new pattern added!

My Frog Hat pattern is ready for purchase and can be found under the 

'Pattern Store' tab.  

Moonlight Photography

Madelinetosh

(oh how I love you!)

A little something for me on the needles :)

taking turns

Like many parents, it seems as though I spend a fair amount of time explaining to my kids the importance of taking turns: on the swing, who picks out a movie next or who gets in the shower first.  The ONE thing that has not (yet) been an issue of whose turn it is, has been: "whose turn is it for Mom to knit something for them?" 

Maybe it is easier for them (or all of us) to keep track of their knitted 'turn'.  A knitted project from Mom tends to be a collaboration.  I may ask them what they want... a toy, a sweater, a shirt, anything.  The girls have a major role in the design process and/or color planning.  I may (from time to time) gently persuade them away from or closer to a certain color scheme, but mostly it is up to them.

Their project will be a part of us for as long as it takes me to knit it.  It will come with us to gymnastics, school pick up, in the car, out to lunch & usually it makes an appearance during cartoon time. 

As I tend to only work on one or two projects at a time, my knitting time is then saturated with the progress of their one special project... making it easier to keep track.

My latest project was for my oldest daughter.  I asked her if she wanted a sweater.  She said yes.  I showed her a photo of the pattern that I was secretly dying to knit.  She said that she loved it!  I then let her have control of the colors & we were very pleased with the results. 

This turn, my gentle persuasion was with the choice of pattern.

The pattern is called Spring Picnic, by Helen Rose.

I used various colors of Cascade 220 Superwash.

A few modifications were made:

- 3x3 ribbing instead of the hems on the edging, as well as on the button band.

- the clouds were knit in garter stitch instead of the cloud stitch given in the pattern.

- both the sleeve length & the overall lengths were altered.

Lastly, I leave with a preview of what I have started today.



as promised: the model wearing her new watermelon sweater

This girl is sweeter than any summer fruit.  After putting on her new sweater this morning she gave me the biggest hug & said "Thank you Mumma, I love it".  I always explain to my girls that whenever they wear something that I have made for them, they are wrapped in love.

Thousands of stitches of love.

small project spree

A few small projects have come off of my needles recently.  

First, was a special request from my 4 yr old.  She had been looking through our old photo albums and had come across a picture of her wearing a knitted dress that I had made for her that resembled a watermelon.  She was about 18 months old in the original watermelon dress, and had totally forgotten about it.  Next out of her mouth was how she wanted a new one.  I grabbed some Julia by Nashua Handknits after teaching class one night, took a few measurements the next day, cast on & knit freely.  It felt good just to knit this on my own without writing anything down or worrying about converting the pattern in to different sizes.  My mind needed a break from calculations & I simply wanted to make this little girl happy.  Below is a sneak peek of the updated watermelon sweater.  I promise a picture of her wearing it, but as it is, I had to break in to her room just now while she is asleep to get a shot of it.

Next, I made this cute bunny using Lambs Pride.  I followed one of the patterns in Itty Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson.  I had been feeling the itch to knit something for a baby.  I know of a very special baby who is due to be born this summer & I couldn't get myself to knit her a garment to wear once and then grow out of.  Even if I knitted something several sizes larger in anticipation for it to be worn in the fall, I just couldn't get myself to do it.  A stuffed animal is the perfect baby gift for any season, it can never be outgrown and will hopefully be loved for years to come.

Lastly I have a pair of socks.  Well, I always have a pair of socks... it's one of my new(er) rules.  A simple pair of socks is one of my 'go to' projects.  I will always have a pair on my needles to grab if I am in-between projects or need something small to grab to bring with me in case my current project is too complicated to bring 'on the go'.  Nothing too fussy, just something to keep my fingers busy and something that can be put down & picked up a month later knowing exactly where I left off.

Cocoa & Granny Smith : )

My green & brown sweater is complete & ooohhh sooo comfy! I used Malagrigo Rios  (actual color names are lettuce & cocoa).  This yarn is a super squishy & springy superwash merino.  A joy to work with.

I followed the pattern Briggs Street by Dawn Catanzaro.  The original pattern called for a different yarn by Quince & Co (which I am dying to get my hands on), but the Rios was available, so that's what I went for.

I chose to knit the sleeves to a 3/4 length, not only because this is my favorite sleeve length for a sweater, but because I only had 1 skein of the cocoa & was in jeopardy of running out.

I followed the instructions for the smallest size & it came out fitting like a glove :)

Next to come off of my needles is a summer tank for me, and then I am feeling a "small project" frenzy approaching.

Garter Bottom Cardigan published in Petite Purls - Back to Basics

The Garter Bottom Cardigan is my latest pattern that has been published in the on-line knitting magazine Petite Purls (in the Back to Basics section) and is available for free!

Photo by Brandy Fortune

photo by Brandy Fortune

photo by Brandy Fortune

This cardigan was knit with Spud & Chloe (sweater), witch is an amazing blend of 55% superwash wool & 45% organic cotton.  The name of the color is Ice Cream (the whole line of Spud & Chloe yarns come with playful names to describe their colors).

2 new sweaters

All of those stitches from my last post have finally turned in to one of my new favorite short sleeved sweaters.

I followed the pattern Abi, omitting the pockets.

I also whipped up one of my new favorite long sleeved sweaters!  (technically it's more like a 3/4 sleeve length sweater).  I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca and followed a pattern by Ann Weaver called the Transverse Cardigan.  I had never knitted a "dolman cardigan" before.  Dolman sweaters are knit from side to side starting at one sleeve cuff & ending at the other.  This sweater didn't take much time to complete & I could see myself knitting it up again using the same yarn in a different color.  A few modifications were made: adding an eyelet row on the button band as well as a few extra garter stitch rows on that same button band & on the bottom edging.

Here is a picture of it spread out before blocking to get the general idea of how it was constructed.  I casted on for the right cuff (pictured on the left hand side of the photo) and then worked my way to the opposite arm sleeve, eventually casting off for the left cuff.  The sweater has a nice cropped fit without riding too high in the back.  The alpaca/wool blend of the yarn is soft, warm & light, just like I like it.

I found these amazing wooden buttons that finish the sweater off perfectly.

This past week my kiddos had a snow day off from school & I made them some girl finger puppets to play with.