Baby (Knitting) Fever

While I was visiting my parents last weekend, I made a slew of baby gifts for my friend's shower next month. I managed to finish the cardigan, a bib, and a dishcloth.

The bib is actually a little big since I completely neglected to look at the needle size or gauge on the pattern. It's the Penguin Bib, and is really big enough for a toddler. But I figured 1) a bib can never be too big, and 2) with this baby's genetics and growth rate, she'll be the size of a toddler shortly after birth anyway.

The cardigan is made from Bernat Baby Coordinates in pale yellow. I loved making the Garter Yoke Cardigan. It was so easy. And since the baby is due in June, I left the sleeves short. It's finished off with my first ever button band and awesome purple flower buttons.

This dishcloth was just to test out my brand new Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeables Set!!! I bought it last Friday at Stitches & Scones in Westfield (yes, they carry knitpicks in their store now. i'm pumped.) And to top it off, you get their tote bag discount also. These babies are everything I thought they'd be. Now I just need to get about a dozen more cables in different sizes.

The baby blanket is also made with Bernat Baby Coordinates, this time in lavender and cream. I wanted to use as much of the yarn as possible, so I made it a giant granny square.

So, technically, I have the shower gifts finished. However, I know I won't stop there. A burp cloth and face cloth set? Headbands? She needs a matching headband with that cardi. Any other thoughts?

It's not gonna be that warm tho...

Goal #4 has been completed! I finished the simple lace scarf and showed it off at my last spinning class. Here's a picture of it blocking. I wasn't sure if i could ever get the corners perfectly square, so i left it a little on the bias. and with the weather staring to warm a little, this scarf will be perfect.

Making Progress

So, I've figured out part of the problem with the laptop. It runs fine on battery power. However, when it's plugged into the wall, it shuts off. The really funny thing is that turns back on too. Any computer whizzes out there that have a theory?

Dr. Who Scarf

This is the scarf for my friend that was in our wedding. At first, I decided that I didn't like how the garter stitch looked and stared this in Stockinette stitch with a seed stitch border. However, even with the border, it rolled like crazy on the edges. It has been driving me so nuts that I have decided to restart it in garter stitch. And, surprisingly enough, it's going much faster. It's only about 2 feet long so far, so I've dubbed this as my other Quarter 1 goal. So here you go, Matt. I promise it is actually being worked on.

Spinning Update

I haven't done a lot of spinning lately due to the sock monster consuming my brain. But I figured, I would do a little show and tell on the things I've accomplished.

Here is the Targhee from Mountain colors. The staple was shorter than I'm used to, so it is spun woolen (which is fun and super fast). It's my first 3 ply yarn, which i learned is best for hiding, uh, inconsistencies in plies, and the twist gets distributed more evenly. I think it's about a worsted weight and will become a hat or mitts.

Here is the most recent yarn I made. It's Frabjous Fibers Merino in the Stained Glass colorway. I was aiming for a fingering weight yarn for a shawl. Since I'm not as confident about my spinning, I thought a 2 ply would do fine. I haven't totaled the yardage yet, but I think it will be enough. I've also decided that I really enjoy spinning merino.

Oh, and here is a picture of my "swift." yes, i know that's like cheating.

Sock Update

Pair #3 for this quarter will more than likely also be mismatched. I finished the other vanilla sock from Jawoll, and have almost an entire skein left over.

The Skyp sock is about halfway through the leg. I've switched from the bamboo DPNs to the teeny tiny circular I bought (it's an Addi Turbo 8") thinking it would make things go faster, but to no avail.

So, I decided to start a new sock! It was actually already done through the cuff since this was originally supposed to be the Skyp. I didn't like how it was turning out and was about to rip the whole thing out when I realized, "Hey, this is a finished cuff!" It sat on waste yarn for a few weeks, but I threw it on the tiny circular needle, and pumped out about 4 inches of leg during knitting on Sunday. That's about 2 and a half hours, which is lightening speed for me. I also decided to try a short row heel again.

You can't really see it in the picture, but one of the sides has a ridge along it, which I'm suspecting should be on the inside. Other than that, it''s going well. Now, what should I do for the toe?