IT'S A BOY!!!!!

The big day has arrived and at 8:09 a.m. this morning our darling little grandson was born weighing in at 7 lbs., 7 oz., and 19-1/4" long and so beautiful!  I thank God for his health and the blessing he is and will be to our entire family!

As you can see, I finished up the Baby Surprise Jacket in time and I'm loving how it turned out.  I decided to add a collar since to me this really finishes this awesome pattern.  By the way, as I mentioned in an earlier post, this pattern is available from Schoolhouse Press and was created by Elizabeth Zimmermann, an artist of the knitting world.  To create a pattern that comes together like this one does is nothing less than sheer genius.  I had the great pleasure of speaking with Meg Swansen, EZ's daughter, last Thursday and what a treat it was.  Not only is she so multi-talented, but she is down to earth and lovely to speak with so it was truly my treat!

I am currently finishing up a baby cap to go with it using the green and white colors and employing stockinette and garter stitch and I will put a little I-cord beanie type loop on top.  When I finish, I'll post a picture so until then, knit on  and may many blessings come your way until we meet again.

I'm All Set!

 Well, it's official......the baby ripple blanket is complete and in plenty of time for the new little bundle's arrival.  I am very happy with it and I'm especially thrilled with the way the sides turned out as well.  I decided on a row of single crochet along each side and then a row of reverse single crochet (also known as crab stitch) which gave the finished blanket a nice substantial feel when gripping it, and yet, went with the entire look of the pattern itself.   It measures approximately 32" wide by 36" long so it's a nice size for the wee one to be wrapped in and snuggled in by his or her, Mimi (that's me, naturally). :)

I've also begun a Baby Surprise Jacket (sweater, actually) from The Opinionated Knitter (EZ) which is not only a big surprise when completed but a work of art also.  Elizabeth Zimmermann was a true knitting wizard in every sense of the word and her creations will always be as fresh and vital as they were when she 'unvented' them.  The knitting world misses her still but at least we are gifted with her daughter, the wonderful Meg Swansen who is multi-talented and a joy to speak with, if you're lucky enough to reach her on the phone when calling to order from Schoolhouse Press.

Blankets & Socks

Here are a couple of pictures to show you what I've been working on for the past month or so.  The first one is my progress on the baby blanket I'm crocheting for my yet to be born grandchild and since we don't know whether it's a boy or a girl, I'm taking no chances.....I'm making one for each, this one for a baby boy, thinking that the one that's not given will be given at some time in the future to one of my future grandchildren, so how can I lose.   I'm using the Fall Hedgerows pattern from Jan Eaton's book, 200 Ripple Stiches and a size H hook.

The next picture is the one I crocheted for a baby girl which seems to be everyone's guess (except mine) .  Either way, the little one will be most welcomed and loved by all of us.

I know that there's blue in this one also but the fact that there is pink which is jumping out at you prevents this one being for a boy......my son is a man's man and will want no pink whatsoever in his baby boy's blanket (if in fact, that's what he and his wife are having).

I'm also knitting a pair of socks using Plymouth's Sassy Stripes Superwash yarn for the first time in a combination of varying shades of blue.  I hope this yarn holds up as well as my Regia and my Opal yarn socks always do, but time will tell.  I'm using size 2 dpns which even though I can knit socks using one or two circular needles, seems to be my needles of choice.  I find that the knitting process for me, at least, goes much quicker using dpns.

I think I better start working at least 6 rows on the baby blanket everyday because I may need it earlier than anticipated (can't say why since both Mom & Dad may read this) so that I will have it finished at least a month or more ahead of time.  When I complete it, I'll edge it and post a finished picture here for your perusal.  Until then, have a wonderful weekend and good knitting (and crocheting, of course)!

Projects Completed & In Progress

 I completed the above hat for my son, Matt, and he loved it......one thing, it will be very warm and he'll really like that when the wind is howling and he's got to shovel snow, which we've been having in abundance, or when he has to walk Mojo, his sweet little chihuahua.  I used Green Mt. Green from Green Mt. Spinnery and a size 7 circular needle till I got close to the top and then switched to dpns.  I used Jared Flood's Turn a Square hat pattern for my number to cast on and for the decreases at the top, but alas, forgot to take a picture of the completed hat in my rush to gift this to him while old man winter was still in town. 

