Gracie Knits

A little Chic

I'm so proud - I've picked up a big girl project again!  It has been in the 70s here lately (ok, it is 35 and freaking cold outside today), and I've been itching to do some lighter weight knitting that I know I will be able to wear longer.  I abandoned Sitcom Chic in month 3 of my pregnancy, and I decided to pick it back up again.  I had the body done up until the point that you join the sleeves.  And, I finished sleeve 1 last night.  I really really like doing them in the round.  It is unfortunate that you can't do 2 at once very well, but the lack of seaming up the sleeve is going to make up for it!

 

Ladybug and I have been doing well, I can't believe how big she is getting!  She was 10 weeks on Saturday, and it is going by way to fast.  I'm just trying to enjoy every moment I can and trying to enjoy every stage that she goes through.  But, I wouldn't mind if we sped up the sleeping through the night phase.

Kathleen came over on Saturday and a grand time was had by all.  The boys were downstairs playing and she, ladybug and I were upstairs playing and knitting.  She took some pictures of us on the bed, and I think this is one of my favorites.

Cabling Along!

I joined the Fall Cable KAL and this is my first "big" project for it.  Yep, the one that I ended up changing 3 times. 

This is the finished left front.  I'm really pleased with it, it is a pretty easy cabling project.  I think it would be a great beginner cable project. 

I started on the back, but not much exciting progress there.  I always like to start with one of the fronts, that way I can get used to the pattern on a smaller scale.  And, it is nice because it goes much faster!

I hope that everyone had a good Halloween yesterday.  We had trick or treaters for the first time this year.  In Auburn, they didn't go to the apt complexes at all.  Princesses were very big this year.  Olive had a good time and was most curious why all these children were coming to her house and didn't want to play with her.  I guess candy is more important than playing with a dog!

Oh My!

The pink baby blanket is done and wonderfully soft!

Pattern - I made it up myself.

Yarn - Oh My! by Plymouth

Completion Date - October 2006

This yarn is so great to work with!  It kind of unravels a bit and I would recommend tying a knot where you have to start another ball (blasphemy to some people, I know).  It is so super soft and I know that she is going to love it. 

For my first contribution to the Fall Cable Knitalong.  I started working on the Irish Hiking Scarf wrist warmers last night at Knit Night at the LYS.  I feel like I may be the only person who hasn't knit this pattern, but it is really great and they fit well.  You can find the pattern here.  I'm using Cascade 220 Superwash.  I figured that way they could get a little wet and it would be no big deal. 

The baby and I are doing well.  I feel like I have a ticking timer inside me and I don't know when it is going to go off!  I'm hoping for sooner rather than later!  Enjoy your Wednesday!

A little Soctoberfest Success

Pattern - RPM from Knitty

Yarn - Aquarius from Lucy Neatby

Completion Date - Soctober 2006

Pattern Notes - I love love this pattern and I will def be making it again.  It was really easy and went fast, it was a nice break from my TT sock pattern (beautiful, but took a lot of concentration).  Lucy's yarn is great and the colors are so fun.  My LYS isn't going to be getting in anymore, so I am going to have to find it elsewhere. 

And, check out what other progress I have made....

Yes, that would be a baby blanket.  I know, I'm surprised I'm knitting another one too.  However, I could not resist this yarn.  It is Oh My! from Plymouth and it is fabulous!  It feels a lot like the really soft Barefoot Dreams blankets.  It is going to be pretty simple and not too big, a good size that she can drag around the house.  It is on 10.5 needles so it is moving really quickly.  I'm just going to do 4 squares, so I'm almost done.  I'm going to sew/hook them up together and add a border.  Hopefully I can finish in the next few days before she makes her appearance.

As for me, I am getting tired of being pregnant, so she can come at any time that she wants to.  I'm trying to get the house in order so it is not a complete disaster when we come home with her and family converges upon our house. 

Have a great Monday!

Time for a little sun

My lacy shrug is now blocking nicely in front of the window in the living room, getting a bit  of sun in.  I am hoping that she is dry soon so I can seam her up!  I will be wearing her tomorrow at the Knit Out at the Yarnhaus.  It is from 1-6, so if anyone is in the Mobile area, come and check it out!   

It should be a busy but fun weekend at la casa del Bell.  Philip is off to the Auburn-Arkansas game in the lovliest village on the plains, and my sister is coming down to visit Olive and I.  I decided that going to the game was getting to be too much for me now, and a girls weekend with my sister should be fun! 

Have a great weekend everyone!

A long awaited FO!

