Summer Vine Sweater

As the weather finally begins to warm, I remembered a great little summer sweater I knit for my daughters several years ago. 

Like before, I couldn't locate the pattern for this sweater, and I can't even remember what type of yarn I used.  Seriously, I am no help to those of you who are looking for a great summer knit.  I'm pretty sure the pattern was shown in the Patternworks catalog, and I think it was published in a book of summer knitting patterns.

The vine pattern on the bodice was knit in two pieces.  It was then turned and  the back and shoulders were picked up from under the arm to the neck edge and knit in one long piece over the shoulder to just below the shoulder blades.  The two shoulder pieces were then seamed together up the back.  To finish the lower body, stitches were picked-up along the lower edge of bodice and knit in the round, in stockinette stitch down to the ribbing at the bottom.  In addition, the sleeve ribbing was picked up and knit in the round.

The orange sweater was knit for Emily.  She must not have liked it much, because Carissa saved it from her goodwill donation bag.  (My children just don't appreciate my knitting talent).  Carissa loved her's though and was excited to have a second one.  Laura is modelling it in these pictures.

Laura really liked the sweater, and I convinced Carissa that the color looked better on Laura, with the red cast of her hair.  So . . . the sweater now belongs to Laura.  She will likely have to thread the front tie differently, to correct the center gap in the bust.  If the sweater had been knit for her originally, I would have accommodated for this problem in the knitting process.

The sweater is nice and cool for hot summer afternoons.  The yarn is a cotton/acrylic blend, that lends to the breathability of the top, as well as making it machine washable.  As you are aware, barbeque sauce seems to drip on everything we wear in the summer. 

I have been knitting away on some new things, as well as designing some new patterns.  I hope to have some of them ready for posting soon.  Happy Knitting!

The drawing for the baby sweater will be held on Saturday (April 30, 2011).  The lucky winner will be contacted for mailing information.  If you are interested in having it, simply sign-up as a "Follower" to this blog.  The i-Name of the winner will be posted next week.

Cables and Saddle Shoulders

Weight gain and loss have really affected this cabled sweater.

It was knit in stages, over a 3 month period, in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  It was probably the most difficult pullover I had ever knit, up to that point, and thus took me longer than any knitting project ever has. 

I found the pattern in a Knitpicks Catalog (I think it was a free pattern), but I cannot locate it now, as I have stacks and stacks of knitting magazines and pattern books.  I apologize to the designer, as I cannot give credit at this point.  My pullover was knit out of Knitpicks, Wool of the Andes (Moss), on Size US 6 needles.

It was originally made for my husband, Steve, but he gained a few pounds over the years it took me to complete, so he was never able to wear it.  I thought I would just wear it myself, but I have had a weight loss journey of my own recently, and it is far to big for me now (plus it is much to masculine for my taste).  Trever (my son-in-law and model in these pictures), has recently lost quite a bit of weight too, so I thought I had better post these pictures, before he remembered me taking them.

I learned a lot about knitting cables during this process, and you'll note the saddle shoulders are knit right to the front and back, and continue "in-the-round", down the sleeve to the cuff.  This was hard for me, as I like to put two (or four) sleeves on the needles at the same time.

It looks like Steve's green pullover will be returning to the cedar chest for a while, as it doesn't fit anyone right now.  Oh well . . . it was worth the knowledge I gained in the knitting.  Happy Knitting!

THERE IS STILL TIME . . . The drawing for the Backzip Baby Sweater (from previous post), will be held on April 30, 2011.  Sign up as a FOLLOWER, if you are interested in winning.



Hippity Hop Hop - Happy Easter

It's not too late!  Sign up as a FOLLOWER, for a chance to win the little white back-zip baby sweater from the previous post.  The drawing will be held on April 30, 2011.

A friend recently gave me a picture of the cutest little bunny hats.  I had never seen a hat where the ears were knit right onto the hat.  Adding the ears this way helps them stick straight up, instead of being floppy, like other bunny hats I'd seen, where the ears were attached, after the hat was completed.

