Wonderful weekend

I had the most fun this past weekend babysitting for our 2 month old granddaughter, Chrissy. She is the prettiest and best baby. My DH and I had so much fun! We got to sit for her two nights out of 3 and we couldn't have been happier.

No knitting in this post, I was just too busy to do any over the weekend. I needed to hem some slacks for my mother-in-law, and then take the baby around to meet everyone, since she and her parents live in Delaware.

I'll be on vacation for 10 days in about 4 more days, so I may be lagging in my posts. I will return!!

Going to Las Vegas to have fun! Then to Delaware, (I know you know why!)
;-)

Tulip Baby Cardigan

This is Chrissy's completed Tulip Baby Cardigan made from yarn from Dream in Color. I did it in just a few weeks and it was lots of fun. It only comes in 6-9 month size, darn it. I've had lots of friends suggest making it for adults, too.

This is Chrissy modeling the sweater. She is 2 months old, so this should last most of the winter, I hope. Isn't she cute? ;-)

Another baby hat

This is another hat from Itty-Bitty Hats. Isn't it cute? The lilac color makes it different, but really pretty. I think Chrissy will look really cute in it. I made a 6mo size, but I didn't use double point needles. I have a seam in back. It was so much easier. The yarns are the Teddy Spring Time, which is 100% acrylic. It's really soft, too.

Update on my mother. She is moved successfully and doing ok in the dementia unit. I'm praying a lot for her. I won't get to see her until October when we go out to Nevada.

;-)

Progress!

This is the lace shawl and it is not close to finishing. I have at least 20 more rows and they are getting longer and longer since this is a triangular shawl and it is knit from the smallest point to the widest point. It is pleasant to knit, though, so I'll finish this summer, I think. I hope I do, because I have to pack some easy knitting to take with me in a week. Our granddaughter is being born by c-section on Tuesday the 23rd. We will go to our daughter's on Monday and stay however long she needs us. Probably to come home for a week and then return when her husband has to return to work. We'll see. It is so exciting and scary and wonderful all at once! This will be a week early for the baby so we aren't having to wait as long as originally anticipated. We still can hardly wait! ;-)
These socks are nearly done and I am so excited! Then I can move on to the new yarns from The Loopy Ewe. I've enjoyed these, but now I'd like to try a toe-up version. I really like the two circulars, for sure! ;-)

7-7-7

I just had to post today. It seems like such a lucky day and I haven't posted in so long. I've been busy knitting a lace shawl and a pair of socks. I'll try to take some pictures soon. Baby news is that we're waiting! She is doing well as is her mommy. Less than a month to go!!! I can hardly wait!

I picked out some yarn today for a teddy bear, hopefully like the cute one on a blog I've seen recently. Orange Cotton Ease! Wish me luck.

I've also pulled some yarn out to make a sweater for the nursing mom. It's a yummy green shade and I think she'll like it, if I can just get it started and done for her birthday in September.

Baby gifts!

A baby kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting made from white Peaches and Cream.

Bibs made out of Peaches and Cream with special buttons

Fun 6 months baby hat. Just not the best picture.

Baby Feet washcloth made with Bernat Cottontots yarn.

Washcloth made with Bernat Cottontots yarn.

I'll post some more baby gifts before too long. I finally got some pictures taken and uploaded and can get caught up soon. This has been so fun!

Some news

Well...........................It's been a while since I posted, but I've been busy with travel and needlework, for sure. We went to our daughter's home a week ago for a 4 day weekend and had a great visit. We did loads of things to help her, because her husband is away for about 6 weeks. We even bought and planted two dogwood trees that were promised as house warming gifts almost a year ago. The yard is pretty well settled and their fence and deck have been done, so the trees were appropriate to be done.
I've been doing some smocking and knitting for the baby, but no pictures to show for it, yet. I've finished the log cabin baby blanket and a bib. I've started a Genius burpcloth and am smocking a cute white round-yoke dress and bonnet. Now for some machine work to finish the smocked outfits.
Nascar is in town this weekend and the race just got rained out, so DH and DS will return to the track tomorrow afternoon, so I can get lots of sewing done while I watch on tv. I did have dinner out with my best friend this evening and we had a good time getting caught up with each other's happenings.
;-)

