Little Button Loafers for girls June 28, 2008

You know….when I purchased the patterns for the little button loafers I didn’t really think of them as shoes just for little boys and always intended to do them in all colours.

I recently made a pair that were purple and white with pink star buttons to go on WAHMania and as I always do, I put them in my project list on Ravelry. I received a comment saying they were cute and well done for doing some for girls. I LOLd a little at the comment because I never considered NOT doing them for girls.

Here they are for interest’s sake

 

Thom’s moooooooo-velous new pants June 28, 2008

**Non-knitting post**

I took a break from knitting recently and decided that something needed to be done with the ever growing mass of polar fleece that was starting to overtake precious wool space.

Thom has a little red cotton t-shirt that I appliquéd a moo-cow head on and thought a matching pair of fleecy moo-cow track pants would be rather fetching. He’s 2 and a half, he can get away with it!

I made them using just a commercial pattern that I have (I can’t remember the brand). I made them in size 3 hoping to get a little more wear out of them outside of this winter. I made the length to be useable now and I suppose if I need to, and I’m sure I will, I can always lengthen the legs with some more material.

Here are some photos of the top and pants (not together).

A poncho for Irene…an update June 25, 2008

I’ve made good progress with the poncho and the wool is really nice to knit with. It’s a little more red than pink but it’s a lovely rich red. I changed the pattern slightly because I didn’t like the big holes the yarn overs left from the increasing. The increasing, the way I’m doing it, is still visible, as it always will be, but it looks nicer and more of a feature I think.

The main knitting is very repetitive and happens quickly. I daydream about what embellishments I’m going to do on it once it’s finished. It’s like a blank canvas!

Here are some progress photos. It’s a bit hard to see the shape emerging, but trust me, it is

 

 

Update – 27/06/08

 

I’ve done 25cm of the main body of the poncho. I’ve also crocheted a flower and a butterfly ready for embellishing. Last night I felt like I needed a break from the knitting of the body of the poncho so I crocheted these embellishments. I’m SO happy with how they look and will get some photos up soon for Irene

What I’m working on this week…. June 24, 2008

• Lily’s jumper I think I’m a glutton for punishment. I restarted the jumper because (a) I wasn’t happy with the stars and (b) I hate knitting in stocking stitch and wanted to convert it to knitting in the round. Once I get through the slow part of redoing the stars it should zoom along. Thankyou for being patient Rose!
• A custom order for Jemma. Jemma has ordered some more boots with attitude and I’m also crocheting some soft pants for her gorgeous Ari.
• A hooded poncho for Irene’s little girl
• Lots and lots more boots with attitude, little button loafers, baby skimmers and mary janes for something I have in mind for Knitspirations

A poncho for Irene.. June 24, 2008

Well for Irene’s little girl

This week I am working on a few projects and one of them will be a hooded poncho for Irene’s little girl.

I got a lovely delivery of wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills yesterday and amongst it was the wool for the poncho. I’m using Classic 12 ply in Cherry Red for the main body of the poncho and then floral embellishments using Classic 8ply in Musk and Colonial 8ply in Maize (and also some green and white that I already have).

I should be able to cast on in the next couple of days and post some photos here

The game June 19, 2008

The Game, originally uploaded by Green Jello.

Here’s how it works:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker).

There’s a group you can add it to, as well.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name. (kid version: favorite animal?)

Lily is a star – custom order for Rose and Lily. June 16, 2008

I recently knitted “Childhood” from Knitty for Lily. I was going to be knitting the Toddler Double Breasted Knit Coat like these but we changed our minds and I’m now knitting her a cute little jumper with a star motif around the hem.

The pattern calls for the whole jumper to be one colour knit in stocking stitch and the stars in garter stitch. I thought it might look nicer, and make the stars “pop” more if I kept the entire piece in St st but made the stars a different colour. So far the effect looks good

I’m about 3/4 of the way through the back panel. It always takes the longest so hopefully (hopefully!) once I’ve finished it, the rest should follow not to long afterwards.

