Knit: Baby Log Cabin Blanket

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Mabel

Baby Log Cabin Blanket
Pattern | Moderne Baby Blanket by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne
Yarn | Bergère de France Barroise in purple, yellow-orange, blue-green and Bergère de France Bergerama in red
Needles | 4.5mm circulars

Can you believe that I started this project in February 2009 when I was pregnant with Eva and just out of my first trimester? Yes, it has taken me this long to finish this project. Part of the reason was the move from Switzerland to Singapore (I had unknowingly packed it in a box that I wasn’t going to ship to Singapore) but it was mostly due to lack of stamina. When I finally found the project (in between all that unpacking and 5th wheel insurance reviews), I realized that I made the mistake of not packing in the instructions as well. Oops.

What did I do? Wing it basically and just did my own pattern – so to speak. Hence why it looks nothing like the version by Gardiner and Shayne. I stopped after working on 12 different pieces of strips – more and the blanket might be too large for Noah. Because it felt too thin, Nil suggested that I added a fabric back and batting to it – I used the fleece fabric that I have in my stash and the result is a wonderfully warm blanket that is just great for a preemie baby like him.

The only problem is that I should have blocked the fabric first before sewing on the back and batting. After the wash, the knitted portion stretched (or perhaps the fabric portion shrunk) so I ended up with a not-so smooth looking blanket. O’well… I must be frank though – I still like this blanket…with all its “ugly” bits. I like it so much that I am considering knitting up a bigger version but this time, using my knitting machine! Yes, ambitious…hehehehe.

Knit: Bluey Hat II

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Mabel

Bluey Hat II
Pattern | Easy Peasy Newborn Sock Hat by Keri McKiernan
Yarn | My own handspun yarn in Blue Skies & Sunshine (dyed by JulieSpins)
Needles | 2.75mm DPNs

Here is the model with the preemie version of Bluey Hat. This was taken nearly two weeks ago and now, he is beginning to show signs of outgrowing the hat – a good thing, if you ask me. I still have the full size version lying around but chances are, it is still too big for him. So I will most probably keep that at home for another two weeks.

Looking back, it would appear that I’m making good progress with my WIPs and I hope to finish up some really old ones that I cast one eons ago. Apart from this, I managed to finish up a baby version of the Log Blanket and am in the middle of handstitching a fleece back to it. Tough work, if you ask me, especially since I have to deal with other things like research on mineral foundations, pumping milk, cooking and catching up with my TV series…not to mention other projects as well. With any luck, we should have a couple more FOs by the time the year is out.

Knit: Bluey Hat

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Mabel

Bluey Hat
Pattern | Easy Peasy Newborn Sock Hat by Keri McKiernan
Yarn | My own handspun yarn in Blue Skies & Sunshine (dyed by JulieSpins)
Needles | 2.75mm DPNs

This was sort of a last minute project I did prior to the move to the new apartment and consequently, my delivery to a preterm Noah. I wanted a quick knit that could use up my handspun yarn since it was a waste to chuck aside those lovely blue-grey-emerald-royal blue colours that were more evident towards the tail end of the yarn. And quick it was – I finished it in under two days – on and off knitting, that is!

And was still left with some yarn…enough for another one hat or two premie hats.

As it turns out, after I delivered Noah, this hat was too big so I started on another one which was slightly smaller. Looking at both, I reckon they would serve him well for winter or when he eventually leaves the hospital.

If you’re looking for a simple, quick knit to do in front of the TV, this would be it! They make great gifts too! Okay, I’m off to finish a blanket for Noah while working on my review for prom dresses!

WIP: Bluey Hat

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Mabel

Since I have some leftover yarn from the previous project and no access to my other needles – they are in the case heading to France via sea – I decided to dig around for a suitable project with whatever I had with me now and chanced upon this fingering-based or sock yarn project. It is a simple stockinette stitch hat with an i-cord top which I may omit; it’ll depend on my mood and how the overall hat would look prior to the i-cord top.

The only problem with this project is the very boring stockinette stitch. In this case, it’s just knit all the way as I’m working in round and with DPNs. Still, I can’t complain. I have at least another two to three projects in progress and they will last me till my stash and tools arrive.

On a completely different note, I found my weaving loom again! Just need to assemble it and off I go! KAKAKAKAKA! In the meantime, it’s knitting, assignments like gmc envoy custom floor mats and the big move!

