FO Friday: Newborn Photo Props

I finally have some FOs to post!  My schedule lately has not allowed for much, if any, knitting most weeks.  However, a family member had a photo session scheduled for her newborn and was wanting some knitted props.  Everything she found online would take 2 weeks to get to her, and she had less than a week until the session.  So, I agreed to help out.  She  bought most of the yarn, and I knit it up.  Although I was time pressured, I enjoyed the knitting.  Most of it was bulky yarn on big needles so it didn't take too long - but I still had to knit in any spare moment I had!

The first was a 'bowl' or 'pod'.  It's nice and stretchy so the baby easily fit in it.  The yarn used is Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick & Quick.  I liked this yarn - nice and soft and the specks of color look great when knit up.

This next project was a 'cocoon'.  I love the loose knit with lots of holes; I think it's so cute when the baby's fingers or toes poke through.



I think this pom pom hat is adorable!  I made the preemie size since the baby was just over 6 lbs when born and it fit perfectly.  I held two yarns together to get the effect.

Another hat that was requested, and that is popular in newborn photos, is this hat with a long tail and a pom pom on the end.  Because Luca is small (with a small head), I cast on 40 stitches instead of the 44 the pattern called for.  The yarn (Bernat Soft Boucle) looked really neat when all knit up.  The pom pom on the end definitely makes this hat.

Finally, I knit up this chunky little diaper cover.  The yarn is Red Heart Zoomy (super bulky).  This was REALLY quick to knit up.  It might be wise to knit this with a stretchy cast on/bind off to allow for more stretch in the waist, if needed.  This one just fit Luca.   

I have lots of projects in the queue so I hope to be making more FO Friday posts this month!

WiP Wednesday: Just When I Thought I Was Done

So, this lace shawl for my mom has been in progress for quite a while; it is my first lace project so I wanted to take my time.  I didn't quite get it done in time for Christmas but I didn't want to rush or knit when tired (learned my lesson earlier in the project as I picked it up and knit on the purl side - oops - that row adds character :) ).

I was so happy to finally be binding off last week.  All that was left to do was block it and mail it!  I wasn't so sure of my bind off though, it seemed a bit tight and I wasn't sure if that would have an affect on the blocking.  So, I took it to work to show my boss (who is an expert knitter) and she confirmed that it was too tight.  I wasn't too upset because I was thinking that it would need to be redone. 

So, my project for this week is to carefully rip out the bind off and then redo it with a stretchier version - THEN block!

I'm really looking forward to being able to post this project in an FO Friday post but, until then, here are some almost done pictures!  I'm expecting that blocking will make a big difference on this project.

Posts to Come!

Since I haven't posted in a while, I wanted to make a quick post to say that I plan on sharing a WiP this week as well as five FOs on Friday!  I speed-knit a bunch of items for a family member's newborn photo shoot :)  I meant to post them last week but that week seriously flew by!

I ordered a bunch of new yarn from ebay last week too and I can't wait to get it!  It was quite affordable so I'm curious to see what the quality is like.  I have some new knitting ideas and goals in my mind, hopefully this yarn will help turn them into reality!  Some of it is quite funky and I'm excited to see how it knits up.

I have many goals this year including finding more time for my crafts.  The key being "FINDING MORE TIME".    If anyone has any hints or tips on where to find or purchase that, please let me know :)  I think for me it's going to be all about efficiency - and less tv and facebook.  I don't watch much tv but find it's easy to get sucked in once I start.  I admit though, I am guilty of using facebook as a procrastination tool.  It's gotta stop...but how?

Non-knitting WiP

My knitting has been on hold a little this week because I got 'inspired' (I really need to stop doing this, you'll see why).

I decided that this Christmas I would make pjs for some of the little ones in the family.  I went to the fabric store and decided that I'd make my niece a robe to match her pjs too.  I picked up some great fabric and a pattern.

I ventured down to the States one day to check out Joanne's and ended up with material and a pattern to make 3 more pairs of flannel pjs for my niece (because one pair and a robe wasn't enough?).  I figured if I didn't get them done by Christmas, then I'd make them afterwards (the justification).  When I got home, I realized I bought the wrong size pattern.  So I went to my local fabric store to see if they had it in the correct size, they didn't, but I did find a cute pattern for one piece pjs which I just had to get....as well as the fabric for it (because MORE fabric is just what I needed!).  I found a some fleece in a pattern that my niece would look absolutely adorable in (ok, she looks adorable in everything she wears) and decided that I would make my Godson 2 pairs of them too (yes, I think I am crazy - but I know I'm not the only one who 'collects' patterns and fabric and/or yarn and waaayy overestimates the time they have to complete the projects).

