Buttons!!

Well, I tackled a long overdue chore yesterday and got my button sewing done so I finally have some projects that are now officially OTN and FO. I don't know why I procrastinated so long on getting these buttons sewn on. Once I got started it didn't take that long. But in my defense, I had a hard time finding really cute buttons. Who knew cute buttons were so hard to find.

So anyway, here's how I spent Saturday afternoon.....

Sewing on plain, tiny blue buttons for the Little Boy Blue Sweater for my grandbaby.

Pattern: DROPS b17-23 (used this for the sweater and hat)
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun - Superwash Sock Yarn
Needles:Size 1, 3, 4, us
I couldn't find a top down pattern for the sock weight yarn so I ended up using this pattern from Drops Design. This was knit from the bottom up, a first for me. Drops has a ton of free patterns on their website.. a great resource but I didn't like the decrease technique in the yoke area. It's a newborn size so I don't expect he'll get to wear it too often. His next sweater will be a top down and I will find cute buttons.

Still sewing... this time little pink buttons for a coworker who is expecting a baby girl.

Pattern: Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy (the Knitting Pure and Simple lady)
Yarn: Berrocco Comfort
Needles:Size 7us
This is a really nice quick and easy pattern. The buttons are little flower shapes but you can't really tell that from the picture.

And finally... buttons for a collection of bibs knit for my daughter. I started these early in her pregnancy. I was itching to knit for the baby but at that point we hadn't found out the baby was a boy. The colors are awfully bright and I probably wouldn't have chosen them if I had waited and known "he" was a "he". But if they catch food dribbles then I guess they've served their purpose.

Pattern: Baby Bib O' Love by Kay Gardiner and Anne Shayne from Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Lion Cotton-Ease
Needles: Size us 6

And to complete my baby knitting... the sheep hat is done. In fact, I made two. I had enough yarn to make little thumb-less mittens and a second hat for a friend of my daughter's who is also having a baby boy.

Pattern: Baby Sheep Hat by Melissa Burt
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare - Superwash Merino DK Weight dyed with Wilton's food colorings.
Needles: Size 6 us
The original pattern was made with 64 stitches, which seemed a bit small, so I reworked the hat a couple of times and finally settled on adding 20 stitches to the original chart, keeping the same number of sheep, for a final cast on of 84 stitches and used a 2x2 rib rather than the rolled brim.

Now we just have to wait for baby to make his arrival.

Happy Knitting!

Hey Baby!!

Hello and "Happy End of May" from Winston Cooper and me. June 1st tomorrow! I can't believe the time has just slipped away. Hopefully Jenny Girl and I will be blogging more often soon. But in the meantime I thought I'd do a quick update.

It's been a busy spring, we've both been busy with work and life in general, but there has been knitting. And I know Jen is enjoying her book blog, so if you like to read as well, go visit her over there.

My main knitting focus this spring has been baby knits. I have a new grandbaby on the way so it's been all baby all the time for me.

Every baby needs a blanket.



Pattern: Baby Blocks by Ann Norling (it's from one of the Debbie Macomber books)
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare - Superwash Merino Worsted Weight
Amount: 6 skeins
Needles: Size 8 us

And a warm sweater, hat and socks... even one born in August??




Pattern: DROPS b17-23 (used this for the sweater and hat)
Yarn: Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun - Superwash Sock Yarn
Needles:Size 1, 3, 4, us
I picked this sock yarn up last year at MDSW and assumed it would become socks but I decided to use it for the baby. The soon to be parents had some fun times kicking around Brooklyn with friends while dating and engaged so it seemed like it was meant to be their baby boy's sweater.

And of course, a baby sheep hat! I love this pattern and was so glad DD did too.



Pattern: Baby Sheep Hat by Melissa Burt
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare - Superwash Merino DK Weight dyed with Wilton's and the black will be Knit Picks Swish DK in coal.
Needles: Size 6 us

Now, SIL, he hasn't seen it yet. He might not want his son running around in a baby sheep hat but he does like the Converse booties, so I'm planning on making those as well.

And on a personal knitting note, sadly, Vienne has been finished but will never be worn. I'll be frogging it and re-purposing the yarn. After blocking, the V is much too deep and wide for me. It slips off my shoulders!! Ughhh!!


Happy Knitting!!