Baby cocoon

There's so much that you can knit/crochet for a baby... and there's always new stuff coming out adding to the "to do list" or should I say the "wanna do! list".

I had been knitting and crocheting blankets for babies, but I recently read an article saying that the less stuff there is on top of a baby (such as heavy blankets), the more chance there is that they can breath freely, sothe big old heavy blankets might be better for older babies.

Without blankets then, what to knit for a newborn, other than a sweater or a cap? Of course, there's always socks or shoes or hats that you can make, but for me it's not a good enough present for a friend who's had her baby recently... I kind of feel the commitment to make it a bigger deal.

So I started to think of something that I could finish quickly, and that would also be a nice present. And thus I found the cocoon. It seems to be the newest and most "in" thing to give away for babies. They are like a big sock that holds your baby snugly and makes her feel warm, cuddly and safe, without a whole lot of loose cloths around him to put him in danger. I saw some pictures and some of them looked really snuggle, and I think that although a lot of people like to have their babies as snug as a bug, maybe the little one will be more comfortable with a bit of wiggle room.

With the idea in my mind, I ventured...and using some double strand baby yarn and without a pattern, I thought of making a big sock, all made in a very stretchy double rib stitch, so that the baby can move inside with freedom, yet still be cuddled. It was a problem thinking how big I could make it... so I made it pretty long, thinking that it can be made shorter if the top is bent down (like a cuff in a sock) and it can go longer too. I made it colorless and very simple, because it's just a first run.

So here's the result... I am going to test it as soon as we go visit Megan, my sister in law; her baby, Coraline will be the tester. My main concern is how to put the baby inside the cocoon. I read that you bundle it all like a sock, and then start at the feet, and pulling the cocoon over the baby little by little. Anyway. if we pass the test, and the cocoon is suitable for babies, then I might start making them in different colors. I've seen some good ideas, like making it brown and then embroidering the front so that it looks like a football, or a green one that makes the baby look like a pea in a pod... I've got my own idea about the "bug" I want to make. But first things first. Let's put the cocoon to work and see Coraline's opinion, then make the necessary changes.

Here are some pictures of my cocoon. Oh, and by the time I'm posting this, I received the cocoon pattern I had purchased. I want to make it clear that the one shown here is not a pattern I received from anyone, just my own idea translated into yarn.

This first picture shows the "cuff" really going down , so that the cocoon is smaller.

This one shows a shorter cuff to make the cocoon larger.

I hope this pattern I made works, so I can start giving cocoons to all my friends with little ones!

New leaf jacket - short sleeve!!!

(from www.veroknitca.blogspot.com)

Since my last post I have been mostly crocheting, because I will be teaching (ha ha!!! yeah! teaching, me!!!!) a class on crocheting next month. So, I've been studying, hoarding books from the library, buying pattern books, surfing the web to find more patterns, and finally deciding what to do.

But all this studying and practicing had to wait when I realized on TUESDAY that the girl I visit had a baby the previous Sunday. I signed up to deliver food for her and her family on Friday, and of course I had to try and knit something for her baby. So, Tuesday, 7:30 pm, I start a leaf jacket. Wednesday and Thursday, I knitted into the night, running out of shows from my TVo, and going to sleep in the wee morning hours, just to wake up and continue knitting.

I finished the project on Friday, around 5:00pm, when I started to heat up and cook her meal I was supposed to be delivering at their door at 6:00 pm. Now, I have to say, if I had knitted the whole arms of the jacket, I would not have finished, so, at 3:00 pm, I decided this was a short sleeved jacket! HA!!!! Taking into account that I am no Miriam Tegels, and that I was knitting with 2.5 needles, I think I should be patted in the back, hugged, deep massaged from the shoulder to the pinky, and treated for carpal tunnel syndrom.

Still, my mom thought that it was plain outrageous that I made short sleeves in this family heirloom pattern... so... here are the pictures... did I get away with it? what do you think?

 

  

 

Hats!!!

There's two things that I never really WANTED to try to knit: hats and socks.
I still have my doubts about socks... and it's not that I dread the knitting itself, but actually, the thought of knitting something that never will be used (I love very soft very thin socks, and I know I could not achieve that with my knitting).

But these last few days, I started to knit hats. Again, not for me, because I can't stand anything more than a clip or a scruchie on my head, but for my son and husband. It was cold in California, and David (my son) was going to his Klondike Derby, which is in the snow. Temperatures go really low, and I worried he'd get sick, so I wanted to knit him a hat. But one he would really be motivated to wear.

I found a really great idea from Annie Modesitt, in her book "Men who knit and the dogs who love them". Of course I saw it in a Knitty Gritty episode no. 704, and got the instructions from there first, but I'm sure I will buy the book as soon as some money comes into my hands.  It looks very promising!!!

