Another post - shocking I know

Way back when I talked about the would be ill fitting baby Kimono. I partially took it apart in the hopes to fix it. I then left it in my knitting basket until about a week ago and decided that I really should get it done for this fall. I pulled it out and started noticing areas that needed to be fixed and quickly came up with a long list including:
Ripping out one of the fronts to the arm shaping, and starting it earlier
Ripping out the other front to the wrap shaping - the bind off looks too tight
Adding some width to the top of the sleeves

- I think the back was fine.
This was not at all guarantee to make the sweater fit.
So I decided to do the more radical approach and make a different sweater.

Since seaming has been an issue with me lately, a top down seamless raglan was in order.

The second sleeve is done and I have a few more inches done along the bottom. This sweater, even though I followed the 6 mo size, looks in my eyes to fit a 1 yo. But that doesn't bother me since babies grow and it will fit at some point.

The one problem I have found for with this sweater construction is trying to get it to lay in a nice fashion for a WIP photo shoot.

Missing buttons

This soft cardi has had the knitting done since May, however, for reasons unexplained I did not seam it together until quite recently. While I was seaming, I was also looking for the white buttons that I got to go with it. Buttons... Can't seem to find them anywhere.

I have tossed my stash, which has grown quite a lot this pass year. I really need to work on that as it is getting out of hand.

I have checked all the other assorted baskets around the house and knitting bags that I would put the buttons in.

I can't seem to find them

So I figure this leads me with a couple of options. A) go buy new buttons now, B) wait a couple of more months - I am thinking of October in the hopes that the buttons are found.

Project specs:
Pattern: Soft Cardi in a Knitters Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes
Needles: Size 4.5 mm
Yarn: Rowan Cotton Rope

Baby Surprise

Lets's not mention how long it has been since I have blogged. I can't even think of a good excuse so I won't try and give one to you.

I have been knitting though. First finished object to show you is the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman:

I choose three possibilities for buttons

A)
B)
C)
At first I thought that the choice was tough between two of them, but after looking at the photos, there is a clear winner on which to use.

I was told not to use this photo since it looks like the sweater killed Keeper.
This photo with Keeper requesting a belly rub is much better.
Pattern Specs:
Yarn: Dale of Norway
Needles: 2.75 mm
Pattern: EZ BSJ

The sweater looks so tiny, but I guess that is what babies are. I want to do a second one after the baby arrives and then can choose whether to do something very frilly or not.
If you are in the area - for the month of August there are 22 BSJ on display at Shall We Knit - they are having a contest for customers to vote on their favourites. - It is nice to see so many different examples and possibilities on what to do with a second or third.
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I have either been away from posting too long or blogger/ flickr just want to drive me nuts. The photos all have the correct orientation while on my computer, but uploading to flickr or blogger causes them to be rotated. I can fix them in Flickr but not here.

Show and tell

A week ago I got to spend the Saturday with the Yarn Harlot, while she examined hundreds of items of knitted items for the KW Knitters Guild Adjudicated show. The items were all knitted by members of the Guild. Since I am the official photographer for the Adjudicated Show I can show you a sneak peak of some of the winning items. Ready..


Well there are winning entries in those baskets - along with a selection of other items. I can't show you the items themselves because what then would be the purpose of the Adjudicated Show - it would become an Adjudicated Blog. You can see all the items with commentary by Stephanie on June 10 at 7 pm in Hilliard Hall, First United Church, Waterloo (if you are in the area and need more info just let me know). Following the show, photos of the winning entries (I have more specific photos) will be posted on the guild website in the galleries.

I had hoped to submit two baby sweaters, however, the fates were not with me. The first item the Harvey Kimono from Natural Knits - needed some serious reworking.

I kept thinking that once the sleeves were in, once the neck band was on. Okay I was in some serious denial about this sweater. The baby would have to have a neck the size of a toothpick or the front halves would not overlap. This sweater has now had most of the seams and edgings torn out and is in a time out. Just to give you an idea about this sweater - blogger is insisting on rotating the photo. The original is not rotated - WTF?

The next item was the soft cardi - this sweater's downfall is that this is what it looked like - except still damp the morning of adjudication.
That is cotton - I am not seaming heavy weight cotton while it is wet. Recipe for disaster. While looking at these photos, the one piece doesn't seem right. They looked fine when I was pinning them out. I haven't seamed this sweater yet so I can't comment on how it will look once put together. Maybe I should stay away from baby items...

Although I did just get the pattern for the BSJ by EZ. I am thinking of making it from some Baby Ull (I have a little of that in my stash). However, before I can start that I do need to finish some other items I have on my needles.

Some baby knits

After taking about 6 weeks off from not knitting (you guys couldn't tell could you) and very little blogging, I have some works in progress to show to you.

First up is the Harvey Kimono from Natural Knits for Baby and Mom by Louisa Harding.
I am in the process of seaming, afterwards I need to add a garter stitch neck edging and sew on the buttons.
Pattern Specs so far:
Yarn : Sirdar Snuggly DK
Needles: 2.75 mm and 3.25 mm - note this is 3 sizes smaller than the pattern suggests.

Next project on the needles is the Baby Soft Cardigan in the Knitters Book of Yarn
I am using Rowan Cotton Rope in turquoise and white.
I am enjoying this cotton yarn, but it is hard to make neat increases. There is one increase that is really bugging me, and I think I will have to fix it. I kept denying it to myself, but I think I will be happier once it is fixed.

The advantages of a fall baby - I know that these will fit sometime in the winter (for how long though is a different matter).

New Blog

I have started a new blog, this one is not going away. However the new blog is going to have an exciting part in mine and my husband's new life.
So go on over to Ninja Baby and say hello.

Spring arrival

For those of us in SW Ontario the winter was long. In Kitchener/Waterloo we broke two snowfall records

• The most snowfall at one time 37 cm (old record 22.4 cm in 1971) March 8 storm
  
• The most snowfall in a season - I am not sure where we are so far but the old record was 245.3 cm set in 1923-24 (broken March 8)

April 1, this is what our back yard looked like (after 1 day of rain)



The first time I saw robins this spring it was March 25 - five were in the same tree eating some berries. I think they might have been shock to them that there was no grass to pick through for bugs and seeds.

Afternoon of April 2,



Sunday April 6
I should keep a record (hey isn't that what this blog is for) when these crocuses first flower. I planted them in September and the package said Feb - March flowering. I knew Feb was out but April?


There is only snow in the backyard in a very few patches along the wooden fence, where it drifted deep and doesn't get much sun.

My Burning Bush (Eunoymus alata, Dwarf Winged Eunoymus) fed the rabbits in the neighbourhood and may have been a sacrifice. I am not sure what the my "guard" dog was doing during these attacks. He lets us know when the rabbits are at the neighbours though.

The rabbits would not have had to stretch very far to get that back that is 60 cm off the ground, as the snow was quite deep. There are some branches that are not completely girdles and a few inner ones not touched. I am going to wait until it starts to leaf out to decide if it can be salvagable or if it needs to go back to the ground (which by the look at some of the pruning I think it has before).