Some new purchases

This is some really pretty lilac colored acrylic yarn that I received in the mail today. I found it on the DeStash blog and got a really good price. There are 7 skeins, so the baby will get something nice, if it's a girl. Otherwise my daughter, sister or I will receive something to enjoy


This isn't finished, yet, but it's my first log cabin from the Mason Dixon knitting book. It is Cottontots, for the baby.

This is my latest purchase from Once Upon a Child. It is NWOT, but feels like it has the new sizing still in it. I don't think it was ever worn. Those are little ducks on the pale blue background and it has a polo collar with blue trim.


This is an adorable outfit that is NWT and I found it on Ebay for a great price. That is a giraffe on the bib. Take a look at the next photo. The little pull on pants in yellow have the giraffe on the seat of the pants. Soooooo cute!

No pictures, darn it!

Well................the past two weeks have been very busy! I've been doing extra training workshops at work and they require longer days with me having to get up much earlier than normal, too. I slept in this morning to help get "caught up!" It sure did feel good.

Last weekend we spent with our daughter and son-in-law and saw how good they feel about the pregnancy. She is feeling wonderful now, fortunately. Baby is progressing well, too. The sex of the baby has yet to be determined and there are no more ultrasounds scheduled, so we may just have to wait until it is born. That's not so bad, though. We had to wait to find out this baby's mother was a girl, too. Turned out great!

I have been doing a little knitting along the way. I finished a pair of socks, which I wore immediately! I'll eventually get a picture, I hope. I've started a log cabin baby blanket with Cottontots yarn and it's coming out really pretty. We shopped for baby curtains last weekend and I brought home the fabric to make them. We hope to go back in a couple more weeks, so I'm working pretty hard to get them done by then. Working full-time makes my hobbie time very valuable. We also bought a boppy pillow, which came with a simple pattern, so I can make a bunch of slip covers for it. Nice!

That's all for now! ;-)

Photo heavy post, mostly yarn

This is some yummy sock yarn I bought on Ebay. I have no idea when I'll get to it, but it looks and feels wonderful! I can hardly wait.

This is a beautiful blue yarn I purchased on Ebay, too. IF it's a boy, I will be all set. Girls wear blue, too, so I'm sure it will be put to good use.

This is self explanatory. I can knit baby things or adult thing, and even washcloths with this. I got several skeins of each color, so lots of options and fun!

This is the beginning of my first lace shawl. I plan to give it to my pregnant daughter as a treat for her, since almost everything else is for the baby about now. I MAY have it finished for Easter, but then again, I may keep it until the baby shower in June. Fortunately she doesn't read my blog, so I can post here without worrying that she is seeing it. This has been fun for me to knit. I've tried a little lace knitting before, but nothing this substantial and I'm please with my patience and how it is progressing.

This is Cottontots yarn I ordered from Joann's. The blanket I've already done is out of the Koolade variegated yarn, so I needed a bit more to make a bib or burper. The green, blue and yellow will coordinate with the blanket, too, but be solid colors for designs in washcloths. The purple is just in case the baby is a girl, so I can do a couple of really girly things for her. ;-)

More for the Baby!

Here's a variegated washcloth for the baby. It is made with Bernat Cottontots yarn and is soooo soft. I'm really pleased with how this came out. Now I plan to use Cottontots to make more washcloths and bibs, for sure.