Anyway, here are the results.

Hat not blocked: 

Hat blocked:

 

I also knitted two other hats. One for Alfredo, and another one for Cynthia Canales, who just shove her head to support a cancer patient. 

These are a very easy patten of a ribbed hat, that I found in LionbrandYarn pattern selection. They are made in simple and inexpensive superwash wook from Lion Brand.

Well, my guys liked them, and I only need to see if Cynthia likes it. I'll post any news!!!

Lion Brand SoHo Cables for pooch

I knitted a sweater for Luigi.
I bought the patter from Lion Brand. I should say that the shipment was on time, and I just love buying from Lion Brand. They are very professional.
Well. The picture from the website is beautiful. Here's the link:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/80100A.html

Mine is beautiful, but not as perfect as the one in the picture, I should say, although I am pretty proud of my cables. Heck! I'm proud of my whole knitting! I guess it does not look as good because my pooch seems to have very unique measurements, probably because he's still a puppy, so although he is not going to grow much more from now, his body will definitely change. So, I consider this an exercise on the garment, and next, I will be knitting according to Luigi's measurements.

WHAT I DID:
I followed the pattern to the mid size, but I changed a few things, though... I left a hole between the turtle neck and the chest area, so that the name tag is free, and the pooch does not feel it snuggling against his neck, and is more comfortable.

I like the cables too much, so I chose to sew the chest band to the bottom of the body. I put the legs through the holes, as done with a harness. It looks nicer, from my point of view, and since it is quite snug, he can't chew it! (Believe me, he tried when I was trying to measure for the buttons!).

After this picture, I decided to sew the chest band even further into the body, and it definitely looked better! The picture is not good, though... I took it from my cell... I'll post a better one soon, I promise.

WHAT I WILL CHANGE IN THE NEXT ONE:

First of all, the length: It will be 1 to 1.5 inches shorter. I will add 2 to 4 stitches to the neck, because it is a bit tight. The chest will definitely have to be larger, about 1.5 to 2 inches!! This one is ok, and although the yarn stretches, it does not seem as comfortable being so close to the legs, so I will try to take it further down, not quite to the stomach, but a bit closer to it.
The chest band NEEDS to be wider. I will knit to my comfort, until I think it is enough. AND I will knit it garter stitch, because it rolls on itself now, since it is stockinette.

There was a whole ball of yarn left plus a bit from the first one... so actually, the whole piece was knitted with less than one ball! I can't believe such a nice project with so little yarn. I will use the other one to knit the new one, and then I will post the results.

Meanwhile, I'll show off the collar I made, so that Luigi is all coordinated in his next walk. It is an I-cord, with the first stitches cast on the tag holder. It's cool, because it is very light and soft, so he doesn't scratch his neck as he does with any other kind of collars, and it really comes on and off easily, because it stretches well.

So. off to knitting again! oh, wait... first, the dishes, then the vacuuming (oh, yeah, not that, the vacuum cleaner is dead... so broom, here I come!), prepare the meal... bleaghh... I wish I could just knit.... (sigh*)

KNITTED BABY JACKET

This is called a "baby leaf jacket" because of the leaves detail that is on the top of the project . It is knitted from the top, in one piece. The stitches are divided and put into holders, to knit the front parts, the back and the sleeves. The only sewing goes on the sides, to join the front and back of the body and sleeves.
The pattern is a hand down in my family. It's been passed on from my grandma to me, and I sincerely doubt the owner or designer can be tracked down. However, if he/she is out there, I am ready to give credit and express my gratitude, because it's the most beautiful project.

All the pages of the original copy were marked, scratched, dusty and very, very thin from the use. Copies have been made, so you can see the original markings from my ancestors!

The instructions are in Spanish and have two or three mistakes. Every time I start knitting one of these, I promise myself that I will translate and correct on the go... (I just couldn't do it from memory... have to be a hands-on project). Since I have managed to finish quite a few of these little "cardigans" I put it off once and again.

I have one lonely set of pictures for this project. It is not even a good one. I only had my phone camera at hand, so I took it just before I ran to my friend's house to deliver it. She had the most beautiful preemie. He was so small when I saw him, that I imagine he could get lost in it... but it's ok, because it will be ready to fit him on the upcoming fall evenings that can get a bit chilly.

I don't think I will be making a new one soon, but if anyone is interested in this pattern I promise I will dedicate some time to translate and fix it. I would be glad to do it because that would mean that somebody got to find my blog!

If you want to ask for this patter, please leave a comment

Here are the pictures for the BABY JACKET WITH LEAVES DETAIL