woolly babes ~ Melissa

Neoma Jane's little sister will be here anyday and I finished gifts in the nick of time.  Just need to wrap everything tonight and tomorrow they go over the mountains (and through the woods...hehe) to mama.  I blogged about the purple blanket here and the sweater here.  The pink blanket just finished drying this morning from it's blocking bath ( my ravelry notes can be found here ) :

 

There's nothing quite as blissful as knitting things for little ones and I feel so lucky to have two goddaughters to make things for.  And three lovely nieces who appreciate hand knit things as well.  Last year I made them all mittens for Christmas and you could tell they really loved them.

 

I finally made myself a matching pair (I've been busy!) :

 

 

 









 They're Olla Mittens (free on knitty.com) or you can follow the link in my ravelry notes here.  I really love this pattern and the embroidery is super easy since Anna has you knit landmarks for the stitching as well as giving a really great diagram in the pattern (much like a kids 'dot to dot' puzzle ~ just follow the numbers).  Every girl should have a pair of these.

 

Go ahead, make yourself some.  You'll love them!

 

Happy Sunday, everybody!

Melissa

three ~ Melissa

~ September - October - November ~

three months into Liesl's monthly sock challenge and I'm still in!

 

here's my November pair:

 

and there was enough yarn left to make some fingerless mitts :

 

 

what a fun set, don't you think?

 

links:

Liesl @ Buckalooview ~ monthly sock challenge

Laule'a socks by cabinfour

Wandering mitts (free pattern!) also by cabinfour

 

I've already cast on my December pair :

 

Liesl is also doing giveaways during her sock challenge ~ I was unaware so I was incredibly surprised and so excited to get an email from her a few weeks ago that I had won her very first drawing...for a $25 Etsy gift certificate!  I thought long and hard and finally decided on the above hand dyed self-striping yarn...a perfect holiday colorway!...from Laurel at Spinningfates.  I've been anxious to cast on so when it finally arrived yesterday I unwrapped my brand new Karbonz needles and got started.

 

I love the needles (thanks for everyone's input ~ I ended up with these mostly because they were the only metal needles the LYS I stopped at stocks) ~ I love the yarn (what's not to love, don't you think!?) ~ and have I told you lately how much I love knitting socks...hehe!

 

Better get ~ have a baby blanket that needs blocking and wrapping before Sunday night.  Goddaughter number two will be here soon and baby gifts for her as well as birthday gifts for her big sister Neoma Jane are being delivered on Monday.  Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

Melissa

 

a few more links:

Spinningfates Etsy shop

my December sock ravelry page





a quick hello ~ posted by Melissa

just a few things to share that made me smile today :

 

this cute little ballet shrug ~ knit in a day for Neoma Jane's 2nd Easter

ravelry notes here ~ pattern is 'Entrechat'

I highly recommend it

(thanks again Kelly for the destash gift ~ it's going to a good home!)

 

I've cast on Jaywalker #2 ~ what a fun pattern

ravelry notes here

thanks again Will for my sanity sock yarn ~ it has helped when I need an escape from things

 

 

and mail from far away places

I think we'll all be treated to many lovely photos and fun stories when Kelli returns

 

 

stay tuned!

 

~ Melissa

he was fat & bunchy, as a rabbit should be... ~ posted by Melissa

(from The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams)

 

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day

 "Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse.  "It's a thing that happens to you.  When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

 



 

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse.  "You become."



 

"It takes a long time."

 "...but once you are Real you can't become unreal again.  It lasts for always."

pattern:  Henry's Rabbit from Rabbit Hole Knits (free ravelry pattern link here)
yarn:  Spud & Chloe Sweater in toast, chocolate milk and igloo
link to my ravelry project notes here
rabbits to be loved (hopefully!) & hugged & made Real by Neoma and Vincent

rabbit ear hat ravelry notes & pattern info can be found here

homestretch ~ posted by Melissa

 

Hello, everyone!  Seems like it's been awhile, but life has been busy so this is the first chance I've had to show you how the knitting has been going.  While I pondered what my kal knit was going to become, I knit another sweater for Neoma.  This one is for this fall and winter so I made a larger size.  I love how squishy the garter stitch is ~ I think she'll look adorable and squishy, too, when she gets to wear it!  The pattern is Camilla Babe by Carrie Bostick Hoge, the yarn is Berroco Vintage in 'gingham' and my ravelry notes can be found here if you want to peek.

 

 

So, while I worked on Neoma's wardrobe, I decided (or maybe it decided) that indeed, my Leaves of Grass is going to become a table covering and that I wanted to bead the edging.  After a trip to Fusion Beads (incredible web store but we're lucky enough to have the retail shop in Seattle!), here's what's happening:

 

 

It's a little hard to see but the brown beads against the grayish brown yarn will really pop once she's blocked.  It took me a few hours to figure out where I wanted to place them, but I finally decided on 8 beads per chart...I've only done 13 chart repeats so far but I get more excited with every one.  I can't wait to get this off the needles and spread out in all her glory!

 

I'm loving seeing the occasional finished shawl/blanket/table cover posts as they pop up and I love the silence of everyone else because I imagine those of you who aren't done blissfully knitting away like I am, excited to share your progress and finished pieces soon.  Thanks for participating everyone ~ I'm really enjoying this ride with you all!  Have a great weekend and hopefully the east coaster readers and their families stay safe and warm the next few days during the blizzard.

~ Melissa

 

I just remembered Neoma's folks sent us a new picture of her so I thought I'd add it ~ she's 4 months old now and smiling (and still pretty darned adorable!).  If you're wondering, I did not knit her this cute little colorwork sweater, but I'm thinking maybe I ought to make her one! 

let them eat cake! ~ posted by Melissa

 

 

It's a celebration week!  Dozer is 6 (wasn't he cute?!), my husband's grandpa is 99 (!!) and little Neoma is 4 months old...here she is with some gifts from us (the toys made her giggle and coo...the awesome Vans shoes have her perplexed :) ...)

 

Happy Birthday Mr Dozie, Pappa Ed and Neoma Jane!