Christmas Plans

I have restarted my Christmas knitting. I am working on a pair of mittens for my MIL. I also finished two of the hats I sold and bought yarn for two more. I still have an order for two more that I will need to complete, but the client hasn't given me her color choices yet, she's waiting until she has some coats I think.

Up Next: I am going to make a ball for my boy for Christmas and a pair of socks for my FIL. I'm also going to make some Christmas Ornaments to go along with the donation we are going to make to World Vision. Last year we bought ducks to go to people in starving countries (for meat and for eggs) in lieu of presents. For a gift we gave baked goods and a little rubber duck for on the tree with a note saying that in honor of our families we gave ducks. We are going to do the same thing this year with World Vision, but I think we'll give something else.

Adoption Story Begins

My husband and I had a God bomb dropped on us on Friday, September 3, 2010. An aunt called and said she just met a woman who didn't want her baby. Did we want to meet her and possibly adopt the baby?

To which we answered: Yes!

Long story short we met the woman and spent several hours with her (part of it in the hospital while she went through some false labor) and she agreed to let us adopt her son.

Her due date is September 25th. Sometime between now and then we will be parents.

WOW!

Jason and I are just in utter and total shock. We didn't go looking for this, weren't expecting this, and never dreamed of adopting an infant right from the hospital. Sometimes we just look at each other and say: "We're going to be parents." with this voice of shock and awe.

We cannot wait.

The baby is a boy (his name is a secret) and from what we can tell looks healthy.

We've hired a lawyer and he's drawing up paperwork for the mother to sign when our son is born. We will take him home from the hospital. 

It is just amazing, and it's all God.

I have been taking the mother to her doctor appointments, because she has no family and no way to get to them. I wouldn't call us friends, but friendly. It's very weird for me to be this woman's friend. I feel sad for her and happy for me. At our Foster Training they had an exercise for us to do involving loss and grief and part of it was what sort of loss or grief does an adoptive parent go through. I couldn't imagine any, adopting had to be the most wonderful thing, what was there to be sad about? Now I understand. I grieve for my son, because he will never get a chance to know his birth mother and I grieve for this woman because she will never be his Mom.

Though I am a little sad, I am mostly beside myself with excitement. I am going to be a MOM!!!

Baby Knits

I'm having a boy!
Well, sort of.
My husband and I are adopting a baby boy in the next few weeks. For the whole story visit my other blog.

Baby Hamlin

Well, it looks like Jason and I will be adopting a newborn baby boy in the next month! As soon as he's ours I'll let you know his birth store. Stay tuned for more details!

Beanie Sales

Very excited! I am up to 5 beanie sales for the winter! Granted they are all friends and family, but that's ok! My Etsy shop is up and running. *See bar on the left* and I hope to generate some more sales that way.

Here's hoping!

Rocket Powered

Rocket Ship

Filled the ship with some fuel of beans and rice!

It has a nice sound when shook.

Found this pattern at Running Jack Knits. 

Winnie's Dress

I created this dress to go with the Nursery Baby Doll you will need to purchase their pattern for the doll first. If you click on the link you will find ordering instructions, the pattern for the doll, a bunny suit, a bunny  hat, and booties is $5.00. (The doll is super cute and quick to knit up)

The dress is knit from the bottom up. You will need basic skills: knit stitch, purl stitch, and simple decreasing. Please be sure to check your gauge. I know it's a hassle, but I tend to knit a little loose. I wouldn't want you to come to the end of the project and find that the dress was too big. The dress is plain (other than the ruffle) and easily adapted. You could add stripes or some intarsia. I added a little flower embroidery at the end, but you could just as easily add buttons or other embellishments, have fun with it! I didn't include any buttons up the back in mine, because I designed this for a child under 3 and buttons can be choking hazards. That doesn't mean you couldn't if you wanted too. Please contact me if you have any concerns, confusions, or comments!

(Oct 2012-If you are using a different sized needles than the pattern calls for go up 1 or 2 needle sizes to knit the dress. For example: I have knit the doll with size 5 needles and her clothes with size 6 and adjust the length of the dress by trying it on the doll.)

Dress

Notions and Notes:
baby weight/sport weight/dk weight yarn (it's marked 3 on the label)
size 4 needles
sewing needle
bits of yarn to embroider a flower to the dress

gauge 6 stitches by 7 rows equals 1 inch

Cast on 91 St

Ruffle

1. k3, *p5, k3* (WS)
2. p3, *k5, p3*
3. k3, *p5, k3*
4. p3, *k1, slip 1, k2tog, psso, k1, p3*
5. k3,* p3, k3*
6. p3, *k3, p3*
7. k3, *p3, k3*
8. p3 *slip 1, k2tog, psso, p3* (44 st)
9. k3 *p1, k3*
10. p3 *k1, p3*
11. as 9th row

knit across all stitches (RS)
continue in stockinette (knit RS rows and purl WS rows)  stitch until piece measures 2 1/2 inches from cast on edge.

