God Made All the Colors

When I expressed my concern that this baby set would not be "boyish enough", Katie reassured me that she loves the colors.  "God made all the colors, Mom," she said.  And that was all the reassurance I needed as I continued to knit.  I am in love with this completed set.  :)  The colors make me happy, and I look forward to seeing my grandson wearing the set.  

THE PATTERNS:

Cardigan: Paxton Baby Jacket

Booties: EviePants All In One Booties

Hat: Basic Baby Hat

THE YARN:

Adriafil Knitcol: dk superwash wool

(Katie, you will want to wash these in cold water if you don't want them to felt).

 

Knit With Love

This sweet little blanket was a joy to knit for Katie's baby.  I chose the pattern and color before she knew her baby would be a boy.  The blanket took about 5 months from start to finish, and it was knit with love and prayers for the baby and his parents.  

THE PATTERN: Pine Forest Baby Blanket

THE YARN: Berroco Vintage DK

MODIFICATIONS: I alternated stockinette sections with the lace sections.  The original pattern is made completely with the lace stitches. The finished blanket measures 38" x 32".

Only another week or so before the expected arrival of my grandson.  I cannot wait to meet him!

A Blanket for a Boy

Here is another blanket with mitered corners, this time made by my 17-year-old daughter for her sister, Katie.  Katie's baby is due in a just few more weeks, and we are all so excited!

The baby shower was yesterday, and so now I will finally be able to post pictures of some of the baby items I've been knitting and sewing.  (I didn't want to spoil the surprise in case Katie reads this blog).  

Today, however, this blanket sewn by Ellen is the highlight.  When we went shopping for fabric, I was in complete disagreement with Ellen's fabric choices. She was adamant, and we ended up buying the brown plaid flannel and the big polka-dots fabric.  Wow, was I ever wrong about the fabric!  It's perfect.  So manly and unique.  Just perfect for Katie, Michael, and their baby boy.  I have a feeling this blanket will become their favorite.  By the way, I did have to apologize for my misgivings about Ellen's fabric choice.  Next time I will trust her.  :))))
  

   

  Sisters.  Don't they look alike?!

Baby Baby Baby

For some time now, I have wanted to sew one of these blankets with mitered corners.  You know the blankets I'm talking about: where the backing fabric comes around to the front and forms a border with mitered corners, the blankets with an abundant number of tutorials on the internet, like here, and here, and here, and here....  Well, I finally sewed one such blanket for baby Grayson, and I'm wondering why I never made one before; it was that easy.  

 

Now to pick out more fabric and sew another for my grandson due in four weeks.  (Only four more weeks or so and I'll have another grandson!!!!!  Forgive the exclamation marks, but yes, I'm that excited!)

Speaking of that yet-unborn grandson, when my daughter asked me to recover some outdated bumper pads for a special cradle, I happily obliged.  Katie picked out the fabric, and I made the reversible bumper pads, little quilt, and coordinating sheets. The cradle was lovingly made for my son-in-law when he was a baby.  His grandfather made the cradle, and now 20-some years later his great-grandson will sleep in that same bed.  I love the tradition that is being passed down through the generations.

Lastly, this sweet picture shows 10-days-old baby Grayson with his Aunt Emily, my baby, now 7.  I am so blessed.

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A New Baby to Love

My grandson, born last week, sweet baby Grayson:

I love him so much!

Knitting for Babies

The baby shower was last night, so I can now share what I've been working on.  Two grandsons are coming and I'm sooooo excited.  The first baby is due in a few weeks, and the second is due a month later.  (I love having married daughters!  And I love, love, love grandbabies!)  As you may imagine, I have been knitting up a storm.  A few more projects are still secretly being kept under wraps until after the next baby shower, but I can show you these:

 EviePants All In One Booties 

A fantastic pattern knit without seams and starting at the sole. 

 

 Aviatrix Hat 

Another great pattern.  Thanks to this pattern, I now feel comfortable with wrap & turn short rows.

 

 Garter Rib Baby Blanket

Rather monotonous to knit, but I like the finished blanket.  I do wish I had made this one slightly bigger. 

Oh, and I can't forget the flannel receiving blankets with crocheted edging.  One can never have enough of these blankets.

 

Puppies: Only one round, (2 sc in next stitch, chain 1) repeat around.

 

Bicycles:  2 sc, ch 2, around

Messenger Bag

My bag has been finished now for several weeks, and I've been enjoying it since then.  The pattern is from Lori at Girls in the Garden.  The bag is a nice size--not too big, and not too small.  (An iPad fits in it along with my other usual purse contents).  

The changes I made to the pattern are few:

• added hardware for an adjustable strap.
• reinforced the strap with grosgrain ribbon.
• added a 3rd pocket for my cell phone.
• added a snap closure to the inside pocket .

Changes I wish I had made:

• put the extra pocket under the front flap instead of in the back.
• added batting to the front flap.  (It is interfaced, but the flap is still pretty flimsy).
• paid better attention to the fabric flower motif.  I don't like how the 2 big blue flowers are adjacent on the front of the bag.

Note:  There are no pattern pieces given for the pattern, just a set of instructions with the dimensions given for each pattern piece.  The layout drawings are clear cut, and the instructions are easy to follow.  The fabric requirements are spot on.  I had practically no leftover fabric, just enough to cut out a third pocket.

Likes:  The design of the bag is what first caught my attention.  I like the long strap that can be worn cross-shoulder, and I like my modification of making an adjustable strap so it can also be worn over one shoulder.  I like that the purse has multiple pockets--one on the inside and two on the outside.  

Dislikes:  The pattern was difficult to read in places, especially where the print was placed on the blue and pink background colors.  

big pocket, another zippered pocket, and my additional small pocket

Gotta love pockets!

snap added to inside pocket 

(My snap press from diaper-making days still comes in handy!)

 The instructions call for interfacing the straps, but I also inserted grosgrain ribbon for additional sturdiness.  If I had had strap webbing on hand, I would have used it instead of the grosgrain.