Recent Knits

I apologize for the lag between posts... it's not due to lack of projects.  Excitement about the next project on the horizon often moves me forward before I have time to reflect on the one I just completed.  There was the end of the semester and a rush to finish those projects, and then there were the holidays, and so I am behind.

These two knitting projects were quick and both had pressing deadlines: babies!  (From what I hear their demands never do stop :).  Both very special kids with parents who are dear friends.  (I have so many dear friends with amazing children and I often wish I had time to knit for all of them).  As luck had it Matthew has been working the night shift for over a month and I had plenty of time to myself for knitting.

This was a hat for Baby Jack.  Jack's father is a friend from college, so I chose our alma mater's colors.  Jack also lives in New Orleans and I figured this could also double as appropriate Mardi Gras attire.   The yarn is 'Debbie Bliss Cathay', a blend of cotton, viscose microfiber, and silk, 1 skein purple and 1 skein gold.  I didn't have a pattern for the hat and it was my first time knitting a hat for a baby, so I started by doing a little research.  The circumference of a baby's head ranges from 13"-17".  I determined the gauge of my yarn which was 4.5 stitches per inch (with two strands held together) on my US size 7, 12" circular needles.  I cast on 64 stitches in the round, which theoretically would create a hat 14.2" round.  I started with a 2x2 rib in gold, then began alternating the colors in stockinette stitch for the body.  After about 5-6" I started decreasing by knitting two together every eighth stitch.  Continue decreasing in intervals of 8 (stitch markers help with this) every other row.  Overall I think it was successful, though when we tried it on Jack it was a bit large... but with babies room to grow is always a good thing.

This next project was a bit more involved, and a couple of weeks of marathon knitting were required to finish the piece before the baby shower last weekend.  But I was so pleased with the baby cape for Baby Barden.  Baby Barden is female, and her red-headed mother is a dear friend and knitting partner from my Atlanta days.  She and I often admired this pattern in my favorite knitting book, 'Knit 2 Together' by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark.

The pattern is 'Daphne's Baby Cape', and surprisingly I didn't stray far from the instructions (which I have a bad habit of doing).  I used a worsted spun fine wool, 'Shepherd's Wool' by Stonehedge Fiber Mill, color 'Christmas Red'.  Four skeins were required rather than the three called for in the pattern.  The cape wasn't too complicated to construct.  If anything the rows and rows of garter stitch at such a fine gauge was rather monotonous.  It is definitely a pattern that requires some stamina.  But I was so very pleased with the finished piece, and hopefully next year this 'red riding hood' will be the perfect fit for Baby Barden.