Faith from Afar

If you've read any of my posts about my past births, you will know that I have a few regrets.  For both Eli and Silas's births I planned home births (or a hotel birth, in Silas's case, if you are being specific).  In both cases I ended up in the hospital, drugged, assisted and disappointed. 

Well, I am doing a few things different this time (not traveling across an international border while in labour, for one...) I am going again for a homebirth, and can't wait to experience birth the way my body was meant to do it.

Last week I received a gift in the mail.  It was a gift from someone I don't even know, in real life anyway.  I am part of a Due Date Club on Mothering.com.  Several of the women who frequent the board got together to do a gift exchange.  The momma who sent me a gift is from Brooklyn.  She was so thoughtful and her gift so powerful.  This is what she sent:

Would it be admitting too much if I said I cried?  I did.  Just a little.  She wrote the nicest note, saying that she just knew I would get my homebirth this time, and that my baby would be able to proudly wear this sweet little onesie.  And the crochet cowboy boots???  Well, need I even say anything about those.  You all know I LOVE them!  I don't know why, but her sending me her faith all the way from Brooklyn just means so much.  It's not just me that thinks I can do this: my online friend from Brooklyn believes in me too.  This little onesie is staying out until my baby is here as a reminder of the faith in me all around.  And I can't wait to send her a picture of my baby wearing it!!!

And, for my giftee, Laura in Toronto, I knit her this little sweater and hat:

The sweater is Mossy.  I knit it on a tighter gauge so that it would fit a brand new newborn, and wouldn't have to be grown into.  The hat is a favourite pattern of mine: Aviatrix.

Cozy Cap - Knitting Pattern

Well, I've said I have a few patterns, and here's one, finally!!!

This is a super easy knit hat. It knit with a great wool blend, making it warm, and washable.  I've sized it from Infant to Adult, so you can knit up one for every one in your family!!! I've included size XXL, which is just that,  a super chunky, super huge hat, at my sister Phoebe's request.

Cozy Cap

SIZE
Infant, Child, Adult, XXL

MATERIALS

Super bulky yarn (I used Cozy Wool by Loops & Threads Super Bulky: 50% Acrylic, 50% Wool)

1 set of 10 mm (US size 15 double-pointed needles (can use a 16" circular needle until decreases make using the DPNs necessary)

Stitch Marker

Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

9 sts/14 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES

2X2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts)

Round 1: [K2, P2] to end

Repeat this around for 2x2 Rib

If changing colours, use the Stationary Jogless Stripe Technique to make the stripes even. 

DIRECTIONS

Infant, (Child, Adult, XXL)

CO 40 (44, 48, 52) Divide stitches between needles.  Place marker. Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. 

Work in 2x2 rib for 9 (10, 11, 12) rows.

Continue knitting in stockinette stitch (knit around) until hat measures 4 (4 1/2, 5, 5 1/2) inches

Decreasing: 

Rnd 1 - K 2(2, 4, 2) K2Tog around - 30 (33, 40, 39) stitches

Rnd 2 - K around

Rnd 3 - K 1(1, 3, 1) K2Tog around - 20 (22, 32, 26) stitchs

Rnd 4 - K around

Rnd 5 - K2tog around - 10 (11, 16, 13) stitches

Rnd 6 - K2tog around (for the child size and XXL you will have one stitch left - just knit it) - 5 (6, 8, 7) stitches

Break yarn and with a tapestry needle thread through the loops and draw tight.  

Weave in ends. 

And that's it.  As you can see in the pictures, I've made a few variations:

Colour: Stripe your hat by changing colours: three rows of ribbing in MC, three rows in CC, complete hat in MC

"Umbilical Cord" Top: (For infant size) Knit to end of instructions, and then instead of breaking yarn and pulling through, instead knit the remaining 5 sitiches as an I-Cord for 5 inches.  Cast off five stitches and tie I-Cord in a knot close to hat. 

Find the pattern here on Ravelry.

All photos are taken by Chloe Taylor Photography!

Call it what you want, baby.

Some may call it an obsession, but I call it a healthy hobby.  I have been knitting like mad lately.  Mad, I tell you.  I've had several custom orders, a few test knits to do, never mind the list of things I want to make for my own little bump within.  I don't have pictures of them all, but to prove my time is well spent, here's a few of the projects I've been working on:

 Okay, can you believe how cute this one is?!?!  I love it!  I may make about a hundred of them. The pattern is called ZoZo Pixie Cables, and I'm in love.  What a great way to bust some stash, and a perfect baby gift to boot.  For those wanting to make it, I would suggest using a size or two smaller needle for the first CC band, because it splays a little.  Still, very cute!

