A warm blankie for the newt

It didn't take long to finish the newt's blanket and, since I finished it on a sunny day, I dunked it in the sink and spread it out on the patio to block in the sun. It was dry and ready to photograph in no time.

Pattern: Baby Chalice Blanket by Lykkefanten
Materials: 3 skeins of Green Label Tanis Fiber Arts in Spearmint
Needles: US 10.5/6.5 mm
Started: August 29, 2009
Finished: September 16, 2009
Raveled here

Mods: I cast on an extra 20 stitches for two more pattern repeats after reading that the blanket is rather narrow. I wanted to end up with a square blanket and I accomplished that.

I really like the way this turned out. It's really soft and squishy and will be nice and warm this winter. The lace pattern is pretty and simple, and the colour! I'm a fan of turquoise.

And I seem to be forcing my colour preference onto the unborn. I whipped up a little snuggly swaddler for the newt on Sunday from a turquoise Echino damask and white flannel. The pattern is from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby. Very smart design -- you stick the baby's feet in the bottom pocket and wrap the two velcro-ed flaps around the baby. I hope it works!

I learned an important lesson whilst sewing this. Now that my body is changing, I need to stop cutting my fabric on the floor and move to a table. I had an awful backache after spending an hour or so plunked down on the floor and bent over my cutting mat. Ouch!

The newt will not be short on handknits

The parade of baby knits continues chez words starting with "p." In a fit of nesting, I've been churning out the handknits at a steady clip.

First up, the cardigan that every baby born to a knitting mama is required to have: the BSJ.

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Source: The Opinionated Knitter
Materials: less than one skein of Fleece Artist Trail Socks
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Started: August 5, 2009
Finished: August 12, 2009
Raveled here

No mods. Brilliant design. What more can I say?

I had some yarn left over, so I knit some booties (which I've somehow neglected to photograph) and an elf hat.

Pattern: Stella Pixie Hat by Kristen Rengren
Source: Vintage Baby Knits
Materials: bits of Fleece Artist Trail Socks and Koigu KPM
Needles: US 4/3.5mm and US 3/3.25 mm
Started: August 24, 2009
Finished: August 29, 2009
Raveled here

The only problem is that the newt will never be able to wear the matching set at the same time . . . unless he/she has a really, really humongous head and a wee little body. I realize babies have big heads, but I hope (for my own sake) that the newt has a normal-sized cranium.

Since I'm having a winter baby, a woolly hooded sleeping bag would be nice, no?

Pattern: Hooded Carrying Bag by Debbie Bliss
Source: Essential Baby
Materials: a little more than 4 skeins of Wool Gatto by Lana Gatto in Brick
Needles: US 7/4.5 mm
Started: June 30, 2009
Finished: September 7, 2009
Raveled here

I finished knitting this long before September 7, but it languished in the knitting basket for a while whilst I contemplated sewing in a zipper. I knew I wouldn't be able to do it on the sewing machine because garter stitch is so stretchy and my sewing machine is a little too "basic," and my hand sewing skills leave a little to be desired. My Gramie, however, is a very talented and well-rounded crafter. I figured she might even want to put a zipper in the bunting since it's for her first great-grandchild. She happily took on the project until she, ahem, realized that it was probably the most frustrating sewing task she's even undertaken. I'm so sorry, Gramie! But I'm really glad I didn't try to do it because she did a flawless job. The newt thanks you.

Jesse and I were at The Loop a few weeks ago and, while ogling some yarn, I asked, "Will our baby need a handknit blanket?" He said, "Of course." I bought some delicious, squishy merino. I have the best husband ever.

I have about seven rows left on the blanket and then I have to figure out where I'm going to block the darn thing. Oh Annie. Why did you have to move away and leave me without a decent blocking space?

I'm an award-winning knitter

One of the ladies in knitting group has been entering her work into the local exhibition for years and has been appalled at what has been passed off as "award-winning" knitting. She explained to the rest of the ladies that if we were to enter some of our work in the fair, we would all come away with some fancy ribbons and could call ourselves "award-winning" knitters. Sounded good to me.

So last week, I went to the exhibition office and bought myself a $25 membership. That allowed me to enter as many knitted objects as I wanted (it's usually $5 per entry) and I'd get free admission to the fair. I picked out five of my best FOs, filled out some paperwork, and handed my items over to the exhibition staff. Jesse and I went to the fair this evening and, lo and behold, there are ribbons attached to all of my entries.

I am an award-winning knitter.

First place for Dad's felted blue jay!

First place for Mum's Porom tam!

First place for my Ishbel neckerchief!

Second place for Mr. P's Trellis! (ahem. Some pink acrylic atrocity won first place.)

And third place for Gramie's Forest Canopy Shawl!


Since the prizes are ribbons AND cash, I'm pretty sure I won enough to cover my entry fee.

But the real honour is being able to call myself an award-winning knitter. I like the way it sounds.

FO: The newt's vest

Baby knits are so quick! Especially when you don't have to knit sleeves.

Pattern: Vest by Debbie Bliss
Source: Essential Baby by Debbie Bliss
Materials: 1.5 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in Sea green
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Started: June 12, 2009
Finished: June 17, 2009
Raveled here

I love a nice sweater vest. I love them on kids, women and especially on men. Nothing is cuter than a grown man in a sweater vest. Give him a beard and I melt. Speaking of beards, I had a dream that I gave birth to the newt and it was a boy who looked exactly like Jesse except he was blonde. Sounds kind of cute, but instead of looking like baby Jesse, the newt looked like a teeny version of grown-up Jesse, complete with a beard. I also had a dream that Jesse met a couple who had been trying to conceive for ages so he decided to sign away our rights to the newt and give him/her to this couple . . . without asking me! I was pissed.

More baby knits are in the works. I am over the moon about knitting for the newt!

More spinning

This alpaca/silk/merino blend from FreckleFaceFibers . . .

turned into this . . .

and then into this!

I'm getting better at this spinning business!

I'm thinking of knitting something for the newt with my handspun. I don't think I have enough for a sweater, so it might become some booties and a hat. This kid's going to be born in December so he or she will need lots of warm woollies!

Oh! And you can keep track of my weekly belly bump pics over here!

FO: Gooseberry Hat

Just a little FO to show you.

Pattern: Gooseberry Hat by Suvi S.
Materials: bits of leftover Louet Gems Sport in Chickadee
Needles: US 4/3.5mm
Started: April 20, 2009
Finished: May 22, 2009
Raveled here

I knit this up for my friend Ashley's baby, Isac. It's a little big on him now, so I'm hoping he'll get some use out of it this fall.

And you'll be seeing some more baby knits here in the near future because I'm working on building my own little person!

The newt is due to arrive in early December!

I'm a winner!

A lovely prize arrived in my mailbox yesterday! Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. Ooooh!

I won the book in a contest on the the craft blog, Make+Do. Austen is doing regular giveaways, so you'd be smart to subscribe to her blog and try your luck at winning a crafty book too.

Seriously, this book is incredible. It's got a wide variety of patterns (not just your regular placemat, handbag, napkin, remote control holder and tissue box cover) and I kind of want to make everything in here. Sherrie had her heart set on winning this book, so I've agreed to share custody. :)

I seems that I won't have a whole lot of time to craft over the next 34 days. A provincial election was called today, so I'll be managing a campaign and working my butt off! Sherrie: the book is yours for a month!

Thanks again, Austen, for the lovely book!