Yoke Cardigan Success!

I am so happy with the results on the Yoke cardigan I made my baby girl. The yarn, the colour, the practice, it all came together. To be honest, I'm happy but hugely shocked. I figured there would be something wrong! (Here's where you keep your mouth closed if you see an error) (Thank you kindly)
:)

I used Lion Brand Nature's Choice Organic Cotton.
Olive.
Its SO soft. Perfect for a baby. Although the hand wash, lay flat part isn't entirely perfect for baby, but hey, its worth it.

After a test swatch it seemed the yarn and my gauge was knitting up too big. Of course. So I stuck with the 5mm needles but made the size smaller than the pattern called for and it worked out quite perfectly. Thanks for the suggestion mum!

And... hurrah, I tried a new technique.
The Magic Loop.
On the sleeves.
Aw yeah!
And I think I have a new way to knit in the round! Because I've only tried dble points once before I didn't have a habit to break. Thank goodness. Lord knows comfort zones are brutal for anyone to get out of!

I wanted to write 'A+' on the chalk board but that's a bit self serving isn't it? But maybe that's a new idea and I can grade myself! Hmm...

I thought the navy buttons were perfect on it. (They're not as royal blue as it appears)

I had to rip out the buttonhole band as I realized I hadn't actually made any button holes! But the bands turned out great in the end and not bunchy. Yay!

And I think she likes it.

The Yoke Sweater

I want to tell you about this adorable sweater that I knit. Or tell you about how adorable it was supposed to be.

I came across this pattern on Ravelry via Pinterest. And knew I had to knit it up.

I was lacking natural light for the photos so I apologize for their quality.

It is a pretty basic pattern that I figured I could start with. It could have turned out lovely.
A few things happened. I used a 100% acrylic that I found at Michael's in the discount bin.
*siren* Big mistake. I've learned my lesson on that thank you very much.

EDIT: Its not that acrylic doesn't have its place in this world... maybe just not on my needles...

I had hard time knitting the sleeves on double point needles. I just couldn't pull the stitches tight enough from needle to needle. Never mind trying to boss around 4 needles at once! Holy hanna it ain't easy. I mean look at this picture below. Its like trying to paint a beautiful canvas with a bunch of mosquitoes nipping at your ears but you need your hands to paint, then swat, then paint, then... see what I'm saying?

Then, by the time I finished it my daughter had fattened up so much (from her high fat diet instructed by the doc) that its a wee bit tight on her. Even for a two button style.

Proud girl modeling. Its hard to get her to sit still now though!

I do love the 3/4 length that came out though.

And while digging through my buttons my sister and I found these gorgeous vintage looking ones that would have been perfect. They have a mother of pearl finish to them. But they will be used another time!

Here's how they would have looked.

 What a 100% acrylic prevents is hiding your mistakes. An all (or mostly) natural fibre would allow you to wash and 'set' the stitches to hide the 'blips'. You can give it memory. And this first version needs much assistance in that category!

The change in stitching is from the needle to needle transfer. And can't be fixed with washing.

And this is how it looks laid out. Too messy.

I'm still happy to have knit it and learned new techniques though. Thank goodness for YouTube! And my mum on speed dial!

So I have gotten some new yarn. More in keeping with the type used in the pattern. A mustard yellow that I hope will block out better in the end to cover the gaps and errors. And if not, well, I'll just keep trying darnit!

Unlike June

We are in a new time for breastfeeding, very much unlike how June would have done.
Firstly; we do it.
Secondly; we do it in public.

Yesterday I took my new babe out for a walk for some new yarn and carried her in my "Faux-bie" as my girlfriend likes to call it. My home made Moby style carrier.

And it was close to nursing time but I didn't want to wait another half hour so I popped her in the carrier nursing style and voila! We walked along Queen West with her on my boob and no one the wiser! How mortified would June have been?!

Baby on the Boob!

Speed & A Smile

How do you deal when your 3 week old is wailing away although you're doing everything to help calm her and then your toddler kicks in too?

If this were the 50's or 60's one might have taken a Dexedrine and then washed it down with a Gin & Tonic. But then one also might have put their baby down for a nap on any other occasion and walked down to Betty's for a cigarette and a drink. I'm not sure June would have done either of those things but it may be why she was always so damn chipper! Of course I'm not assuming any women did these things, I just believe everything I see on TV.

Instead, I myself, put on the kettle and never get around to having that nice warm cup of tea... until hours later when they're all finally asleep! But just the thought of having a cup of tea sometimes helps!