Knitting

Blocking

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Another Candle-Flame shawl off the needles.  I had just enough alpaca yarn left from the first shawl to make another.  This pattern is so addictive and simple – it makes a heavy, warm shawl, especially in this fluffy alpaca (the original pattern calls for Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky 85% wool, 15% mohair), although there is a cone of deep gold mohair in my stash that may end up as a lighter-weight version of this shawl sometime soon.

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A good shawl blocking tutorial can be found at See Eunny Knit! If you’d prefer to use blocking rods or are interested in the dental floss technique (which I think I’ll be trying next time) see Deborah’s blocking page. I couldn’t find my blocking pins, and just used straight pins from my sewing drawer.  Hopefully, all will turn out well.

I have a few things I wanted to share in the upcoming days, but we’ll see how things go – this is going to be a very over-full week, which includes prep for and teaching two different knitting classes amongst a host of other projects.  Oh, and thanks to a broken tooth, I have to squeeze a root canal in somewhere this week and next. (How do other homeschoolers make it to appointments?  This is a continual issue for me – I’m never “free” during the day while my kids are in school, so making time for dentist appointments, doctor visits, errands and coordinating childcare is tough! I know I’m by no means alone in this, and would love to hear how other folks with little ones manage!)

We’re looking forward to a break from the craziness the weekend after next – we’re traveling to visit with dear friends on the coast (where we used to live).  We all need some relaxation pretty badly, and I think a little yurt camping, a little cider pressing, a little wave-watching, and a lot of good conversation will be exactly what we need to recharge.

Opal Socks

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We are having absolutely glorious fall weather, and so have been spending a lot of time outside the past few days, working the garden  and making chalk drawings on the front steps.  The yard work has been a bit daunting – hazelnuts to coppice, wheelbarrows and wheelbarrows of manure and mulch to spread, garlic and leeks and shallots and onions to plant, beds to prepare for the ridiculous amount of spring flower bulbs I’ve ordered.

However, today, while the baby takes his afternoon nap, I think I’ll let the yardwork go, and just sit in the sunny window seat and watch the girls race their scooters around the driveway.    And, I may attempt to finish these socks.

I think it’s best not to put too many things on the “to do” list for a Friday afternoon, don’t you?

I hope you have a relaxing Friday afternoon as well, and a peaceful and refreshing weekend.

World Forestry Center

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Over the weekend, we took advantage of the Smithsonian’s annual free pass day to visit the World Forestry Center, located right across from the Oregon Zoo.  The building is light and open, and the exhibits are well designed, educational, and attractive to children.

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There were displays appealing to many senses – here Firecracker is smelling the oils from different culinary trees and trying to guess their origin.   Euclayptus had her stumped – she said it smelled like “Burt’s Bees something…but that’s not quite right.”

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Little Hen played the tongue drums for a LONG time – and has been reminding me daily how “if we ever find any tongue drums on Craigslist, maybe we could get them.”

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Of course, all Tum Tum cared about was the MACHINES!  That boy signed “more car” and made engine revving sounds all morning.  “Driving” the timberjack and the jeep totally made his day.

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Little Hen spins a Tibetan prayer wheel.

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Hope you get a chance to visit the World Forestry center – for my kids, it was a chance to try their hand at some really fun virtual experiences – like parachuting as a smoke jumper, running a timberjack, river rafting and riding a jeep in Africa.  But, it was also a chance to learn more about good stewardship of our resources, the importance of conserving forests, and the blessing that their products are to us and to people all over the world, and the value in renewing those forests for future generations.  A very nice little museum -I’m glad we got a chance to visit.

Passing down

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A day of sorting clothes for the change of seasons found lots and lots of dresses that are too small and will be passed down to a friend’s little girl.   Some were handmade for my girls, and It was bittersweet to see how much they had outgrown and to realize how quickly they’re growing up.  Seemed a very short while ago that these dresses were Little Hen’s, and then Firecracker’s, and now they’ll be another little girl’s.

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The girls reminisced for a bit (“Remember when I wore this dress to so-and-so’s birthday party?”, “Remember when you wore this outfit to the beach and we caught that crab?”, “Remember when Auntie Jen got me this dress?”), which seriously made me misty-eyed, and then we packed them up.

Glad to be able to bless someone else with them, but I wish my girls would stop growing up so fast!!

Wooden Bowls

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Yesterday’s thrifting yielded these three child-sized wooden dishes (Other finds – two prairie bonnets for the girls for 75 cents each, and an April Cornell baby dress for a friend’s little girl for $1.50!  I also picked up a like-new Maya Wrap for $2, but it’s a size M and a bit short for my tall frame – if anyone in the Portland area would like it, send me an e-mail at angela dot baker dot knits at gmail dot com, and it’s yours!).  The larger bowl and the plate were 25 cents each and the smaller bowl (with a teensy chip in the rim) was 12 cents!!  I LOVE my local thrift store!!

