ribbing, but did use the CC color for the heels and toes.

I started with the 'boys' look first, so I cold figure out my colors, etc...

To make the ruffle, I started by C/O 96 stitches with the CC color. This pattern is for 32 stitch sock, so I multiplied the 32 x 3 = 96.

Row 1) Purl around
Row 2) *P1, P2 tog* around (64 sts)
Row 3) P2 tog around (32 sts)
Row 4) Switch back to MC and Purl around
Row 5) begin with the directions of the sock as written in the book.

One other modification, I used a 2 x 2 rib rather than the 1 x 1 written in the pattern.

After you finish the socks, fold the cuff down, and place on your cutie patootie!

Just had to do it!

Got to thinking that this set wasn't finished without the socks! Yep, I said so as I posed the sweaters and hats the other day. Well, about ten seconds later, I pulled out the 'Knit a Dozen Baby Socks' book from American School of Needlework and the rest of the Baby Bee, Sweet Delights yarn that I had left over from the Sweaters and Hats, and off to work I got.

The boy's socks were the first to be finished. I added the 'Sunshine' color to the toes and the heels, with the Blueberry to finished up the little 'Bruin' socks. Then I wanted the girl socks to be a little more frilly. Right? So I added the ruffles. Actually, I knit the socks top down, so I started with the ruffles. Wanna know how I did these? Hold on a moment, and I'll post the directions. Get your "Knit a Dozen Baby Socks" book out while I type up the directions. They're short and easy.

Baby Striped Hat

Baby Striped Hat
© September 7, 2009 Cathy Waldie

(US) 5 (3.75 mm) and (US) 6 (4.0mm), 9 or 16" circular needles, or double points
any Sport weight/DK yarn, ~55 yds color A, ~10 yds color B
[sample made with Baby Bee, Sweet Delights Pomp from Hobby Lobby]

With (US) 5 (3.75mm) 9" circular needle and Color A, C/O 64 sts, join without twisting.
1-7: K2, P2

Switch to (US) 6 (4.0mm) needles
8-10: K around
11-13: Color A: K around
14-16: Color B: K around
17-19: Color A: K around
20-22: Color B: K around
23-25: Color A: K around, cut color A
26-36: Color B: K around
37: *K 6, K2 tog* around
38: K
39: *K5, K2 tog* around
40: K
41: *K4, K2 tog* around
42: K
43: *K3, K2 tog* around
44: K
45: *K2, K2 tog* around
46: K
47: *K1, K2 tog* around
48: K
49: *K2 tog* around
50: *K2 tog* around

Cut thread, thread through remaining stitches, secure. Weave in ends.

Happy Labor Day!

I spent my weekend finishing the sweaters, made two hats and one of the blankets. Just one more blanket and 2 more sweaters to go (probably hats, too..) to finish the Twins' set...but I'm really thinking of adding some socks now, too. Twins NEVER come early..do they? ulg. That's what I was afraid of!

It feels soooooooooooo good to be able to knit again! Bye, bye cyst...please never come back again!

Regardless of the temperature...

Or the date on the calendar....

Kids around here seem to think it's time for FALL!

... Saturday Football...

and after game hugs...

But to me, it nearly feels...

like Christmas!

(US) 5 (3.75mm) tips came for my Addi Click needle sets....

Books that have been on pre-order and back order, have come in this week! Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting, Elizabeth Zimmermann's A-B-C SJ from Schoolhouse press #5, Kyler's Kardigan from Cottage Creations (thanks to Major Knitter's 'obsession' with knitting more sweaters that she had time for...ahahaha..)and another Sirdar pattern book for babies- Little Stars in Stripes.....

The August Dishcloth swap from Ravelry's Dishcloths R Us arrived from Barb in Florida...

aren't they pretty! Such yummy colors, makes me want some swirled ice cream every time I look at them! But the patterns are really neat, too. Isn't it fun to get something that's been knitted - just for you? After all the things I've knit for others, it's rare, without being in a swap, I get presents knitted for me.

And then...from Canada, my good friend Norma found the King Cole pattern I could find here for me! And then send me the latest Creative Knitting Magazine, too! What a great surprise!

and now that I've had the cyst drained yesterday...

I can finish the baby blanket and...

...the baby hats I started at the game today, so I can get the rest of the to-do list finished.


After all, I have a lot of new ideas ready to burst forth after opening all those packages!

In the meantime, I got my 'regular' flu shot today...when are you getting yours?

Did you know you can now order the downloadable copy of the calendar as of today? http://www.dishclothcalendar.com/ is where you need to head if you don't have a copy ordered yet! I don't have mine yet, in hand, and I just KNOW my to-do list is going to get even longer when it arrives!

BSJ #8 and #9

Are now FINISHED! Yea!

Here's the up close look at the buttons.

