'Tis the Season

Recently, Mr. Nekkid asked me if I'd given any thought to what I wanted for Christmas. Deciding that it was probably best for me not to ask him what sort of idiot would ask me a question like that...since I've pretty much already decided (for the moment) what I want for the next 10 Christmases...instead I said, "Well, I may have given it some thought. You know, in passing." "Oh? So what might you want?" "Ummm, well, just off the top of my head...a KnitPicks Options Nickel-plated interchangeable needle set?"

I pretty much forgot about it after that. That is, until the new KnitPicks catalog came in the mail a week or so later. Lo and behold, my beloved interchangeable set is on page 3. So I left the catalog open next to the computer:



I am nothing if not subtle.


Two skeins of Cascade 220, procured from ebay for a good 30% off retail. Woo!


A destashing hat, using scraps of Cascade 220 and random worsted cotton. Although the Cascade went way farther than I expected...and I basically made the whole hat out of it. The cotton ran out just shy of the decreases, so I found some more to finish it off. It's destined for charity.


A hat out of Cascade 220, using a stitch pattern from the first Vogue Stitchionary. It was intended for me, but I got anxious and ended too soon, so it turned out too short. It'll fit someone, though, so it's going to charity too.


Washcloths and a bib to give to a friend, along with...


The Pea Pod Baby Sweater, now with buttons! (I found them, like, two days before the baby shower and sewed them on the night before.)

That's all for now. I have some more yarn pr0n to share but I think I'll pace myself.

Updating

I've been absorbed with Ravelry for a while. It's fun, but I realize I've been neglecting this blog. So here are a few updates...


Surprise...I made more washcloths.


I felted a bag. This is Sophie from Mag Knits. Like another Raveler, I decreased every 9 rows instead of 10, and stopped at 40 rows. It's just as well, too...I only had a few yards of yarn left when I was done. (It wasn't a full ball to begin with.)


I started on a mitten, in a colorway I'm calling "Dr. Seuss". This is some superwash wool that I dyed with Kool-Aid (lime and tropical punch) and didn't really know what else to do with.


I made this super warm, super soft hat out of some of my Tuesday Morning yarn. It was very simple - just 3 x 2 ribbing.

I think I'll stop there for now...save some stuff for tomorrow. :)

Catching up

This is nowhere near all the washcloths I've made in the last three months, but several were made just in time for baby showers. Since the beginning of the year, ten women I know have either announced a pregnancy or given birth. Actually, only two are still pregnant. Girls mostly, so there has been much pink in my life, and there is more to come, as one of the remaining expectant mums just found out she's having a girl. This is for her:



Pea Pod Sweater #2, in Debbie Bliss Rialto (a springy, luscious, superwash DK weight merino). I started it Friday evening, and I'm 32 rows in. This amounts to about 5", which means I'm just over an inch away from the armholes. Learning from past mistakes, I will not be attempting to sew the sleeves on myself. I found out that a girl at my LYS will sew seams for $10/hour, and I'm SO going that route this time. After all, I paid ~$35 just for the yarn, so why would I settle for mediocre seaming? I'm excited, though...I really enjoyed this pattern last time and it's just as fun this time. Then I'll be making a hat and little booties, eeee!

I'm also still working on Mr. Nekkid's sweater, though it's on hold while I work on the baby sweater. I'm just a few inches away from attaching the sleeves, which terrifies me...but I guess I'll figure it out.



Last but not least, my new toy!



Yes, it's the cheapy model, but with the 50% off coupon from Joann's, it was only about $25 shipped. This is about what they're going for USED on eBay. I think Mr. Nekkid is getting me a swift for my birthday, but that's not stopping me from winding everything that isn't nailed down. :D I just love the little cakes of yarn that a winder makes...they're so cute!

Oh well, laundry calls.

Catching up

I knew it had been a while, but three months! Sheesh. Anyway, I've finished quite a few projects, so this is pretty photo-heavy.





Set of four washcloths for a baby at Mr. Nekkid's work. The larger ones are a pattern I made up myself (3 stitch garter border with stockinette in the middle); the smaller ones are from the Chinese Waves pattern.




Washcloth and bib set for a baby at my workplace. Washcloth is Grandmother's Favorite, and the bib is inspired by that (pattern down below).






Washcloth/bib and Pea Pod Baby Sweater (Rowan Cashsoft DK baby yarn, don't remember the needle size). These are for my best friend's baby.




Set of three washcloths for expectant mum #1 at my mailbox facility. Another Grandmother's Favorite, another Chinese Waves, and a truncated version of Alex's Cloth.




Clapotis in progress. I cannot remember the yarn offhand; I think it came from http://www.handpaintedyarn.com. I think I'm on repeat #4 of the center section.




Om Yoga Bag from SnB Nation. Some random Sugar 'n Cream I had on hand.

All waschloths made from kitchen cotton on US #9 needles.

Grandmother's Favorite Baby Bib
Pattern (c) 2007 Merin McManus
~2 oz. worsted cotton yarn (Sugar 'n Cream, Peaches 'n Cream, Lion Cotton)
US #7 8 or 9 needles
3/4" button
Gauge is not crucial
Pattern inspired by Grandmother's Favorite Washcloth and Simple Baby Bib.

Cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K2, YO, *K*
Repeat row 2 until you have 44 stitches.
K1, K2tog, YO, K2tog, *K*
Repeat this row until you have 25 stitches.
Bind off 20 stitches, 5 stitches left.
Knit every row of these 5 stitches until the strap is 7-8" long.
Buttonhole row: K2, YO, K2tog, K1
Knit next 5 rows.
Repeat buttonhole row.
Knit next 5 rows.
Repeat buttonhole row.
Knit next 5 rows.
Bind off. Sew button.

EDIT 1/6/09: Variation (that several Ravelers have already figured out for themselves, but that I wanted to share because it is somewhat easier): Instead of buttonhole rows, knit the strap to the desired length and bind off. Sew the button on to the strap and use the YOs in the bib as buttonholes. Et voila! Saves a few steps. :)

AFK...night!