Knitting for Baby

When I knit I like to have 2 projects going at all times. That doesn't include the projects that are "resting". So, 2 active projects. Typically one will be more complex which I knit at home while watching tv. Then my second project will typically be something simple I can take with me to knit groups. This project will be something which won't be messed up if I get to talking and stop paying attention. Since it's getting closer and closer to when the baby will be here (8 weeks left, eep!), I have been knitting mainly baby things.


My complicated project has been this really awesome pair of pants (Ravelry Link) from Dale of Norway. The pattern is called Pusekatt from Dale of Norway book #114. I don't speak Norwegian, but I am assuming that Pusekatt translates to pussy cat or possibly kitten. I'm using Dale of Norway Baby Ull for the yarn, which is always a dream to work with. The only thing I have changed is substituting brown shades for the purple shades called for in the original pattern. I think it looks more boyish this way. This pattern is so much fun to knit. I just can't wait to see each new stripe develop!


Then my easy project is this hoody (Ravelry Link) by Debbie Bliss from her Special Knits book. I've made several of these over the years for other happy babies. This is the 0-3 month size. Most of it is simply knitting and purling, which is great for knitting and chatting at the same time. I wanted to make this because I want something quick and easy to throw over the top of an outfit if it gets cool out. I'm planning on making the bigger size as well, so he will have something to grow into. For yarn I am using Cascade Cash Vero in color #020 Ruby. It's super soft and machine washable!

GYW New Patterns!

I think this makes me a designer! Gardiner Yarn Works just released 3 new patterns which were designed by me!


First up is the Cuddly Baby Cardi. This was actually one of my projects I finished up in 2009 that was hush hush! I knit the sample for this myself and just loved it! It is knit out of Manos Cotton Stria, which was the first time I have ever knit out of this yarn! I really loved it. I love the color which says vintage 50s to me!


Next up are the Oak Street Fingerless Gloves. They are named after the main street that runs through my hometown of Hood River. They come in 2 sizes, a M/L size and a XL/XXL size, both in the same pattern!




Lastly there is the Mt Hood Earflap Hat. Named, of course, after the mountain nearest to Hood River. This hat is knit from the top down, making the size and fit easily adjustable to whoever you knit it for. The pattern comes in 3 sizes: Child, medium adult, and large adult.

I have a few more ideas that may be published in the future! It just is so much fun working with such talented people as the Gardiner Yarn Works team! Make sure to check out all of their new patterns.

Old & New

So, I have a 2009 project that I finally got photographed:


These are tiny baby duck socks for my little one! I love little bitty socks! The pattern is my own which is included with the LavenderLamb Sock Kits. The yarn is a bit of leftover Superwash Sock yarn in color Lemon Lime.

Now new for 2010 is the pear jumper. The pattern is the Hermine Jumper from the Dale of Norway Soft Treasures book. The yarn is the recommended Dale of Norway Baby Ull in colors #2203 Pale Yellow and #9436 Olive Green. I only changed a couple of things with the pattern. I chose slightly different colors because the yarn shop I went to didn't have exactly what the pattern called for. Then I changed the length of the cuffs, because they looked too long. Then, of course, I got to the end of the pattern and realized that the cuffs were supposed to be folded under and sewn down, thus making them the same length as I made them! I guess it's a lesson to me to actually read the whole pattern! I already have my next Dale of Norway pattern on the needles, so stay tuned!

Happy Blogiversary!

This is my 4th blogiversary! It's quite exciting to think about actually. Here is a link to my very first post! It's just amazing so much time has passed by!

So, I have decided to do something a little different this year. I definitely want to keep all of my semi-solid colors, since they are all so popular. So I will definitely be keeping: Berry Pie, Bordeaux, Midnight Rose, Moss, Mountain Sunset, Purple Blackberry, Sea Turtle, Smokey Rose, Snapdragon, and Summer Sky.

So that left me with picking the top 15 (I was going to only do a top 10, but there are too many pretty colors) from the variegated yarns. So, from your votes I got this top 15: 1. Mine, Don't Touch! 2. Peninah 3. Espresso 4. Firefighter 5. Monet 6. Strawberry Shortcake 7. Truffle 8. Wild Violets 9. Childs Play 10. Cirque 11. Columbia River 12. Provence 13. Mech 14. Dragon Fire 15. Vineyard.

These will be the colors I dye year round. I may also add in some seasonal favorites throughout the year. I also have 4-5 new colors up my sleeve, I just have to do a bit of experimenting in the dye studio to see what comes up!

Ok, so onto the winners:

Winner #1 is Lizziek8!!! Her comment was:

OMG...how to choose?????
Mine, Don't Touch!
Firefighter
Child's Play

All are gorgeous!

Winner #2 is PghCathy!!! Her Comment was:

Happy blogiversay!
I'd choose:

Snapdragon
Candy Cane Lane
Autumn Splender

All bright, cheery colors...so different from what's outside my windows!

Since both ladies love such bright colors, I am going to send each one a skein of Tencel Sock yarn in Vineyard with Gardiner Yarn Works newly released Sunset Beach Sock pattern! So, email me your addresses and I will get them sent off right away!

Annual Blog Contest!

Every year I like to run a little blog contest in honor of my blogiversary, which is January 13th! I really liked what I did last year, so I am going to run the same thing again this year, with a little tweak.

This year:

• Go to the Colorways Page of the website
• Pick out 3 of your favorite colorways that you can see knitting any time of the year, this includes the semi-solids colorways too.
  
