Knits for the Boy Kid

Hooded Sweater Shirt


The boy and the sweater are a work in progress.

Basic notes:
I wasn’t getting gauge so I knitted to add more stitches for the back. I was getting 5st/inch and didn’t want to go up to a size 10 needle to see if that would make a difference. So I first thought 62 sts for the back sts would be fine but needed to add more increase rows to get the raglan long enough for some arm/sleeve room. So I ended with 70 sts.



Specs:
US 7 for the ribbing and US 9 needles for the sweater
Lion Brand Wool Ease in Denim Twist I used 4.5 skeins.
Children's Hooded Tunic #232 by Diane Soucy




Skull Cuffs - The Bead Goes On by Renee Ladd from Stitch and Bitch Nation.



Wildfoote Black Sock yarn, some beads and size 2.0mm needles. I made a pair for his birthday. I knitted them up and kept them on the needles so I could add more rows if needed since the pattern was designed for an adult wrist. Some day I'll get a pic of him wearing them.

Autumn Romance Pullover

I started this last September and got quite a bit finished then got stuck on how to shape it as the directions in the magazine were not clear. Then I got help from the designer and made some tweaks myself so I finally finished it this spring.



Specs:
Autumn Romance Pullover by Annette Petavy in Interweave Crochet Fall 2007
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Hempathy about 6 skeins of it almost 1000 yards or so. I bought 8 but I have almost 2 full skeins left over and some small balls too. I really like this yarn and will use it again.
Hook: H/5.0mm

I didn’t do the shoulder shaping like it was written. I just didn’t like how it looked and my shoulder’s don’t slope that much. I did just two rows of shaping and made it go more gradual.

I wish I had crocheted the sleeves a little shorter but I don’t mind the length. I think I did gradual increase every 4th row or something like that until I got the the patterns requirements then I worked even.

I slipped stitched the sides, shoulders and sleeves for more stability. I wish I had done it a bit loosely but it doesn’t look bad. I did the back stitch for the shoulders and that turned out well and I will use this method more often sewing together crocheted sweaters.

The edging called for 4 dcs and I did 3 dc as I didn’t want an over ruffled look.

I'm alive and well

I did have a cold last week but we all get better just in time for Halloween. We didn't do much decorating like we have done in past years. I totally forgot to take picks of the kids. Jade was a with and Corbin was well something kind of scary. He was going to be a a cowboy but changes his mind at the last minute.

The week before that we went camping south of Wichita It was a bit cold at night but kind of nice to get warm by a fire with s'mores and a hot cup of cocoa. We did lots of cooking over the fire and baking potatoes in the coals. The night sky was brilliant where we camped and we some shooting stars.

I've been busy getting all my wips wipped. I finally finished dear hubby's Gryfindor scarf. It make him look courageous don't you think ?



Specs:
free pattern on atypically.knit
Plymouth Encore Yarn
16" size 8 needles

This never ending scarf was not enough for me as I plan to cast on a Ravenclaw one for my son. I will cast on 70 sts instead of 90sts. So hopefully it won't take so long. I need to get a bit more yarn so I can make hubby a matching hat.

I finished sweater for me:



This is an adapted Suzanne Sweater from Cool Crochet by Melissa Leapman. It called for a hood and I made it a scooped neck cardigan instead by shaping the neck while I shaped the arm holes. I need to get some better pics and a close up if the buttons which are silvery look with a celtic design.

I used double crochet post stitch for edging around the neck and the bottom of the sweater. Then I did a crab stitch to finish it off and on the sleeves. I used about 8 skeins of Cascade Heathers and an H hook.

I ordered some yarn because dear daughter wants a cardigan like it. I got some yarn for me make another cardigan too. I don't have hardly any sweaters. So I am spoiling myself this winter.

I'd like to make a promise that I will post more often this month but I'm also trying not to spend so much time online. So we shall see.

too many wips ...

too many works in progress (wips) that is.

I say I have too many wips and I just might because I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. But truly I like having several projects to work on because they each have their place. If I'm bred with one I pick up another. I'm know to start another project, usually small ones in between all this too. Did you see all the dish cloths I made? I've been working on those more than these lately.

