What is in the water???

While I got rid of my resolution list, I still have many project lists. One of which is devoted solely to baby items. So many friends have had babies the past few years and this year promises to keep pace with production.

A beautiful baby girl was born in early January so her blanket is first on the list. It's actually a good thing I didn't start it before she was born because everyone was convinced she was going to be a he. I had more boyish colors selected for the blanket which would have been used had it not been for my tardy start to making it. (Note to self - when the parents want to be surprised the day of delivery, either make a unisex color and style blanket or make two blankets to be ready for the surprise.)

Two more blankets for April and August babies, one of which is a boy (ultrasound confirmed). These are for two former coworkers from my last job. Not only do I want to make them blankets because they are great friends, I also owe them since I moved on to such a wonderful job and left them back in the trenches.

A hat was recently completed for a friend from high school - the wonders of Facebook to connect old friends! She saw the apple hat and wanted one for her first.

When these projects are done and delivered, I should probably start another baby blanket or two so I don't find myself so far behind when the next wave of pregnancies are announced.

What is making up your to-do lists this year?

Completed Project: Blueberry Hat #2

I was particularly fortunate to have a stash of completed baby hats on hand when I found out about a new coworker who is expecting twins - a boy and girl. With no time to make blankets, hats were the answer.

I had both a blue and a red hat completed previously but they had different tops. Not because anyone would have cared and not because anyone would have said something - but because I had a problem with the difference, I had to have a matching pair. So I quickly cast on for another blue hat.





As always, details on Ravelry.

They were a big hit for both Dad and Mom as well as with my coworkers. And the babies should be arriving any day now!

Completed Project: Baby Set (hat and booties)

This set is for a cousin due in December/January but with a baby shower in early November. They are keeping the gender of the baby a surprise until the birth so this set is in yellow and the baby blanket I'm making will be in lavender.



Both patterns came from Knitting-A-Day calendars though it is not actually a set (2 different patterns). Details (yarn, needle size) can be found on Ravelry for the hat and the booties.

For the hat, instead of sewing the brim to make a picot edge, I thread ribbon through the holes to match the bows on the booties. If I were to make the hat again, I'd leave out the holes and the picot and just have the brim roll up.

I was reminded when making both projects that I really need to learn to check the properties of the yarn I'm substituting for the yarn called for in the pattern. The yarn I used has a bit too much stretch so I'm not as happy with the results.

I have to buckle down and crochet! crochet! crochet! the baby blanket that must arrive in Massachusetts by November 6. But the sock yarn on my shelf is tempting me to bring DPNs and a skein with me to Chicago.

Completed Project: Baby Hat (1 of at least 5)

While all's been quiet on the blogging front, I have been busy knitting away the summer. I've needed to keep all needles going at every break since I currently have five...count 'em FIVE... prego friends who are all due between November and January.

During my last trip to St. Michaels and Frivolous Fibers, I bought 2 skeins of Encore yarn because they came with a free hat pattern. The pattern came in newborn and toddler sizes. I got one in blues and one in purples/pinks since the gender of two babies is known (boys) and the other three are surprises and/or unknown right now.

Last Sunday, on the train ride home from New England after my brother-in-law's wonderful wedding, I cast on for the newborn sized hat. That evening, while watching TV, I had a finished hat. I couldn't believe I finished it in one day! Sure, the 7 hour train ride helped but still, I must be a tad bit faster at knitting than I was before.



This first hat is for Julie's baby boy who is due in early December. All details are available on Ravelry. I'm hoping to make another newborn hat from the same skein and maybe even have enough yarn left over to knit up some matching booties or socks. If not, the yarn was under $6.00 per skein so I can always pick up another one (or more depending on how many other pregnancy notices I get in the coming months).

Between the hat and the socks I'm working on (yes - I'm really making socks!) I've come to really love my DPNs... yes, the same DPNs that used to scare me with all their points sticking out. I think the switch from slippery metal to smooth bamboo DPNs made all the difference.

Completed Project: Cotton Baby Wash Cloth

Using the Lace Dish Cloth pattern, I used some green striped cotton yarn to make this cotton wash cloth to go along with the Shades of Irish Green baby blanket.

Believe it or not, these are three photos of the same project. The lighting and background made them look very different. All the details are on Ravelry.







The blanket, the wash cloth and some baby onesies will be shipped off to South Carolina next week. Baby Decklin or Saoirse will have them all for his/her arrival in May.