The pattern is called Morpheus, and it's so cute.  I've done two of the designer's patterns, and love them.  However, I've found they run pretty small, so if in doubt, size up.  Also, on this one, I only did the mesh pattern on the front of the sweater, not the back, as the pattern instructs.  I love the colours.

This little Pinafore is one I've made before, and a great stash buster.  The pattern is only for 0-3 months, but I just size it up by using a bigger hook and thicker yarn.  Isn't Marigold a sweetheart.  She melts me.

These two are possibly the easiest headband pattern out there. A great way to use the end of a skein after a project.  The purple flower is this one, and the yellow flower is this one.

And this little shrug is so beautiful.  The yarn is a silk blend, and when the lace is stretched out it is just gorgeous.  My intention, if I have a boy, is to give away all the girl things I've knit, but I might have to hold onto this one for future children.  Love.

So, if you wonder why I'm mum, it's because I've been knitting.  All. Day. Long.  If you're on Ravelry, check out my other FOs here.

And, for those here looking at patterns, I've got two (or three) great ones coming in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!

The Duketer

Here you have it folks, my favourite knit design yet!  It could be because it was inspired by my boys (remember Silas's birth announcement?  This pattern came out of that).  It could be because my sister, Chloe, took pictures of the finished product, and it looks so much better than I could ever make it look.  It could even just be that I'm getting better.  In any case, here's another knitting pattern for those interested.  The model is Mindy's new baby, Samuel, who is just about as cute as can be!  If you're looking for more, go to my Tutorial Tab at the top.

The Duketer

My 4 year old dotingly refers to his little brother as “The Duketer.”  This hat is for him. 

SIZE

Newborn, 3 months, 6 months

MATERIALS

Two colours in any worsted weight yarn to make gauge (I used Fleece Artist Africa, which has now been discontinued) Wool and wool blends would be better suited than cotton, as they stretch more.

1 set of 6 mm (US size 10) double-pointed needles (can use a 16” circular needle until decreases make using the DPN necessary)

Stitch Marker

Tapestry Needle

GAUGE

16 sts/22 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES

2x2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts):
Round 1: [K2, p2] to end.
Repeat this round for 2x2 Rib.

I-cord  When working an I-cord you do not turn the work.  Instead, you use double pointed needles, slide all the stitches to the other end of the needle, switch the needle back to your left hand, bring the yarn around the back of the work, and start knitting the stitches again, keeping the yarn quite tight. Repeat this row after row to form the I-cord. 

Use the Stationary Joggless Stripe Technique to make the stripes even. 

DIRECTIONS

Newborn (3 months, 6 months)

CO 52 (60, 64) stitiches in A. Divide stitches between needles

Place marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Work in 2x2 rib for 5(7, 8) rows.

At this point you will knit every round, switching between colour A and colour B.  You can decide when to switch, but here is how I have done it, the numbers representing the number of rows of each colour.   (For the smaller sizes, once you get to the I-cord, stop the sequence and skip to the i-cord rows at the end.)

5 (7, 8) rib, 3, 2, 5, 3, 2, 2, 4, 4, 3, 2, 5, 3, 2, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 6, 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2, 4, 3, 2, 4, 2, 3,  7 i-cord, 8 i-cord

Row 6-23(29, 34) - After the rib, knit for 18(22, 26) rows, switching between colour A and colour B

Row 24(30, 35) – [K 11(13, 14), K2Tog] around

Row 25 (31, 36) (and every other round) – Knit

Row 26 (32, 37) – [K 10(12, 13), K2Tog] around

Row 28(34, 39) – [K 9(11,12), K2Tog] around

Row 30(36, 41) - [K 8(10, 11), K2Tog] around

Row 32(38, 43) - [K 7(9, 10), K2Tog] around

Row 34(40,45) - [K 6(8, 9), K2Tog] around

Newborn size only:

Row 35-42 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 43 - [K 5, K2Tog] around

Row 44-51 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 52 - [K 4, K2Tog] around

Row 53-60 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 61 - [K 3, K2Tog] around