Decrease

• k1, k2tog, k17, k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches k2tog, k1
• st st 3 rows
• (RS) k1, k2tog, k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1
• st st 3 rows
• (RS) k1, k2tog, k to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1 (40 st)

continue in stockinette stitch until pieces measure 4 inches from cast on edge

Shoulder 1
k 10
Turn the work leaving the other 30 stitches on the other needle. Now just work with the 10 stitches
work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 14 rows ending after knitting a WS.
Bind Off

Front
Rejoin yarn on the RS
k 20
Turn the work leaving the other 10 stitches on the other needle. Knit in garter stitch (knit every row) for 10 rows ending after knitting a WS.
With RS facing you k6, k2tog, k2tog , turn work
(8 st) knit
k4, k2tog, k2tog
k
Bind off

Rejoin yarn with RS facing you. Work the left side of the front
(RS) k2tog, k2tog, k6
(8st) k

sew 3 inches

k2tog, k2tog, k4
k
Bind off

Shoulder 2
Work as shoulder 1 and bind off

Finishing
Sew the tops of the shoulders together. There will be extra stitches at the back.
Sew the two halves together for no more than 3 inches.
Embroider something cute on the front if you desire.

Abbreviations:

k - knit
p - purl
slip 1, k2tog, psso = slip the next stitch knit wise, knit the next two together, and then lift the slipped stitch up and over the k2tog and off the needle
st - stitches
st st - stockinette stitch (knit the RS and purl the WS)
WS - wrong side or the back side of the work
RS - right side or the front of the work
*  * - repeat

Mom's Shrug

I asked my Mom what she would like me to knit for her. She said, "Something to wear in church to keep my arms warm". To which I answered, "Like a sweater?" she said, "No a sweater is too hard to get off and on, how about one of those shrug things you made for your brides maids?" I said, "Sure Mom, anything for you!"

And thus Chilly Church Shrug was born.

I bought yarn in the color she wanted, made some measurements, a few swatches, asked her about how warm she wanted it, and cast on. Two inches in I realized that I had not cast on enough, it wasn't going to be big enough across the back. Not to worry, I doubled the stitches and pretended that I meant to do that and got into the block pattern I had seen on another blog. 

It quickly became a labor of love. I am easily bored (I have knitters ADD) and the monotony of the pattern really got to me. I kept putting it down. 

It is finished, finally, and she is ecstatic! Today I gave it to her and we found all sort of uses for it. Like: when it is worn backwards it makes a good mini-snuggy blanket and it can be used as a hood when you put your face in the arm hole.

She is taking it this week-end on her and Dad's anniversary getaway. 

I am glad that she loves it and I am glad that it is finished!

Close-up of the block pattern

Chilly Church Shrug

(August 2013 -- in bold I have added some clarification notes)

Shrug Pattern

Needles size 9 & 11
Worsted Weight Yarn (4 Skeins)

CO 60 St with size 9 needles
k2 p2 rib for 2 inches
k 1 row size 9
p 1 row size 11
increase in every stitch using your favorite increase (double the stitches)

Block Pattern 
(8 Row Repeat of 6 stitches)
Rows 1 & 3: p2, k4
All EVEN rows purl
Rows 5 & 7: k3 *p2, k4* until the last 3 stitches, p2, k1







Continue in pattern until piece measures 35 inches from CO edge

Row 1: k across entire row in size 11 needles
Row 2: switch to size 9 needles and p across entire row
Row 3: k2tog across entire row
Row 4: p across entire row

Rib for 2 inches (k2, p2)

BO in pattern

Finishing:
Sew first 6 inches of either side together to form sleeves.

Abbreviations:
CO - Cast On
k -knit
p - purl
*  * - repeat
k2tog - knit the next two stitches together as one stitch
st -stitch(es)

The Shrug That Kept Going ..

Mom's shrug is coming along. I am so close that I can taste it! I seriously only have a few inches left! I think I will hyper focus on it this week, after I finish stitching up some surprises for my cousins! 

Here are my notes from Raverly. I hope to post the pattern this week-end

"My Mom asked for a shawl with sleeves that she could easily take off and on. The block pattern in the main body of the shrug could be modified to any knit/purl pattern or a lace pattern.

6/14/2010 

I have run out of yarn for the moment. I hope to buy some this week-end so that I can get back on it! 

7/10/10 

Bought yarn and I’m back to pecking away at it. It gets a little boring.

8/14/10 

I am nearing the end. I am not enjoying knitting this, it’s so boring, there’s no challenge. I am looking forward to the finished product. Hope to be done this month!

8/27/10 

Looks like I will accomplish my goal! I have two inches left to knit and then a little bit of sewing!"