Dapple, Dapple

I did a thing and I designed my own cowl. This is a huge leap for me because I really never thought I'd be able to come up with something original. Even with this not being an existing pattern, I'm surprised it isn't because it's pretty simple. In any case, I'll take it. My original is done with fingering weight yarn, but I'm preparing to make another one with DK weight. I think it'll fit better with the same numbers in DK weight. Next, I will be figuring out pattern grading. I have found some resources and I've set up a very small "office space" in the corner of my living room. It's just a corner desk we set up down here for remote, pandemic schooling in 2020 and 2021. Now, it's my office space and hopefully it'll help me to keep my focus and even do more blogging. Grading requires math and that's not my strength, so I will need the formal office set up, I think. I will post my process and progress here. Eventually, I think I'll even get my own "real" website! I have a lot of ideas for all of this and I have more design ideas. I just have to keep my focus on one thing at a time. Pictures will have to weait. I'm rusty on blogging. LOL It's exciting, though!

Review: Miles Kimball Knitting Tote Bag

One day in mid September, one of my dear friends posted a link to a fabulous looking knitting bag on my Facebook page. I wasn't looking for yet another bag of any sort to buy, but this knitting bag looked very interesting so I had to check out the link. From the blog site I went to the Amazon store and lo and behold; it was ON SALE for an INSANE savings! I was SOLD, so I ordered it.

I. Love. This. Bag. I was fortunate enough to catch this tote on sale, but it is well worth the regular price! I love that it allows for yarn storage; has the holes on top for keeping working yarn in one place; and has even more space in the back of the tote. The pockets are perfect for storing needles, books, and patterns. I like that one side zips. I keep patterns that are not bound in the zippered pocket. It keeps it away from the elements (weather) when traveling. I can fit multiple projects in the back section and it makes traveling with my knitting a piece of cake! I highly recommend this bag for any knitter/crocheter.

These pictures I took don't do it any justice. Granted, it's not a fancy bag, but it is so very practical and handy! It can hold 6 WIPs in the front clear pockets. There are holes at the top that allow for the working yarn to come though the top of the bag. This is nice if you don't travel with your projects. l like to take it with me and this bag accommodates me well!

Front view: clear pockets can hold 6 skeins of yearn with holes on top for WIPs. Each pocket zips.

Side pocket with zipper. Nice for storing needles and patterns.

Side pocket that doesn't zip. Nice for needle storage. I also have my stitch notebook tucked in here.

View of the top.

Back section that zips. Holds more yarn, notions, pattern books, etc.

My crafty collage to put it all together.

The Traveling Scarf: NC State Fan

Not long after I got home from the hospital another scarf arrived! The owner of this scarf is a big NC State fan. Apparently, their colors are red and white like a candy cane. I am not a big college sports fan so I am in the dark. I'm also still recovering from my C-section so I am not in a position to run out and buy red yarn. I have red yarn at home (I'm recovering at my parents' house so I have help with my son while I get settled with the baby), but I'm not sure my husband would be too keen on digging through my stash to bring it over here. I have burgundy yarn on hand so that is what I've used.

I wasn't sure I'd get it done, but I was able to turn it around pretty quickly. I didn't get a before picture of this one. The pattern of choice for this one was soda pop scarf. It's a fun stitch pattern. I think I could've used needles that were maybe one size larger for a squishier effect, but this is still okay.

My section is pretty dark compared to the rest, but I see I'm not the only one with a dark yarn. The last "red" person also used a burgundy color. I hope the end result is satisfactory.

At Last; Another Scarf!

After waiting for over a month to receive another scarf, the next installment of The Traveling Scarf project finally arrived. The color scheme for this one consists of grey, army green, brown, black, purple, burgundy, or turquoise. I have a lovely burgundy yarn that I would like to have used, however, the section I was adding to was a shade of burgundy already, so I opted for grey.  I really wanted to use my Caron United and since burgundy was out, grey was in!

The pattern instructions were very flexible. We could use any pattern we chose, so I found a stitch pattern I liked called Chain of Hearts. I found it on Pinterest, which is where I've been finding most of my scarf stitch patterns. It's a simple lace rib pattern, but I'm not so sure it looks like hearts. The site where I got the pattern used a much lighter weight yarn than the worsted weight I used. Perhaps it is meant for lighter weight yarns, but I still like the look of it. I guess I can sort of see the hearts in the pattern the more I look at it.

While I had hoped to get this scarf mailed before I went to the hospital, I didn't make it to the post office. Fortunately, I did get it finished before I went to the hospital; which was more important. I needed to get a bigger envelope. The scarves have outgrown the envelope size I've been using up until now.
These scarves are getting so long they don't really fit on my coffee table anymore, either! I have just thrree more scarves to finish and then I will receive my own scarf back. I can't wait to see it!

She's Here!

Our much anticipated arrival date arrived! Our baby girl was born on August 31, and this little munchkin is the smallest baby I've ever seen in person! Her birth weight was a mere 5 lbs. 15 oz. and she was 17 inches long. While we were at the hospital, she lost weight and dropped to 5 lbs. 6 oz. so we are now watching to make sure she maintains and gains. My point here is that she is definitely swimming in her dress, but it still looks good on her! She'll be able to wear it awhile so when it starts getting colder she will have a warm dress she can wear.

All We Need is the Baby

I finally got Baby Girl's dress blocked! I figured it might be a good idea to do it now since I'm scheduled for a C-section in exactly one week! The sleeves don't curl so much now. This pattern has no gauge written for it, so size may not be accurate. It's written as newborn, but we'll see. If she's a small baby, she'll be swimming in it. Regardless of how it fits, I plan to have her wear it anyway. If it's big she will just grow into it and wear it longer. I can't wait!

Knitting at the Crack of Dawn

I've been having trouble sleeping lately, which has resulted in my waking up at 5:00 a.m. or earlier. The other day I took advantage of this time to work on the baby's dress. I've finished one sleeve and just have to finish the other sleeve, sew the Picot edges, and weave in the ends; oh, and of course blocking. The pattern calls for crocheting the sleeves, but since I don't crochet, I have modified the sleeves to match the Picot edge of the skirt.

Here (left) is a closeup of just the bodice and the sleeve that is completed. I think it will work nicely with the Picot edge instead of the crochet. Maybe one day I will master crochet, too; but that day is not today. There are too many knitting projects I want to do! I can't have a distraction like crochet to deter me from knitting all the things!
Below is the entire dress so far. I'm happy with how it is coming along.