Row 62-69 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 70 - [K 2, K2Tog] around

Row 71-78 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 79 - [K 1, K2Tog] around

Row 80-87 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 88 – K2Tog around

Row 89 - 103 - Knit an I-cord

Row 101 – K2Tog twice, Cast off

Cut cord, leaving enough length to tie on the pom-pom

3 month size only

Row 42 – [K7, K2Tog] around

Row 44 – [K6, K2Tog] around

Row 45-52 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 53 - [K 5, K2Tog] around

Row 54-61 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 62 - [K 4, K2Tog] around

Row 63-70 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 71 - [K 3, K2Tog] around

Row 72-79 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 80 - [K 2, K2Tog] around

Row 81-88 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 89 - [K 1, K2Tog] around

Row 90-97 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 98 – K2Tog around

Row 99 - 113 - Knit an I-cord

Row 114 – K2Tog twice, Cast off

Cut cord, leaving enough length to tie on the pom-pom

6 month size only

Row 47 – [K8, K2Tog] around

Row 49 – [K7, K2Tog] around

Row 51 – [K6, K2Tog] around

Row 52-59 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 60 - [K 5, K2Tog] around

Row 61-68 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 69 - [K 4, K2Tog] around

Row 70-77 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 78 - [K 3, K2Tog] around

Row 79-86 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 87 - [K 2, K2Tog] around

Row 88-95 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 96 - [K 1, K2Tog] around

Row 97-104 – Knit (8 rows)

Row 105 – K2Tog around

Row 106- 120 - Knit an I-cord

Row 121 – K2Tog twice, Cast off

Cut cord, leaving enough length to tie on the pom-pom

FINISHING

Create a large pom-pom using my tutorial or another method with colour A and B.  Sew the pom-pom onto the end of the i-cord.  Sew in ends. 

Find it on Ravelry here!

Ahoy Matey - Baby Wearing Tube

I love to wear my babies (and toddlers, for that matter.) I've got a little bit of an addiction when it comes to baby carriers.  I have woven wraps and stretchy wraps.  I have ring slings and pouch slings. I have a structured soft carrier, and I even have a framed backpack carrier. In our move to Victoria we didn't bring any toys, any bibs or spoons, we didn't worry about cribs or high chairs. We didn't even bring a stroller.  But, we did bring my ERGObaby Carrier, and it's already been indispensable.  Silas has been in it on all our walks and adventures.

After four years of baby wearing I have finally solved a constant problem.  Inevitably as we hike/walk/explore, the weather changes.  Sometimes it's just walking in and out of buildings at the zoo.  Taking the baby in and out of the carrier just to take off a coat, and then put it back on, is more than tedious, it's downright annoying!  Never mind the fact that wearing a bulky coat in the carrier can be more than a bit bothersome.  So, on my long drive to Victoria I knit to solve the problem (if only more problems of the world couldn't be solved by knitting) and I came up with this:

Wonderful, eh?  It's a simple knit tube, with a hole in the middle for the baby's back.  Naturally I needed to make it manly for my little boy, so the skully was knit in.  I've got to make another now and actually make it fit him, but I'm totally loving my invention.  It's such an easy way to keep his exposed back and arms warm without the bulk of a coat.  And, it's easy to take on and off while he's still in the carrier, so you don't have to worry about the temperature changes. I think I might make a few more with girly prints and better yarn.  Oh, the cleverness of me! Stay posted for the perfected version and a pattern!

On my Needles this week

Just in case you were wondering what I've been knitting this week...

A few newborn sweaters out of extra yarn in my stash.  This one I knit for a designer.  It was so fast and super cute.  If only I had a newborn girl to try it on!

Another sweet sweater I made to use up the yarn from the sweater and hat set that I made for Silas.  

And this darling hat I made for Adrienne, who bought me the yarn and told me to knit her something pretty.  I think it's pretty.  I've never worked a fair isle pattern before, so it was a learning experience.

There you have it.  Just in case you were wondering.

If money weren't an issue...

I would definitely go to this:

Three days, in London, knitting!?! Heaven on earth, I tell you. Perhaps there I could feel less guilty about the amount of time I spend knitting. Perhaps there I would actually feel good about it, because I'm sure there are others worse than me. Perhaps there all of my dreams would come true.  Perhaps.

While you may all think that I do nothing but knitting (which may or may not be true...) life at my home has been wonderful... and... I've been knitting. 

