Wednesdays Are For Knitting: Baby Balloon Pants

October 18, 2017 By Carole

Hold on to your hats because today I am sharing photos of a recently finished hand knit. It’s a baby knit, of course.

Baby Balloon Pants! Are they not the cutest thing ever? Made with sock yarn, they knit up very quickly and are sure to keep Jack warm this winter.

Would you look at that wee cuff? It slays me, I tell you. The yarn had been marinating in the stash for quite.some.time and it’s now discontinued but, in case you’re curious, it’s UrbanGypZ Artisan Yarn in the color Koi Vey. Which, c’mon, best color name ever.

The waist is ribbed and quite long which should help a lot with the fit. The pattern is a translation and some things are a bit tricky but if you’ve knit socks you’ll figure it out easily enough. I’m already planning to make more of these pants for jack!

P.S. You know there will be modeled shots once he wears ’em.

Hungry Caterpillar Set

October 4, 2017 By Carole

Last Thursday I finished the Hungry Caterpillar Baby Cocoon and Hat. Ready?

Squeeeee! Is that not the cutest hand knit ever? I mean, it slays me every time I look at it.

It was really simple and fast to knit, too. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in two shades of blue and two shades of green. The hat is made from some leftover Lamb’s Pride Bulky. In a total cheater move, I didn’t even weave in the ends. I mean, that’s a LOT of ends. And it’s only for a wee babe – it’s not like the ends are going to impact him at all. It was a teensy bit fiddly to make the antennae and eyes but not really and totally worth the pay off.

And speaking of the pay off – there should be a baby to put in that little cocoon very very soon. I can’t even imagine the cuteness we’ll have to endure then!

(Stay tuned for updates.)

Weekending

October 2, 2017 By Carole

Oh man, that was a fast weekend! It was good (although the weather was less than cooperative for us on Saturday despite your best intentions) but it really zoomed by. Here’s a recap that’s almost just as fast!

Thursday night:

We had no Kiwanis this week since our installation of officers was held last Sunday. It was a beautiful night and we spent it on the deck with snacks, drinks, and Jo-Ann.

Friday:

My day started early with pie crust before 7am. I like to get it made and chilled before rolling and I knew the earlier it was ready the smoother my day would go. I also rushed around to do errands, decorated the house for fall, made a killer beef stew, and helped Dale set up tents on our town common for a Civil War living history event.

By the time evening came I was wiped out! I did enjoy my first Manhattan of the fall season. It was warm and wonderful! Dale had debated sleeping up on the common but wound up coming home and we had a quiet night together.

Saturday:

It was raining when we got up but the showers ended and the skies brightened by mid morning. We gathered with fellow reenactors and friends on the common. There was knitting and chatting and so much laughing! The rain arrived by noon and it came down heavy at times but we powered through in spite of it.

Pie always helps. There was apple.

And peach.

And I took a Civil War selfie for you.

Our original plan was to have dinner with our friends up on the common but the wet and the cold drove us home. We had that terrific beef stew and biscuits and it was warm and cozy inside. And the clean up was a lot easier, too.

Sunday:

Dale got up and went to visit Jack and take down canvas on the common. I stayed home and puttered around and got ready for the Pats game. We shall not speak of the outcome but we did enjoy our time with Tom and some buffalo chicken dip.

After the game ended I consoled myself with some wine and knitting on the deck. Baby Balloon Pants are on the needles!

How was your weekend?

Unraveling

September 20, 2017 By Carole

I’m joining with Kat and friends this week to talk about what I’m knitting and what I’m reading.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am knitting the hat that goes with the Hungry Caterpillar set. On Sunday when I finished the cocoon and showed it to Dale he referred to it as the baby’s first sleeping bag! Sounds about right and coming into this family of campers, I predict it won’t be his last sleeping bag either.

I haven’t touched the socks or the shawl or the Christmas stocking I am finishing for a friend who’s mom passed away while it was in progress. But I will be getting to all of those projects soon. Just as soon as I can back away from the baby knits, anyway.

I am reading Glass Houses by Louise Penny, the newest in the Gamache series. While I love the story and I’m eager to read it, I find myself not actually reading it much because I don’t want to be finished and then have to wait another year for a new book set in Three Pines. Those of you who love Louise Penny know just what I mean, I bet.

And that’s all for me. Want to see what everyone else is knitting and reading? Head on over to Kat’s!

Shale Baby Blanket

September 13, 2017 By Carole

The project that kept me occupied for most of the summer, the project that I had to keep hidden from you so that Jessica wouldn’t see it, the project that I absolutely adore, has finally been gifted!

It’s the Shale Baby Blanket by Jared Flood. It was recommended to me by Sean and I’m so glad he suggested it. It’s a simple 4 row repeat and there’s really only one row where you need to pay attention.

I started it on Dale’s birthday, June 26th, while we were in Maine celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. I worked on it off and on all summer, figuring I had plenty of time to get it finished. I knit it a lot while sitting by Jack’s bedside while he was in ICU in early August. And I finally cast off just 2 days before the baby shower.

The yarn is Knit Picks Swish DK in the color Dove Heather. It’s a soft and soothing grey which will go perfectly with the whale theme that Jessica has chosen for the baby’s bedding.

I get so excited every time I look at this blanket because I realize that in just 3 weeks there will be a baby to wrap up in it!

P.S. Today’s photos? Totally worth clicking on and viewing in full size.