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These dishes were all handmade right here in Oregon out of myrtle wood with a wax finish.  Little Hen remarked right away on the beautiful grain in the larger bowl.

On the topic of beautiful wooden things – two mamas who always are so inspiring with their pictures and thoughts that capture the beauty of childhood moments – Grace at Uncommon Grace, and Shelley at Waldorf Mama.   Grace posted a while back about her children polishing wooden objects with beeswax polish.   The reason this post stuck in my mind is because of the purpose behind it – Grace says, “And, best of all, polishing is such a relaxing activity for my children, especially in the ‘witching hour’ right before dinner.” We are always searching for purposeful things to occupy the children that often-frustrating time of day, and this activity seems like something my girls would enjoy doing very much!

Shelley has shared some pictures of her daughter Maya’s  wooden child’s dishes by Heartwood Arts.      Her posts have inspired us to slowly transitioning from plastic play dishes to wooden ones (Little Hen especially oohs and ahhs over Maya’s lovingly handcrafted toys and playthings).   She has such a way of emphasizing the benefit of natural materials in children’s lives.  It’s been fun to hunt the thrift stores for pieces to add to our growing collection.  Now to find some little wooden spoons…

What natural treasures have you been discovering lately?

(Please visit my giveaway post – comments will close at 11pm Pacific this evening.  Thanks!)

Egg-dyed yarns

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I have always wanted to dye my own roving (mostly because of the Twisted Sisters Sock Book!!), but wanted it to be something the children and I could do together – something safe, easy, and non-toxic.  So, when I was pregnant with my son, the girls and I dyed 2 lbs of white Brown Sheep mill end roving (super economical!) with Easter egg dye bought at 75% off after Easter.    The needed ingredients are food-safe dye, vinegar and water.

We followed this Kathryn Ivy tutorial, using spray bottles, brushes  and spoons to experiment with different patterns of adding the dye to the roving.   We worked outside, putting down lots of newpaper,  so we could make a huge mess, and have fun.  The girls had a blast squirting different patterns into the white roving, and were surprised at seeing the final results after it the roving was steamed, rinsed, and hung to dry.

It takes a LOT of  very concentrated dye to get the vibrant colors in the tutorial, and mine came out very pastel (as you can see).   It spun up nicely (you can tell this is some early spinning, however – it’s pretty uneven), but after we set the twist (just singles), the hanks have just been hanging out in my yarn dresser, because I haven’t been much in the mood for pastels.  With the wave of friends/family having babies the last several months, now is a perfect time to crack into that oh-so-pastel yarn!

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So far, I’m really enjoying knitting with it, and when it’s all used up, I think we’ll try it again, but with more concentrated dye for more vibrant colors.  Who knows, maybe Little Hen will be old enough to spin some up herself by then.  🙂

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If you’ve tried your hand at home-dying fiber, I’d love to hear about it and any advice you can offer.  If you’ve posted about it on your blog, I’d love to share the link.  Thanks!

(Only 3 days left to enter the giveaway!!)

First Giveaway

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Welcome to the first giveaway at An Exaltation of Larks!

The girls and I are giving away a handmade scrap doll quilt,

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some soft, dove-gray Rowan-spun 4-ply 100% new wool yarn (enough to make two pixie hats),

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some vintage linen napkins, and assorted other goodies, yet to be revealed!

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This is a comment giveaway – please leave a comment telling me 1) which Category (in my sidebar on the right) is you like best, and 2) what crafty/domestic/culinary/mama activity you enjoy doing the most (feel free to include a link to a related post on your blog so I can get to know you, too!)

If you link to my giveaway on your blog, post about it on Facebook, etc, please let me know, and I’ll add THREE extra entries in your name to the drawing.

The drawing will be held on Comments will close at 11 pm Pacific time on Saturday, August 15th, and the drawing will be held Sunday, August 16th.  Thanks!

Giveaway closed.  Thank you all very much for the lovely comments!

Green Pixie

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Another pixie hat off the needles.  This pattern is so simple and looks pretty adorable, so it’s become one of my favorites to knit for baby gifts.  Knit on size 3’s with a wool/silk hand-dyed fingering-weight yarn.  (One skein looks like it might be just enough for two hats!)