Details:
EZ's BSJ pattern, Baby Bee, Sweet Delights Pomp yarn in Blueboy and Sunshine. Each used ~322 yards/109 grams total...~25 yards of the yellow in each sweater. I used (US) 6 (4.0mm) needles for the body of the sweater, (US) 4 (3.5mm), (US) 6 (4.0mm), and (US) 8 (5.0mm) needles for the collar. The 'extra' details for the I-cord Bind off and I-cord Seams can be found in the tutorials on the left side of this blog. Adding the collar, I learned from the Yahoo Knit Baby Surprise group-link under the yahoo groups also listed on the left side of this blog. Love this pattern, Love the yahoo group!

Now, since these were made for a set of twins (boy and a girl) due in November whose Momma was my daughter's UCLA roommate a few years back...I added the 'Bruin' Buttons to round out the cutey-pie sweaters. Hope they all love 'em!

Now, it's time to finished the matching blankets...and 2 more sweaters in larger sizes...

Why, Why not, and Why, Why, Why????

Why?

..are there doors...

and...look closer.....

with doorknobs on them up so high?

Why Not?

...use your hooded sweatshirt..

...to hold your yarn while you're knitting and crocheting so it won't fall on the ground..

(I tuck the sleeves around my waist and lean on them against the back of my chair, creating a bit of a cushion for the small of my back.)

and the biggest of all...

Why, Why, WHY???

slow moving these days

Now that the purple Wallaby sweater has been delivered over the past weekend, here's a picture of the back of the sweater, with the kitchernered hood shown. It's getting better, but I guess I need to make a few more to practice the technique! I noticed today that Major Knitter has a couple of more on her needles. This whole Wallaby thing, I blame on her! *wink wink*...now there are 2 of the yahoo groups that I posted on that are in search of the patterns! I'm telling you, it's a quickie but a really good pattern to knit up..and fast!

Now, I have a little sneak peek here...one part has been sent for a swap...the rest are waiting for the future...

The Twins' BSJs are moving along, but quite slowly....here's the past two weeks worth of progress

Now, why is the knitting slow? well.....

Here's a wee bit of a clue...I have developed a cyst on my wrist. The doc said massaging it would help, but so would not using it...ulg. I don't like that suggestion. So I've been going slowly...if you look carefully at the BSJ's pictures, you'll see I've also started one of the last two Crayon Ripple Throws needed for the twins, too. I am hoping that with a little bit of work here, and there, and switching knitting for crocheting it will let me get some advancement done with changing the angle that I'm working on while slowing down...and it can get better while I still get some work done. Let's hope it's fast! Because check out what I saw today....

And you KNOW if these are all lined up....school is ready to start..which means November won't be too far behind! (November is when the Twins are due!) So....keep on knitting...but be good to your wrists...and they'll be good to you!

Aloha Kitchen Set

Would you like to see what my pattern set looks like in the 2010 calendar?

http://www.dishclothcalendar.com
Pre-orders Started Friday, to be shipped on September 5th.

Aloha Kitchen Set

Aloha Dishcloth

Aloha Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel

Aloha Placemat

Aloha Sack Sock

Thanks for celebrating this with me!

Dishcloth Hangups For 2010, Gifts From The Heart...Back to Basics

Now that I'm able to connect to the Internet again...sorry for the delay, but..it's noon somewhere..right?

Remember this button picture?

How about this I-cord picture?

Want to know where you can see these patterns and whole lot more? You've come to the right place!

I am proud to announce that Pre-orders for the 2010 edition of the Dishcloth Calendar begins today! AND, if you go to http://www.dishclothcalendar.com/ and click on the "About the Designers" tab, you just might see a familiar name, or 10!

My patterns for the Aloha Kitchen Set are included in the calendar! You'll find the Aloha Dishcloth, Aloha Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel, Aloha Placemat and the Aloha Sack Sock included with the rest of the 38 patterns included in this year's "Dishcloth Hangups For 2010, Gifts From The Heart...Back to Basics".

Please allow me to take this moment to publicly thank Sue Schaefer of Harvest Moon Designs and Janet Nogle for including me in the company of these designers! I am thankful to Sue for suggesting my name and am also grateful that Janet was so very patient with all my last minute questions.

Pre-orders begin today for the printed calendars to be shipped on September 5, 2009.

I'm so excited about this...question: Does this mean I've been "Published"?

Stay tuned!

Be watching here tomorrow....about noonish..for a really neat announcement...well...I certainly think it is...I'm really excited!

2:34 am - finished

Daughter's plane leaves at noon today, and at 2:34 am, the last thread was tucked in and snipped. I had to wait until now to get pictures. But, I made it!

Wonderful Wallaby - W03, Cottage Creations
Child's size 4
I Love This Yarn! Grape, 1.41 skeins, ~504 yards
~3 days worth of knitting...give or take a few moments here and there.

Yes, I'll make this again..over and over!