fo: Basil the Lamb

Folks, Basil turned out ridiculously adorable!  He's charming the crap out of my customers in the shop, and I'm pretty sure there's going to be a flock of sheep cuddling up all over Whitehorse soon.

Pattern: Fuzzy Mitten Lamb, by Barbara Prime
Yarn: Drops Alpaca Boucle and Drops Nepal
Needles: 4 mm (knit flat, then seamed, stuffed, and sewn together)
Mods: None at all.

This was a good pattern.  Well written and easy to follow, and despite a lot of people converting it to in-the-round, I chose to just go with the pattern (hazard of knitting store samples - there's only so much you can deviate from the pattern).

The boucle yarn, on the other hand, was a nightmare.  It took a while to get the hang of it - those loops like to pretend to be stitches on the needles, the little shits - but it never got comfortable for me.  That said, the final result was well worth the trouble.  The fabric is soft and squishy, and absolutely perfect for a little lamb.

I don't have much for pics of Basil without his sweater on, but that sweater is knit separately.  It's actually a pattern from the same designer called Squirrel's Polo Neck Pullover, and probably would have been better if I hadn't...ahem...over-stuffed Basil's limbs and tummy.  Story of my life.  But it was a good first run with knitting a garment for the little guy, and I'll be using the pattern as a base for variations soon.  This little bugger is going to have a more extensive wardrobe than me!

(Basil was pretty stoked about his first sweater though.)

The ADORABLE toque was knit by a friend of mine who wanted to contribute to Basil's wardrobe.  It's perfect! Sadly, I don't have a good pic of the pompom, so you'll have to take my word that it's equally adorable.

I need to knit him a fair isle sweater soon.  And a cowichan sweater (I already have the most perfect buttons).  And some shorts.  And some booties.  And probably a headband because why not.  And maybe sew him a kilt.  And jeans.  SO MANY IDEAS.  SO LITTLE TIME.

wip: Fuzzy Lamb and some other stuff

Whew, it's been a while!  I've been busy teaching classes, running a busy shop, trying to catch up on paperwork (ARGH PAPERWORK), and training a new employee.  I'm definitely creating though.  My current favourite project is one I just started on Saturday, but that's been on my brain for a while now.

Fuzzy Lamb is a ridiculously adorable pattern by Fuzzy Mittens, and I've been itching to knit it ever since a customer came in looking for yarn to knit it a year ago.  When I opted to bring in Drops Alpaca Boucle, I knew I had to knit it up into this cute little lamb!

Though I have to tell you, the boucle is a nightmare to work with.  Cripes, I keep catching up those little loops, decreasing and increasing is a mess, and forget reading your fabric!  It's so ridiculously soft though, that it's worth the effort.

As you can see, I've got the body and legs done.  Two more limbs and a head, and I'll be able to start stuffing and sewing this adorable little stuffy.

Guys, I'm so stoked to have this little buddy in the shop.  I'm definitely going to have to knit a wee little sweater for it, and I can see working on a bunch of clothes and accessories for it.  EEEE so fun!

In other news, my sock class finished up this afternoon.  LOOK AT ALL THE SOCKS!  Almost everyone finished up at least one sock in the 3 week class, and a couple finished both today.  :)  I also finished up my pair, but I'll post about that another day, since I need to lengthen on and sew in about a thousand ends.

Also, Lady Aurora was stunning the other night, dancing right over-top of Whitehorse.  I should have driven up Grey Mountain for a view of the northern lights over the city, but instead I hoofed it down the path behind my house to get away from the streetlights and oogled the light through the trees.  Sorry for my crummy photo; I refused to deal with finding my good camera and just used my camera phone.

In a way, it's easy to forget how lucky we are here.  People make the trip north just to see the lights, and I often don't bother to go out to watch them.  But sometimes, you just need to go out and appreciate just how stunning our world is, and what beauty can be found, even in your backyard.