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This one is going out in the mail to a friend from high school who just had a baby boy.   I’m super late finishing it, but it’s size 3-6 mo, and he won’t need it until the fall anyway, so maybe it’ll be right on time.  🙂

If you have a moment, check out my favorite green knitting blogs Green Woman Comes Knocking and Ever Green Knits.

Okay, stay tuned!  First giveaway coming up in just a couple of days!  There’ll be yarn and other goodies!

Frogged

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This yarn is frustrating me to no end!  I have started and frogged 4 different projects with it so far.  It’s hand-dyed 100% cotton fingering weight.  The colors are beautiful, the yarn finicky.  So, I’m going back to an old standby and hoping 5th time’s a charm.

Updates soon.  Things have been so incredibly busy the past two weeks, but I’m hoping they’ll slow down here after the weekend.

Hope your summer is turning out to be a relaxing one.

Baby things

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My brother and his wife are getting ready to welcome their second child in the next few weeks, so of course, that meant another opportunity to knit some booties.  The pattern is one I have used many many times – Ruth’s Perfect, in Cascade 220.

To go along with the booties, a locally made walnut rattle we picked up at Milagros Boutique.   This rattle was so beautiful and made such a soft, sweet sound, I wanted one for myself!  Ah, well, maybe when we have our next baby…

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Just a few more weeks, and I’ll have a new niece or nephew!  Now, off to the box everything up and get to the post office!

Handspun Baby Shoes

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A lovely family from our church welcomed their second child, so the children and I took them dinner yesterday evening (well, afternoon, really…) Thought we’d include a little something for Baby Nicolas.   How about ribbon-tie baby shoes?  (Yes, I realize that’s a thumb in the bottom of the picture.  Please just ignore it.  I wasn’t up for photo-shopping.)

I know they aren’t the most practical gift, but there’s just something about baby booties – they are my favorite thing to knit, they make a good keepsake, and they’re small enough that I can utilize some of my spindle-spun yarn.

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These are a merino/mohair blend that was a dream to spin.  I love how setting the twist (scroll down toward the bottom) added a lot of loft to the yarn and brought out its mohair halo.  I purchased the roving at a Spin-In on the Central Oregon Coast over a year ago, and wish I had gotten more than 2 oz!  (The white accent yarn I spun from a mystery-breed sheepswool roving that Fredda at the Yaquina Fiber Arts Guild gave me).

There are a whole bunch of babies soon to be born at church and in our homeschool co-op, so there will be lots more bootie knitting in the coming weeks!

Sunny Sunday Afternoon

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After a busy morning volunteering in the nursery at church, then a trip across town to a babyshower, the late afternoon was spent sitting in the sunshine.  Little Hen doodled fairies and spidewebs in her notebook, Firecracker thumbed through library books, and the baby napped next to me on the sofa.  I was doing some “theraputic knitting” – easy, repetetive, soothing.  This time, a few washcloths for my mother-in-law, whose birthday is fast approaching.

Nothing like a Sunday afternoon to help recharge for the busy week to come…

Wool Soaker – Finished

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My big boy in his finished soaker.  I really like the results – the soaker stays very dry on the outside.  I was a bit skeptical that it would stay up very well on a crawling/cruising baby when it has no elastic, only an I-cord drawstring, but it really does!  Next time, though, I’ll make the leg openings a bit larger to accomodate his chubby thighs.

Also, the yarn is a very saturated, brilliant color, and left a teensy bit of blue residue on his legs and the diaper inside.  A few washes will remedy this, I hope.   The next one will be in yellow – nice and cheery for summer.

Wool Soaker WIP

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Just a quick, easy soaker for Tum Tum.   Despite knitting it to gauge, it somehow came out much larger than I had imagined – it was originally intended as a baby shower gift, but would be much too large, so I ended up knitting another style (pictures soon) for the gift, and will keep this huge one for my strapping boy.   I just need to finish the ribbed cuffs of the legs and the I-cord tie,  and the little man will be cruisin’ around in his new wooly buns (I’ll be sure to get some pictures).

For information on washing wool diaper covers, read this (which I found through Emma’s blog.)

Candle Flame WIP

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(Apologies in advance, this is one of my wordier posts.)

Do you ever feel that God brings someone to your mind over and over again for a purpose?  I have been thinking a lot about a friend back on the coast (She’s the one who spun me this incredible yarn from her own sheep).  She doesn’t have e-mail or a phone, so quick communication isn’t possible.  Anyway, I made up my mind to get a care package together for her, and knowing that she loves shawls, I went on a Ravelry hunt for quick, comfy shawl pattern, and I came across  the Candle Flame Shawl.

