Starting as I plan to go on, and Half Circle Christmas Tree Napkins

 Merry Christmas and a Happiest New Year! Ah and doesn't it feel like a breath of fresh air after what a year 2023 was?

I'm still honing down my plan and project list for the new year, but for now I shall get started in the manner I mean to go on. By finishing a project to completion and getting at least one to do, done!

These are a full set (18 in total!) of half circle, sometimes called Christmas Tree napkins. They are terrible simple to make, two half circles of fabric, sewing right sides together, turned, pressed and topstitched.

You can find tutorials all over the internet, like this one on YouTube from Shabby Fabrics 

I had never seen napkins like these before, and the project certainly wasn't on my radar until I cam across this bag at a local thrift store.

I don't know if its clear in the photo but the bag was labeled "Christmas Napkin - Pattern and Cut Outs" and it was priced at only $1.50. I mean how could I not! even If I used the fabric for something else.

Inside were 18 each, precut red and poinsettia fabric half circles, a fabric template and an extra half yard or so of red fabric. I brought it home and promptly sewed one up as a test, and tossed the bag onto my to do pile and that was that.

How very typical of me!

 So January 1st, I figured I still had red thread on my sewing machine, may as well get this project wrapped up. I paired and pressed each set.

Stitched them all together with about a half inch seam (they weren't cut the most exactly so I figured a margin for error was best). 

I turned and pressed again and topstitched and folded and pressed again.

More ironing in the first two days of the year than  I would normally get to in a month. But a quick cardboard folding template really sped things up (highly recommend!).

I folded half green side out, and yeah I can totally see why they are called Christmas Tree Napkins.

And half red side out, turned like a cone they provide a cozy home for cutlery at your place setting.

And I packed the whole lot of them into a bin for next Christmas! 

Ah well, what else is January for if not for finishing Christmas projects you had planned to get done before Christmas. Anyways we didn't host this year, but next year should be a full house, and we'll put these napkins to good use!

After a wash and another pressing of course.

Hopefully your holidays were lovely, and fulfilling. I'll see you here again tomorrow with a belated Christmas knitting project! 

Knitting a baby sized Schitt's Creek David Rose Sweater

 So of course Marshall needed this to be his Halloween costume. And of course I only had the idea for this the Monday before Halloween. So with 5 knitting days, I was off to the races.

I used the Strange Brew Pattern/Book by Tin Can Knits, and an assortment of Cascade 220 esque worsted weight yarn from my stash. I knit cuffs, hems and collars on 3.5 mm needles and the body of the sweater on 4mm needles. I knit bottom up and followed the 6-12 month size for DK weight instructions. After joining the body and sleeves I had 160 stiches on the needle.

The yoke was knit with 10 repeats of the following chart. In the star section I had 14 stars and rotated through the 4 star charts.

Feel free to use these charts. You'll have to do your own math and alterations to knit this sweater to any other size. I have no intentions on grading this pattern/chart to any other sizes as it would be inappropriate for me to sell the pattern with the original design of the show sweater being by Neil Barrett who I believe designed several of David's sweaters. 

You can watch my YouTube video documenting my process, and showing the details of how I steaked open the neck to fit over Marshall's rather large head.

All in all, I was very very pleased with how this project turned out. And Marshall couldn't be any happier (or cuter).

We interupt these baby knits for an adult sized sweater: Vellichor by Andrea Mowry

 Shortly after our basement flooded, and I packed up most of my yarn stash in bins, I grabbed 3 skeins of Knit Picks Stroll Tonal and decided to cast on a fingering weight top for myself. Because what you really need when you're in your third trimester and renovating literally half of your house, is a garter/cable ribbed slog along project. The pattern is the Vellichor crop top by Andrea Mowry.

For yarn we have Inverness Tonal (the dark blue, I had two skeins) and Eucalyptus Tonal (the lighter one) and the peach is some fingering weight that I dyed probably 3+ years ago that has been sitting in my stash after being frogged out of a Westknits Shawl.

Like a good knitter, I did actually swatch a tiny swatch for this, and I believe was pretty close to pattern gauge with the recommended needles (3.25 mm). Measured my bust, picked a size and cast on a whopping 400 stitches in the round.

And off I went.  This was definitely a product knit not a process knit. There was just no getting into a rhythm with the knitting. Because it is essentially garter stitch in the round, with slipped stitches and cables, you just couldn't speed across a row. Every 5 stitches you must either work a two stitch cable (without a cable needle of course), alternate between knit and purl, or move yarn to the back of your work to run it behind slipped stitches. Thank goodness for the peach round every 6 repeats, otherwise it would have felt hard to see your progress.