The picture didn't list any information, so I cannot give credit to the designer, nor could I purchase a knitting pattern.  Thank you to whomever (?) came up with this great idea, and the darling colors. I decided to figure it out myself.  I knit mine in the exact colors pictured, because I thought they were so cute, for both boys and girls, and I thought they would be a cute Easter gift for my grandchildren.

Above are my four grandchildren (left to right) Ezek (Zeek), Emery, Nola and Easton.  Nola is an only child (so far) and the rest are siblings.  We took these pictures, when we all went to Idaho for Nola's first birthday party.

Nola and Zeek are only 3 months apart in age, and you can tell from Zeek's wet shirt that he is cutting teeth.  They both look just like their Dads.  Zeek's Dad is a 6'4" cyclist/basketball player, and Nola's Dad is a 5'11" Meteorologist/Weather News Anchor.  I guess this is the difference in their sizes.  But they are great friends, as well as cousins.

The hats were knit in Lions Brand -Vanna's Choice yarns, on size US 8 needles.

Nola and Zeek had a great time playing on Nola's new birthday slide. 

Happy Easter everyone!

Backzip Hooded Baby Sweater GIVE-AWAY

Backzip Hooded Baby Sweater
Size:  Newborn
Yarn:  Any worsted weight, washable yarn (softness counts)
Needle Size:  US 6 & US 8

During my years of knitting (over 40, as my Mother taught me to knit when I was 7 years old), I have become known for this little baby sweater.

It seems that I have knit at least a hundred of these little sweaters  It is a very useful little garment for a newborn, because it zips up the back.  It goes on baby easily, as their little arms are place in the sleeves from the front, then the hood is pulled over their head, with their little face looking out the front of the hood.  The baby is then rolled over, and the sweater is zipped from the hood tassle to the waist.

I'm not sure where the pattern came from, as my Mother taught me how to knit the sweater years ago.  The sweater starts with the hood, and moves down the body, all in one piece.  Once the raglan increases are all knit, the sleeves are placed on stitch holders, until the remainder of the body is complete.

Since I have made these sweaters for every newborn in my circle of friends and family, I generally cast two on the needles at a time.  You can see how the hood is knit first, then the neck ribbing, then the raglan sleeves begin.  The markers on the needles, remind me where the raglan increases are supposed to be made.

When the bodies are cast off, I place all four sleeves on the needles, and knit them all at the same time too.  This assures that all of the sleeves will be exactly the same length, although I often get a big knot in the four strands of yarn.  My daughter, Alex, has always said "poor baby", when I attach the tassle to the hood of these sweaters.  She thinks it makes them look a little goofy.  That is why I was sure to attach a tassle just like it, to her "Robinhood Sweater" (seen in previous post).  The zipper is then sewn in on the sewing machine, with care taken to assure both sides of neck ribbing and the sweater bottom match-up.

These are the four sweaters I just recently knit.  The two pink and one white are already awaiting the arrival of three little baby girls . . . BUT, THE SECOND WHITE ONE MAY BE YOUR'S.  I will be making a random drawing from my "FOLLOWERS" of this Blog, on April 30, 2011.  If you would like a chance to own this little sweater, sign up as a "Follower" (at right) today!

This is my little grand-daughter (Emery), right after she was born (9 years ago).  The sweater is best made out of a soft, washable yarn.  Formula always stains, and this sweater gets a lot of use in the first few months of life, when a lot of spitting-up occurs.  If you are not the lucky winner of the baby sweater "give away", we do sell them in white, pink and blue at our hair salon (Hair Waves, Midvale, UT) for $35.00 + tax.  Please contact me via comment on this Blog, and I'll send one to you.

My sweet friend, Tiffany, is expecting a baby girl in the next few weeks.  She wanted to learn to crochet, so she could make this darling little blessing dress.  I spent a few evenings with her, teaching her how to read the pattern, and how to make the various stitches.  She was a natural-born crocheter, and picked it up quickly.

It was a rather complicated design for a beginner, but after only one false start, she moved forward to completion.  She is amazing.  The pattern was found at: http://www.lullabiesandlace.com./  It is the "Angel Traditions Collection" downloadable for $6.50.

Hopefully, I can post a picture of the baby, wearing the dress, when she arrives.  . . .Happy Knitting!