This is a blanket out of Bernat Cottontots, too. It took quite a while to do, but is very substantial and soft, too. I used Koolade color for this one and it is really pretty. I've ordered some more Koolade online from Joann's to make a couple of other things, like washcloths and bibs, to go with this. Maybe even a hat, too.
These are Lion Brand Cotton Ease that I purchased on Ebay and they are the older colors. I just like the brightness of the older colors so much better than the new colors they came out with this year. I have a couple more colors on order, too. After having made myself a vest last year from this yarn I fell in love with it and plan to make a lot for the baby or future babies. ;-)

Knitting and family pictures

This is our daughter, with her German Shepherd, Gabby. Grandbaby is 4 1/2 months along at this point and she is looking wonderful!
This is a picture of my most recent stash enhancements. All are intended for either daughter or grandbaby, at this point. I have some ideas, but am not certain, yet, what I'll do with them. I have more of each, so there's no problem with having enough.
This is the baby kimono (from Mason-Dixon). I just need to add the ribbons and it's done. I used Paton's Astra yarn and I'm not sure I'll use it again. It seems a bit bulkier than I wanted and a bit stiff. Hopefully when I wash it, it will soften up. I certainly hope so, since the booties and one of the hats I've knit are out of it, too.

Well, off to do taxes (ugh!) and then knit while watching the Las Vegas Nascar race this afternoon. ;-)

No pictures, once again

I have finished a diaper sweater in the green color of the booties and cap. Just need to put some ribbon ties on it. I've started a sweater in yellow and hopefully will be finished with the multicolored blanket soon. I'll take some pictures tomorrow, I hope. I've also received a couple of new yarns in the mail.

Yesterday my DH was at our daughter's helping her pick up baby furniture and bring it home. I got pictures of her at 4 1/2 months. I'll see her in about a month, so I'm really excited to see these pictures.

;-)

Baby Blanket and Booties

Yeah!!! I've finished a blanket and it looks really pretty and feels exceptionally soft! It is made out of Thread Art Soft and Thick Chenille in white. Perfect for a brand new grandchild!. I think I'll try to make a sweater and cap out of the same chenille. The green booties are out of Paton's Astra and were really simple, except for my binding off. I learned that I bind off too tightly and tried something new this time. I enlarged the bindoff needle two sizes and it helped a lot. I may just try that with casting on next time, too. In spite of knitting for almost 50 years, I learn new things all the time and it makes it even more fun because of that.

I went to Ben Franklin's 1/3 off sale today and bought several skeins of Paton's Grace to hopefully make a few baby washcloths. I'll post those as I do them. I got a couple of Sugar and Cream cotton balls and some other baby yarns, too. Fun, fun, fun!! ;-)

The first baby blanket

This is the first baby blanket I'm making. White, of course, and a lovely simple chenille. It is soooo soft, I can hardly believe it. I'll try to remember to post a picture when it is finished. I'm enjoying it, anyway! I've been told we will not be told what sex the baby is, so I'm sticking mostly to white and some green and yellow. Pretty things, anyway, and soft, too.
;-)

Completed shawl

This is my finished merino shawl. It's really plain stocking knit stitch with a seeded edge all the way around. I need to block it, still, but I'm looking forward to our eventual winter weather (hope, hope!!) so I can wear it and feel all cuddly and warm from it. The picture is pretty true to the burgundy color, too! I finally remembered to turn the flash off to capture the color better.

I'm having fun ordering and dreaming about knitting for the new grandbaby. I'm ordering new sock yarns, too, and dishcloth cottons. I'll be busy, but that's how I'd rather be most of the time. I'm hoping my pregnant daughter will let me sew a few maternity clothes for her, too. She isn't a sewer. Mostly does cross stitch and does a nice job, but she really does appreciate my sewing and smocking and knitting. I'm happy to have someone special to do these crafts.
;-)

The first baby cap!

This is the first cap I've knitted for "the baby." It's obviously very simple. Only took me part of the evening Sunday. I used Paton's Astra yarn on size 5 needles. It's heavier than I anticipated, so I'm trying a white cap out of something a bit thinner. We'll see. I think the baby is going to get lots of caps and blankets, so far. I've started a white blanket. I'll post a picture of that next time.
;-)