Everything since The Witch

 I haven't knit anything for the past few weeks, but when I look back at everything I made in December and January, I realize I got a bit burnt out. Take a look at it all and you understand why I've been taking a break.

Three fun, and bright bibs for a baby boy. The pattern is available here for free. They were knit using dishcloth cotton from my stash.

My little Miss M. wanted a purple beret for Christmas. I finished that on time, and the coordinating scarf came a few days later. Both free patterns, just follow the links if you're interested. They were both knit in Lion Brand Wool-Ease.

 Another baby, this time a girl. I thought this cardi was quite feminine even though the pattern is called Baby Boy 5-Hour Sweater. It's available as a free Ravelry download. It's made in Knit Picks Swish Bare. I enjoyed shopping for the buttons at a local thrift shop. While I was there I got chatting with a woman whose daughter in law, like me, is from Bournemouth. What are the chances of that !?!

This baby girl hat drove me a little crazy. It was supposed to have little bear paw mitts to go with it, but I only finished the hat the morning of the baby shower, so the mitts never happened. The pattern is here for free if you are interested. It's not the greatest pattern, though it is cute.

I decided I needed a new hat for me. It's been a long and snowy winter here. I've had to dig out my driveway more times than I can remember. This hat keeps my ears nice and warm. I've used this pattern before for a friend. It's called Hinagiku Hat. It's a free Ravelry download. My friend posted a picture on facebook in which she is wearing hers, and I decided I really wanted one for myself. I knit with HiKoo yarn that was given to me at a yarn swap. I love the colour.

Well, I need to get my motivation back, since birthdays are looming, and there are a couple of really important ones this year. I'll be back soon.

It's a Boy! It's a Girl!

The other week I was invited to a double baby shower for two ladies from my church who are due soon. One is having a boy and the other a girl. The great think about this baby shower was that they asked for recycled gifts. I got to get rid of a few baby item that are collecting dust around my house. I took the opportunity to make a couple of baby bibs for each of them also. I knit a baby bib for my sister last year, but I went with a different pattern this time. I came across this pattern for the Easy Stay-On Bib and I knew it was what I would make. I'm hoping they will work out for size and won't shrink too much when they are washed.

This and that.

 I still haven't got round to posting these two pictures of things I worked on during the crazy holiday period of Oct/Nov/Dec 2011. These were not Christmas presents though. The picture below is of a knitted patchwork blanket and baby. She had spent the first five or so months of her life in hospital. I've been sporadically attending a knitting group at my local library and one of the members came up with the idea of us all contributing a few squares toward this. One of our group members crochet them all together and put a lovely crochet edge around it too. The great news is the little girl got to finally go home just before Christmas wrapped up in a little bit of love from us. I've been knitting up more squares for a future blanket that we may well raffle off to raise money for our library.

The other picture is of a bib, hat and slippers that I knit for my sister, Mrs W., new baby. I wrongly predicted that she was having a girl, and lo and behold a boy was born. I sent the hat and bib, but I will save the slippers for any future baby girl that comes along. My sister told me the hat was the only one she has that does not slip down and cover her little ones eyes when they are out and about. So I will have to use this pattern again.

I haven't been completely hibernating during the first few weeks of 2012. I've worked on a couple of hats, and got one of my sisters Birthday presents done already. I took a trip to a great yarn store called Yarn Love and picked up all I needed to knit my first pair of socks. So I'm still keeping busy with my little projects after my kids have been tucked into bed. I'm looking forward to sharing the finished results with you here soon.

Baby Shower

 I was lucky enough to be invited to a baby shower on Friday. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know the mother to be too well. But I know her Mom and think she's just lovely. It was a pleasure to make her future granddaughter a little something.

The hat pattern is called Aviatrix by a designer called Justine Turner. I knitted it up in Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Almond. I used some mother of pearl buttons, but I put them on the wrong way because I liked the shade of brown they are. I loved the way this hat shaped up. It was knitted on straight needles when I am used to using a circular one for hats. It used short rows and that is what gave it it's shape. I really loved the pattern and how it turned out.

The booties pattern is from a blogger named Ruth Bennett you can find the pattern here. There were a few errors in her pattern. I read the blog comments before I started so they weren't a problem for me. I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease again. These only had one seam and found their shape with short rows much like the hat. I was worried that they may be a little boyish for a baby girl, but with the added ribbon shoelaces I think they do the job.

The best thing about the baby shower, apart from seeing the sweet joy and appreciation on the face of the mother to be, was the wonderful hand made gifts she received. I love to see what everyone else is making. I fell in love with one quilt especially and I've already asked it's maker to teach me how it is done. So in the near future I will get to learn some new skills.