Knitting: Teddy Bear Asymetrical Cardigan and Hat for Audrey

I love this little knitting pattern! I love the asymetry. I love that it knits up quickly. And I have found it works with so many different yarns. The first time I made this sweater in a green wool blend, with metal buttons for Christmas and this time I picked this furry looking boucle yarn in a perfect teddy bear color--like a little fur coat for my baby. It is so soft. She looks just darling in it.

I crocheted the hat--started in the round and increased and then worked down when I thought the circumference was about right for her head.

What a great set! It worked perfectly to keep Audrey cozy on our January trip to Cambria with my family.

Knitting and Crochet: Retro Swing Sailor Collar Cardigan

After Christmas, as in, the day after Christmas, I started this project for myself. It was so much fun making things for Christmas gifts and it was also nice to be able to start a new list after the holiday, including something for me. This is the first time I've tried an adult sweater and to be sure it didn't take too much time I chose this LionBrand Retro Swing cardigan pattern for their Wool Ease Thick & Quick yarn.

I love the combination of crochet body and knit collar in this pattern.

It is really cozy and fun to wear, though I struggled a bit with what to wear underneath. I decided a simple long sleeved tee works best as I like to use a pin at the neck to keep it closed.

Makes me excited about doing more things I can wear. Maybe this is the year!

Knitting: Green Asymetrical Cardigan for Christmas

I've been wanting to do this Bulky Baby Asymetrical Cardigan pattern because it looks like my speed: fast and easy. It is a garter stitch (my knitting is still much faster than my purling--or for the day when I do both equally quickly) and calls for worsted weight yarn. I thought it would be cute in this great green Lion Brand Jiffy yarn.

It did go pretty quickly but I am always so impatient--always want to finish and try it on and move on to another fun project. I thought it would be a cute look to use these embossed metal buttons. Now it looks a bit Alpen to me.

Cute with a plaid skirt and embroidered collar shirt for Christmas! If only Audrey would hold still for a photo!

Christmas Card 2006

I adore letterpress. I think the words themselves really need no other adornment when they are pressed into beautiful paper like this. I had the press that did Audrey's birth announcements, The Mandate Press, create these single panel Christmas cards for me.

This year, especially after Audrey's birth, I felt this one word said it all.

I used the same font and printed a message on vellum, enclosed a family photo taken by Julie Shipman and tied the little package with ribbon that has the same subtle sheen as the paper stock.

Fun to finally be sending a Christmas card, and to be involved in the making. I used to hand make cards in high school and college and I loved doing it. Maybe I can continue that in the years to come.

Knitting: Red Wrap Baby Cardigan and Booties with Bow

When I was on bed rest for a time early in my pregnancy with Audrey, my mother brought me this book of knitting patterns (Knitting the Easy Way by Terry Kimbrough) because she LOVED this little bootie pattern. It is pretty darling. I tried it first in a pink worsted weight yarn and ended up with something large enough to be a toddler's slipper--it's taken me a bit to learn how to read gauge and substitute yarns. This time around I used a Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn, which is so incredibly yummy, and this red color is so gorgeous. It was fun to look for a ribbon to match. I chose this white with red polka dots--a little tricky matching the reds. I found it at a scrapbooking supply store (whole new world in there!).



So, as I often do for myself, the "shoes" started this outfit! I found this little baby cardi pattern in a knitting book (Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies) I received as a baby gift from one of my good friends, Amy. I haven't tried something with small needles like this before and I thought I would never finish! I remember working on it one evening and estimating that I probably finished 6 rows an evening, which meant it would take me months! And it did.

So it's finished just in time because Audrey has nearly outgrown it. As it turns out the sweater is a bit small and the booties a bit large--they fall off--but they worked to get a few cute photos in her nursery.