One Last Project to Share and My Boy

Just days away from my little girlie coming now, and I have not gotten any sewing done! I had so hoped to, but with so much to do and carpal tunnel and knitting just being so much more accessible in my large state...well, it hasn't happened:-( Oh well! I guess I have some sewing projects to work on after she comes(and wont that be fun!?). At least then I will know just how big she really is!

Although I didn't get to my sewing(well, except for the burp cloths), I did get three knitting projects completed :-) Of course, you've seen the slippers and bonnet, but I couldn't resist using up some more of the yarn from the bonnet and making some bootees :-) These are from the same book I made the bonnet from and they were very easy. My troubles really were only from the carpal tunnel issues...a true labor of love!

The bootees were suppose to have little pom poms, but I decided I liked them without better and in this very simple state, they will match well with her bonnet:-) They are the smallest size in the pattern, but look like they should fit a bit larger...good thing if she is as big as they say!

With that, I will put away my knitting needles until later and perhaps work a little on the sewing before Tuesday. Tuesday we go in to meet our new babe and I am looking forward to this day. Now if we can all just get over our colds!

Before I go, I had to share some pictures of my dear little man that will soon look like a giant compared to his little sister:-) I love his smile! Pure joy and love:-)

Liam is an absolute doll and one of the sweetest fellas I know. I may be biased, but still I'll say it;-) He has his moments and well, he is two! But he is gentle, loving and oh so funny at times.

And I do believe we have a budding musician! He loves to play on Fiona's harmonica...and really the music sounds lovely to this mamma's ears:-)

Hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Sommer

A Sweet Knit Bonnet

I should be sewing dresses, I should be reorganizing rooms and checking off the must-haves for my sweet girlie...instead I keep knitting:-) I can't seem to help myself.

Knitting is something you can do whether you are watching a movie, talking to your hubby or just needing to sit back and rest your feet and back. The sewing machine..well, it needs to be dragged out, set up and isn't necessarily quiet. So knitting it has been!

This last month I've been working on the bonnet in the above picture. Again, this is another project that I knit up amazingly quick...for me:-) For the longest time I've looked for lovely knit bonnets(since I don't crochet) and they always have been hard to find. It is easy to find beanie caps and berets and such or to find patterns for crocheted bonnets...but where were all the knit ones?!

Well, I found one in a lovely little book called Easy Baby Knits by Claire Montgomerie. The pattern ended up being relatively simple, although my inexperience certainly gave me a run for my money!

I used the pattern called, simply, Baby Bonnet. It is a plain bonnet, but pretty. The trim around the face and ties is supposed to be in seed stitch...but...I messed it up and it came out in a 1x1 rib...go figure! Still looks nice, just not as pretty as seed stitch. Somehow(after casting on an obscene number of stitches...225)I lost some stitches in the ties. I have no idea how I did it :-D So the ties are not equal...but who cares? Not the baby:-) After all that and being tempted to give up, I got to work on the body and decreases and that ran quite smoothly and really turned out lovely. The neck band in the back was another new thing for me..I've never "picked up and knit" stitches before, so it is not as neat as I'd like, but again...who is gonna care? Not the baby:-)

I really am pretty happy with it and I will gladly make another. Hopefully, it will turn out much better the next time!

One thing that I'd read some people complained about with this particular pattern was how pointy it came out in back. Mine didn't end up too pointy, but it does have a darling pixie peak in back that I just LOVE! You can kind of see it in the picture below with Brenna modeling it for me. Yes, she is too big for it, but I had to have a model and Liam wasn't going for it;-)

I think Brenna looks cute and I think my sweet, new girlie will too:-)

Hopefully, the next crafty post I post will have sewing in it...but we shall see:-)

Blessings,
Sommer

Finished!

After just a few days of knitting and sewing(I think figuring out my gauge took longer than the actual knitting!) I have finished my Little Girlie's slippers! I'm excited by how fast they knit up. I've never knit anything this fast..I started on the 30th of January and finished last night:-) Perhaps some may chuckle at my excitement...I know that many can finish a project bigger than this quicker than I, but the last time I made booties...it took me a couple of months! So, to say the least, I'm thrilled:-)

As I said before, I used a bamboo/nylon yarn and really it was quite nice to work with. It had a lovely texture and sheen to it and was similar enough to the silk they suggested, that I am pleased with the look. They knit up differently than one might expect in that instead of knitting something like a sock, it came out flat and an odd shape. Once the knitting was finished I just needed to sew up the seams and put on any trim I chose. The sewing was really the most challenging part...kind of hard to get the seams to look smooth all the way around. One slipper is a little smoother looking than the other...but I am pleased with them over all.

I chose contrasting trim because I couldn't find any to match the color. But I like how the off white ribbons look. They make me think of little princess slippers:-) Can't you just see little, sweetly pink feet slipping into these? Sigh...

I will most definitely be making more of these and perhaps even making some for Fiona and Brenna if I can figure out how to increase the size up. My friend suggested increasing size of yarn and needles..so we will see. I also found a pattern for adult sized slippers that look like they are the same except for slight changes. I may have to make some for me as well:-)

Now, onto bonnets, day gowns and sweaters!

Blessings,
Sommer

Little Slippers for a Little Girlie

Along with all my sewing that I plan to do for my Little Girlie, I also have knitting plans. Perhaps my desires are a bit ambitious, but I hope to get the majority of what I want done...done:-)

Tilly rightly guessed that I was hinting at a little knitting project I was working on in my last post and so I thought I'd share what I am trying to make and my progress so far. Wow..lengthy sentence!

In the picture above you can see not only my project in progress, but also the book I got the pattern from and the finished project on the cover of said book. I am making these darling little slippers in a lovely coral colored bamboo/nylon yarn. The pattern calls for silk, but I decided I needed something more washable;-) You can either trim the opening with rosettes or use a ribbon tie to keep them on baby(or some other pretty little thing).

I went and did the majority of what you see there today, while enjoying tea with a friend at Peet's. What fun and thankfully I was with someone who is more experienced than I am in knitting..because I needed a little guidance in a technique I hadn't yet done. Thanks Nikki!

So far I am liking this pattern and if it continues to be an easy project, I will make more for when Wee Girlie is bigger:-)

If you are unable to see the whole title of the book(which I think is partially covered) I will tell you... Simple Knits For Cherished Babies by Erika Knight. There are quite a few little things in this book I'd like to knit up and all the patterns seem relatively easy.

When I finish, I will post pictures and give you a better review of the pattern:-)

Have a blessed Lord's Day my friends!!

Blessings,
Sommer