Knit: Blue Skies & Sunshine

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Mabel

Blue Skies & Sunshine
Pattern | Peace Socks by Wendy Johnson
Yarn | My own handspun yarn in Blue Skies & Sunshine (dyed by JulieSpins)
Needles | 2.75mm and 2.25mm DPNs

This is my first handspun socks and I must say that it is also one heavily modified sock to boot. Because the pattern originally called for sport-weight yarn, I had to improvise and that resulted in a couple of changes throughout the sock itself:

Cast on 24 stitches using Judy’s Magic Cast on (12 each on two DPNs, then split to 6 stitches per needle)
k1, m1 both ends until stitch per needle is 10.
Then, knit for entire round 1 followed by k1, m1 both ends for round 2
Total stitches: 62
3 k, lace panel, 3 k
Switch from k3togtbl to SSSk after first repeat + 1st two lines from 2nd repeat (if making socks from start, sub with SSSK)
Gusset stitch count (56 sts); heel stitch to start and end with 31 sts.
Used Russian bind-off after 5 repeats on the leg and 1×1 ribbing (2 cm).

Because the two balls used were of slightly different weights and tension, the resulting pair of socks don’t really match up. The right sock is thicker and slightly longer than the left…not to mention the feel was a little on the coarse side as the tension used when plying the yarn for that particular half was tighter than the other ball. Still, it’s not too bad for a first try, especially considering that I was rushing to complete Le Tour de Fleece and pack my wheel.

Also, I made an error when working the gusset and heel for the right sock, resulting in a heel that wasn’t exactly symmetrical. It isn’t exactly noticeable especially with the colour change happening just around that area – thankgoodness for that – but still, not very perfect socks. I must admit though, I like this gusset heel construction. Definitely no issues with holes unlike the short row wrap style.

Having said that, I wonder if I need to make the leg portion larger as I had some issues trying to get it over my heel – I never really had this problem with other socks I made. Perhaps it’s the fiber – the others were merino-nylon which had lots of stretch to it while this was just superwash merino. Or could it be the pattern itself (lack of cables means lack of stretch, etc)? Hm, must ask my sock guru friends and see what they have to say about it. Nil thinks it’s alright as over time and with use, it should stretch plus he feels that socks should be fitting.

Anyway, I have about a good amount of yarn left – mostly shades of blue – so am thinking of working on a quick newborn hat for Noah. I don’t have any needles or yarn on me at the moment apart from what is attached to my project so need to make do with them until we move proper to our new place (which has yet to be confirmed). Can’t wait to settle in even though I don’t look forward to the unpacking (it’s enough to act as appetite suppressants!)!

WIP: Blue Skies & Sunshine (Update)

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Mabel

I like to think that for someone with SSS (Second Sock Syndrome), I’m doing quite well with this project. The foot and heel portion is now done for both sides of the socks and with the right side, I’m beginning to see the colour transition from golden yellow to a lovely shade of blue. There are a few booboos with this project tho but I’ll go into that when I’m done with it.

I must say tho, I’m loving the way the gusset heel turned out – far better than short-row wrap heels which leave a lot of holes especially when it’s time to join up with the front portion of the sock. This time around, I didn’t have to worry about holes and the heel portion looks pretty nicely done (except for the booboo on the right sock)! Definitely a keeper-construction method, if you ask me!

Y’know, I’m falling in love with sock knitting so much so that I succumbed and asked a friend to order some lovely sock yarn from KnitPicks for Christmas/Socktober knits. I must maintain the stamina tho despite juggling life with a toddler and writing assignments (diet pills anyone?)…MUST MUST MUST!

WIP: Blue Skies & Sunshine

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Mabel

This is my first project – I think – using my own handspun, although not one of my handdyed fibers.

I was mesmerised by the colour transition and flow so added this to my stash even though I wasn’t supposed to. Then Tour de Fleece came around and I decided to join in, despite being swamped with work and packing. I finished a braid of the stuff and casted on socks – the only thing I thought would be great for this skein – immediately. My excuse then to the hubs was that this would be great as a plane knitting project. Never mind that I’m starting to get doubts about whether I could get this project with bamboo DPNs on board two separate flights. Hm.

Anyway, back to the project…the texture of the yarn in the resulting knitted object so far is amazing! It feels very different from commercial yarn – compact yet still soft and thicker despite it being fingering weight yarn. I reckon they would awesome for winter wear either outdoors or at home. Now to survive the deadly Second Sock Syndrome (SSS) (if only they had insurance for such things)!