Skin of my teeth

Like a lot of people, NOTHING motivates me like a deadline. The latest case in point. I have known for 7 MONTHS that my son's teacher was having a baby in early April. However it wasn't until about a month ago I kicked myself into gear to start working on her baby's present(s).

Sheldon/Shellie and her blanket

So, what to knit? I am a pragmatic knitter and am always searching for that practical yet cute knitted baby present that stands a really good chance of getting used. I've knitted countless hats. I've done custom blankets for all my sisters' kids (four and counting) as well as lace and sampler blankets for my own two.

My go to gift of late has been this toy dragon byZaryffa Sandan. It's quick, very cute and sturdy. And it will be at least a few years until the child truly outgrows having a dragon around. :)

However for the current baby in question, I decided to go for a car capsule friendly baby blanket with accompanying turtle. It would be made out of washing machine friendly yarn and in the colors that the parents had decorated the nursery in. I wanted something that was baby/bomb proof. No manner of baby produced fluid was going to be too much for this blanket. Need something to put on the floor as an emergency diaper changing area? No problem. Want a barrier between the floor/ground and the squirming 6mth old that needs some tummy time? Sorted.

The blanket, as per the pattern, would have a pocket to fit in the turtle in. So, out of my raverly queue came: Sheldon's Baby Blanket and Sheldon. I have been wanting to make these two for a LONG time. I think the date I originally queued the Sheldon pattern  was sometime in 2008.

There was one "small" snag in my execution. I didn't have the colors I wanted in DK weight in my stash. So, I used the left over yarn from the blanket, which was worsted weight. Sheldon came out bigger (as expected). However I didn't have time to redo the pocket on the blanket. So, Sheldon will just have to ride along in the diaper bag. :)

Purple Sheldon

I finished the blanket with 8 minutes to spare before I had to walk out the door to deliver it. The baby, a little girl,  arrived two weeks early on Monday. Mum and baby are doing really well. I won't get to see the Mum's face as she gets to see the blanket and Sheldon/Shellie. However, I truly hope she likes it.

It's all gone

I endeavor to keep this blog primarily about my knitting exploits. However sometimes life and knitting meet in such a way that leaving out one half of the story does not make sense.

In my previous post about the hats I made myself, I failed to mention that I had a specific purpose in mind. Yesterday, I had my head shaved by a lovely lady named Alison. She spent the morning helping to shave about 20 people along with myself. We were shedding our locks for Saint Baldricks - a charity dedicated to raising money for childhood cancer research. My team mates and I have currently raised over $15,000 and are hoping to raise a bit more.

So, the hats are now in constant rotation. However there is a downside to knitted hats on a freshly shaven head - they stick like velcroe. :)

So, I know you wanna see what it looks like.... So here you go....

My kids and I immediately after the shearing.

Here is the link for our St Baldricks Team, Team Thompson. It was such a blast.

Three and counting

Like many crafters, I tend to give away most of what I make. Before my latest endeavor, of the 79 projects that I had on ravelry, I had made for myself, and kept, a grand total of two. A hat and a pair of fingerless gloves. I still have the gloves, however I promptly lost the hat a month after I made it.

I decided that after Christmas, I would start on something for myself. I live in Colorado and didn't have a warm winter hat. So, that seemed like the obvious place to start.

Inspired by the quick knit hat that the Yarn Harlot made for her daughter for Christmas, I decided to make one for myself with yarn that had been sitting, waiting to be used for four years. It had been part of an ambitious sweater project that never got off the ground.

 

Knit Night Hat by Judy Marples

This got me thinking. What stop at one? So, I promptly went through my Ravelry queue and made myself another two hats. One with yarn I had been given for Christmas, from Australia, and the other with yarn I bought from the new and gorgeous yarn store in town. 

Molly by Erin Ruth

Scott Pilgrim Hat (original costume pattern from the movie) by Lulu Bee

The first hat (presently) gets the most use. The other two are currently sitting in my "finished objects draw".

The Rise of the Unicorn (hat)

Two weeks before Christmas, my 4yo daughter, sitting on Santa's knee, looks me squarely in the eye and asked for a unicorn hat. I will have sit her down and tell her that Santa organizes his knitting list MONTHS before the big day.

