5 posts tagged “gift”

V-Neck Pullover

If you have a good memory, you may recall that I was working on a jersey for my Mum. Well, there were long periods of time where there was very little work happening on the jersey front. Finally, however, it is completed! And handily (but coincidentally) just in time for Mother's Day!

The pattern is from Fitted Knits, and customised to fit my Mum (and she will attest to the many phone calls I made asking her to measure from here to there, and around that).

V-Neck Pullover

The pattern has the ribbing on the arms starting above the elbow (and the body ribbing startng a little higher), but this version has the ribbing starting below. It's still one heck of a lot of ribbing! For more details, check out my project at Ravelry.

When I started (and to below the neck - top-down - the first time around), I was working with the 8 ply yarn, and modifying the stitch counts. That was a pain (as were the large numbers of stitches), and in the end I started over with the yarn double-stranded, getting closer to the pattern gauge. Unsurprisingly, it grew much more quickly (and would have been fniished a while ago had I not been distracted)!

Whenever I took this out with me to knit somewhere, people remarked on the colour, which was picked by Mum. I'd never knit with the Bendio Woollen Mills yarn before, before I'm sure I will again. While the crepe was a little "crisp" at times when knitting, it softens and bloom very nicely on washing (and this variety is machine washable). And the 200 gram balls make for less ends to weave in (especially when working with two strands at a time (from the outside and centre of a cerntre-pull ball). That's always a bonus!

So, I found out not long ago that I'm a great-aunt for the third time this year. It was a bit of a suprise (well, a complete surprise, really), but I quickly realised it'd be more bootie knitting on the horizon. I just as quickly flagged that idea, and decided that I'd make something impractical out of felt instead.

mobile-stars

I initially had visions of little animals, but searching through my felt supplies (yes, I have so much I need to search), I came across some stars I'd actually cut out and sewn last year as Christmas decorations, but discarded (going with ever so slightly more traditional colours). Perfect! They're blue, the baby is a boy; it was meant to be.

mobile-hang

One Saturday, and some painted iceblock sticks from the emporium, a few buttons, and some embroidery cotton (and a lot of thinking), I had a mobile!

Now, I'm not expecting any more births in the near future, but should any be announced, I'll totally consider making another mobile as an alternative (or perhaps in addition to) a quick bootie pattern. I gotta use up that felt somehow!

Textured Cuff Bootee

Now that Mena and Ben have announced their news to the world, I thought I'd better get knitting. Any excuse will do! Having seen them with a co-worker's baby last year, I think they'll be great parents. And great parents deserve handknits. ;-)

I decided to use some undyed Treliske organic merino, grown in New Zealand , because well, if the the finished products is going to travel from here, they may as well be from here!

No traditional baby colours here (pretty hard to find traditionally baby coloured sheep roaming about).The natural brown and off white will suit either sex, so they'll be easier to pass on if/when they're no longer needed. From memory, I think I knit the 3-6 month sizes, but I'm not 100% on that (and well, I'm too lazy to check right now).

Both of the patterns I used are from 50 Baby Bootees To Knit, by Zoe Mellor, though of course knit in a different yarn. It's the first time I've made the little slip on style, and I was quite happy to find that I could get a pair of them out of the leftover wool after the textured cuff bootee (it's moss stitch - or seed stitch if you prefer). I added a little strap to go around the ankle for added security, though it is removable.

Now all I need to do is pop them in the post one day soonish. I figured I'd go ahead and post the pictures now rather than later, as I've had a slow knitting week (and I might have actually done these last weekend now I think about it), and needed to post some progress! Hopefully the mail service doesn't let me down now I've declared my intentions...

I still have to complete the partners to two booties I knitted for my (step) niece, but have just learned that her due date is later than I'd originally been thinking (or not thinking). Last night I finished up a pair of cabled gloves for a friend. I hope they're not too big even for his manly hands, but if they are (or if, as I suspect, he won't wear them), I'm sure the city mission or some other such place might appreciate them. I used the yarn I'd originally tagged for my wristwarmers, which was sitting to one side after I unravelled that attempt. In other knitting news, I've worked one more square on my blanket (pitiful progress after my initial burst of enthusiasm), and the red thing is definitely a jersey (to have, all going well, raglan sleeves and a roll neck), and has progressed (now with no cabling) to just about short of the arm shaping.

Knit Rangers this week, but I don't know yet whether I'll be working on one of these unfinished projects, or the bundle of chocolatey cashmere merino I want very much as a v-neck jumper. I suspect (wrongly, most likely) that after travelling on the bus and ferry with my laptop (work continues up to 2pm, when the meeting starts) on the way there that I might feel I deserve a new project. Of course, there may be so many new faces I'll do more talking than knitting anyway... ;-)

Finished Socks

It didn't take too long to finish off the first sock, and I was well past the heel before I went to bed last night. A few more rows after work today before finishing with a very simple suspended cast-off, and they're done!

Bundled Up

Thick & Cosy

4 comments

When I made similar socks for myself, I worked over 32 stitches, and used just over one ball of yarn per sock. These socks are a little shorter, and worked over 28 stitches. So, two balls for a pair was perfect!

Now I just need to remember to whip up a card, and post them in the next couple of days to be sure they'll get to my sister in time for her birthday.

Pink Sock

Having started, and restarted my eldest sister's birthday gift a few times, I've finally decided that she will be getting socks (whether or not she needs thick and cosy bed socks in Perth is not to be asked), and a few other treats!

I started this sock last night, and worked on it some more at Knit Rangers this afternoon (along with a few rows on one of my blanket's mitred squares). One thing about working with the Patons Inca again is that it's incredibly quick to knit! (what wouldn't be with a 28 stitch round). I got two balls of this shade for $3 each a wee while ago - don't tell my sister how cheap I am! ;-)

I'll be able to finish this one up tonight (once I decide how to finish it off) and will be in good shape to mail it off with a mate in time for the big day (and the birthday before one's 50th is indeed a big day). This sister is short and proportionately little-footed, so I hope that the size is going to be OK. I'm using the sizing guide in Sensational Knitted Socks as a guide, so fingers crossed.

A couple of new faces (she says being a three meeting veteran) at Knit Rangers this week, after the gathering got a mention in a local paper, which was cool. Justine was kind enough to pick me up from the ferry, so no bussing involved, and for the first time (for me) it wasn't raining! If you live in Auckland, and knit (or crochet, or whatever), come be social in a couple of weeks.