Ethan's Blanket

Ethan's Blanket, originally uploaded by da_mere.

I finally finished my first nephew's blanket. It looks like more of a shawl. My gauge, as usual, was completely off. The blocks, which were supposed to be 10" square, are not square...and are not 10". There were supposed to be three squares per row, but there are two. It's all over the place. I'm going to sew it in half. It will be particularly thick (important to a baby due in May in North Carolina), but at least it will be the right size.

Happy Birth, Ethan! Love, Your Aunt.

Costa Rica Bound...

What oh what should I knit in Costa Rica? More importantly, what should I knit on the trip to and from Costa Rica?!

I'm working on Ethan's baby blanket, but I don't really want to work on that. I also have that cable-knit chunky shawl, which I really like, but I want something new and exciting. Of course, two WIPs is probably enough. I could probably even finish both this trip if I were so inclined.

We'll soon discover if I am wise or if I'm a knitwit!

Trellis & Vine Pattern Found (again)

Perhaps I already linked through to this, but had forgotten. Not sure. Regardless, my sister and a friend both were looking for this pattern. My sister so that I could knit her one, and my friend so she could knit her own (I hope! jk).

So I search Google again, and cam up with Trellis & Vine by Sauniell N. Connally from the MagKnits site. Enjoy! It's a truly wonderful pattern.

Flake on Parade

That's me. I was all excited about traveling to San Antonio because it meant lots of travel/down time during which I would finish knitting Ethan's baby blanket.

What did I forget at home? Yup. My knitting. The horror of it all!

Contralto Shawl (no flash)

Contralto Shawl (no flash), originally uploaded by da_mere.

This is one side of the Contralto Shawl. I've finished about 65% of this project, but wanted to show you at least the one side I have accomplished. I still have to finished the other side and sew up the pockets. After that, I'm golden. Ready to wear. Complete with label "From the Knitting Needles of Meredith Rendall", which my Mom gave me for Christmas. Love my mom.

Free Pattern...More Babies...and the greatest vintage piece ever!

Once the caplet and baby blanket were done, it was time to find more projects. I have a lot of travel coming up, and the best thing for me to do on a plane, in a car, or on a train is to knit!

First, I started on this Contralto Shawl, which I simply love! It's a wonderful vintage piece, and I can't believe I haven't seen something like this before, especially on the streets of New York!

Working on that project, for which I am using Cascade Yarns' Baby Alpaca Chunky, I learned that both my sister and some dear friends are pregnant. So, when I ran out of yarn for the Contralto Shawl, I ran back up to School Products with my colleague who had never been to buy cashmere for baby blankets.

No offense to my sister, but she has no understanding or appreciation for cashmere. So, I finally gave in and purchased some Kraemer Summit Hill, which is machine washable. Now I am working on Ethan's Baby Blanket, and hope to be done by my sister's birthday in March.

When that project is completed, I'll begin the blanket for my dear friends whose baby is due in July. I'm slightly ashamed to say they will get the cashmere baby blanket, because I know they will not put it in the washer and dryer.

Caplet Update

Gosh. How long it's been. I finished the caplet about which I was writing some time ago. Once again, my gauge was off, and I gave the piece to my friend's daughter. It really turned out rather charmingly, and I would recommend the pattern to anyone! It's quick, simple, and adorable.

I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I didn't. I just handed it over and hoped they would enjoy it. Alas!

Did someone say reNEWed interest in knitting...

I'm back on track. I've been knitting more than usual lately, which makes me happy. I finished a baby blanket in a basket weave pattern for some dear friends who just had their first child. I didn't think to take a picture of it before I gave it to them, so you'll just have to trust me - it turned out beautifully. I picked up some lovely cashmere at close-out prices at School Prodcuts some time ago. I only now used it for this particular project. I don't know what I'll do with the leftover yarn. I'm not sure it's enough to do much with, certainly not enough for mittens or the like. Maybe I'll just knit a thin scarf and see how long it lasts...

With the baby blanket completed, and road trips on the way, I needed another project. So, I headed to Gotta Knit!, which is near my office. There I picked up the perfect yarn for this little Anthropologie-esque caplet. Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to the picture, and now I don't think I like the finished product, too short. I don't really like the cropped effect, so I'm hoping someone else likes it and I can give it away. It has been a really easy knit, though; I would highly recommend it to someone looking for a mindless pattern.