What a terrible Knit-Blogger I am!

My knitting is number one on my brain, but my knit-blog is not. Instead, here's what I've been up to. I'm just 24 days from my due date and knitting like crazy to make sure I have some projects done before his arrival!

I've started the Merino Lace Socks from Favorite Socks for my mother for Christmas and have fallen in love. The yarn is such a pretty color (pictures really don't do it justice) and the pattern is fun and beautiful. I'd stay up all night to work on these socks. In fact, I had my very first knitting in line experience with them as I waited to vote (in advance) last Thursday!

Additionally, I've completed 3 more pairs of baby Legwarmies - one for my little one, and two as gifts for some pregnant friends. I still love that Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino and hope to make more babywear items with it in the future! One of my knitty friends even used it to make a sweater for us!

Another good knitty friend made us the most amazing baby sweater for our little one.I'm telling you, folks, this gal can knit the pants off anyone! No wonder this sweater is a favorite of 15 Ravellers! We really feel lucky to have recieved such a special gift from such a special friend.

The Avery Sweater was well-received and arrived just in time for fall in NYC.

Isn't he handsome?

I started my first toe-up socks but have put them on hold while I work on Mom's socks. They're a very simple stockinette, so it may be a while before I get back to them. I've collected quite a few hanks of beautiful sock yarn to knit more patterns from Favorite Socks, so who knows what may lie ahead.

You don't have to quit knitting when you've had a child....do you?

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've been sick with a cold for about a week, so I've been lying around knitting more than usual. I finished the baby leg warmers while on vacation, and loved them so much I started some more! And I finally found a pattern I'm happy with! The yarn is yummy and my LYS has LOTS of colors in stock, so I should be busy with many more for a while. Perhaps my preggo friends would like some....

Ready for baby!

I am still working (slowly) on the knitted farm playmat. I am quite disappointed in my idea to use the loop stitch. It is by far and away the most time-consuming stitch I've ever had the (dis)pleasure of using and I get so tense and hot it's all I can do to complete a single row in one evening! AUGH!

Fortunately, I have Alia's scarf to brighten my mood. I am shocked and appalled at how my first lace work is turning out. A few rows require much more concentration than others - the yo sl2k1p is a tricky little devil - but I'm handling it! The cables too! I'm actually quite proud of the result so far - and I think the color is really great. I hope Alia loves it too!

Alia's scarf!

How long has it been???

I've not died, I've not moved, I've just been in a knitting funk ever since finding out I was pregnant! I thought it would be the other way round - knitting like a mad woman for the new baby - but instead I was so nauseous at the beginning I couldn't even knit, and then I just didn't feel like it. But I am finally back in business, knitting for the baby while I wait for some new yarn for Alia's Scarf.

The knitted farm playmat has made some progress since the last photo (and actually a little bit more than this photo):
And the new project is a pair of (gender neutral??? I hope) leg warmers:I don't have a pattern for them, so I'm not even sure they will fit, but we'll see. For starters, I am using the leftover TOFUtsies from my first pair of socks (sweet, right?) on size 1 dpns. I cast on 72 sts, and did k2p2 ribbing for 10 rows. I plan to knit in stockinette until they measure 8-10 inches with 10 rows of k1p1 ribbing at the foot. I used a long-tail cast on for stretch and hope to use a sewn bind off for the same reason. The BabyLegs you can buy in a store are "one size fits most" and come in a range of 30cm (~12 inches) to 40cm (~16 inches) so I will just have to see what they look like and hope I don't run out of yarn!

It's good to be back!

Socks are on hiatus

I was having terrible luck with the bamboo socks so I frogged them (3 times total) and started something completely different. Using inspiration from Hannelore Wernhard's book, The Knitted Farmyard, and an old knitting book my mom brought down for me last weekend, I've decided to freehand my way around a knitted farm play mat. I have some lovely yarn around, lots of earthy tones, so I started with the grassy meadow and pond square. I plan to make my play mat more of a blanket, so I'm not going to felt it, and hope to use yummy soft (washable??) yarns for comfort and goodness, and hope to make it quite large. I'm planning to use various yarns I have lying around and whatever exciting stitch patterns I find in my new book, so hopefully we'll have an exciting blanket of who knows who!

Pond - The first square is nearly done and should measure around 8" x 8" when it's complete. The Knit Picks Shine Worsted (Grass) makes a lovely soft grassy meadow and the Patons Classic Wool Merino (New Denim) is heather and adds depth to the "pond." The really exciting part is the pond is my very first colorwork! I had a little trouble with the intarsia when I got started, but after a little time on KnittingHelp.com, I got everything straightened out and it's looking great! I'm drawing the pattern up as I go, and have made a few tweaks for future reference, but overall I couldn't be happier with the result! I plan to knit other squares from this one in various directions, so I am really hoping for a mix-matched looking piece when it's all put together.

Avery Sweater

I am still so in love with this sweater! I got to work a little this weekend while my mother was in town (naps and movies, yay!) and I've almost got the thing finished! I've completed the right shoulder and am preparing to do the button band and collar, and then sew up a few holes (???), weave in my ends, and voila! My first sweater! The color is fabulous and the pattern is fun and easy, but neat! I hope it fits!

First Sweater!

I finished Tripp's socks on Thursday night and picked up new needles on Friday night so that I could start the Avery Sweater. I cast on Friday night, worked until nearly 4:00 am, and knitted almost all day Saturday! So far, I'm pretty much in love. With the pattern, the yarn, everything. I'm using an organic merino and I think my cousin (and her son) will really appreciate that!

Knitzi Love

Finally a new post! And about Tripp's socks too!!! Many thanks to Knitzi.com for the most coolest knit-gadget EVER! Here's a week-old pic of Tripp's 2nd Campfire Socks nearing the end of the first ball of Cascade 220. I merged in a new ball this weekend, turned the heel and started shaping the gusset on Saturday night. I keep saying I'm going to finish these socks "this weekend" but it hasn't happened yet. Pray for one more chilly day before spring!!!!