Spitting Yarn

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Happy new year, all!

All is well in our camp.  The bump is growing apace and the little one is delighting in digging his mini-elbows/feet/hands into the nooks and crannies created by my internal organs.  We had our first ante-natal class and it was a timely reminder that we do need to get prepared, and soon!

I’ve been meaning to post for some time but for once, too much material rather than too little was the problem.  Where to start?

How about with our 2008 Gocco’d Christmas cards?

I went for something simple and light on ink to ensure I could whip them out quickly and easily.  They didn’t quite turn out as I hoped (I should have used red ink so the candy cane font worked better), but I like them all the same.

In the run up to Christmas, I was determined to craft a few presents, both because I can and also to help us conserve funds.  I was also keen to try a few new things to keep me engaged with the process and stretch me a bit.  The main thing I worked on was a set of grocery bag dispensers to gift to the ladies in my family.  I forgot to get a picture of all of them, but here’s a couple I made.

The new skills involved here were applique and making yoyos.  The yoyos were easy, but the applique was tougher than it looked(!)  My attempts to machine applique were fairly disastrous, so I resorted to hand-sewing them on.  I used this tutorial for the dispenser, in case you’re interested.

I had grand plans to make bags for my friends, but the first one I made took so long, I didn’t have time to make any others!  The one I did manage to make turned out quite well, though.  It looks reasonably professional and very cheery.

I was particularly pleased with my first attempt at french seams.  They made the final product so neat and tidy.  For this project, I used a great Sew, Mama, Sew! tutorial which you can find here.  Want to see my seams?  Go on then.

It wasn’t all sew, sew, sew though.  I also whipped up a cashmere cowl for an outdoorsy type.

I used the Chickadee pattern again for this and some beautiful, buttery, blue Posh Yarn cashmere.  I was a little disappointed to find some stray pink dye splodges in the skein, but I was zen with it.  It didn’t ruin the overall effect of the piece, and it was so soft.

Finally, I also tackled another little vest for the Piplet.  It appears I still suck at cable – I can’t get the purl stitches which follow knit stitches to sit snugly, however hard I pull on the yarn.

I pretty much followed the pattern, except I knit slightly less before and after the cable section so that it would fit a new baby.  I also knit a couple more rows of ribbing at the neck and arms than stated in the pattern.  Overall, it still looks sweet, but I might try it again without the owls and perhaps add a contrast cast on/bind off or stripe, instead.

Phew!  I have been a busy bee.  I have a wee pair of Koigu socks on the needles at the moment.  It’s good to be knitting socks again.