Ever seen the northern (or southern!) lights before?  I grew up watching them in Manitoba, but the displays are stunning up here.  You should definitely come up to see them (in the winter only - we don't even see the stars in the summer, with 20+ hours of daylight), and definitely pop in and say hello to me at my shop!  <3

fo: Gramps Sweater

Back in February, my wonderful, life-saving employee had a baby - an adorably disgruntled-looking little boy that has stolen my heart.  Seriously guys, I've happily avoided holding any babies since my Mom plopped one in my arms when I was 19.  I like making faces at them, and that's about it.  But this little guy?  I steal him as often as I can.  I've volunteered to baby-sit him, ffs.  He's a little pouty grump and I adore him.

So of course I had to knit something perfect for him.  What's more perfect for a grumpy-old-man baby than a grampa sweater, complete with elbow patches?  Nothing, I say!

Pattern: Gramps, by Tin Can Knits (one of my favourite knit designers)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash
Size: 1-2 years (since they have 12 bajillion sweaters that'll fit him up to 9 months)
Mods: Shortened the pockets a bit, and that's it.  What do I know about baby fits?

This is a clever pattern.  Knits up really quickly, but pay attention to the instructions for binding off the neckline.  To pull the shawl collar in and prevent a floppy collar, you need to do a decrease bind-off around the neck.  I didn't do this at first, and then ignored the sweater for way longer than I want to admit before I ripped it back and fixed it.

It took 30 minutes.  Why do I do this to myself?

ISN'T THIS THE MOST ADORABLE SWEATER?!  I can't get over those elbow patches.

The buttons though, they definitely bring it to another level.  These are buttons made by a woman in Scotland that I carry in shop.  They're not super popular, but I think people just don't know what to do with them.  Might have to make another sample with them featured!

The matching hat was thrown together last minute from left over yarn based on Tin Can Knits Barley Hat, though I just knit the body of it in stockinette.  I love the floppy loose pompom!

Seriously, I'll be knitting this pattern again.  It turned out soooo good, and is a breeze to knit!

Do you have a go-to baby pattern you make up for friends and family when they have wee sprogs?  Haha have you ever had a baby charm you despite your nature?  I can't wait to see little sprogy in this sweater...once he grows up a bit.  :)

fo: Gender Neutral Baby Sweater

I finished this wee little baby sweater during our fishing trip to Haines, Alaska.  You might remember it from this post.  I've been putting off blogging about it because I'd hoped to do a joint post with a baby vest I knit, but I can't seem to get the buttons attached and it's currently sitting in timeout.

It's called the Baby Boy 5-Hour Sweater, and was designed to be less lacy than then classic 5-hour baby sweater.  I liked it because it could easily be gender neutral, and I started it for Darryl's sister when she was pregnant and didn't know the baby's gender.  I made the newborn size (0-3 months), planning to mail it to them before the baby was born.  Uh..that didn't quite work out.

They claim 5 hours to knit it, but I think they meant 5 months since that's how long it took me to finish it.

Though to be fair to the pattern, I spent about 6 hours on the sweater up to the hem, then put it down for 5 months until I shamed myself into finishing it.

It has a neat construction.   You knit top-down to the sleeve divide, then knit across the front to the first sleeve and knit it completely, seam up the arm, then continue around to the second sleeve, finish it (plus seaming), then finish the row.  There's your sleeves, done, and you just finish knitting the body.  I hate knitting sleeves, so this way forces you to get them done right away.

I knit it out of some leftover Knit Picks Comfy Worsted from my Grey Amber sweater.  I think it took about 2 skeins to knit?  My Ravelry project page says 1, but I remember having to join on another skein not long after finishing the sleeves, so whether I started with a partial ball or used 2, I can't really say.

I got hung up on was the buttons.  By the time I got around to finishing it, I at least knew that the baby was a girl (since she'd been born 2 months earlier), but I still couldn't find what I wanted.  Granted, Whitehorse doesn't have the best selection - even if our awesome Local Yarn Shop has brought in a ton of beautiful buttons.