Welcome Spring

Today is the first day of Spring, and we woke to a beautiful blanket of snow in Calgary.  It's sunny and gorgeous out, so I don't really mind.  But still, I am looking forward to green grass and shorts.

Luckily I just finished another hat, so Silas could wear it to church this morning, on account of all the snow and all...

Whenever people say how boring it is to dress boys, I feel badly that they don't take their boys to church. I just love dressing my boys up like little men in white shirts and ties!  I have as many ties for them as I do socks.  I love it!

Silas has now reached 18 months and is now officially part of the Nursery program at church. Of course he has spent most of his life in Nursery anyway, because I have been serving in Nursery for most of his life, but this week it was official.  He handled it like a champ!

Isn't the hat darling??? It is a vintage pattern from the 1940s, and I am going to make an hundred more!  So stinking cute!

At it Again!

I love when I make something that is super cheep and REALLY,REALLY cute.  Now I just wish Silas needed another hat.  The pattern for this is surprisingly easy, and I knit it up in just a few hours. The yarn is just the cheap Michael's acrylic, so only cost me $4.00.  You can't beat that!  And Silas... well, I can't even begin to express how cute he is.

Find the pattern here and here. 

Embracing my Inner Grandma

I know my endless knitting projects may not impress as much as I think they do, but the boys have been sick and so we've spent a lot of time sitting around, and so I've spent a lot of time knitting and crocheting. It's been quite lovely... except for the whole, being sick thing.

Anyway, like it or not, here's what I've been working on:


Let's start with this one.  A terrible picture, but a hat that actually fits a big person, instead of a little one!  And cables to boot.  The designer calls it Unoriginal, but I've never knit anything quite like it.  It's super cute (and if anyone has a birthday coming up....)

And then I moved back into the little person realm with this piggie bonnet.  Wish I had a newborn to try it on. I made the pattern up myself, including the pigs ears, which I spent far too long on. 

Then I made two of these, trying to make them the right size for a four year old. This one's called the Divine Hat, and it is just about that.

Oh, and then I made this one. It turned out way smaller than I planned, but it's pretty cute regardless.  I added three dangling pom-poms to the top, and it's even better now. 

Then there was this one, which I think necessitates a big brown and pink flower.

And I just finished this.  I'm not terribly fond of the colours, but it was a quick, easy knit, so I might just do it again smaller, with different yarn. As is expected, my favourite are the braids. I like earflaps and braids.  Here's a link to the pattern.

 And then, my absolute favourite so far.  I knit this one out of a ball of cheap variegated acrylic yarn that did not look good crocheted.  It turned out so ridiculously darling that I may have to go out and buy some more yarn and made a whole slough of them!   The pattern, Capucine, is really easy to follow, even for a beginner knitter, and I knit it up in one evening.  You can't beat that! In the tassels I added some of the extra dark purple from the Divine hat, and I think it makes it all the more wonderful. Maybe not the most practical of baby hats, but I love it none the less.

So there you have it.  I'll admit, I'm a total grandma, but I love it! And like I said, any birthdays coming up...

A Baby Sweater, Finished at Last

Lately I have been making a concerted effort to finish projects before I start too many more.  This one I started while I was pregnant with Silas, and I got all the way through the body and halfway through one arm. 

Last week while I was teaching my sister-in-law how to knit I picked it up again and finished the first arm, knit the other and tonight I seamed it all together.  It really is darling.  Too bad for Silas, but at least my next child will be able to enjoy it! 

If you're interested I got the pattern from Knit Simple Magazine, Fall 2007, which I picked up on a sale rack for a buck.  Love it!

A Vesty for Si-Guy

When I was 13 I sneaked into the Mormon Youth Dance, where I was supposed to only be admitted if I had reached my 14th birthday.  Well, no rules or coveted dance card were going to stop me!  I distinctly remember my best friend Nicole's older brother Gareth asking me to dance, and being sure I was busted and was going to be in unimaginable trouble.  I also remember the Heninger girls singing to me, at the top of their lungs "Dancing Queen" by ABBA.  For the next dozen or so years I remained just that, the dancing queen, living for the next Saturday Night when I could go again to the youth dance, and then young adult dance, seeing people I only ever saw there, and dance away the night.  Many of the people that are still so dear to me I met at the youth dances, including my sweet Jared, my good friend Justin, the Kanes... I'm sure there are more. I was something like Eliza Doolittle, minus the being picked off the street and taught to speak well, but I certainly could have danced all night and still have asked for more. 