Like my crocheted sweater has some patterning to it and needs some attention so it good for quite time at home. This is the Suzanne Hoodie from Cool Crochet by Melissa Leapman. I making out of a heathered purple yarn wool yarn by Cascade. The pic really doesn't do the yarn color justice.


The Harry Potter scarf is great for car knitting (I'm not the one driving, I promise!) I like taking to homeschool group too. I got lots done on this visiting the in laws.


The socks in progress I'm doing a basic knit on the foot so they are also good out for an about project. I keep these in my purse for emergency knitting ie. the kids are taking forever at the library or at the grocery store. I got some done on these this weekend too.


I have the ripple gahn but it's unlikely I will do much on it until it gets cool again.



I also have some thread grannies and yarn grannies I'm doing. I see these as long term use up the stash projects. The ripple ghan is like that too.

This doll spiral blanket I really need to finish. I know my daughter will love it because she picked out the colors. I have a hard time working on it because it just doesn't excite me at all. I will persevere.



I crocheting this lovely Chrysanthemum Shawl from Amazing Crocheted Lace. I'm not far from finished. I'm using Soy Silk yarn from Southwest Trading Co. It is divine. Been working on this today.


The exchange bag from Happy Hooker. It's made from nylon yarn from omega. I'm not really a bag/purse person but I love the looks of this so I had to make it.


See this afghan, blockas are from 200 crochet block by Jan Eaton, I *still* have not woven in all the ends.

Spiral Baby Sweater - NaBloPoMo#6

I had quite a bit yarn of the Plymouth Encore Yarn left over from my Bohemian Jacket so I decided to make a friend of mines little one a sweater. Encore is a perfect yarn for babies and kids because it's warm and most importantly washable. Encore also has so many color choices. My interest in freeform crochet inspired me to make a spiral motif for the back.

I used the instructions I found here to make the spiral. I did tweak the increass a bit to prevent wavyness. After I got it to a size that seemed about right I added dc, tr, and dtrs to make it more square. After that I felt it needed a bit more length and added some to the bottom of the back.

I took a look at some of my old patterns to see how big the sleeves and fronts should be for a toddler size sweater. I used fpdc, dc alternating for the sleeves and front. I think it would be fun to add small spiral pockets to the front as well.

It was a bit big for her son at 6 months but worked with the sleeves rolled up. It fits him well now at one year. I want to make another one soon and write up the pattern. I'm not sure if I will make it free or to sell though. The trick will be to make it in enough sizes and that's a new thing for me.

Bohemian Jacket - NaBloPoMo#5

I made this Bohemian Jacket from Hip to Crochet at the beginning of the year and I never blogged about it. I LOVE IT. I was worried the motif on the back would make it less warm but it quite cozy. I used it for the rest of the winter as my coat.

It's my first and only wearable. Except for the motif which took me several tries to figure out what I was supposed to do, it was fairly easy to complete but I enjoy an challenge. If I started it today it would make more sense because I was still new to crochet when I made it. There were few errors that I caught. In one instance it said to ch5 where usually you would ch3 so that's what I did. I needed to add an extra chain to the starting chain for the tunisian crochet lapel and for the cuffs to get the correct number of tunisian stitches for the pattern grid shown in the book. Hey, maybe I'm the one who is all wrong.

Here it is almost ready to sew together:



a close up of the sleeve


Speaking of tunisian crochet, this was a new technique for me and I learned how to do it to complete the jacket. The lapel and the cuffs use. Then the flower design is cross stitched using the grid of the tunisain stitch.

Here's a close up of the tunisian crochet:


The motif on the back:


It took me about 2 weeks to make, working every moment I could and staying up late nights. (Kids? what kids?Husband? what's that? ) The yarn for it cost me about $60-70 or so. I had lots left over. I used Plymouth Encore instead of the MUCH more expensive yarn suggested. The jacket has pilled some but still looks good to me. So far it's the only thing I have made from Hip to Crochet. I do have a few other things I would like to make: the tapestry bag(s), the caplet looks cute, and the linen baskets.

I need a better picture of me in the jacket.
I look a uncomfortable with the sun shining in my eyes.


Can you tell purple is my favorite color?