But then Haines happened, and their LYS had THE PERFECT BUTTONS.  I adored the filigree-look to them, and they were the perfect shade of silver for the grey fabric.  You don't realize how many shades there are of silver until you're trying to pair it to another grey.

Anywho, there is this simple sweater, finished at last.  It's actually an easy pattern to knit, and I love the construction of it.  The recipient, Baby L, has already worn it to a wedding with a pretty little plaid skirt.  Her parents are so knit worthy - every time I knit for their kids, facebook winds up full pictures of the cute little sprogs wearing the knits. 

That reminds me, I need to get started on their Christmas gift.  I have a great idea planned for Baby L and her big brother.  More on that later.

Do you have any truly knit- or sew-worthy people in your life?  And have you ever managed to make things for kids in time for them to actually fit the item?  I think Baby L has outgrown her sweater already...

wip Name and Shame Time

Uh, I might have a problem.  A big startitis problem.  A woman at one of my knit nights recently asked me how many projects I had on the go, and I jokingly said 15.  Um.

Here, let me lay it out for you.

1. Year in Temp scarf.  Started in January, stalled out in March.  Still recording the daily temps though, so I'll catch up...someday.
2. Toque Tank.  This was the second knit I started during the TTTKAL, after I powered through my Avana.  It flew off of the needles...until I hit the armhole and neck bands.  This will probably only take another couple of hours of knit time.
3. Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot! Nearly finished the first fingerless glove!  Loving this project, but the colourwork takes a lot of concentration.  Maybe a half-hour to finish the first?
4. Striped toque.  This is for a silent auction for an upcoming family reunion.  We're fundraising to buy an outdoor event tent.  I'm planning to make a pair of fingerless mitts and a cowl to go with it.  This is still in the wips because I just need to finish sewing in ends.  Uh yeah.  Minutes.
5. Henri.  The as-yet-unblogged sweater.  I adore this thing, it's like a wearable swatch, so much fun to knit!  I need maybe a few more hours to finish the front, then onto the back.  This got put on hold while I knit my Cardboard Cafe for the Holla Knits KAL.  Definitely something that needs to be picked up again soon!
6. Fuego in Flames toque.  Haha just started this sucker.  I justified it because...because.  I'm knitting this out of a scrumptious yarn one of my best buddies sent me in March for my birthday.  Considering how much I'm loving both the pattern and this yarn, it shouldn't take too long to finish it.
7. Amiga for the Heather's Amiga KAL.  Just blogged about this.  I'm nearly done the raglan increases, but will be holding once they're done to wait for Heather to catch up (she cast on tonight - July 7!).  
8. Nub of a scarf.  Was supposed to be a small lacy scarf using this amazing qiviut that the above-mentioned Heather sent me a while ago.  I don't like the lace though, so I guess I'll frog this and find a better project for this yummy yarn.  Not that there's a lot to frog.
9. SpringTastic Socks.  Started this on the way to Mexico, hoping to finish the pair on the trip.  Then realized how long fine-weight yarn socks take, so hoped to finish one.  Then was just pleased to get past the heel.  Uh, these are taking a while.  I like them though!  Must get back to them.
10. Yet another Baby Vest.  Same pattern as the pink one I just made.  Probably only need another hour to two to finish this one?  What the heck, me, just finish it already.
11. 5 Hour Baby Sweater.  On...5 months?  AHA yeah.  All that's left is about 12 rows for the hem and buttons, AND THAT'S IT.  I...don't even know why this isn't done.
12. Silver Star Crocheted Blanket.  Started for a friend's baby, took too long to start, baby is now 1.5 years old?  I don't think he's getting this blanket.  Good thing I didn't tell his parents about it, eh?
13. Reverb.  Uh so I started this November 2013, and last worked on it during a plague the end of December 13.  I do really want this cardigan, it's just been hard to restart this.  Maybe I should pull it out again after I finish Henri.
14. Alpaca Winter Socks.  I think I mentioned these socks (or erm, half of a sock) in the Baby Vest post - they're a community knitting project.  They'll be a really heavy and warm men's over-socks.  These suckers weigh a ton already!
15. Dishcloths!  I'm including both of these as one project so I don't go over the holy number 15, shhh.  Actually, I've joined another dishcloth swap and they posted both the Happy dishcloth and the Pinwheel dishcloth.  I spent that morning working on these instead of cleaning my house and packing for a camping trip last Friday. HAHAHA.  The crochet dishcloth only needs another half hour to finish.  The pinwheel needs to be seamed and have all the ends sewn in.  One or both is going to someone awesome!