I hope to have it finished in a week, get a package together (I’ll add in some homemade Raspberry-Lime jam, looseleaf tea, a pair or two of homemade earrings, this CD, and a few books I’ve been meaning to recommend to her.)  Spring and summer nights are often cold and damp on the coast, so maybe she’ll even get some use out of the shawl before the autumn.

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The yarn is a soft 100% natural undyed alpaca from Bolivia (I purchased several skeins for $2 total (score!) at an estate sale). It’s a heavy-worsted or aran weight, and is knitting up very nicely on size 9’s (I think it’ll look great once blocked).

If someone’s been on your heart and mind lately, I encourage you to send her a little something to let her know.  I know how uplifting it is for me when a friend from far away sends a little note (or thoroughly spoils me with an amazing package of handmade soap, tea, and TONS of yummy vegan cookies like the one I got this weekend from my old college roommate – totally made my month), and I know how blessed I am to be able to do just a little something for another woman.  In this age of e-mails and texting, the handwritten letter, the care package, these personal, thoughtful things can mean so much in a day of the life of a woman at home.

Wish I could do it more often.  As the girls grow older, I hope we can send off more together.

Hot Pink Baby Booties

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For a friend who’s sweet baby girl’s baptism was this past Sunday.  The pattern is free (Ruth’s Perfect Baby Booties), and I’ve made it many many times and like it a lot (I prefer a mohair blend or Cascade 220 for this pattern, and a pretty vintage ribbon for the lacing.)

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Cherry Swirl Mittens

We’re home from Florida and back to the grey, cold, foggy drizzle of the Pacific Northwest.  Sigh…I love Portland, just not in January!

So, to keep our spirits up,  we have been taking breaks from the unpacking to research our Valentine’s Day crafts for this year – so many great ideas and we’re having a hard time narrowing things down!  Many Valentine’s craft posts here in the coming weeks.

I have a little surprise of my own for the girls, too.  Back during our snowstorm, they requested some new mittens, and I have finished this pair, for Firecracker.  They are of Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Cherry Swirl, on 5’s.   

I’m working out a pattern for Little Hen’s that have a lightly ruffled cuff and are in pink and pale blue (she loves blue).  I’ll have the pattern and pictures up early next week, I think.

Now, up to the attic to dig out some Valentine’s-y craft supplies.  Hmm…where did i put the doilies and heart-shaped craft punches?

Purple Pixie

I have a few projects going at once, but managed to finish another one of these.  This time it is in 0-3 mo size for yet another friend expecting a baby (so glad more of our friends are starting to catch up with us!  Growing families are such a beautiful thing).  I used this yarn, size 3 needles.  The yarn is very soft and stretchy, and I love the flecks of pale blue and deep pink, and the slightly nubbly texture.   I will definitely be making more.

The weather has taken an unusual dip into the 50’s, so instead of swimming today, we did some sewing (more on that tomorrow) and hit the thrift stores.  Where else can you spend $40 and bring home two tablecloths, 12 nice shirts and blouses (including some DKNY, J. Jill, and Ralph Lauren!), two skirts, 5 girls skirts, 8 girls dresses, 3 girls shirts, 4 baby boy shirts (Talbot’s!), darning needles, knitting needles, yarn, some fabric, a knitting book, 2 kids books, and a beaded purse?  Florida has the best thrift stores, hands down.    I mean, finding a Laura Ashley girl’s dress in the 50 cent bin??  Getting to the Family Thrift on 99 cent day??  For a thrifty girl like me, it is a big thrill, to say the least.

Hope you had a day of gratifying frugality, too!

Nostepinne – a knitter’s tool

Last year for Christmas, my father made me a nostepinne out of some black walnut he had been saving from a tree that stood in my grandfather’s Indiana yard 40 years ago.  It is a really special gift, and I use it a lot. 

Yes, a ball winder is faster, but a nostepinne is portable, and the natural wood feels very nice in the hand.  It is easy to use once you get used to it, and makes nice self-pulling balls, especially handy if you knit on the go, looping your ball onto a holder, then on your beltloop and knitting while you walk around.  You can only do this with a self-pulling ball.

Some yarn I’m prepping (using my nostepinne) for a new project:

More on the project when I get a few inches completed.

Thanks to everyone who has been leaving such thoughtful and encouraging comments of late.  I am truly honored and overwhelmed at the recent traffic on my little blog, and I really appreciate your kind words.  Those of you with blogs of your own – I am daily inspired and challenged by your creativity and domesticity and artistry.  Keep posting, I’ll keep reading and learning from you!

