Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea (Ravelry Link); size 6-9 months

Yarn: Knitpicks Comfy Worsted in Peapod (2 hanks), Honeydew and Silver Sage (1 hank each); size #7 and #5 circular needles

Started April 21, 2010, Completed May 22, 2010

After the disasters that were the baby blankets, this was an extremely easy and enjoyable knit. The yarn is super soft but I predict it will wash very nicely. I’m hoping that it’s warm enough but not too warm for a baby in the hot North Carolina summer. But then again, some folks really turn up the AC, so this might actually get a chance to be worn, right?

My favorite part, though, has to be the button. Sometimes, the little details really make the sweater:

How freaking cute is that frog?

Modifications: Because the neck seemed a little small, I added a few extra chain stitches to the button loop to make it easier to get over the button, and give a little extra room while wearing. Also, a note for next time: The pattern did not indicate to pick up any extra stitches under the arms when working on the sleeves. I will definitely do that next time.

All in all, though, a success! I love it, and I hope my niece and my great-nephew do too!

Nevermind. I don’t want to remember the couch fiasco.

One thing I made a point during that insane week was to carve out some time for was to find one of the local yarn shops. And while I was there I bought some yarn, enough for a sweater. And during the insanity that was that week, I cast on for a sweater.

And now, more than a year later, it’s finally, finally done:

Pattern: February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne (adapted from the pattern “Baby Sweater on Two Needles,” aka the February Baby Sweater, from Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac) (Ravelry Project Link)

Yarn: Cascade 220 in Garnet Heather, exactly 5 hanks on size #8 circular needles

Started: September 14, 2008  Finished Knitting: December 2009

I used exactly 5 hanks of yarn for this sweater. I allotted four hanks for the body since it was knit from the top down in one piece, I could just keep knitting until I ran out of yarn. The fifth hank was divided in two, and I did the same – I knit on the first sleeve until I ran out, then matched the number of repeats on the second sleeve.

I admit that as I knit, I worried it would be too short. But this sweater was helped with blocking, which opened up the lace pattern, and stretched the bottom of the sweater to the absolutely perfect length.

Did you catch that I absolutely love my new sweater? Because I do. I really, really do. I’m only sad that we’re heading for spring so soon, and I won’t be able to wear it more before the warm weather comes!

Well, look who made a visit to the office this week. And look at what she was wearing!

First of all, aren’t they both just the most smiling, happy people you ever saw? I have to apologize to Mommy N., since I cut her face in half (whoops!). But I was just enamored by the smile Baby K was giving me. What a cutie!

And look! The sweater! It fits! I’m so happy, and it looked adorable in “action.” With those purple pants, it was just too sweet. Mommy N. had nothing but nice things to say about the sweater, and I’m just so happy she likes it. Hurray for awesome co-workers and their adorable babies!

And it was finally chilly enough to wear today. Yay!

Pattern: Central Park Hoodie by Heather Lodinsky (aka, the pattern that made Knitscene famous)

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Chinatown Apple, 5 skeins on size 7 and 9 circular needles

Started: August 23, 2009 Finished: October…10th? I think? 2009

Mods: Skipped the hoodie. Instead, picked up the same amount of neck stitches, and knit 4 inches of 2×2 ribbing. Then, when I picked up the buttonbands, I included the collar. No buttonholes, instead crocheted loops on the edge of the band for the toggles.

What can I say about this sweater that I haven’t already said in all of my previous blog posts? It’s a great pattern, extremely clear and easy to follow. The yarn is a dream to knit with, although it is already starting to pill a little (nothing a sweater shaver won’t cure).

It is so soft and cushy and comfy and WARM and I’m so glad I knit this. Even the seaming wasn’t so bad, really.

Did I mention I love this sweater? Even Ruby thinks it’s pretty cool.

Did you catch that? I completed FIVE projects in one day. Oh, yeah, it was a good day.

The baby sweaters are really cute, and one in particular is REALLY cute.

First, the cute one:

Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann (Ravelry Link)

Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Sport in Sky and Green Apple on size 4 needles.

Started: June 8, 2008. Finished Knitting: June 15, 2008. Seamed: September 13, 2009.

This was knit with absolutely no one in mind, but solely because I thought the pattern was so clever I wanted to see how it worked. I will admit that I had a little problem wrapping my head around it until I found someone online that had listed, row by row, how many stitches there should be, which helped immensely. I understand that newer versions of the pattern (available here) have been revamped to include this information.

I have to say, this is a fun, cute knit if you can stand all of the garter stitch. I’m not sure how well it would fit an actual human baby, especially around the neck, but I think that’s more of a fault of my seaming than the pattern itself.

While this still doesn’t have buttons, with the sleeves seamed and the ends woven in, I’m calling it DONE!

And now, the REALLY cute one:

Pattern: Tulips Cardigan by Dream in Color Designs (Ravelry Link)

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy kit from Coldwater Collaborative, “Anita’s Rainbow” colors, knit on size #5 and #7 needles

Started May 17, 2009; Completed September 13th, 2009

Could you just die from the cuteness? This is the baby sweater that I started knitting for the State Fair. Truth be told, I thought that this was too adorable to send off to places unknown, especially since there was a woman in my office expecting her first baby – and a baby girl, at that.

I’m a little late with this (Baby K. was born a couple of weeks ago) but I’ve been assured by the folks I work with that Baby K.’s mom N. will like it. Yay! Hopefully it will still fit Baby K. for a few weeks and she’ll be able to wear it!

This is the second one of these sweaters I’ve knit (I never wrote an FO post about the other one – whoops! It can be seen here on Flickr). I wasn’t a big fan of the colors in the first sweater, but the colors in this one are FABULOUS. I love the Dream in Color yarns so much, and I want to make a sweater for myself out of every color in this kit.I definitely recommend checking out Coldwater Collaborative for their extensive selection of these kits in many, many different colors.

Phew! That’s 2 projects taken care of. Now to photograph the others, and get them up here too! I can’t wait to show you the shawls. Next time!