2 years

It's risky business choosing a pattern for a gloriously (at times) head strong little toddler, I mean BIG GIRL . Risky in that once the said knit is complete, it will actually be worn by the toddler for more than, say, 1.5 seconds. So you pour through the free patterns on Ravelry. Lord knows you don't pay for that pattern which has the potential to be permanently stored in the hat basket in the front closet. You pick one you think will hit the mark. Ear flaps for winter warmth, check.  Acrylic, check.  Squeak, I know, but I'm hoping to toss this baby in the washing machine after countless frolics in the snow. Purple, check. She likes purple, her snowsuit is purple. How can this go wrong?

Pattern:  Earflap Hats

By: Knitscene

Yarn:  Random Walmart Acrylic

 Huge, gigantically adorable pom-pom?  Eeks, maybe not. (Even though Mommy likes it, little girl's eyes turn red instantly). Uhhh. Maybe smaller cuter pom-pom? Ee gad. This is a toughy.   I couldn't even bribe her with smarties.    My fear comes to life and I park this old noggin topper indefinitely in the hat basket.  No amounting of coaxing or bribery will convince the decisive little one to even touch it, let alone wear it on her head.


What it actually takes to free this accessory out of purgatory is some time to age in the closet.  Fermenting for some TWO YEARS, until she finally plucks it out of the hamper on her own free will and declares the hat "SO CUTE!".  "Mama, this pom-pom is like a pony tail and these things on the sides are two lovely braids".  (She really does talk like that and she really doesn't let me style her hair. EVER. Figure that one out.)

Wow, 2 years to warm up to a hat.  Talk about playing hard to get.  Guess you'll be seeing this year's creation in 2012.

Pattern:  Squares Squared Hat

By: Cosette Cornelius

Yarn:  Franken Fibre Handspun By Linda Janssen (Blue)
Acrylic in Pink and Teal

It's not for lack of knitting...

So I've been suspiciously quiet in the blogosphere, but it's not for lack of knitting.   I have found myself making a plethora of tiny objects for the last little while.

I can't help it, I'm compelled.  But the problem with knitting little newborn items is that often you can't find a proper sized model to show them off. 

So I made one of those too =).....

(I'm working on his model pose still....)



Collage items:
1. Carnival Hat-  by me; 2. Circles Stroller Jacket by Susan Anderson, minus the circles; 3. Eco Baby Booties by Jen Gontier; 4. Baby Bear Hat and Booties Set; 5. Baby Uggs by Jen Gontier with bear mods; 6. Scraps Hat - by me; 7. Circles Stroller Jacket; 8. Carnival Hat; 9. Nap Sack by me, free pattern coming soon; 10. Baby Bear Hat by me; 11. Scraps Hat; 12. Eco Baby Booties

Road Trippin'

If you live in Toronto in the summer odds are you attempt to get the heck out of town on any given sunny weekend. To do a little road trippin' that looks something like this:

And if you do that a lot, you need a lot of this at the ready:

Everyone has their personal favourite for the road trip knit. I've tried following a chart and it made me want to puke. I've tried knitting a blanket and it made me want to sleep. For me, I like a simple, easily memorized lace pattern that keeps my hands moving quickly, keeps my eyes on the scenery, and challenges me enough that I don't doze off (even while listening to The Wolf 101.5).

So here's my latest road trip creation, the White Night Scarf, made from reclaimed yarn from a heavy cabled hat I bought from Banana Republic years ago that looked great but gave me a kink in the neck it was so darn heavy.

A heavy, cosy, funky scarf made just in time for the road trippin' to slow down for another season.  Sigh.
 

Pattern:  White Night Scarf

By:  Team Knit

Yarn:  Unknown

Needles:  US 13

She gets it....

I often find my husband giving me sideways glances when he sees me knitting up itty bitty pieces of undecipherable shapes, slowly starting a pile on my knitting desk. I can tell he wants to ask me what the heck I am doing but stops short to save himself from my rolling eyes and sometimes less than... uh-hum...polite response. I know the curiosity boils up inside him, not because he cares what I am making, but more because he just has to know what 4 squares, 2 triangles and 2 circles with long tails hanging around will actually be MacGyver-ed into.

So somewhere between square three and circle one I know the question comes...he blurts out in his most pleasant, inquisitive tone "So, what is that you are working on?". He cares not what the answer is, I could say I'm knitting a rocket ship that I plan to launch in the backyard once I figure out how to make this yarn fire retardant, he just needs an answer so that square + square no longer equals unknown.