As I started working on the pjs, I realized that I needed interfacing (which I thought I didn't need) so I head back to my local fabric store.  As I'm there, once again, I get inspired and somehow come to the conclusion that I need to make my niece a Christmas dress (this came out of nowhere).  I spend over an hour picking out the pattern, fabric, zipper and buttons.

So now, not only do I have WAY to much to sew but I also spent WAY more than I had planned!  Oops!  I lose control in fabric and yarn stores.  I will have to ban myself!

Fabric stores - BANNED
Yarn stores - BANNED
Winners - BANNED
HomeSense - BANNED
Shoe sales - BANNED
MAC makeup stores - BANNED
Bath and Body Works - BANNED

No matter how much self-control I think I have prior and when entering these stores, something else takes over when I'm in there and I forget all about budget, realistic thinking, etc.

Anyways, I am happy to report that the Christmas dress is almost done.  You won't be able to see from the pictures below which parts are not done.  You will also not be able to see that I'm not a great seamstress :)  I'm going to go try it on her tonight then make the finishing touches - I hope it fits!

Now, I have to get back to my Christmas knitting...and pj sewing...and Christmas baking.  17 days to go!!  YIKES!

Black velveteen dress.  Pattern: Simplicity 2574 - Project Runway Collection

Dress with the fake fur shrug (also included in the pattern).

This zipper looks like little crystals down the back of the dress in reality.  In this picture, the fuzz all over the dress stands out way more than the zipper (which doesn't photograph well, apparently) - don't worry, I lint rolled this :)

The complete outfit for my one-and-a-half-year-old niece.

WiP Wednesday is Here Again!

Thanks to Tami, once again, for hosting WiP Wednesday on her blog!  Head on over and check out what everyone is working on!

No new projects to show - almost done the little scarf; looks the same as last week, but longer!  I'm not so sure how long to make it - it's about 3 feet long right now.  I figure I could stop at this point but I think I'll go a bit further, just to be sure.  I've been working on a few Christmas sewing projects so that's taken a chunk out of my knitting time.  I could use another month before Christmas - is it ok to give rain checks if I don't get all my projects done?

I have to share this picture of a past project - the cupcake hat!  I love when I get to see the things I make on the kids I make them for!

Wednesday Already? Here's My WiP!

Wow - the days are just flying by now!  That always seems to happen when the holidays are so close.  I have many projects I'd like to finish by Christmas...not sure how I'm going to get them all done!  Some are knitting, some are sewing...I'd like to do some baking too.  Hmmm...where to find the time?

A big thank you to Tami for hosting WiP Wednesdays on her blog!  Feel free to join in on the fun!

As if I didn't already have enough projects in my queue, I added another.  I had some of the wonderful Diamond Luxury Collection Baby Alpaca Sport left over from making the cowl for my mother-in-law and I didn't want it to go to waste.  The solution: make a little scarf for my 18-month-old niece.  This was a great idea until I realized that I didn't have quite enough yarn left.  I didn't want to frog it so I just went and bought another skein and decided I would have to eventually find another project to use up the rest of it.

The pattern I'm using is the Baby Alpaca Scarf from Ravelry.  It's a 2x2 rib with a crocheted flower.  Super easy.  Super cute.

I've also been making progress on the red shawl - it's for my mom.  It was supposed to be for her birthday in May but I overestimated my skills so now it will be a birthday/Christmas present (I hope)!  I'm into reading the lace chart now which is new to me; luckily, I have a very knowledgeable coworker who was able to give me a crash course in reading the chart!  I'm not going to post any pictures because my mom knows it's for her and I don't want her peeking!  I will post it as an FO after Christmas.

I'm Alive and I Have an FO!

Went on a bit of a blogging/knitting hiatus - but I am back!  Caught one of the bugs that is going around and, after three weeks, I'm feeling almost normal.  Between being sick and being busy with work and other commitments, I wasn't finding the time to knit, which left me nothing to blog about!

I do, however, have an FO that I finished just before I got sick...and I love it!  It's the cowl for my 'mother-in-law', I don't want to give it away!

Sorry for the really bad cell phone pictures, would love to have some pics taken with my camera in natural light...if I was ever out of the office when it was light out!   Gotta love commuting both ways in the dark at this time of year!

You can find more information about this project and yarn in my last blog post.

I am happy to say that I have picked up my needles again and hope to make some good progress on some more Christmas projects.

On a side note, I went to the Circle Craft Fair yesterday (always amazing and inspiring).  If you live in Vancouver you must go!  Be sure to stop by the Sweet Truth's booth - amaaazing butter toffees.  My coworkers and I polished off a tin of the Sweet Lemon Butter Toffee (topped with 'creamy Swiss white chocolate).  Sooo good I almost regretted sharing!...but where is the Christmas spirit in that?