I didn't know how I was going to get it done, considering the amount of Christmas knitting I had taken on last year and how I was supposed to get it done without her seeing it. So, I devised a little white lie. I told the 4yo that Santa has sent me an email asking me to make it for him, considering the late notice. Luckily for me, she bought it.

Little did I know that this one hat would quickly lead to the creation of two more. After seeing his sister's hat come into being, the 6yo wanted one (without the horn) in orange and blue (Denver Bronco colors - we live in Colorado). I managed to get both done before Christmas day! YAY! Within a week of school going back, the 4yo's preschool teacher asked for her own. How could I refuse. So, may I present the three unicorn hats:

6yo and I modelling the first two hats. 4yo didn't want to be in the photo. :)

Not quite finished. Have to finish the sewing on the wears. Want to leave it undone until I confer with the new owner on whether she likes the placement of the ears.

Thanks to the author of the pattern, Brittany Tyler who published the Unicorn Hat. My two kids thank you!

Christmas Knitting Rehash

Yep, it's been too long since I last posted. So, in an effort to rectify that, here is a rehash of my Christmas Knitting exploits.

In the past I have knitted hats and scarves for the kids or the occasional hat etc for a visiting relative for Christmas. However, I have avoided doing a lot of knitting for Christmas, as I don't need the stress. I found out in April that my Brother, his girlfriend and her parents were coming for Christmas. And what better way of showing how happy we were that they were here (from Australia) than to make hat and scarf/cowl sets for everyone. So, this is what I came up with:

 For my brother: Purl Ridge Cowl & Custom Man-hat.

 For the lovely Miss Emily: Basic Tam by Ann Budd crossed with "Noo" & Shawl Collared Cowl

For Louise and Tony, I made (left to right): Meret Mystery Beret, Gemstone Cowl, Medowbrook & Dave's Hat

It was a truly lovely Christmas. Filled with family, both chosen and given.

The rise of Peacock Sugar Bunny

Down at the pub with our good friends Chris and Kari one night, I had the sudden and compelling urge to offer to make Chris a hat. It may had something to do with the number of beers I'd had or the fact it was 10F outside at the time. After much consultation on color, fit and feel, we decided on David's Hat using Knit Picks Yarn:

But what this doesn't show you is the peacock Sugarbunny on the inside! Knit Picks brought out a new soft and oh-so-lovely yarn called - Sugarbunny. Peacock is the name of their beautiful blue color. I think I am going to have to make one for me! And yes, Chris likes the hat.

Oscar Oscar!

Last weekend is officially a blur. Dinners with friends, film directors' symposiums, hair dresser and nail appointments, revisiting my favorite cafes and of course, attending the Oscars. Oh and almost being run over by George Clooney. :) But more about that later.


After knitting like a mad woman for a week, I manage to get enough done on my shawl to make it wearable. I would have still like to have it another 10ins longer, however slow knitters with time management issues can't be choosers. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. The pattern is Meandering Vines Shawl by Susanna IC and was worked in Rowan Kid Haze for the slight halo effect. 

The actual event was a lot of exhilarated craziness and fun. The red carpet is divided into two sections. The front section near the cameras is for the movie stars and glitterati. Behind a velvet rope is the lane for everyone else. And that is where my friend, Mary Anne and I, were making our way towards the theater. At one point, I stopped to talk to my friend Mary Anne and tried to get a look at the latest movie star who had just arrived (I think it was Gweneth Paltrow). When Mary Anne suddenly remarked in slight alarm "Oh, watch out, there is George Clooney. He's jumped the rope!". I turn around in time to see a blur of grey hair go rushing past me on his way to the stands behind me. Shaking hands with people in the bleachers, George Clooney then endeared himself to the 200 or so people present by talking to and then kissing on the cheek of the older lady waiting patiently on the red carpet in her wheel chair. A collective "Awww!" went up from everyone around him. Good job Mr. Clooney. :)

Now I'm back home and it's back to reality. At noon last Saturday I was attending the Oscar nominated foreign language film directors' symposium. Today at midday, I was deworming llamas and shoveling llama poop. I love me life! :)