So I smile inside and answer simply "It's a rabbit". And I show him the picture in the pattern so he can visualize it. I can read his mind (I haven't shared this fact with him after all these years, but I can) and he's thinking "Wow, what a colossal waste of time". But instead he responds with feigned interest, "hmmph", picks up his newspaper and carries on with his life. He doesn't get it.

He doesn't understand that when you care enough to spend so much time and effort into making something that a piece of your love gets implanted in that object, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant that object is. So what may be 4 squares, 2 triangles and 2 circles to him can actually give comfort and love to someone else.

 

 

He doesn't get it, but it doesn't matter. Because SHE does.

Pattern:  Little Hare Boy

By: Ala Ela:

Testing 1..2..3...

I recently test knit this great pattern for Cosette from CosyMakes fame. Her handspun, hand-dyed yarns are out of this world and her patterns each have unique little details that really make them special. Jonah is no exception. The slip stitch panel and little fish panel detail on the sleeve give this little kimono style sweater just enough pizzazz to make it special and fun to knit, while not being completely over the top that it won't get a lot of use. 

The attached I-cord detailing on the trim brings it all together neatly.  I knit it in a neutral colour cotton with the cutest little butterfly buttons (chosen by little daughter, my official button selector) in the 18 months size. Guaranteed this little knit will get TONS of use by its recipient. Love that. Love this pattern too (available soon).

I'm amazed by how small the world has become with technology, but I'm even more amazed how close knit (pun? perhaps...) the knitting community becomes because of it. Cosy calls out for test knitters from Pittsburgh and little old me in Toronto steps up to the plate instantly. Just like sweet Catherine in Sarnia that volunteered to test knit my Emma within minutes of me posting a request on Rav. Nothing expected in return, just knitters helping out a designer wherever they may be in the world. Cool. We rock.
 

Emma

I was commissioned by a friend recently to knit something especially for a little bundle of joy about to make their debut into the world. Commissioned. Sounds so profesh. (Someone is actually paying me to knit! I can get used to this...so could my husband).

Commissioned AND given carte blanche. All I knew was that little baby on the way was going to be GIRL. Well, I've got quite a few designs floating around up here in the knit-by-nat noggin just waiting to make their way across the needles and onto some paper. I wanted a guaranteed "Oh My God! Soooo Cute!!" reaction and thought of no better conduit of said reaction than through a tutu.

 

 

 
 
 

Complete with lace, ribbon and bead detail, along with a matching ruffled diaper cover.

 Et voila. My favourite finished item to date...one that I am truly proud of.

 

 
And when it came down to a title for my little creation I could think of nothing more fitting than the name of the its intended recipient. Welcome to the world, Emma. A princess is born, no doubt.

 

Pattern: Emma

By: Nataly Alves

Yarn: Patons Bamboo Silk

Colourway: Apricot

Sizes:  3-6 mo, 6-12 mo, 18 mo, 2T, 3T

Pattern now available!

 

I guess I should have...

I must admit the biggest joy I get from knitting is presenting a finished object to someone.  Seeing their reaction and knowing that they truly feel special is a rush I could never quantify, nor could I have expected.  I have even given an adoring friend a scarf that I was wearing off my bloody neck (not literally, that would be gross).  But let me clarify, I only present a gift to someone that appreciates a hand-knit.  No sense in giving something to someone who thinks you're a madwoman for spending countless hours producing a garment that can easily be bought at a store for a fifth of the price in five minutes or less.   But I digress. 

At one point shortly after I picked up the craft, I decided to do something completely different and knit something for ME.  Little fitted vests were all the rage, still are, especially in the business world.   I envisioned a smart little cable knit vest that I could wear to work and people, nix that, the women in my office (they are few and far between on a trading desk) would say "Oh my! What a beautiful vest!" and I would proudly respond "Why thank-you! I knit this myself!".   And the convo of oohs and ahs would be momentus and the cat would be out of the bag that I was a closet knitter and that cool people knit too.  (btw, the cat's out, not sure what the verdict is on the cool status).  Well, things didn't quite go as planned.  The vest is great.  But the vest on ME - not so great.   I guess I should have done a little bit more reading on making a knit pattern work for YOU and I guess I should have pulled out the tape measure to double check the length of my torso and I guess I should have accounted for the permanent post-baby belly (or taken up a more steady habit of sit-ups).   Should have been longer.  Should have measured. 


So what have I learned through this whole escapade?  Guesses + Should Haves = One more gifted knit....

Pattern:   Two-over-two Vest

by:  Jennifer L. Appleby

Yarn:  1 skein Berroco Ultra Alpaca