 

 This is the first ten rows or so of the baby blanket I'm crocheting for my yet to be born grandchild due in late June, early July.  It's Encore in a baby blue and is more vivid in color than this picture actually shows.  I'm adding two other colors to it, white, and a Williamsburg blue so obviously this is the blanket the little one will receive if it's a boy.....I already crocheted a ripple blanket for a girl and put it away last year......yes, every once in awhile, I'm ahead of the game and it's a good feeling.

I Already Gave In!

Wow, my yarn fast didn't last very long, to say the least, but I DO have a very good reason for caving in on my New Year's resolution. As I mentioned in my previous post, my wonderful local yarn shop closed it's doors on Wednesday, January 27 and I made it a point to stop in on Tuesday, the 26th, to say my goodbyes. Jackie was having a 50 % off sale and there were 2 yarns I just couldn't resist at that price. One was Cascade 220 superwash and the other Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I do have many projects lined up for my little grandchildren, all of whom deserve the best, so between that justification and wanting to give Jackie just one more sale, I caved in, but I promised myself and now I'm promising my readers, that was it....NO MORE.

I completed Anna's socks but I'm amazed by the color flow of this yarn. I attempted to begin the second sock around the same place in the color as the first sock, but it turned out completely different (and I do mean completely, as you can readily see) from the first one. The good news is that my sweet Anna won't give a hoot whether or not they match as long as they fit her and keep her tootsies warm and toasty. I can't wait to see her smiles as she flashes one adorable dimple and that makes any knitting I do worth every moment I spend doing it.

I've also begun a Christmas stocking using Jamieson & Smith jumperweight wool for the very first time. I'm used to knitting stockings with acrylics or wool blends in worsted weight. This is a sport weight, I think, at least that's what it feels like to me, but one thing I've noticed after only 5 rows is that using a thinner yarn makes it much easier to do the color stranding necessary. I think I'm going to rip it out and begin again though because the top is rolling under with a vengeance so I think maybe I do an inch or so of stockinette stitch and end with a purl row and then tack it under and then begin my colorwork. When there is enough progress to show you, I will take a picture and post it here. I'm using Meg Swansen's pattern, Eli's Stocking, from Schoolhouse Press .

I think I'll be starting another ripple baby blanket for my youngest's baby due in early July. I already crocheted one using multi-colored yarn but it's more suited to a girl, so to be on the safe side, I'm crocheting this one using baby blue and white Encore yarn which is 75% acrylic and 25% wool and can be thrown in the washer, etc. which I know the new parents to be will like.

A Brand New Year

It's official....2010 is here already! I'm continually amazed by the speed of one year to the next and I've been trying to become more aware of living in the moment and enjoying all the moments as they present themselves because who knows what time and fate may have in store. I think that we've all become so results oriented that we rush through each day never savoring the little things that happen which wind up meaning so much. Even as I type this post, I find myself thinking in my old familiar pattern of 'what I need to do when I'm finished' instead of what I'm doing right here and now. Staying constantly busy and multitasking is highly valued in our country and although there is a time and place for it, it shouldn't be our primary way of thinking, at least not as far as I'm concerned. However, habits are hard to break and need constant attention and vigilance to break their hold on you. I"m going to try my very best in this new year to live in the moment and only in that particular moment without thinking ahead.........how much I've missed always thinking that way, so I'm on to a new awareness.

Now, here are two sweetie pies who REALLY know how to enjoy each and every moment to the fullest as they sun themselves and love every minute of it. :)

On the knitting front, I have decided to go on a total yarn fast for the entire year and see how well I do. Yes, you read it right.....I'm buying NO more yarn this year (I'm knitting, just not purchasing) as I do not need one more skein of anything in order to knit all year long solely from my stash. I have begun a pair of Lorna's Laces socks for my 3 year old granddaughter, Anna and hope to start a sweater for my grandson, Johnathan soon after. I'm not sure which yarn I'll choose from my ample stash but I have many choices.

On Ravelry there is a post called ''Going Cold Sheep'' which addresses resisting the urge to buy even more yarn. So many fellow Ravelers have responded that they would love to give it a try for this year, and while we all have good intentions, we'll have to wait and see if we can resist. I just can't justify anymore yarn purchases and since my wonderful local yarn shop is closing it's doors the end of this month (boo-hoo), it will be easier for me to stick to this. I will miss the owner, Jackie, though, who is such a great person with a wonderful personality. I wish her much happiness and good fortune in the future, which reminds me to wish each of you, dear readers, every joy, health, and happiness in our new year, 2010!