 

But I persisted and eventually finished the garment, I believe I knit it a tiny bit shorter than called for, to avoid losing at yarn chicken on the Inverness (as it was I used 183 grams of my 200). Also, by the time I finished it in late June, I was so pregnant it just looked ridiculous on me. So it hung out on my mannequin for quite a while.

Now that baby Marshall is out rather than in tho, I tossed my Vellichor on for a quick trip into town to go to Walmart. And I love it! I really need more easy to toss on knit tops in my wardrobe. And fingering weight, as much as it may take forever to knit, makes for light and breezy knits, suitable for cooler days in Alberta summertime. Anyhow, not much else to say about this one, other than definitely give it a good wet block to grow the garter fabric lengthwise, because before you do, it will kind of look like you've knit a supper squishy wide rectangle, and you will wonder how that could ever be flattering on anyone.

My project Page on Ravelry for my Vellichor.

Baby Knits Continue....just not for my baby

Here's two more finished baby knits, again, both not for my little one (I'm nearly 34 weeks along, need to knit faster).

First up is the Tiriltunge Newborn Onsie, pattern by Shja.

My Project Page on Ravelry.

This is a super sweet little lace onsie the buttons up at the bottom and up the side, simple cable details and raglan shaping. I knit this for my friend Steph's little girl and finished it a month or two back.

Here's a close up of the side seam, with mix and match buttons (since the Covid 19 shut down, combined with paking up my craft room due to the flood meant I only had access to one button bin to find a set of buttons). The onsie is worked seamlessly from the top down, and knowing my gauge in advance would have been helpful, since I wouldn't have had to rip out and restart this knit after deciding I was knitting something fit for a porcelin doll.

False start before ripping back.... will I ever learn my lesson? Who knows, I did swatch for the sweater I'm currently working on for myself, but not for the baby sweater for our little one on the way that is also in the work.

Anywho, I knit this bad boy with some Cascade Heritage Silk that I had in my deep stash. Originally purchased to maybe knit a  colour shawl (I still have a teal and a pink skein left), I gave up on that plan and decided it would make for a super soft baby knit (its' 85% merino and 15% silk and probably not friendly to washing).

Up next is another Knit Crate project. Something about two skeins of yarn says knit me for babies I guess?

I wanted to knit a traditional layette for my niece to be (she's since been born, welcome to the world sweet Lennon!) and fell instantly in love with the Angel Lace Baby Layette by Marcelline Simonotti when it turned up in my Ravelry search results (you can find the designer on instagram as @tbeecozy ).

I knew that the Uru.Yarn Sugared Sport that I got in my April KnitCrate would be perfect for this. Coming in at 300 yards in 100 grams, the 70% merino, 20% nylon, 10% stelina yarn was both super soft and delightlfully sparkly, just right for a little girl. And best of all, mice come in a sold ivory colour (called diamond), just the one I would have picked.

The sweater was knit in a unique combination of seamed pieces with a seamless yoke, the lace pattern was easy to memorize and knit up quickly. For the contrast colour I dove into my miniskein stash and grabbed a 25g skein of Julie Asselin Leizu Fingering that I had from a 5 colour fade called Vendanges (I picked that particular kit up at the Loop in Kensignton in Calgary probably 4 years ago). And had no problem incorperating the two different gauge yarns together.

I should say, that I went up a couple needle sizes (info is on my project page on Rav) and knit the smallest size in the pattern since the Sugared Sport was a little heavier than the yarn used in the original. Also, I did improvise a little to have my garter ridges (they are a combination of thick and thin ones) match the pattern photos, since to my pregnancy fogged brain the pattern didn't seam to be matching up.

Overall, the sweater used 95 grams of the first skein of Sugared Sport, and I used about 37 grams of the second to knit the bonnet and booties. I used 23 of my 25 grams of the pink mini for the accent bits. The set has been gifted and I can't wait to see pictures of Lennon wearing it as she gets bigger.

Next up, hopefully I'll have a finished Vellichor by Andrea Mowry to show you, although it's knit on 3.25mm needles and its a slog and a half. Plus you won't see me wearing it for a while yet, since I knit it for my pre-pregnancy size.

I did swatch tho!

