Sugar Fly

I finished this wrap a couple of weeks ago, but didn't have time to post it. The Pattern is Summer Flies by Donna Griffin and it's made from two shades of Araucania Ruca (100% sugar cane). The free pattern and project details are available on Ravelry

I really enjoyed working with the Ruca yarn. It has some weight to it and drapes beautifully, much like other plant fiber based yarns (bamboo, rayon) and silk. The drape worked especially well for this lacy pattern. I don't think I would have liked it as well in a loftier yarn. This was a stash buster project, knit from two different colors of the same fiber because I didn't have enough of one color. I'm so glad I didn't have enough because I love the depth of the two tone finished product.

Camp Erin Bear 2012

The knit shop I frequent, Knitting Bee, sponsors an annual event to collect teddy bears in hand knitted outfits for Portland's Camp Erin kids. Camp Erin is a free bereavement camp for kids ages 6-17 who have lost a loved one, and each child receives a bear when they arrive at the camp. This is my first Camp Erin contribution and my first ever Teddy Bear outfit.

Serious Color

I set aside my lovely moss green cardigan unfinished in favor of more colorful ventures. I don't know if the Oregon winter gray got to me or if the featherweight cardigan just dragged on too long (by no fault of it's own), but I jumped on the Noro badwagon a couple of months ago and haven't fallen off yet. Noro is a self striping Japanese yarn that comes in many luxurious bases (silk/wool, cotton/wool, etc). It also comes in some very vibrant colors. I'm on my fifth Noro project in a row. Here are the first four ...

While I was slogging through the featherweight cardi a friend made a pair of these mitts. They were so simple (and I already had this awesome yarn in my stash) so I decided to take a break and make some too. They were fast indeed and I had so much fun working with the bright colors ... that cardi is still hibernating. The mitts are made from Noro Taiyo (cotton/silk/nylon/wool).

I only burned through part of a skein with the mitts, but I still felt like I was on a spring cleaning roll, so I dug out this soft wool/angora/silk blend that's been adorning my sewing room for at least 2 years. This was made from not quite two skeins of Noro Kochoran and I made up the pattern as I went along.

Emboldened by several small sweater successes in the last year, I decided it was time to try something grander - a full length cardigan! For probably the first time in my knitting career, I selected a pattern before picking the yarn. Usually it's the other way around - I fall in love with a yarn and then figure out what to do with it. I didn't actually have enough of any one yarn in my stash to do this, so I made a trip to the local shop and found this neat colorway that reminds me of lightening. None of these colors would have seduced me on their own, but I found the unusual combination very compelling. This is my Noro Kureyon (wool) Catwalk Lightening Cardigan. This was my first ever pieced sweater and it even has pockets! I can do anything now.

I fell in love with this Noro waistcoat pattern and after surviving Catwalk Lightening, pieces, pockets, and all I had no trouble diving right in. I had some of this Noro Taiyo yarn already, but not enough so I had to order more. Luckily, the yarn has so many colors to begin with, I had no trouble blending the two dye lots. The back was knitted with two skeins at the same time, alternating every two rows to create a broader stripe pattern.

What ever happened to December?

Super busy = neglected blog. I'm the oldest of 7 children and most of my siblings have a handful or two of children of their own. If I haven't completely lost count, I have 13 nieces and nephews at this point. Each year we draw two families for Christmas because gifting 20+ people is just cumbersome. This year I drew the two of the larger families ... 7 + 5 = 12 hand knitted gifts. Twelve may not look like a lot, but with a baby and a full time job, it's hard to find the time. Did I mention that I also made dress ups? In the rush to get things out the door in time for Christmas delivery, I failed to take pictures of most of the gifts, so I'm hoping my family will take pity on me and send me photos of said items being modeled.

I'd planned to only make hats, but I got a special request from this darling little guy. It went along the lines of "Will you make me a scarf today because I don't have one?" This little five year old already knows how to stroke the knitter's ego! There's nothing more rewarding that knowing that someone actually WANTS a hand knit gifted. He didn't get a scarf the next day, but he did get one for Christmas.


