Baby Pants

I wasn't going to post these until they were complete, but all I have left to do is put the elastic in the waste band and they are so dang cute I couldn't wait to share.

I LOVE these little pants. I love them so much that I'm going to hold onto them for a bit. I have some ideas for onesies to match that would create an outfit so I'm at least holding onto them until I have a chance to work on those.

I used another free pattern from the Lion Brand Website. It's the "Baby Brights Pants" pattern. I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn. Love that stuff, but it is a bit pricey. I think just for the yarn these are $20-$30 baby pants. I didn't check my gauge and had to do some adjusting. Basically I reached the length the pattern called for before I reached the number of stitches. I've read that length is more important, so I just altered the pattern for the number of stitches. I think with baby pants it is probably okay to do that. They don't look funky or anything :) I did the striping on my own, the pattern calls for a particular Lion Brand Yarn that looks like it self stripes. I may have to make a few more pairs of these with pink, green, purple maybe? I think I'll try a different yarn that is a bit more affordable though. I'm still working on my seam sewing skills. Matching stripes can be tricky too, but these turned out pretty well.

Baby Sweater & Booties

My friend Kim is due in May and is having a girl. Her shower was today and this is what I made for her.






I found the sweater pattern HERE and the accent flowers HERE

and the booties HERE

All of these patterns were really easy. I am a big fan of the booties. They are adorable and a super fast knit. I think it took me about 1/2 hour to do one. I used stash yarn for this entire project (so proud of myself!). The only purchase I had to make was the buttons. The sweater pattern called for a zipper, but I thought that buttons would be more fun. They all turned out so well.

Knitting and knitting and knitting . . .

I've been knitting :) I finished a hat for a friends new baby boy over the holidays and I'm very close to finishing the first sweater I'm knitting for myself. I've also got another sweater I'm working on for a friend who is due this spring. Lots of fun stuff! Here are pics of the hat and the back piece for my sweater. I am calling my sweater the Amazing Technicolor sweater :) It's going to be a rainbow of awesomeness!

Baby Bolero

I've finished my first project from one of the books I got for Christmas. I made the Baby Bolero from One Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit and Crochet.I used a yarn I had in my stash that I think is a Wool Ease blend. I had balled it and didn't have the tag anymore. The pattern calls for a different yarn, but I didn't have anything that resembled that so I went with the wool blend. It turned out pretty good. I am still working on the picking up stitches part of doing collars. It's very tricky, I think. So, I'm happy with how this turned out, but would have been a little happier with a better collar. I had to pull it out once and didn't really want to do it again. Here are some pics:

Front view.
Back view.

I know a few women that are due in the spring so I'm pretty sure this one will be a gift. I'm playing with the idea of adding a crocheted flower pin, but I'll need to brush up on my crochet skills, so we'll see.

Sweater Finished . . . well, almost . . .

I've finished the cardigan except for the addition of the dump truck. I'm having second thoughts. Mostly because it will take me awhile to do and I'm pressed for time these days. I can't decide if I should put it off and do in after the holidays or give it away as it is. Anyhow, while I decide I thought I'd share a pick of the finished piece as it is now.

Baby Cardigan: Part II

I am almost finished with the cardigan. It's been going pretty well, except for the neckline and button band/buttonhole band. I have never knitted anything that required picking up stitches. I found it really difficult and I think I took out the neck 5 or 6 times before I finally thought it looked okay (not perfect, but functional and fairly decent). I only have the buttonhole band left to do and then just sewing in the ends. I am thinking I would like to stitch something into the back as well. I've never done that before either, but think I could figure it out. My husband suggested a dump truck. I'm still undecided. For now I just want to finish up the knitting part.

Just the buttonhole band left to go!

Any suggestions on what could go on the back? Leave me a comment if you think of something super cool (preferably for a baby boy).

Baby Cardigan

I'm trying the baby sweater again, but this time I'm doing it with a pattern and taking my time. It's hard for me to be patient sometimes, but with this one I want to do it right. I've finished the back and one front side panel. So far it's going well, except for some curling issues, but I figure those will work out when I sew the pieces together. I had the yarn for a different project that didn't go as planned. I'm thinking of adding something to the back when I'm finished, but I haven't decided what yet.

Baby Album

A friend of mine had a baby girl at the end of June. I finally finished an album to send as a gift last week. It turned out really well and I love the fabric I found for the cover. It was a remenant at Jo-Ann's. I think it is upolstery fabric. Anyhow, the blue sheen went well with some chocolate brown fabric and ribbon I already had. I also had chocolate brown paper on hand for the interior covers and for the binding. It's a smaller version of the album we made for my parents, but without the window mattes. I put a custom card in the front that states the album was created in celebration of the birth of my friend's daughter. I love giving hand-made gifts. They always feel more personal. And I love making them.

Baby Sweater

Well, I finished the baby sweater. It looks pretty cute but I'm not entirely sure it will fit any baby. The neck isn't very big and it doesn't have too much give. The sleeves actually ended up being too long, but I cuffed them and think they would work fine this way. I asked a friend of mine with a 4 month old how big his head is and she said she wasn't sure, maybe 16" around or so. I'm not entirely sure if I'll give it to someone or not, but at least now I know I can knit a sweater.