Carter’s Christmas Sweater

Yes, I am that behind in blogging!  I am just getting to sharing this knitting project, even though I finished it on December 22nd.  I am behind on everything around here work-wise, though I have quite a few things started.  I also put the finishing touches on a new fabric line and sent off the details this morning.  These are all things I can’t share yet, so I appreciate all of you who keep checking in one me, despite my lack of quilting related (or anything, for that matter) posts!

Now, back to that sweater –

I decided Carter should have a hand-knit sweater for Christmas. I selected this pattern.  I stuck with green for the yarn, though mine is a bit brighter.  (Somehow, I resisted the urge to once again knit something in blue).  I finished the sweater the night before our get-together with Joel’s family.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any good Christmas pictures of him in the sweater, as they all look like this.  He didn’t seem to want his picture taken that day (and this time I couldn’t blame it on the Minion, like I did at Halloween.)  Don’t you love Abi, with her hands over her ears?  That’s how loud his crying is.

 

This weekend, I finally got a few more pictures of him in the sweater.  He won’t sit still, so they aren’t great, but they will have to do.

The yarn is Weekend, by Berroco.  It’s not my favorite yarn, but it appears to be holding up well.  That can be a hard quality to find sometimes – especially for little kids sweater.  For that reason, I would use it again.  It’s a little hard on the hands, as it doesn’t stretch much, so that’s why I say it’s not my favorite.

The back of the sweater is plain, so you get a little break from all the cabling.  I normally like some detail on the back of my sweaters, but in this case I think it would have been overkill.

 

I followed the pattern as much as I could – though the smallest size is a 3/4 and I wanted it to be a size 2.  I didn’t really run into trouble until I got to the neck.  I ended up taking it off and making it smaller.  It’s still plenty big and I’m not totally pleased with it.  As you can see in this picture, the bound off edge wiggles back and forth.  I bound off in pattern (k2,p2), as instructed by the pattern, but I don’t care for how that looks.  If anyone has any suggestions on how to get the wobble out of the edge, please leave it in the comments.  Maybe I shouldn’t have bound off in pattern as instructed?

One last picture, with an “I’m up to no good” expression.

You can find my Ravelry link here.

Carter is just waking up, so I finished this post just in time!  Off to go get some snuggles 😉

 

I Love Puppies

Happy New Year!

A little late –  I know.   It’s only day 17 and I am already behind!   January is just flying by and I am not getting nearly enough done.  I haven’t blogged for a month and a few of you have nicely emailed to find out if all is okay.    Everything is going fine, but I didn’t have any help with Carter over Christmas break and now the babysitter has been in Hawaii for 2 weeks (lucky girl!).  When she is here, it is the only time I get to be in the studio.  Carter has gotten too busy and bent on destruction to even bring him in the studio.  It is pretty cute when he tries to come in though.  He yells “Sew!,  Sew!,  Sew!” and immediately started emptying the cutting table of all the rulers.  I’m sure all the drawers in the sewing cabinet would be next.   Carter is napping now, so instead of answering emails and shipping orders like I usually do when he naps, I am getting a blog post done first!

I have something new to share that I started last summer.  It’s a fabric line for all the puppy loving little boys out there.

 

The line is a nice mix of dots, geometric and puppy themed prints.   (The following images of the prints are taken from the sales card)

There is also a panel-type print that would work well as a focal print or a cute backing.

As soon as I get some strike-offs I will share those as well, as the sales card never quite does the fabric justice.  There is something about holding the actual fabric in your hand, that just brings everything it to life.

Henry Glass also had a free pattern designed for the line – to help give you an idea of how the line works up.  I love the little paw prints running across the quilt.  Nothing says puppy like paw prints across your floor (or quilt).

 

The fabric line is hitting the ground with the sales reps this month – so shop owners – I hope you will ask your reps to see the sales card!  For all you non-shop owners, the fabric will be in stores this summer.  It always feels like a long wait, but it helps brighten this cold winter day to know that something fun is in the works for summer.

 

 

 

This line is in memory of our dog Daisy – and in hopes that Carter will love his own little puppy again some day soon.

 

 

Red Loop

Another little project finished.

I am enjoying making little things lately – though I have mostly been a sweater maker in the past.  How nice to finish something in a couple of weeks instead of a couple of months.

You can see the stitch pattern easier in the flat shot.

I got the yarn last spring in Portland when we were there for quilt market.  I don’t remember the name of the shop, but the yarns there were beautiful.  This is hand dyed with little red metallic threads woven in.  It’s hard to capture with the camera – It’s much sparklier in  person.

You can find my Ravely link here.

The pattern is called Grey Loop

The yarn is by Knitted Wit – It’s called Bling.

Anyone else working on any fun cowls?  I am debating on what to start next?  I just finished the Herringbone cowl  and I am working on the Honey Cowl.  Everyone is probably far too busy thinking about Christmas to be thinking about knitting, but I like to have something with to work on during the all the family gatherings.  I just cannot sit around for two days with my hands idle!  Even with the good food and good company, I still need to have my project at hand 😉