I actually think there might be more, but this is what I could find.  And this doesn't even touch on sewing.  I have a declaration to make though:

I, Heather of Things I Make. Plus Rocks, do declare that I will finish at least 5 of these projects in the next month, and will not start anything else until they're done.  I will also finish all of these projects before the end of 2015.

And now it's your turn: how many wips do you have?  *arches eyebrow*

fo: A Bit of Baby's Breath - or uh Vest

There's a group of crafters who get together every Thursday night here in Whitehorse, at our yarn shop.  It has many goals, as a group - fostering new and growing skills, a support network, a great place to sit and knit.  But they also try to Do Good for the community.

One of those ways is by either fundraising for individuals who need help, or donating crafted goods to the local women's shelter or the homeless shelters in town.  I'm actually about 1/3 of the way through a pair of thick wool men's over-socks that will get to the men's shelter before our often-brutal winter starts.  But those are hard to work on when it's warm and sunny, so they're tucked away for now.

Despite this, I've been wanting to make up something for our group, and itching to do a simple and quick project.  So last week at knit night, I raided the group's donated yarn bin and immediately cast on.  A solid day of knitting and I finished binding off this adorable little baby vest.  (Here's my Ravelry project page for this cutie.)

I added some embroidery because it was looking way too boring without a little bit of character.  I think a more interesting wool would probably add some extra character - a tweedy yarn maybe?

It took me a few more days to find the right buttons - luckily our local fabric store supplied these sturdy little suckers - at 10 for $2 yet!  They aren't what I originally pictured, but when you live in a small town with limited supplies, sometimes you need to toss those pictures out the window and open up your brain a bit.  And sometimes you wind up with something even better - I certainly like these buttons better than my original plan!

This photo is the closest to the actual colours.

Pattern: Pebble by Nikol Lohr
Yarn: about 50 grams of Patons Classic Wool Merino, worsted weight.
Needles: 4 mm
Mods: None, other than adding a bit of embroidery.

I have to say, I really enjoyed the construction of this thing.  It's knit bottom up, and the only time that you hold stitches off of the needles is on the one seamed shoulder.  The rest of it stays on your circulars (and I imagine straights - but it was really easy on the circs), and you just ignore the back as you work back and forth on the front.  Very clever!  I definitely want to make more of these.

In fact, this may become my go-to knitted baby gift in the future!  Got that idea from Kat over at the Wayward Knitter - who always knits the same type of project for wedding gifts, but customizes them for each couple.  Cute idea, and one I think I'm going to steal!

And here's a shot of the baby's breath growing in the little garden next to the step where I was taking photos.  I thought it was pretty appropriate!  Isn't the colour lovely?  It was a surprise to me, since the label claimed they were white - sort of messed up my garden "plan", but I can't bring myself to care because they're just so dainty and adorable.  Each of those flowers are about 1/4" wide!

Do you do any sort of community crafting?  No judgement here if you don't - this is new to me!  If you do though, please share below.  I'd love to hear what other individuals/groups do for their communities.  

Mostly so I can steal ideas and sound really clever at our next meeting.  :)