Wildly Cute!

I've been working on a baby gift for the past couple of months... having fun knitting, and then creating a card to go with it.  I haven't shared my knitting in quite a while, and knitting for a baby is definitely a favourite thing of mine.  I found a wonderful book at my library using Cascade Superwash yarn, and knit up a pair of socks, a hat with ears, and a sweet toy.

The hat and socks aren't for a newborn!  So they look a little large... and I'll admit that the hat ears look a little goofy, but they should be cute on a little guy's head.  I really loved making the little lovey, which is just a square with a teddy head sewn on - something to snuggle with.

And for the card, I reprised a card that I'd made 11 years ago!!  The Wildly Cute stamp set from Art Impressions was retired years ago, but I won't part with it, as it makes such sweet baby cards.  The ancient papers are Babycakes from CTMH.

I coloured with Copic markers on Cryogen paper, fussy cut it, and created by background with a little paper piecing.  The image and sentiment are adhered with foam adhesive for some dimension.

Nothing like making something for a new baby - especially when it's for one of my daughter's best friends.

Welcoming baby Alex!

 I was lucky enough to get a new great-nephew at the end of November!  I like to do a little knitting for new babies, and found this pattern called "Elevenses Cardigan" on Ravelry.  I thought it was adorable - to knit a little-old-man style of cardigan complete with elbow patches for a newborn:

I learned a lot - how to do German short rows, and picking up stitches to add the front ribbing, which I haven't done a lot of.  I changed it up a little, too!  The pattern had pockets in the front, which I didn't like, so I added a seed stitch border instead.

Even though it looked tiny to me, I think it's going to be big on him for a bit.

And of course, Alex needed a little welcome-to-the-world card, so I pulled out my Copics, and coloured up an older Art Impressions image:

There's nothing like knitting for a new baby in the family!

Knitting project for Francis

I haven't shared any knitting on here in forever!  I'm not quite as prolific a knitter as I used to be, but I still usually have a project on the go at all times.  While I was on vacation, I knit this little hat & booties for a coworker, but baby Francis decided to show up early, before our shower at work:

And then of course, just days later, the library has closed and we are all social distancing... not sure if I'll be able to get these to Francis while they will still fit!  I'm just glad that he & mom are doing well, and are home safe.  And yes - I was the ONLY person in the Cayman Islands knitting beside the pool...

A Teddy Blanket

About a month ago I posted the baby card that I'd made for my new great nephew, and a few weeks ago I finally finished his welcome-to-the-world gift.  I haven't posted any knitting on here in a while, but here is what has kept me out of trouble this fall:

Just straight knitting & purling, but it was the first time that I've done intarsia (for each teddy, you switch balls of yarn, the colours are not carried across the back of the blanket) which was a learning curve!  And after blocking, I embroidered on all the little faces.  I loved it when his Mom sent me photos of him enjoying his new blanket!

Knitted socks & scarf

I haven't shared any of my knitting projects on here in a while - mainly because I haven't been knitting quite as much in the last couple of years.  I did manage to knit a lace infinity scarf for my daughter, and a very fun pair of socks for my son for Christmas.  I really love that they'll both wear and enjoy them, and will even tell their friends that their mother knit it for them.  (Yes, even my 20-year-old son will wear his mother's hand knit socks?! - Although I did make them in his school's colours, which makes them a bit quirkier to wear...)  So here's what I've been madly knitting for the past few months:

The toe & stripes are actually quite a nice plum colour.  Here is the scarf:

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Birdie & Eggnus

It's my day to post on the Art Impressions blog.

I had SO much fun making today's card!  Next to card making, knitting is my big hobby - so when I find a knitting themed stamp - I'm a happy girl :o)  Today's card features Birdie & Eggnus (sku#U1836),  and since "Twine Time" is our current Ai challenge theme, I decided to knit with a little Baker's Twine, and add it to my card:

I started by casting on four stitches onto 2.75mm knitting needles, and I knit about 5 rows.  Then I transfered the stitches onto these little toothpicks that I found at a dollar store - the ends of them are shaped which make them look a lot like tiny knitting needles.

I love that Ai stamps come packaged with a full colour illustration (which I pretty much copied exactly!)  These just happen to be the first chickens that I've ever coloured, and it was so helpful to have a picture to go by.  Here are Birdie & Eggnus before I added the knitting:

A few of the details:

And the Copics that I used:

Happy stamping everyone :o)

 

 

Socks

I'm busy working away on some paper projects to share soon (I promise!) but meanwhile, I thought I'd post a pic of a pair of socks that I've had done for a while, but gave as a Christmas gift - so now I can share them here.  The pattern was a simple feather & fan one, easy to knit, but looks much more complicated than it really was!

Just a little something...

Wine bottle cozy?  Wine ruff?  Wine bottle dress?  I believe the pattern is called a "Drip Catcher" - and no, it's not my design.  I found it in the book "Knitted Gifts" by Interweave.  Isn't it adorable?  My kids think I'm nuts, but I love knitting little things, especially those that use up leftover sock yarn.  So beware - if I'm bringing a bottle of wine to your house this fall, you just may receive a drip catcher!

Knitted Pears!

I've been knitting since I was little... but have really pursued the craft over the last 6 or 8 years, taking classes and learning techniques.  Finally last year, I decided to combine my fashion design career with my knitting skills, and designed my first knitted item - a pear!  My sister-in-law has a pear collection, so I decided that a knitted one would be my contribution, and I knit this in the car one day, designing it as I went along.  I was so pleased with the result, that I knit a second, slightly larger version... and am inspired to continue creating other 'little' things.  The little one is about 3" tall, the larger one is about 4":

While we're on the knitting subject, I'm going to share a card I made to thank my knitting instructor (Karen at Serenity Knits in Newmarket, ON) who is quite amazing...  It is supposed to be a miniature sweater, and was knit up in just a few minutes.  I love using up my leftover sock yarns on little things like this:

All supplies are CTMH - cardstock is Ocean, Hydrangea and White Daisy, stamp set is Card Chatter, Thank You, ink is Bubble Gum.  Toothpick knitting needles are from the Dollar store!