• Post a comment on this post with your 3 favorites

I have some good ideas for prizes, so let the contest begin! I'll announce the winner(s) on January 13th, along with the top color choices.

2009 Finished Objects

It's the beginning of the new year. So here is my list of projects from 2009:

Cuddly Baby Sweater
Baby Duck Socks
Super Natural Stripes
Blair's Neckwarmer
Grandma's Blanket
B's Sweater
Toby Mouse
Nautilus Socks
Smokey Autumn Socks
Brick Rib Socks
Kim's Garter
Blair's Socks
Pooling Samples
Frequency Hat
Bridget Socks
Venice Beach Tank Top
Cuddly Bear Cardigan
Stainglass Bag
Darkside Cowl
Doc-Moc-a-Soc
Purple Socks
Grandma Socks

So that's 21 projects in total. Here is the break down: 5 pairs of women's socks, 4 baby sweaters, 2 cowls, 2 pairs of baby socks, 1 pair of baby booties, 1 felted bag, 1 woman's top, 1 pair of men's socks, 1 garter, 1 toy, and 1 blanket. Not bad for a year's worth of knitting! I can't wait to see what will go on the needles for 2010.

Happy 2010!

2009 has been a year filled with many blessings as well as many sadnesses. For my own part I am looking forward to 2010 with the hope that it will be by far less eventful! I am looking forward to the birth of my little boy as well as many fun and wonderful yarnie things to come!

So with the new year, I have a special announcement!


As my little yarn business continues to grow I really want to reach out to you guys all the more and give you as many possible options for buying my yarn as possible. So I am announcing another way to buy yarn. I am now excepting credit cards over the phone! The number is 541-392-1828! The hours for phone orders will be as follows (Pacific Standard Time):
Monday: 10am - 5pm
Tuesday: 10am - 1pm
Wednesday - Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Of course you can still purchase through the website 24/7 and the best way to reach me is through email. Thank you all so much! I hope everyone has a very happy New Year!

The Floor is here!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I know I enjoyed mine! It was a little sad in places without my little brother. Sort of like something was missing that should have been there. Still I felt that he must have been there in spirit watching over and laughing with all of the festivities.


I received some very nice gifts this year. The very best was the floor for my new studio. My parents offered to pay for my brand new pergo floor as my Christmas gift. I am absolutely thrilled! Before this there was beige carpet, which works well throughout the rest of the house, but not so much in a dye studio. Now I just need to get all of the yarn and dye moved over here and I should be back in business dyeing up a storm! I have some great ideas for some new colorways for the new year. I can't wait to share them with you guys!

Super Natural Stripes

I finished my first sweater for the baby. I really didn't think it would take this long. I'll be 6 months along on Christmas! I have been working on some other super secret projects, which I can't reveal quite yet, maybe sometime in January...

So the baby sweater I completed is called Super Natural stripes (rav link). The pattern is free online. The yarn called for is Blue Sky Alpaca Organic Cotton, but I substituted Inca Cotton instead. The green is actually a color that the manufacturer can no longer get because of severe loss of the green cotton plants. I really wish they could, because it is my favorite organic cotton color. Luckily I had one magic ball left in my stash which I was saving for a special project. I think this qualifies! I have just enough leftover to make a striped hat to match! I think it would also be really cute and knit out of Ur, with contrasting Desert and Ecru. I might just have to make one up in those colors, since it was such a fun sweater to knit!


Here is a close up of the button. I found it at the Button Emporium in downtown Portland. I just love going in there. I really love the natural wood with the natural cotton. The oak leaves just add something super special to it too. Overall I love this sweater and would definitely knit it again!

Also on the needles and slowly coming along is this set of baby overalls. I started them before I officially knew I was going to have a boy. The pattern is Hermine from Dale of Norway Soft Treasures for Little Ones book. The book is currently out of print, but sometimes they reprint the same patterns in newer books, so make sure to keep an eye out for it if you want it. I have learned the hard way that when I see a DoN pattern I like to grab it before it is gone! The yarn is Dale of Norway baby Ull in Color #2203 yellow and #9436 Olive.

Early Christmas

I am so blessed by all of my great friends and family. Here is a little proof of how awesome they are:

First up the lovely ladies of Knot Another Hat put together a little yarn package for me. Included was 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca's Organic Cotton (the blue yarn in the back), a pattern to go with it, and then a skein of Cashmere 5 yarn (the purple in the front). It all came with a lovely note explaining how I can think of my brother while I knit pretty new things for my new little one to come. I really believe that we put happy thoughts into our projects as we knit them, so I totally plan on doing that as I make my baby little sweaters.

So, what of the red ornament kit to the side? Well, Knot Another Hat also had their December Knit Night with gifts for everyone. I received the lovely ornament kit. It is just perfect, because for next Christmas I am planning a soft baby friendly Christmas tree. This is one of the many reasons why I love and support my local yarn shop!

Next early Christmas present is from my husband! He got a brand new phone, so I got his old one! He also signed me up for a data plan. So now I can check my mail on the go, which means staying connected with LavenderSheep no matter where I am! I'm still getting used to all of the new features, but so far it has been a whole lot of fun! The phone is the G1 Android phone, in case you were curious.

Lastly I will leave you with a picture that makes me smile! This is Blair with his wild winter hair! We had a few dry days in there and his fro puffed up extra huge. He also won't let me cut it because he doesn't want his head to be cold, so for now the wild hair stays!