Some Knitcrate Baby Knits ~ Uru Yarn Silk DK

When I recieved my Septeber 2019 Knit Crate, I adored the yarn straight away. I have to say, I prefer solids and semi-solids to veriagated yarns. I just feel like they are so much more versitile, knit any pattern, shape, stitch you want, without worrying about the dreaded pooling that you often get with hand dyed yarns. (ask me some time to write about the class on knitting with hand painted yarns I took with the Yarn Harlot once upon a pre-covid world some time).

Anyways, the yarn was Uru Yarn in their Silk DK. A rather tightly spun, very smooth 4-ply yarn, made from 85% merino and 15% silk. Just enough silk for shine without giving it that stick to your hands feeling that I get with silk (or maybe this is just from my experiance with spinning with silk, but I describe it as cotton mouth on your hands.... anyone else?). At 300 yards in 100 g it's probably more of a sport weight than a DK yarn. Mine came in the purple Beautyberry colourway, probably the one I would have chosen out of the three options pictured below. And despite the luxary fibre content, I was feeling baby knits.

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KnitCrate Membership's featured #yarns and colorways: Taupily (left), Beautyberry (middle), and Enlightened (right)! Will you be picking up more during Double Down? Share with us which one you absolutely need more of 👇

A post shared by KNITCRATE (@knitcrate) on Sep 21, 2019 at 9:00am PDT

First up is an adorable baby cardigan that I knit for my friend Sarah's little girl Millie for Christmas this year.

This is the Anker's Jacket by PetiteKnit (link to pattern on Rav), knit in the round and super quick. The pattern is sized from 3 months to 8 years, (I think I knit the 1-2 year one, but I don't have it written down anywhere), and PetiteKnit has a whole line of aAnker's patterns with the same yoke motif. From baby onsies to boyfriend sweaters and back again (check out all of her patterns here), so you could knit a cute family set, although unlike TinCanKnits patterns, you'd be paying for a set of patterns rather than just one. Anyways, that's about all I have to say about this sweater, I don't love the buttons I used, they are a touch too big, but options for button buying are limitted here in Olds, I really need to stock up on some good all purpose button sets. Oh and I used about 95% of one skein for this little sweater.

Alrighty, next up is a sweet little baby dress than I finished last week, and already gifted it to my sister-in-law, who is expecting a little girl in June. The pattern is the Little Biscuit, by Anne B Hanssen, and it was actualy just published this month. I just went searching for a sport weight baby dress on rav that caught my eye and found my way to this pattern (Rav link here).

The lace details at the hem and neckline are really sweet, the picot bind off took way longer than the instant gratification knitter in me would have liked, but is (as usual) totally worth it; and the miles of plain stockinette in the round are just that.

Anyways, the mom to be was very happy to recieve this little number this past weekend. And the taste of lace knitting has gotten me excited for more lacey baby knits. Too bad we are waiting to learn the sex of our baby, because knitting for wee little girls is just way too cute. In fact I've already cast on some more KnitCrate Yarn (Uru Yarns Sugared Sport from April's crate) to knit a lacey baby layette for my neice to be. I'll be sure to share that with you when its done.

If you are interested in checking out KnitCrate, you can check out their monthly membership plans over on their website.

Tecumseh

Hello 2019, nice to meet you.

2018 was a great year, don't get me wrong. But for this bright and shiny new year, I want so much more.

First of all, I want to shake the dust off of my DSLR camera, and really take some pictures. And then turn around and use them to celebrate and share my knits and craft.

So here we go.

Here is my Tecumseh, which I squeaked in just under the wire, casting it off on New Years Eve morning, and washing, blocking and even sending it for a tumble through the dryer that day. Heck I rang in the new year wearing it (after taking a nap, partier that I am). The pattern is of course by Caitlin Hunter of Boyland Knitworks (a fellow mom of twin boys).

The yarn, well its extra special. I dyed it all myself. More on that in the next few days.

And the place, our little homestead here in Olds, Alberta, just about the most beautiful place you could ever want to live.

Overall, it's a super comfy sweater, although I'm not sold on the dropped arm holes (or whatever you might want to call it). But this one is destined to by a sample, and a symbol, of what I want to achieve this year. And I love it. So happy 2019 fibre friends, hope yours is bright.

Things I knit in Crowsnest Pass

We just got back home to Medicine Hat, after spending pretty much all of February in Crowsnest Pass. And while I was unpacking today I thought both: hey I finished a fair number of knits there and yeep I didn't knit half of what I brought with me.

The problem of course being the presence of a lovely little yarn shop in CNP, A Nest of Needles.

Some tiny Patons Kroy Socks.

My Carbeth of course.

This little Boy Sweater.

A hat for Kevin for Valentines Day.