These Medieval dress-ups I made are REALLY big. hopefully that means they have a lot of years of entertainment in them.


Now that the Christmas gifts are done and delivered (all except one small delinquent item) I can start playing blog catch up.

Speaking of time flying ... What happened to may baby and where did this little boy come from. More on that to follow.

The Force

The Halloween cram! I may not have much time, but I couldn't let T spend his first Halloween in a tacky store bought costume. Poor The Scoot didn't get a costume this year. I'll be starting his for next year right after I'm done with Christmas ... yeah right.

Little Jedi, complete with stuffed tissue lame light saber. It's Halloween morning and T is just about to head to school where he gets to participate in the Halloween parade. The cream "shirt" under his tunic is actually a onsie that I made. If I ever find the time I'll take a picture of it. It would have been perfect if I'd added some interfacing before inserting the snaps AND if I hadn't put one of the snaps in backwards. Oh well, it only had to last a day.


Only the cutest little Jedis get warm fleece robes to wear trick or treating. This cute hooded robe is fully lined for extra warmth.


T bundles up in preparation to go Trick or Treating.


T and his cousins head out to score some candy.


The kiddos had a blast and T brought home a ton of candy for The Scoot and I. I stayed home to pass out candy to the 10 children that bothered to ventured into our cul-de-sac. Those lucky 10 kids were thrilled with the handfuls of candy bars we dumped into their various candy receptacles. There were a lot of kids on the main road. We really need to figure out how to lure them in next year. Its bad for my figure to be left with so much Halloween candy. Luckily we offloaded about half of what I originally purchased at a Trunk or Treat on Saturday night.

The 'A' says aaaaaaaaaaaaa!
My original design in apple green minky with felt.
More to come ...

Reversible Shrug with Dorset Button

Last Saturday I took a class at The Knitting Bee and learned to make Dorset buttons. This reversible shrug pattern only took me a couple of evenings (after baby unit went to bed) to make. The matching Dorset button was a perfect addition.

Knitting Fiend

This is my first fitted adult sized clothing item. I modified the "Wrenna" pattern from "French Girl Knits" by shortening the body (yes, it's supposed to be cropped length) and lengthening the cap sleeve. I'm really happy with the fit and fabric texture. It's made with Malabrigo Aquarella - a "thick and thin" yarn that creates interesting variations in the stitch sizes. The super chunky yarn and large needles (size 15) make for quick knitting. I bet it took me less than 10 hours to finish the sweater.




I also made myself a hat from Malabrigo worsted. I improvised this hat pattern using part of the cable pattern from the capelet I finished a couple of weeks ago. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

A day in the life...

Daddy wraps me in my little moster towel after a warm shower with mommy.


Mommy lets me wear green and the kitty watches me play with my toys.


Daddy plays with me while mommy makes me pose in my new knitted hat.


I am the cutest baby ever!

Knitted Capelet

I made something for myself! I knitted most of this while we were in California visiting Oma and Opa McCusker a little over a week ago. I had plenty of time to knit while The Scoot, Oma, and Opa held and played with baby unit.



close up

Tulips

I made this little sweater over the summer while I was pregnant. It's a little big on him, but it still looks pretty cute! On Sunday Scott told me that if I don't quit calling him "Cute Boy" Torin will be introducing himself as such. For the record, I call him "Sweet Boy" at least half the time.

Family Stockings

Christmas Stocking

The traditional Swenson Family felt Christmas stocking I made for Torin.
Finished 11/27/2010

Beanie

It's much easier to cope with being preggers when I don't have to go to work. That said, I would still love to have the baby RIGHT NOW! I made this little infant beanie for the boy a couple of nights ago. I'm putting it in my hospital bag now.



I hate cleaning, will I still get the sudden irresistible urge to clean something when I'm ready to go into labor? ... or could the sudden irresistible desire to knit 10 things at once be considered nesting? I try to clean something every day just because it needs to be done, but I have to force myself to do it. I'd rather knit!