knitcation

I’ve been a crazy knitting fiend this last week that we’ve been on vacation. It’s really amazing how much knitting I can accomplish when I have more than the hour of sleepy, post 11pm knitting I usually get at home.

Of course it doesn’t hurt that I’m obsessively knitting newborn baby knits which hop off the needles nearly as quickly as they hop on. I’m taking chances though, knitting newborn sized vests and sweaters when Mira was a whopping 10+lbs. I’m trying to stick to 3-6 months sizes to avoid too many repeats of the problem I had with my undersized owlie sack.

It is so fun seeing my little stack on knits growing as I dream about this new little person! I’ve realized my colours are leaning decidedly to the more manly side of things even though I’m trying to stick to neutrals while we wait to meet our new addition (will this be our fifth daughter or our third son?). Dan rationally suggested I wait to see before knitting much more but of course after the arrival my arms will be full of baby with very little time for needles and wool (a sacrifice I’m perfectly thrilled to accept).

So on I knit! Perhaps I’m making a little wish I thrown a rosy hue or two into my suitcase but the colours I brought are very happy making.

And because Dan can only get so excited about baby knits (“Don’t get her wrong, kids, she’s knitting for herself”, is a recent quote from him), I’m going to share them here with you.

In truth I knit this one while we were still at home but I got the buttons on fairly recently. It’s the tried and true puerperium pattern which I’ve knit (and loved) quite a few times now. I was getting pretty stressed that I would run out of the leftover Cascade 220 I’d found in my stash so I  kept the sleeves short. It will be perfect over a long-sleeved onesie and should fit during our late summer/early falls days.

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This smoky vertebrae was another I’d been working on at home. Unlike the last time I knit this pattern I conquered the collar immediately (I’m rubbish at picking up stitches). It was quick and enjoyable (I’m all about those types of knits these days) and so, so soft in the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran from my stash. I used only two of the five skeins I have so I’ll be happy to pick it up again for another project.

I couldn’t bring myself to knit the newborn size (although it would be darling) so I stuck to the 3-6 month directions…although I am tempted to whip up another in the newborn size…(somebody stop me!!).

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First up when we hit the road was this 5-hour baby boy sweater, a simple free pattern. Short and sweet, it really only took about the time promised (although I spent a fair amount of time swatching). I sized the needles down to US 8 (5.0mm) which I felt knit a better fabric than the needles called for in the pattern. I also moved the sleeve stitches to scrap wool, finished the body, then picked up the sleeves for knitting in the round – much nicer than all that seaming! I knit it in some clearance Martha Stewart Merino I’d picked up at Michael’s for a song. It was lovely wool and the colour ended up being much more watercoloured aqua than the baby blue I’d first expected. Gender neutral, right?!

This one will get a good blocking and some sweet little buttons when we get home!

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A few weeks ago when I asked baby pattern recommendations, Svenna recommended the felipe pattern. Her little guy wore his so sweetly that I’d already searched it out in her ravelry projects before she mentioned it. It was ridiculously speedy – an evening’s knitting and an afternoon movie (the first matinee Dan and I have seen in 10 years!). This blue is not technically neutral (or even vaguely) but it matters not – it’s too darn gorgeous to resist! Mmm, malabrigo rios!

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For a quick break from the sweater knitting I cast on this speedy little hat. I used Rebecca‘s mods (gundyknitter on ravelry) to size it down a touch for a true newborn size. There is some doubt whether this will even be big enough for a newborn but I’ll block it well if it’s too snug…And perhaps I’ll whip another up slightly larger one, just in case.

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My needles aren’t getting any chance to cool with this stack of knits awaiting baby. I’ve just finished a Small Things Sweater but it needs a good soak before I can show off its true beauty. Now I’m thinking maybe I quick pair of socks, a sleeping cap, and maybe some longies or shorties? As you can tell I’m unstoppable.

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I know I’m always asking but I do get so curious what others are working on. Have you got a crafty project on the go (needles or not)? 

Thanks for stopping by!