Visit me at my New Blog Address

I have moved my blog to a new address! Come visit me at: http://heavenlybabies.us.
(Yo tengo un nueva blog. Visitarme a: http://heavenlybabies.us)


Thanks to Missa at Moonarts.com who helped me pack up everything, i.e., posts, photos, archives & comments and move to my new place.

Sirdar Lace Bonnet

This bonnet and a pair of booties to match will be my next baby gift. I'm using a worsted weight yarn from my stash (!!) and the pattern is from Sirdar #3009. I bought this pattern last year and have been waiting to give it a try. What you see here is what is left after I ripped out a couple of inches because the eyelets somehow didn't line up. So, I'm on my second attempt....... maybe this time I'll watch a little less t.v.

Birthday Scarf

Pattern: "One-Skein Scarf" from The Happy Hooker

Yarn: TLC 'Amore'

Hook: size I

This is a birthday scarf that I made for a 6 year old friend of the family. Happy Birthday, Katharine! Since her favorite color is red, the only thinking I had to do was to choose a pattern and a ball of yarn from my stash. I chose this pattern because I knew the worsted weight yarn and a size I hook would mean this would be a quick project. I was right. I finished it in one evening.

I wanted to add a little "bling-bling" at the ends, and my first thought was to add pom-poms, since little girls love them. But then I remembered that she had a two year old brother who would probably just love to get his little hands on them and pull them apart. So I came up with the idea of a simple flower at each end. I think it added the whimsy I was looking for.

The scarf pattern is super, duper easy, and I would recommend it as a beginning crochet project. I modified the pattern by adding one extra row of double-crochet to give it more width, before doing the scalloped edge.

Now, let's talk about the yarn of choice - - I don't recommend it for a crocheted project!!! Bascially this yarn is heck to work with. It's fuzzy like chenille, but thinner, and it splits. It's hard to see the actual crochet stitches, so I did most of the crocheting by feel, occasionally catching myself making two stitches in one!! Crocheting-by-feel...... folks, it was a first!

Let's just say, I was glad when I came to the desired 40" length and tied off that last stitch! But we have a scarf, and I hope my little friend likes it. My next project is to make her little baby sister, all of maybe two weeks old, a bonnet & bootie set.

Berroco "Pie" Kimono

Pattern: Berroco "Pie"

Yarn: GGH Samoa (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic)

Needles: size 8

This is the finished kimono baby gift. The yarn I chose was a great substitute, it's soft and better suited for our climate here. (The pattern called for merino wool.) There are snaps sewn underneath the crocheted bows, and a third snap holds the inside panel closed. I regretfully didn't have time to make a matching hat, so the extra ball or two will become a part of my stash. Overall, this is another project that I enjoyed, and would love to make again. Today I gifted this to my co-worker, and the smile on her face was priceless.

Close-up of the crocheted bows

Today I received a photo of the twins wearing the "Odyssey" sweater sets I made back in December. OMG they are so cute! Don't they look warm and content? All thanks to their mom, for sharing this photo with me. They are adorable.

Pattern Available at: Handworks Gallery.com & Knit, Purl & Beyond

Hey, you have got to check out Oiyi's latest FO; it's a beautiful little cabled baby hat. The free pattern was written by Purly Whites. This hat is definitely going on my to-do list! Thanks for sharing the source of the pattern, Oiyi.

Rowan Spring '07

The new Rowan Spring issue is out, and there are a few patterns that caught my eye. I was glad to see the "free-form" crocheted pattern with the different motifs sewn together. I've been searching for one of those patterns for a while. Check out the rest of the patterns, there is something for everyone.

Photo Op

Luck came my way, and this weekend my son gave me a photo op wearing the scarf and hat I made for him in his school color. See that smile? That's because he loves the feel of the wool and silk blend of Reynolds "Rapture" yarn. Well......maybe not. But whatever the case may be, he's grateful to have something to keep him warm as he dashes across campus.

Second Blogiversary

A few days ago I made it to my second blogiversary. This past year, due to my knitting slump, I didn't accomplish as many F.O. as in the first year, but the year in review in photos appears below. This past year I made more blogger friends and the list of knitting blogs I enjoy visiting has grown much longer! Wow, there are just so many talented knitters and crocheters out there, it's great.

My knitting library grew by leaps and bounds this past year.........and I accomplished a "de-stashing" of sorts, and donated a huge box of yarn to an area senior citizen center, where the ladies knit for charity with donated yarn. I knitted items for two charities this past year, and hope to do more of that this year. I didn't get around to knitting myself anything this past year, but I did enjoy wearing a scarf that I made from two years ago, because as you know, we have had quite the winter here in Austin! (Not complaints, here, I've loved every minute of it.)

As I begin my third year in blogging, I hope to soon make some changes with my blog. I must be the last hold-out with switching over to the new format at Blogger. I've heard so many stories from those that have switched over, that I've avoided it like the plague. I'm paying the price by not switching, for instance, it took me all day to log-in with Blogger just to make this post. I hope to soon rectify this blogger situation.

Anyway, my current project, the Berroco "Pie" baby gift, is taking way too long to complete. Tonight I began the first sleeve, and hopefully I can wrap up this little project soon. Of course, I bought an extra ball to make a matching hat, but I need to make another scarf for a little girl birthday gift coming up in a week.......gee, I need to pick up the pace. It seems I'm not the only one with project deadlines, Julia and Kerlina seem to also be under the pressure to finish a gift. Hopefully this will be a productive weekend (for all of us!) [Update: Kerlina has finished her project! Check it out, it is the most beautiful baby boy bunting I've ever seen.] Again, thanks to all of my knitting friends out there who continue to visit my blog and inspire me.

Okay, more books.......what can I say, I got a raise on my job and I splurged (it was just a little splurge.) I have fallen in love with cables and these books have great patterns! From left to right: "Inspired Cabled Knits", "Cables Untangled" and "Itty-Bitty Hats." And this little baby hat book has the sweetest little hats eve. I can't decide which to make first!