A jacket for Baby Ben

Every baby needs a green jacket and hat.  Especially one from his Grammie.

Yarn hand-dyed by me.  100% Superwash Merino DK. One entire skein (240 yards) + whatever I needed for the second sleeve and the hat.

Pattern, also by me.  A basic little jacket worked bottom up, with sleeves picked-up and worked down.  Hat is also a basic hat.  Don't ask for instructions; there's aren't any.  I just did my thing. 

There's garter stitch at the top of the jacket, because I love to work it, and it shows off the variegated yarn differently than stockinette.  Garter cuffs on sleeves, also.  No sleeve shaping at all; I want the sleeve to be wide enough for his little arm in a onesie to get through easily.  Bottom of jacket and hat have 2x2 ribbing just to hold in a little, especially on the head.

Either it will fit, or it won't.  I don't worry much about this stuff.  The process is what's important here.  I like knitting little garments, and if he can wear it, good.  If it's too small, then his Mom can donate it to the annual NAMI auction.  If it's too big, he'll wear it eventually.

Baby sweater in progress

Mister is getting a cuddly sweater.  Cheapy Brava sport yarn from KnitPicks (100% acrylic).  I think this is far more a DK weight than a sport.  Works up nicely.  How it will wear is the question, but newborns are not exactly climbing trees, so that doesn't much matter.

The body is a slip stitch pattern from Barbara Walker's first treasury of knitting patterns.  This book has served me so well.  No charts, but the instructions are impeccable.  If you don't own it, hunt it down; it is a masterpiece of stitches!

The bodice is garter stitch.  I'll pick up the sleeves in cream and work down, reversing the pattern, so the little garter blocks will be in cream, and the lines in blue.  Garter border and neckline.  I'll also make a matching hat and maybe booties.

She's due in 4 1/2 weeks, so time is of the essence here. 

In other news, I'm have a Year End Sale in my Etsy shop starting Wed, Dec. 26!  Everything will be marked down, including yarn already on sale.  I haven't done much Etsy dyeing for a long time; mostly I've been doing clubs and large orders on Etsy.  So this is a change for me. I really need to do some clubs again, especially lace.  I have tubs of lace yarn begging to be dyed. 

Another sweater for Mister and a New Yarn

I think I have a way to go.  Good thing Mister incubates for another 7 weeks.  Grow, Little Mister, grow!  Kick your mommie!  Yay, Little Mister!

A new yarn!  Rachel Sparkle

75/20/5 SW merino/nylon/stellina

430+ yards 100 gm 

This is my Rachel yarn with sparkle.

This is a yarn that I bought a couple of years ago.  Dyed up one skein for me, and fell in love with it, but then I never dyed any more.  It's a beautiful yarn, and why I didn't dye and sell is beyond me, but I didn't.  The other day, I was going through my yarn tubs, and found it.  Here are 2 skeins:  Magenta and Plums.

The sparkle comes from the stellina.  It's not outrageously glitzy, rather very elegant.  Knits up beautifully; you will not feel the stellina as you knit.  Lovely for fancy socks and pretty shawlettes.  I feel a shawl design coming on, but not until I'm done with Mister knitting.  Grandsons come first.

In case you can't tell, I'm quite in love with Mister.  Can't wait to see him.  He's the last of the grands, so that gives him some sort of specialness.  Between the 2 of us, we have 5 grands, 2 boys, and 3 girls.  Mister will make the 6th. 

Getting bigger, just like Mister

Remember this from yesterday?

It's getting bigger.

Almost done with the body, about 2" to go.  then I'll pick up the sleeves with 2 circs and work downward.  Finish the neck and then it should be done.  Next a matching hat and booties.

I suspect that Mister is also growing nicely.  I'm one very excited and nervous Grammie!  

Mister's Sweater

And there you have it.  The beginnings of a sweater for Mister (due end of Jan.).  I can't wait to meet him.  We are all so excited!

Bambi yarn in a blue/green colorway.  I swear this is the best of all my Bambi yarns.  Very soft, and that bamboo makes it very sturdy at the same time. 

Today's job is putting the borders onto Nuts and Bolts, and then assembling the layers and maybe even begin quilting.