Owlet complete!

I wasn't sure if I would like this, or if it would be a little cheesy.  I was so wrong, its too cute!  I knit the 9 month size with a smaller needle size and a lighter weight yarn, but size-wise it still ended up being about the dimensions of the 9 month.  It also look more yarn than the pattern called for, probably a skein and a half of the vintage, but luckily I always buy more than enough.  There was a tiny color variation in it I noticed after the fact, but I changed skeins about 2 or 3 rows into the owls, so its not noticeable!

This was a really fast knit, I completed it within a week including blocking, weaving in ends, finding 'eyes' and sewing them on.  Close to a personal record actually finishing the knitting AND finishing soon after.

 I used madelinetosh vintage and after blocking, I think it was a good choice.  I was a little concerned I should have picked a heavier weight like the pattern calls for, but vintage was close enough. 

Instead of buttons I used some wooden beads for the eyes.  Because I made such a small size, I just wasn't seeing small enough buttons that didn't look like overkill.

Rolled cuffs are a nice touch.

 

I completed the sweater and after casting off was really uncertain whether the neck hole was wide enough.  I ribbed it back to the beginning of the ribbing and added a button hole.  I think this helped and will make it plenty wide, without much difference in the look.

I'm not sure how well it will hold, but I used three of the beads together instead of a separate button.  It seems to hold when I tug on it a bit, but not sure if as the button hole stretches with time, if that will make these 'buttons' useless.  Hopefully baby will have grown out of it by then!

The best cowl EVER.

Okay, so I've only made two styles of cowls, so perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions thinking this is the best cowl ever, BUT, I'm pretty sure I'm on to something.  The 'burberry inspired cowl' is a quick knit and with the placement of the cables, it lays perfectly cowl-ly.

I've used madelinetosh vintage and definitely think its a fantastic yarn for this project.  It really holds the stitch pattern and once blocked, it almost poofs up a bit and gets softer and softer.

madelinetosh vintage - colorway 'water well' I think

This silver/gray was made out of an alpaca blend making it quite soft, but a little scratchy on the skin.  I made it a little longer (well wider) but it definitely doesn't 'lay' as well nor hold the folds as well as the madelinetosh. 

Snowbird....Finally a grown up sweater...

I recently decided it was time to invest in and stopped being scared of making an adult sweater.  I think I've created a monster, considering that I now have 3 (maybe 4??) sweaters currently on the needles.  More about those to follow.  

'Snowbird' is turning out to be the one I have the most interest in and have been making good progress on.  I wanted a nice, long, basic open sweater/cardigan that I could use some great marled yarn - Purelife British Sheep Breeds DK in blue faced Leiceister.  Crossing my fingers that it's an acceptable substitute, its looking pretty good so far.  

I've decided to add some button holes, I am envisioning toggle buttons on this, but who knows.  Pictures of my progress to follow.... 

  I am counting on the fact that it will block out much better than its looking now.

The inside of the cardigan in stockinette.  I definitely like the look of st st as opposed to the reverse stockinette.  Oh well, next time.  

In love with andalusia

I recently discovered the sweet little Andalusia pattern by Teresa Cole, and have already made 2 with more yarn on hand for another and more projects on deck in my head.  Its an easy knit that has plenty of interest to keep you entertained, yet not so complicated to get frustrated.  I LOVE how its turned out in MadelineTosh Merino:

Although probably not the most practical of yarns for a baby sweater (this is a 12 mth-ish size), the texture of the yarn along with the style gives it a vintage sort of feel. 

I still haven't found the perfect buttons for it yet, though, but I'm still hunting.  The yarn also gives it a good thickness and this yarn gets SOOOO soft and smooshy when blocked.  

I also made a larger version (a 2T size I believe) in MadelineTosh Vintage for my nephew.  The vintage, even after blocking was a great yarn for this as well - it has a bit of a sheen to it (that may fade with time/washing as it had with other projects I've done with it) and its a little bit lighter than the merino.  I love the asymmetry of the front and the way it makes the collar fall.  

This shows the 'sheen' the yarn has - although the lighting is a little funky in this picture, its a little more true to the actual color of the yarn. 

I found these great leather buttons that really worked well with the color, and added to the 'style' of the sweater.   And below you can see the differing stitch patterns that add great detail to a kid's sweater. 

And the finished project on Joaquin!  So its really big, which was what I wanted - I know he can wear it for a long time, and considering they live in San Diego, it needed to be a little lighter in weight to have any chance of getting worn!  It makes me think of a little old man!