Monthly Archives: November 2020

A little Christmas Cheer

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It’s early, as I write this from the past (ooohh!), but it’s never too early to be thinking about Christmas. Especially if you’ve got plans to knit for Christmas. And boy, howdy, do I have plans.

Well, plan.

Just one. I’ve given up knitting Christmas gifts, because… well… it’s a lot of work, it’s stressful, and I just don’t wanna. Sure, I might make a pair of Christmas socks or a particularly special Christmas sweater from time to time, but I’m not doing the whole “everyone on my list gets a pair of mittens” thing this year. (And not just because we have a new member of the family this year.)

But I love a tradition, and one tradition we have is hanging stockings by the fireplace. We haven’t really filled them ever, but I love how they look, just as decorations, and I kind of love making them.

Plus, since our older kid and our dog both have stockings, it would probably be unfair if the baby was stocking-less.

So, I’ve dug the stockings out of storage, and re-ordered more Cascade 220 (thank goodness I actually kept the yarn tags from the last time I made a stocking, or I wouldn’t have had any idea about what shades of green and red to buy), and set to work knitting up a stocking for the little one.

Of course, I never took decent notes or wrote up an actual pattern, so I’m kind of guessing/using an old stocking as a general template. It’s simple enough for the leg of the stocking, but we’ll just have to see how it turns out… I really don’t remember how I did the heel…

And, while you read this, the baby will probably be born already (if there’s any justice in the world, anyway… I’m still a month+ out from my due date as I type this, and let’s just say, I’m ready to move on to the next phase of this thing), and should have a name. But, for now, I’m leaving the name blank, and will go in later with a little red yarn and duplicate-stitch in the letters.

It’s going to be so weird having 5 stockings hung up this year! (Assuming I can figure out the heel turn on this thing…)

Have you ever tried to re-create a project years after you made the first version? How did it go?

Big ‘n’ Little

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It’s true. I think I might be that mom (or at least I want to be that mom). The one who gets matching clothes for both kids. Because I can’t get over how cute these two sweaters are.

(OK, honesty time. I’m actually that mom that hasn’t gotten her kid to wear actual clothes in over a week. PJs at night, and sometimes during the day, sure, but mostly he just parties around the house in a diaper. If we leave the house, he has to wear clothes, but these days, is anyone actually leaving the house?)

(Further honesty time. I haven’t even gotten the kid to try on his sweater. I assume it’ll be worn at some time. Right now, I’m just enjoying the idea that he has a new sweater that he will be wear at some point. Hopefully before he grows out of it.)

Anyway. I love the “fraternal twin” vibe these sweaters have. Essentially the same, but just different enough.

Plus, they’re cute, even if they’ll never be worn at the same time.

If the kid ever deigns to wear his sweater, I’ll be sure to share a picture. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

I’m sure the baby will wear his- after all, he won’t be able to fight back as well as the two-year-old. Yet…

Have you ever made a project that you half-knew would never be worn?

Another one!

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I enjoyed making my kid’s striped sweater so much, that I’ve decided to keep going.

(Or, if you’re feeling less charitable, I’m having some real designer’s block, and can’t think of what else to make.)

But either way, I’ve decided to keep going, and make a newborn-sized version of the same striped sweater. I’ve still got a good chunk of Hawthorne, and I know how I made the big one, so I can crank out a bitty one pretty easily.

So I’m cruising through, I’m about halfway through the belly, and already thinking about the arms. It’s crazy how small this one feels after the 3-year-old-sized one. It’s going so fast!

Anyway, that’s how I ended up being that mom, who makes matching clothes for her kids. Sorry, kids.

Do you ever make favorite patterns in different sizes?

WIP #2

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I’ve got some exciting news. It’s good news (and we all need more good news these days), and it’s big (at least for me and my family)!

I’m having another kid! Wild!

Am I crazy? Maybe. Am I worried about being pregnant and having a newborn mid-pandemic? Absolutely (though, for what it’s worth, this whole ball got rolling before Covid really set in). Am I beyond excited to meet the little dude? Definitely.

And, since this kid will be a fall/winter baby (he’s due in a couple weeks!)- more excuses for knitting teeny tiny sweaters! (You know I’m only in this parenthood thing because of the tiny knitting opportunities.)

What will this mean for you? Hopefully, not much (except that there will probably be more baby sweaters on the blog in the immediate future). I’m working on building up a backlog of posts to cover me when it gets really hairy, but I’m still hoping to keep the blog going, posting once a week. And, I’m still planning on keeping my freelance pattern-writing going, though that might slow down for a bit. But, who knows what the future will hold? I can’t imagine I’ll have more free time going forward. Ha!

Do you have any favorite baby knits? Sweaters? Pants? Blankets?

Just Some Hats

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Hi folks! Nothing too special about today. Nope. Just a Regular Monday before a Regular Tuesday. I thought maybe we could spend this Regular Day looking at some hats, for no particular reason.

Hat number 1: Look at this one! Look at that pompom! I’m a sucker for a big ol’ pompom.

Vote Like it is 1920 by Molly Conroy

Hat number 2: Ooh, I really like the bold use of color on this bad boy. What a striking hat- red, white, and blue?!

Get Out & Vote Hat by nycraft craftivist

Hat number 3: I love the all-over stranded knitting pattern. So well-excecuted!

Please Vote by Leslie Roth

Wow! Those are some regular hats that I just really think are nifty. Nope, no ulterior motives for posting them here. No sir. **

Are there any regular old hats that you like?

** For the love of America and everything/everyone in it, if you haven’t already voted, please, please, please vote tomorrow. Voting is always important, but this year it’s insanely important. And, while I usually try to say “Vote for whichever candidate you prefer,” this year, I’m going to say “Please vote Biden/Harris.” Because, frankly, this election is literally a matter of life and death.

If you’re not sure where to go, this is a great resource.