Pattern - Breezy Baby Blanket by Karabella Yarns

Yarn - Dreambaby DK by Plymouth

Completion Date - October 2006

I have never been so relieved to finish a project in my life!  It is so nice to finally have the baby blanket done!  It is a lovely lovely pattern, but it was a bit of a struggle at times.  I'm just not a blanket knitting person and this one was a bit of a challenge.  The pattern required lots of concentration as not to get off, so it was hard to take it to Knit Night.  The pattern has a crochet border around the edge, but we made the collective decision last night that it really didn't need it.  It just seemed to loopy , so I stuck with just a single crochet border.  It of course could use a good blocking.  I'm really pleased with it and even more relieved that it is done!  The baby can come now.

Thank you all so much for the compliments on my new blog home.  I am more pleased with it than I was on blogger, blogger was driving me a little nutty.

Have a great Wednesday!

A Toasty Socktober

Pattern - Oriel from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn - Tropical Punch from Brooklyn Handspun

Completion Date - September 2006

I am so proud of these socks!  I really enjoyed knitting with the yarn.  Marie does some fabulous stuff!  It was my first pair of toe up socks and I think they did really well.  I really really hope that my Toasty Toes pal likes them!  The pattern is beautiful, but a bit challenging.  Once I got the hang of it, it went well, but it isn't something that is easily memorized.  So, it took of a bit of time to knit them because I was constantly looking at the chart.  However, once you make it through the chart, you are a good way through the sock. 

I usually don't block socks if I am making them for myself, since they go directly on my feet, I know they could use a good blocking.  I don't have sock blockers, but can anyone recommend a good way of blocking them sans sock blockers?  Can I just spray and pin them?

Since I met my mental deadline of "before October" for my Toasty Toes socks.  So, I started Socktoberfest with a bang and a pair of socks for me! 

I am using some Lucy Neatby yarn that I got at the Yarnhaus.  The pattern is RPM from the Summer 2006 Knitty.  I love love love this yarn!  The colors are fab and the yarn is great to work with.  The pattern is really fun as well, it is a bit hard to see the pattern but it is really fun.  I didn't continue the pattern on the bottom of the foot, and I can't wait to see how it does on the leg of the sock.  It is a quick pattern and pretty easy to memorize.  I think these may become some of my favorite socks, and will be coming to the hospital with me!

A little Thursday (football) night knitting

Last night Auburn played the University of South Carolina.  And it was a game!  Very very nervewracking to watch.  It was a lot closer than what I thought it would be!  Thankfully, we still won and are now 5-0.  And, I am sure the great debate of whether we deserve to be ranked where we are will continue.  And of course USC is much better than every other team in football and we just don't know why they aren't number one and every other football team is crap.  Yes, I'm still a little bitter from a few years ago when we were 13-0.  But, let's move on...

So, what was I knitting you ask?!  I was working on my second Toasty Toes sock and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I've got a couple more inches to go on the leg of the sock and then they will be done done done!  I've enjoyed knitting on them, but Socktoberfest is coming up and I would love to start it off with knitting a new pair of socks.  And, it will be nice to have them done ahead of the deadline!

Victorian T-Shirt

Another baby FO!  Excuse Olive, she was a little jealous that I wasn't taking a picture of her. 

Pattern - Victorian T-shirt
Pattern Source - Oat Couture
Yarn - Plymouth Dreambaby DK
Recipient - Catherine Claire

I think this is one of my favorite things I have knit for her.  It was super fast and easy, and the detail at the bottom is great.  I think it took me a week total to knit it, but I wasn't working on it every day.  I love this yarn as well.  It is soft and even better it is inexpensive and washable!  I knit it in the 6 month size and I am sure I will knit it in a larger size for next winter.  I know it is going to be a really versatile part of her wardrobe. I will be making it for other babies.

I finished a grown up shrug this weekend and not happy with the way it looks.  It looks good, just not on me.  I'm going to block it and see how it goes, but it will probably go to my sister for her birthday. 

I started Clapotis (not that I don't have enough to knit) as a break from the blasted baby blanket.  I think I am probably the last knitter alive to knit this, but I am pleased so far with it.  I'm using some of my yarn from Brooklyn Handspun that is fabulous and I think is going to be beautiful.  There of course is a lace shrug at the Yarnhaus that I have been eyeing and I may start as well.  I think I have project ADD and I just keep feeling the need to knit something for an adult.  I think I've had so much baby stuff lately that I need a bit of a break. 

Olive and I are off to the Post Office - I have discovered the joy of selling books through Amazon.