I don't dance much any more.  Being a 30-year-old mother of two leaves little opportunity for such things.  Sad? A little.  But I'm over it.  I've found other things to love, and other things to do.  So, with the title of Dancing Queen stripped from me, I've got to claim another throne, and today I think I'll take the moniker, "Knitting Queen."  Not quite as disco song worthy, but I'm also over that.  I am the self proclaimed Knitting Queen and quite proud of it!

Last night I finished a vest for Silas. I actually wanted to make it for Eli, but it turned out to fit Silas just perfect, so a vesty for Silas it became.  And here it is:

Please tell me I am deserving of the title! I got the pattern here, and if you've ever wanted to knit such a thing I would recommend the pattern.  There are no seams and it is a very quick knit.  I love knitting baby things because they knit up so much quicker than huge big people sized things.  Sorry Jared, you're never going to get a hand knit sweater, I just don't have that much attention span.  I think I am to the point where I can design my own sweater/vest, so stay tuned (but not too closely, because it's going to take me a while.)

You can also tell me how ridiculously cute my child is, because a mom can never hear that enough!

Hat for Hattie!

A friend of mine has asked me to knit her kids some hats for Christmas. It is super fun, because I can try out new patterns and yarns that I wouldn't otherwise do. This is the first one I've done, and I'm hoping the four year old I've made it for isn't a follower of the blog, otherwise I've ruined Christmas! The pattern is a heavily modified version of this. The flowers I got from here. I absolutely love how it turned out.

Just in Time Leg Warmer Pattern

Well, here you have it, my first ever pattern.  Tutorial for the I-Cord and Pom-Poms to come.

SIZE

Calf circumference up to 10 inches.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference of ribbed cuff, unstretched: 6 inches
Circumference of legwarmer: 7 inches
Length of legwarmer with cuff folded: 13 inches 

MATERIALS

Wisdom Yarn Poems (100% Wool; 109 yards per 50g ball) in colour 578; 2 skeins

1 set of 4.5mm circular (8 inch long) or double-pointed needles

Stitch marker

Tapestry needle

GAUGE

20 sts/26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st

PATTERN NOTES

2x2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts):
Round 1: [K2, p2] to end.
Repeat this round for 2x2 Rib.

I-cord  When working an I-cord you do not turn the work.  Instead, you use double pointed needles, slide all the stitches to the other end of the needle, switch the needle back to your left hand, bring the yarn around the back of the work, and start knitting the stitches again, keeping the yarn quite tight. Repeat this row after row to form the I-cord.

DIRECTIONS

CO 40 sts. Divide sts between needles.
Place marker and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work in 2x2 Rib until work measures 2 inches.

Eyelet Round: Work 16 sts in pattern, k2tog, yo, p2, yo, k2tog, continue in rib pattern to end.
Continue in 2x2 Rib until work measures 5.5 inches.

Next Round: Continue in Stockinette st until entire work measures 12.5 inches.

P 5 rounds, cast off

FINISHING

Weave in ends, block if desired.

Make 2 cords: CO 3 sts and work I-Cord until cord measures 24 inches.

BO all sts; do not weave in ends.

Make 4 pom poms.

Insert cords through eyelets.

Sew pom poms to ends of I-Cords using yarn tails.

What a day for Leg Warmers!

It's snowing today. Snow.  The white fluffy stuff.  The COLD white fluffy stuff.  Why, oh why, did we move here? I love snow, but I'd love it more if it would only be around for, say, three months of the year.

Oh well, what can you do but bundle up and enjoy it.  I just finished a pair of girls' leg warmers last week, and it looks like it wasn't a moment to soon.  So, here's my niece, Marigold, strutting her stuff.

I had a little fight with the pompoms, and there is the fact that they are two different colours.  But, my Grandma always said that if it were perfect it would offend the angels, and I need all the angels I can get on my side!  Lesson learned though: dye lot matters!  I bought one skein in Rochester, Michigan, and another in Sandpoint, Idaho. Same colourway, different dye lot. Oh well, I still think they are cute.

Don't forget to comment on any post this week to be entered to win this week's giveaway!

I am working on a pattern and a tutorial for these babies, and will post it as soon as I am done. Yeah for tutorials!