Pixie Hat FO

Over the weekend, I finished the pixie hat for my boy.  An easy knit in fingering weight handspun on size 3 straights – simple knit/purl alternations with twisted cord for the ties (I personally think the ties make the hat - much better than the I-cord version in the Ravelry pattern).  I think I will be making more of these in the future for baby gifts, and might try sizing it up for TumTum when he outgrows this one.

Other knitters who’ve made this hat – Life in Color, Miss Sticks, WhistlePea Knits. 

I hope it still fits when we get back from Florida!  Okay, off to the airport!

Snowbound Knitting

We are snuggled up in the house for yet another day.  Three cars have gotten stuck in the deep snow on our street, the weatherman says the driving is very dangerous, and another 2-5 inches of snow are expected tomorrow.  Right now, my husband is shovelling the walkway to ease his cabin fever.  We are grateful to not have to leave the house and drive anywhere.   

The girls are in their room playing Susan and Lucy at Cair Paravel (we all finished reading the entire Chronicles of Narnia two nights ago, and the girls are caught up in it with their make-believe.) 

I am, at the moment, curled up on the sofa, holding a sleeping baby.  I spent the afternoon working on a little pixie hat for Tum Tum, listening to these talented ladies sing Christmas music.  (The yarn, by the way, is from Sacred Lily Farm’s Jacob sheep.  It is beautifully handspun fingering-weight 2-ply - wonderful to knit with.  My friend, Sana, raises and cares for her sheep with so much love and diligence, and she spins beautiful yarn.  I wish she had a website, so I could share it with you!)

I hope you’re keeping warm and safe in this weather, enjoying the peace of a hibernation day.

Toasty

Kristi – don’t read below – Christmas present spoiler!

 

Finished a pair of these for my sister-in-law for Christmas (I also plan to make a grey pair for myself, like A Friend To Knit With‘s originals, after Christmas). 

They were knit from Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride in Victorian Pink.  I made a few little modifications, and am really happy with them.  Two snowy evenings of relaxing knitting (while holding a sleeping baby and watching John Adams) and they were done!

With some leftover yarn from other recent knitting, I also churned out a few coffee sleeves to go with them (my SIL is a Starbucks addict, so I thought they’d be appropriate.)  The pattern is here.

Okay, back to finishing packing and trying to get through on the jammed airline phone system to see if we can get a flight out. (The newsreporter just said some folks can’t get replacement flights until Christmas Day!  Our flight isn’t technically canceled yet, so they can’t rebook us, but ALL the other flights before our flight have already been grounded.  If ours is grounded, we’ll be the last to be looking for open seats – and we are a family of 5 – not so easy to rebook.   Doesn’t bode well…but it just goes to show how little control we really have over things… )

Wishing you all peace and comfort in the midst of a blizzard and stressful holiday travel.

Evangeline

Cold, rainy, miserable weather today.   I was glad I had finished my Evangelines because I sure needed them! 

I found this pattern via A Friend To Knit With, and stuck it in my stack of “gotta try these” patterns.  Recently, while thumbing through the stack to look for baby sweater patterns, I came across it again, and thought they’d make a nice quick little project.  They were a quick and easy knit – on size 7s with Lamb’s Pride in “plum” that I had leftover from another project.  I did one and a half times the repeats for a length I thought would be more wearable. 

I felt like I deserved to treat myself after all of the baby shower knitting I’ve been doing lately.  They took me about three days, and I would definitely make them again.  But for now – back to finishing Christmas presents!

FO – Baby Sweater

Days of being able to sit and knit for hours on end while I watch Jane Austen movies and drink tea happen so rarely nowadays.  That it not the current season of my life, and I am glad for the busy-ness and responsibilities that come with having little ones, but it means that knitting projects are slow to be completed.  For everything there is a place and time

Yesterday, I finally got an hour to sit down, assemble the green baby sweater I started ages ago, and sew on the ribbon ties.  (Not sure I would make this again, though.  I knit it to gauge, added a few stitches on either end, and it still knit up too skinny for my liking, but maybe the friend’s son will wear this when he’s born won’t be quite so barrel chested as Tum Tum!)

The pictures don’t do the color justice.  It’s a deep emerald green, with cobalt blue ribbon ties.

Now, on to the next baby project. (Why is it that everyone seems to be having babies this winter, right when I’ve got Christmas gift knitting/sewing/baking/canning to finish??)

Hats for my baby boy

I finished this hat a few weeks ago.  It’s a Debbie Bliss pattern that I altered quite a bit, made of 100% merino handspun (although, not my handspun – I bought it at an estate sale.)

After two ladies in two different places asked me what my baby girl’s name was, I thought I should probably make him one in a different color.  (I personally don’t think purple is a particularly “girlish” color, but I guess some folks do.)  So, here’s the one I made in yellow.