Flapper Cap

I finally made something for myself. It's crochet, which I'm very terrible at, but it was great practice. I did have to rip it out and start over 4 times, but it was well worth it. I do wish that my crochet would be tighter, it's a little too big and no matter how tight I pull on those stitches, it doesn't seem to ever tighten up. I was going to link to the pattern that i used, but it seems to have disappeared from Ravelry, though I could find similar ones. It's called a Flapper Hat and the pattern was free. If someone really wants this specific pattern, let me know and I'll research it more.

Baby's First Teddy Bear

My mom gave me the book, "Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Amigurumi," by Chronicle Books. Although I wish it had more detailed instructions on things like joining a nice ring (I'm still a beginner at crochet), it is a great book with easy to follow patterns. I made the oversized teddy bear, which is the size of a normal teddy bear and larger than any amigurumi I've ever seen. I made Ronan some woolies with clearanced organic wool (see previous post) and used the leftovers for the bear. I'm a loose crocheter and decided to felt it. After it felted, the stitches tightened up and it looks more, smooth I guess. I'll try to remember to post a pic later. Here it is prefelted-

Circus Striped Woolies

My mother started them, then I finished them, so this is a joint project ;-) My mom bought some organic wool on clearance, but they only had one skein of pink and one of blue. She bought them both and they came out really cute! I had enough left over to make a teddy bear to match. We don't use patterns for these, but basically it's k2p2 rib over the entire pants, knitted in the round top down. When you get the rise long enough, put half the stitches (-5) on a stitch holder and the other half (-5) on circs using magic loop or on dpns (I used dpns). The five stitches in front and 5 stitches in back, can be kitchenered together for a nice crotch (I would usually make a wider seam here, but the wool was super bulky so 5 stitches was wide enough). I used the stretchy bind off for the very loose, circusy cuff. I double strand chained some pink to make a stretchy belt. Since these were knitted top down, I can take out the bottom of the legs and add more as he grows. They are stretchy enough, thanks to the all over ribbing, that he will be able to wear these until he's at least 4 yrs old (at that point, they may be shorties). They are very easy to make. Maybe my description sounds complicated, but I think that longies are the simplest garment to make and I started knitting these up when I was still a very beginner knitter.

Sweaters

I knitted some sweaters a while ago and forgot to post them here. The first is the first article of clothing I ever knitted. I love the way it came out! I used some yarn my mom gave me. Instead of adding snaps to the side, I chained four lengths that tie together. I think it's much cuter that way. Anyway, it was a very easy pattern and very quick to knit. Here's the FREE Lion Brand pattern- Hooded Baby Poncho




I then tried my hand a knitting another sweater. This pattern is from Ravelry (have to be a member to access patterns, but it is free). If you want the pattern, just search for Yoda Sweater. It was also easy. I adjusted the pattern a bit to make it fit an older baby. I do wish i had only made it longer though, it's quite wide. Again, I just used some gifted yarn because I really thought it wouldn't turn out so well. I just keep surprising myself ;-) I also made matching hat, mittens and booties. The booties don't stay on his feet though, so I definitely won't share that pattern!!!

Felted Wool Balls

I made some felted wool balls for Christmas presents. I gave some away before taking pictures. They had cool spirals on them. Oh well. I made matching ones for the boys, one with an A and one with an S. They are from organic wool batting and were dyed with Kool Aid.
To make the one shown here:
grab a bucket, some dish or castille soap, some hot water, and some wool. Pack a smallish piece of wool as tightly as you can with your hands, then dunk in the hot water in your bucket. Hold under the water until bubbles stop. Gently squeeze repeatedly. When it feels like a good lump, add some dish soap directly to the wool (just a drop). Rub it around gently. Dip in the hot water then repeat the soaping process a few times. Wrap another tuff of wool around this, repeat the dipping/soap thing. Do this over and over until it's about 50% larger than what you want it to be. Stick it into the bottom of a trouser sock or some old hose, tie a knot around the top of the ball and throw it in the washing machine. IF you have a front loader it takes at least 4 loads to get a good felted ball. you can pull it out and keep checking as it goes. If you have a top loader, apparently one or two washes does it, but I wouldn't know. Then you can embellish your ball. I soaked mine in lime Kool Aid, rolled it around, then rinsed. After it was dry to the touch (a day or so), I needle felted some blue raspberry dyed tuffs in the shape of an S. After it was good and on, I stuck it back in a sock and washed it two more times. Let it dry and it actually bounces! If you want to make a jingle ball, add a bunch of jingle balls at the beginning and wrap your wool around it. I found that you really need to have quite a few balls, otherwise they are too tight to rattle well. Oh, and I got creative and used some old crappy acrylic yarn that my mom gave me, rolled it into a ball, and covered it with wool. I think it saved me some wool and gave that useless yarn a purpose ;-)

Woodland Woolies!

I embellished some of my 3 yr old's woolies with a woodland theme for my 7 month old. I wanted to knit a gnome on the other leg, but if I did, I wouldn't get holiday gifts done ;-) This was my first attempt at such a thing, I'm quite proud, though they're not perfect. Thankfully, they're big and should fit a while!!!
I was inspired by an alder tree in the fall (the tree I looked at had those exact colors in the same places). We have them all over town and I think they're just beautiful! I also took some design hints from a few people online. I find so much inspiration on MDC, Ravelry and my wool soaker group.
Technicalities: brown woolies, I crocheted a chain out of lt brown/tan wool, attached it as the trunk going up one leg and across the butt, chained some smaller branches and attached them around the hip and across the butt, then took some autumn colored wool and made two little loops for each leaf putting the darker colors on the outside and working my way in.

Wintery Goodies

I wanna know why only girls legs are supposed to be warm? I say this because everyone seems to sell leg warmers for baby girls but I can't find any for boys. Is that cause boys are supposed to be cold? I just think it's mean. I asked DH about it and he said that boys aren't supposed to wear leg warmers. I asked why, he, of course, couldn't answer. So I made some for my baby from alpaca that I bought on clearance. They are super soft and super warm. He can wear them under his wool sleep sack on those bitterly cold nights. I just did 10 rows of k1 p1 ribbing, knit in the round, then another 10 rows of ribbing. It was very easy and very quick. When I do more, I'll use a smaller needle size on the ribbing to make them a little tighter.




I also sewed a sleep sack out of soft, felted wool interlock. I did kind of a crappy job, but he's wearing it to bed and it was quick (under an hour with my mom's serger). It's super warm and I don't have to worry about him smothering himself in a blanket or leaking pee onto our bed. I purchased the fabric on sale so the entire project cost me under $10. I have the stuff to make another, just need to make the time now.

I was so impressed with the leg warmers, and so depressed that all of his woolies are shorties, that i decided to make leg warmers to attach to some of his shorties. I was originally going to just make them longies, but this will be quicker and he'll be able to wear them as shorties in the spring, providing they still fit, which they better ;-) I am turning one pair into longies, I was inspired, I'll post pics when they're done.