A gift hat that turned out too small.

I finished my Flock Colourwork Sweater.

And a second hat, much larger, but I forgot to take a FO picture (probably because I cast it off the morning we left. Which meant I blocked it and dried it real quick on a heating vent).

Two sleeves and the start on the body for my Hearthstone sweater.

Plus a sock and a half for Kevin (no picture).

Oh... and somehow, this followed me home as well:

It's going to be a Carbeth Cardigan.... once I finish my thesis.

FO: Tegna by Caitlin Hunter

Let's talk about lessons, and how you are supposed to learn them the hard way.

When you set out to knit a sweater there are a couple of things you are supposed to do.

Knit a swatch.

Wash and block your swatch.

Measure your Gauge.

Measure yourself.

Do some math.

Pick your size and estimate how much yarn you will need.

Cast on, Knit, and enjoy your beautifully fitting sweater.

You are not supposed to do it this way.

Identify two skeins of yarn in your deep stash (oblivious to the fact that one of them is clearly not a full skein).

Scroll through Ravelry patterns database, selecting fingering weight, and sweaters, and 800 yards.

Pick a pattern (the Tegna, by Caitlin Hunter).

Note that the second size uses 800 yards.

Decide that is the size that you are.

For really no reason at all (the pattern calls for 3.25 mm) decide you will knit yours on 3.5 mm needles.

Cast on.

Finish your first skein and think to yourself there is no way that was a full skein.

Order an emergency back up skein online.

Knit the full body, join the shoulder seams and try it on (with neck stitches held on needles).

Have a hoooooly crap moment, this thing fits you like its cropped to your boobs. Not a pretty look on anyone let alone someone with twin mommy weight around her middle.

Knit the neck line (because you're waiting for your back up yarn) and pray to the superwash gods that this puppy with grow.

Hang it on a hanger and give it a good steaming which you pull hard.

Try it on a bunch more times.

Knit the sleeves.

Soak and wet block it, giving it a solid stretching for length and width.

Go to bed and dream about sweater elves coming in the night to magically grow your sweater.

Be pleasantly surprised with the results, even tho it fits nothing like it was designed to. Mine has 0 to negative ease, pattern calls for 5 to 10 inches of positive.

You can guess which path I followed to get to this sweater, and right up until I wore it yesterday and Kevin said it looked good I was seriously thinking I might have to cut my losses and gift it away. But given my choices, that is not what I deserved.

It should have been fit for a 10 year old.

But lesson learned (for now), and I've already swatched for the next one.

Project Page
Yarn is Cascade Heritage Solids in Charcoal, three different dye lots, can't tell the difference tho.

Happy Halloween from Mario and Luigi

There's been no time for blogging lately, and precious little time for knitting. That's because today was Halloween and I was on a deadline.

A deadline to make all of this.

That's two pairs of overalls.
Two raglan long sleeve shirts.
One adult male's pants;
shirt;
and vest.
One princess dress, complete with lined bodice, lined skirts, peplums, puff sleeves and a train.
Two crocheted hats
and one ridiculous pillow hat.

I also made those little boys, but I did that back in 2016, so it doesn't really count.

Anyways, busy, busy busy.

Plus I've been thesis writing. passed 20,000 words this weekend. 5 bajillion more to go.

Hope you had a happy October 31st, however you celebrate it.

Knit everything twice - Mix and Match Sweater

This summer, Mina Phillip (@knittingexpat) asked if I would be interested in test knitting a baby sweater she had designed. I've test knit for her before, and she knows I have little ones, so I am pretty sure that's why I got the ask.

The pattern was released last month, the lovely Mix and Match Sweater.

I of course, being a mmother of twins, knit it twice.

The pattern is titled Mix and Match, because Mina provides options for plain stockinette or textured sweaters, short or long sleeves, and with or without short row shaping around the neck and hem. The brown one I knit first, with short in both places, but didn't love them in the back of the neck, so I only did the short row shaping on the hem for the green one.

I knit mine from some Lion Brand Yarn Hearland in Kings Canyon (green) and Sequoia (Brown) click those links for the project pages. I thought acryclic would make for easy to wash sweaters, and to be fair, I didn't want to invest in more expensive yarn for a test knit. I used about a skein and a half of each and picked them up on sale at Micheals.

This past weekend I dressed the boys up all cute and took the out to play in the yard and try to grab some cute photos showing off their little sweaters. Some turned out great.

Others not so much. That's Dom at the wheel, making that face becaus his brother is trying to fit in the car behind him.

They do play together nice sometimes tho.