Testing the waters using my new shozu app... But I do want to make this bitty jacket

baby D's placket neck sweater...

Okay, so I think that this is the last placket neck children's sweater I am going to attempt for a little while. I adore the pattern and it comes out so cute every time, but I'm getting a little bored with it, especially since the majority of the sweater is simply stockingnette stitch done in the round. But I thought that this was a hilarious picture of my little newphew wearing his army green version while his daddy held him up to the dinosaur at the museum last week... too cute. I'll try to post some close ups soon, but its pretty similar to little sam's sweater, just green with red buttons.

If anyone has any good suggestions for baby/children's sweater patterns I'd love to hear them, I have a few ideas on the back burner that I'm wanting to try, but I'd love some new ideas. amb

SAM...

In honor of baby Sam born July 2.... here is a picture of his gray sweater including the name tag (bob and mel, check your doorstep) .... much love amb

new finished projects...

here are a few pictures of a few tiny sweaters that I've finished lately. I really thought that I would get even more knitting done over my six week vacation from graduate school, but alas, vacation time soon fills up with many other things. I was happy to finally finish the EZ feb. sweater after the third attempt. It does have its share of visible bumps and bruises in the pattern (including an extra buttonhole I made by mistake... whoops), but it is made with love and i may just save it for one of my own babies in the future. The second sweater was made from a pattern in Joelle Hoverson's book "Last Minute Kitted Gifts" and its one of my favorites. I made one last year for my little neice M and it was a hit, so I made this little stone version in 6-12 mon. size for baby S who is due to arrive any day now. I made a cute nametag for the inside, but will reveal pics of this later because I'm not actually supposed to know his name yet... (shhhh, don't tell mom). Happy knitting... much love, amb

Bitty D

I totally forgot that I had this picture... remember the BBBB? Here's the itty bitty owner all snuggled up! I think he had just come home from the hospital in this one. I was with him the other day and he's much bigger and rolypolyish now... so cute. I'll have to post a movie of him soon. Being an aunt is absolutely fabulous! In other project news, the EZ February sweater is complete as of this morning, all ends are weaved, its just lacking six perfect buttons (I still haven't located these...) It is definitely more narrow than intended, but I picked up fewer stitches for the sleeves also, so its just a tiny sweater. I'm just praying that someone will have a little girl around October, that would be about perfect. But I did really enjoy the pattern once i got the hang of it, and I'm confident that the next try will be much quicker and without so many little "goof ups." So here's to Elizabeth Zimmerman... cool lady!

EZ sweater continued...

So I've made some good progress on the EZ feb. sweater that I started many weeks ago. After literally pulling the thing out four times, I finally finished the body and I'm working on the sleeves.  I definitely have made my fair share of mistakes, some of which are fairly obvious, but after the previously unsuccessful attempts, I was determined to create some sort of final product regardless of the condition.  I don't think that the recipient will notice the difference, and it is a tiny baby sweater after all... surely to see its share of drool and other spills, so I'm not so worried about it being perfect.  I do think that my next version will be much easier and closer to the original measurements (I ended up with too few stitches on the body making a pretty narrow little sweater), but it was a great learning experience and very challenging which made it pretty fun.  I highly recommend reading some blogs about this pattern before beginning.  If I had done this beforehand, I would have had a much more pleasant experience.  Pictures of the finished product to come! amb

EZ sweater...

So the first time I read about the EZ february baby sweater, I thought that the "EZ" was implying that it a simple little pattern perfect for beginners, rather than created by the well-known inspiring Elizabeth Zimmerman... anyways, my interest was perked none the less, and I embarked upon trying to create one of these tiny masterpieces on my own. I ordered the Knitter's Almanac, eagerly awaiting its delivery, bought beautiful jade colored yarn, and readied myself to begin... needless to say, i have not had an "EZ" time with this one. The pattern is fairly vague and leaves many things up for interpretation or guesstimation by the reader. I do not like this in a pattern, I like little tidy instructions that lead to little tiny knitted creations. I have ripped out the top of this sweater at least three times already! But I am determined not to let it get the best of me and plan to cast on again this week. Argh! Wish me luck, I'll report back soon! amb

sewing aspirations...

I've finally starting knitting again lately, inspired by actually seeing my niece running around in the tiny pink sweater I made her, and by friends asking for lessons. I love teaching people to knit, its such a great hobby... Anyways, what I've really been thinking and dreaming about lately is sewing. I've had a few small successes making baby burp clothes for the seemingly thousands of girlfriends that are pregnant right now, and its rekindled a love for the machine. I read today on the purl bee blog about oliver + s children's patterns! Sooo cute and I'm hoping a few of the babies due this summer will be girls so that I can try one of these adorable sun dresses. Check them out... way fun. amb

cutie in pink

i just received some adorable pics of my cutie neice in her pink sweater! I was so excited to see that it fit, and she may even have a few months to grow into it... this is amazingly lucky since I am not an expert in gauge by any means. And to top it off, this cute kid is going to be a big sister this year, so the list of baby gifts continues to grow and grow... i'm going to be busy busy busy!! Anyways, i thought i'd share a few shots with you. enjoy- amb

projects on the horizon...

since the BBBB was finished before the holidays, ive been in no hurry to start another large knitting project. I've been satisfying myself with tiny knitted things that can be started and finished all in one sitting. There is something very satisfying about finishing things to me, I guess its the same reason I like crossing things off of to-do lists (i've even been known to add things to the list just so I can cross them off... so sneaky!) Anyways, after the java jackets, I've made a tiny brown baby beanie for baby D and thats about it. I have about five friends due to deliver babies this spring and summer so i needing ideas for baby gifts (suggestions would be greatly appreciated in this area). So far I'm leaning towards sweaters or knitted pants rather than attempting the blankets again. I feel like if I make a blanket for one friend, I should do it for all of them, and I might not pass my last semester of OT school if i attempted that. Anyways, this is what I've thought up so far, i'm trying to even up the gender specific projects since I don't know how many boys/girls there will be... and I'm hoping none of the mommies to be know about this blog (if you do, close you ears... eyes... whatever...)

1. Another child's placket neck sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (maybe in grey, yellow, green??)
2. Elizabeth Zimmerman's February sweater from Knitter's Almanac (this ones pretty girlie, but who could resist that pattern?? i love it! pic above is Elliphantom's version... adorable!)
3. Baby's denim drawstring pants (also from LMKG)
4. ?????

I need more ideas!! Anyways, I have plenty to get started on... pics on the progress soon to come, well i need to cast on first, but I'll try hard to get busy! See you soon- amb