Sweater Vest

I've been knitting so much for the January Baby that I wanted to make something for Reuben. I actually started on this sweater vest for him before morning sickness hit, but didn't finish it until much later in my pregnancy. Obviously that's okay--it just hit fall and he's just able to wear it, so no time missed.

Isn't it JUST ADORABLE? Not to mention he loves it and wants to wear it every day. There is nothing more satisfying for a knitter. I am sure he will outgrow the "I love everything mommy makes" stage by his teen years, but for now I will bask in my greatness. (ahem) (lol)

The pattern is the Toddler Snappy Shoulder Vest. It's free, and I really enjoyed it! I did have to redo the bottom once, as I made it too short the first time, but overall I am very pleased with how it turned out. I was tired of picking up stitches by the time I was done--the shoulders and the neck all had to be picked up. Oh, and I used knit picks yarn from my stash. Yay, stash busting!

Now on to Christmas knitting!

Week 102

One year ago vlogs are here.
 

Baby Sweater

I've had this pattern in my queue to make for awhile for Reuben, but on a whim decided to knit one up in the 0-3 month size for January Baby before tackeling a toddler one.

I really love how it turned out. The Almost Seamless Pullover was not an easy knit, but it wasn't hard either. The pattern was free, and well put together. I love the yolk. As it's the first sweater with sleeves I have completed (that worked out right) so I am extremely happy. After I knit this, the yarn arrived for my Christmas knitting, and the complicated lace sweater I am wanting to create for all the girls in my family, so it's nice to have one sweater done, for just a tiny bit of reference. I plan on creating the almost seamless pullover for the males in my family, as lace just does not sound like it would suit my father or my husband. Hahaha.

This sweater was knit on 4.0mm knitting needles with knit picks worsted weight yarn. I used exactly two skeins for the 0-3 month size--there was about two yards left! I totally played yarn chicken with this one. I also learned a new skill--Kitchener stitch! It was complicated, but not so much that I felt overwhelmed. I did figure out that tension is very important when binding off with this stitch, but I still feel I did an okay job, for my first time, anyway.

I hope my January Baby likes it. I know I do.

Week 101

This week started with Reuben eating Windex, causing me to switch to all natural cleaners that I purchased from Thrive Market. It was a whirlwind week of stress (due to the ingestion of aforementioned chemicals) and also fun (because life is fun with a toddler). Enjoy!

One year ago is here.
 

Wee Fast

So I received this chunky wool yarn from a knit picks mystery box, and I didn't know what to do with it. I don't buy chunky yarn much; my stash is full of worsted and fingering weights. But I wanted to use it, and since my last two knits had been really disappointing, I decided that I would knit something fun, free and easy with this yarn. I knew that my box of Christmas yarn was coming and that a difficult project was looming, so quick, easy and fun seemed the right choice.

I searched the Ravelry pattern database and found this cute pattern called Wee Fast. And thus my own wee fast was created, all in three hours and mostly knitted in nap time. I love it! The pattern was easy, free, and also simple. I love how the yarn pooled, and I love the soft colors. Definitely a win/win. Also, no sleeves. I love no sleeve patterns. Easy. I didn't realize I hated picking up stitches, but apparently I do.

After knitting this, I felt refreshed and ready to tackle something harder.

Week 100

One hundred weeks of vlogging! Wow! This week I am just trying to get back into the swing of things, as well as make vlogging simpler for myself. I am going to quit doing the links at the end of the videos to the next, last and one year ago vlogs. I also quit doing my outro. I love vlogging and want to continue, but all the bells and whistles make it too time consuming. Time to simplify! Let me know what you think.

 One year ago is here.

Wool Onesie and Moods

When browsing Ravelry I came across the pattern Little Brother's Romper and fell in love. I promptly envisioned knitting it in this green yarn I have had in my stash forever, that I bought at my local yarn shop on clearance.

So, I bought the pattern, and found the yarn in the depths of my stash. And was sadly disappointed. I am not trying to judge this designer, but her pattern is not friendly to novice or intermediate knitters. It's very bare bones, figure it out yourself kind of knit. Not what I expect when I pay for a pattern--more what I expect from a free pattern. Several steps are left out that I had to figure out for myself. I know, I learned a lot, but I had to redo the bottom a few times and make some things up as I went along. And I also had to redo the top because I made a huge mistake (that mistake was due to not paying attention on my part [AHEM TODDLER] and not the pattern). But the pattern was frustrating. I had wanted to knit 2-3 more of this designers patterns, but after my experience with that one, I have removed them from my queue.  

I was very happy to be done with it. I mean, I am pleased--it's very cute, and I am sure it will look great on my infant, and I love the Araucania Milodon yarn, but it was a lot of trouble to knit and I just remember being frustrated, not relaxed, while making it.

It's funny how things I make have moods attached to them, depending on how easy/hard they were to knit. I just ordered my Christmas yarn to start on my holiday knitting and am planning on making a very complicated sweater for everyone in my family, so...there is more tough knitting to come. And also a reason I am starting with the 2T size of the sweater. Hahaa.

What do you do when you have a frustrating knit?

Week 99

Reuben turns two! I can't believe it has been TWO YEARS. Time flies, and it's also slow. Such is life. I am thrilled he is two, and I love him to pieces more every day. We were both sick on his actual birthday, but his party was that coming Saturday and he was better by that date...

One Year Ago video can be found here!

First Knit Diaper Cover

We mostly cloth diaper, so when I found out I was expecting I looked up a few cloth diaper knitting patterns. I really liked the Vanilla Soaker pattern, but I didn't know how to do a cast on that you could take out to leave live stitches so I just picked up sts when I arrived at that part. That was a mistake. Since I am horrible at picking up stitches, it left a glaring line in my diaper that was quite ugly! I was so upset, but a friend suggested sewing a piece of lace over it. So I did, and that is why my new diaper has a weird piece of lace on it. Trust me, it's better than a weird line. I do want to make more of these, so I will be learning the cast on to make it right next time.

Anyway, every time I look at this diaper I just remember my mistake and feel irritated. I need to make another one to redeem myself for sure.

I used knit picks wool of the andes in worsted weight to create this.