Here are some progress shots for Rose

Update – 16/6 I’ve done 28cm of the 40cm needed for the back. *phew*

Loafers, Skimmers and MJs …oh my! June 15, 2008

I didn’t think booties could get much cuter than Saartje’s Bootees. While Saartje’s bootees are most definitely gorgeous, they’ve been joined in the cute ranks by Sylvia’s Little Button Loafer, Skimmers and Mary Janes.

So far I’ve made 2 pairs of loafers (and have another 2 unfinished pairs) and one pair of Skimmers. I’ve experimented with different hook and yarn sizes and I’ve decided that I like using a 3.5-4.00mm hook and Worsted weight (12 ply to us Aussies!) yarn. Since I have an over-abundance of 8 ply in my yarn cupboard it gives me a good excuse to order some Rustic 12 ply (my favourite!) from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

I got a woolly order from them last week with some lovely 8ply cotton in Damask Rose, Light Teal and Latte. I’ve only got some 4 ply cotton from them before and this 8ply order was much much silkier and softer. It’s really lovely and I’m looking forward to making some soft newborn hats out of it. It’s ok-ish for the booties, but I definitely need to use a smaller hook as it crochets so differently to your usual 8ply wool that I’m used to using.

Another reason to indulge in some Rustic ordering too is that I have a hankering at the moment to knit up and embroider some longies and MCN woollies. I’m not sure why! Hats are my  “thing” but I think it’s my “I want to try that pattern, and that pattern and that pattern” fetish! So hopefully soon(ish) there should be some more booties, some NB cotton hats and some MCN woollies in stock.

What I’m working on at the moment though are 2 custom orders so they are my priority (I’ll do a write up in my custom orders section) but when I feel like I need some “instant finished project gratification” some booties and a newborn hat work wonders!

What I want to be making next as well are some of the gorgeous toys from my Fuzzymitten patterns and also an Iggle Piggle knitted softie for my little boy! I wish I had 10 sets of arms and needles and hooks to go with each set!

Here are the booties I’ve done so far (excluding the unfinished ones of course):

 

LBLs using Moda Vera Bamboo/Cotton – this yarn has just about pushed its friendship with me too far, it’s TOO splitty!

 

LBLs using Lincraft Cosy Wool in Brown and Light Blue (LOVE these ones!)

 

 

Mary Jane Skimmers using Bendi’s 8ply Cotton

 

Little Button Loafers and Fuzzymitten Knitted Toys June 11, 2008

I’m really excited about these “soon to be stocked” items! With the permission of the very very clever pattern designers, Sylvia  Schuchardt and Barbara Prime, I will be knitting and offering for sale some absolutely gorgeous items – even if I do say so myself!

 

First up are Sylvia’s cute “Little Button Loafers”; “2 strap Mary Janes”; and “2 Strap Baby Booties”. All of these are crocheted – something I’m really enjoying at the moment. Here are some photos (these are Sylvia’s photos, and not items that I have crocheted myself).

 

“Little Button Loafers” (one and two button options):

 

“2 strap Mary Janes”:

 

 

“Double Strap Baby Booties”

 

Coming at a later date hopefully, “Baby Skimmers”:

 

And finally I’m really looking forward to knitting some of Barbara’s adorable toys. Again these are not items I have yet knitted, but I’ve included them to give you an idea of what to look forward to.

 

 

Love them but can’t wait for them to be in stock? Ask me about a custom order!

Sarah’s order June 9, 2008

Here is a recent order I completed for Sarah and her little 6mo son.

Both bootees are my version of Saartje’s bootees. The blue ones have been knitted using 3.75mm needles and Lincraft Cosy Wool. The brown pair have been knitted using 3.75mm needles, Lincraft Cosy Wool on the bottom and Moda Vera Trifle (also from Lincraft) on the upper.

The crocheted cap is my own pattern and was crocheted using  5mm and 4mm hooks and Lincraft Cosy Wool.

Excuse the dodgy hat model