Major Knitter

Connections

Last night I picked up the latest Hug from Marienne Blanket that had been pieced together some weeks ago and was sitting on the pool table just waiting for further attention.

First I took a picture of the layout.  Then I carefully picked up the swatches in order.  Then I got out my Clover Locking Stitch Markers  to pin together the pieces following the photograph of the layout snapped earlier.  Finally I began crocheting the swatches together horizontally between rows.  Upon completion of the horizontal rows, I ended up with a blanket that is somewhat artistic in nature.

 I just love how it looks before the vertical connections are crocheted.  Today I'll do that, plus weave in the loose ends.  I'll probably leave the outer crochet edge for tomorrow.  I'll need something to do in the big blizzard of 2013!

All for Fall!

My nieces and nephews took their annual trek to the Great Pumpkin Patch near Grandma's house and my sister Ellen snapped this adorable picture.

My how they're growing!  But don't you just love the middle child?  Do you recognize what he's wearing?  Yup - it's his Wonderful Wallaby.  Awwwww.

Instant Gratification

You know how I love the feel of instant gratification.  I often like to knit quick and simple projects just so I can have a FO to share.  I guess that's what happened when I picked up some white baby yarn from my stash and some US Size 2 dpns and started knitting my favorite baby booties.

Before you knew it, I had a finished pair of Christine's Stay-On Baby Booties.

 

The Circle of Life

I finished up all the Christine's Stay-On Baby Booties with the 100g skein of yarn.  

How many booties did I make?

Five pairs of baby booties with an itty bit left over.

Ten individual booties standing at attention.

Who will be the lucky baby girls to receive a pair of these pretty in pink little baby booties?  Five fortunate females, that's who.

 

Perhaps a Knitter's Best Friend

I purchased a kitchen scale many years ago when Jane was visiting from London.  She gave me a lovely cookbook that required measuring things.  I've used the kitchen scale many times since, sadly, not that much for cooking.  It is my saving grace many times when I'm knitting a project and need to know how much yarn I have left.  Will I make it to the end of the project before I run out of yarn?  

A pair of baby booties (minus the ties) weighs 18 grams.  Look at how much yarn I have left?

51 grams of yarn left.  That means I can knit 2 more pairs of booties and have some yarn left over.  I probably would not have even attempted that final pair fearing that I would run out of yarn.  But thanks to my handy dandy kitchen scale, I can safely knit away, rest assured that I will be able to finish my endeavors.  That's peace of mind.  Yeah kitchen scale!

How Many Booties Does It Take to Get to the Center of a 100g Skein?

I bought one skein of KnitPicks Stroll in a variegated pink to see if I would like it for sock yarn.  I wasn't too keen on it for socks for myself, but knew that it would be great for baby booties.  Thus began my quest to see exactly how many baby booties I could squeeze out of a 100g skein of yarn.

one, two, three

four, five

and the beginning of number six.  I think I might quite possibly have enough yarn to knit seven and eight, too.  Won't that be dandy?

And if you're looking for a little Wednesday morning chuckle, please check out my pretend friend Kathy B's humorous contribution to Ravelry - 25 Ways to Cut Back Housework... and Free Up Knitting Time!

Finishing Friday - BSO Baby Booties

How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways?

When I need an ever-so-quick pick-me-up, nothing does it quite like Christine's Stay-On Baby Booties.  I use just about any fingering weight yarn I have - sock yarn, baby yarn, cotton, merino, acrylic, etc.  I always use a set of 5 dpns for this as the patterns works best with a needle on each side of the rectangle.  They take almost no time to knit.  These are about the perfect amount of knitting for 2 movies.  I managed to watch The King's Speech while knitting these.  I loved that Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle were reunited in a film - albeit not opposite each other this time as they were in Pride and Prejudice. This time she played the wife of the speech therapist.  I think Helena Bonham Carter reigned supreme as the Queen Mum.  Geoffrey Rush?  Well, what can you say.  I want to hire him as a speech therapist at home.  And Colin Firth?  How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways.  

But you already knew I had a little celebrity crush on him...

Whoops, I Did It Again

From where I sit in my Knit Nook, it was bound to happen sooner or later.  The pull was simply too big.

Those adorable little baby booties stare at me all day long, tempting me.

So, naturally, I picked some fingering weight variegated yarn, US Size 2 dpns and cast on for another pair of Christine's Stay-On Baby Booties.

Alluring, no?

Baby Needs New Shoes

My friend sent me a picture today of her little baby wearing his baby booties.

This is definitely a knitter's favorite type of thank you - photographic thanks!

And the timing is perfect as today is the coldest day of the year.  Brrrrr.

Twice Loved

Secundogeniture is growing at an alarming rate.  All those wonderful socks I knit for him last year no longer fit.  His paws are now a size 11.  Needless to say, I needed to find a home for all his beloved socks.

Ta-Da!  Here is a new found owner for the handknit socks.  Six pairs went to the midwest and are happily paired with new owners.  Ah - this is the life.