I had two false starts with this sweater and wound up knitting the entire body twice. It wasn’t until I was done with the second knitting that I realized I had made a major boo boo in the stitch pattern for the side panels (I knit reverse st st instead of garter). No way was I going back. Now, I like it better this way! it gives the sweater an eensy bit of negative ease.

Full details can be found on Ravelry, but the main details are that I used Rowan’s Scottish Tweed Aran on size 9 needles. The kitchener under the arms looks great and I used the ends of that yarn to tighten up the pit holes.

Considering my original deadline, without any screw ups, was January 2009, I am really happy it’s complete before the year is out. Jason is very happy with the sweater and I think it looks great on him. I highly recommend this pattern for a man in your life.

PS-don’t even think about skipping the short rows. This is where the magic of the fit lies!

First purchase was one HUGE skein of Sport weight superwash… suitable for both genders of babies, I think.

Then a skein of Decedent Fibers-Creme Puff in a colorway I can’t remember.

It was at this point that my shopping companion and I realized that we might be experiencing a bit of a fiber high. We both bought this and had to admit that if it had come into stock at our favorite shop, we wouldn’t even look twice! Still though, we are both looking forward to big, warm mufflers of this winter.

We stopped at many other booths, but I was holding out for the much loved Brooks Farm. There I picked up two skeins of their new Solana–a superwash merino.

Finally, we stopped at the super-packed Socks that Rock booth. I couldn’t even get in there (with Cassie strapped onto my chest). Oh well. I let it go.

But wait… thanks to the generosity Maura and her family, we got to go back on Sunday! We Wongs stayed up at the Green and Purple House for the night, had some fun with the kiddies and then made our way back to the festival before driving home. The frenetic (frantic?) pace of shopping while the kids are being occupied by fathers didn’t allow for the most clarity on day one. Sadly, it also meant not really hanging out with Spiders or Brooklyn General knitters either. I was pretty surprised when we counted up our haul and I only had four skeins!

So, on day two we knew exactly what we were doing. I bought one skein of Solana for my sister (not pictured), a skein of Socks that Rock Heavyweight:

Four skeins of this stuff I can’t find a receipt for. I am pretty pissed about this. This wool is super soft and I am hoping to turn it into something for Cassie.

All in all, it was a pretty great experience. Both kids have colds again and Cassie is a little windburned on her face, but that just makes them stronger, right? Our overnight was lovely and we even got to stop by my parent’s house in the way home. I’m happy with my purchases and i think I kept a handle on my wallet too. Save being able to spend time with anyone or even people watch, it was a success! But, believe me, I missed you girls . Next year no kids, I think.

I completed the second Boheme for Maia about a week ago.
Pattern: Boheme by Allegra Wermuth
Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Raspberry (2)
Needles: size 7… i think.
Mods: I increased the largest size by 4 stitches and went on my merry way, skipping the lace pattern cuz I am not in good head space for lace these days.
Results?: Great! A little big, which is perfect. I think it will last for a couple of years. Maia LOVES it. I am so so lucky to have a kid who truly appreciates the things I make for her. She even pretends to knit me hats in the car. Because mine always seem to blow away. Oh yea, I got the cute triangle turquoise buttons while visiting the Gleek out in Bay Ridge. The shop had a HUGE selection of buttons, ribbons and other notions. Not to mention fabric and patterns.

I also knit some socks for Cassie–that was a bust.

Pattern: socks with short-row heel (my first, with help). I cast on 36 stitches and did a 3×1 rib.
Yarn: Koigu KPM in a purpley colorway (p324)
Needles: sz 1 magic loop
Results?: note to self–no need to rib the whole thing for a baby. The socks look great, but they are too tight. They’ll be gifted to a skinnier baby sometime this week.

Bonus photos

oh yes… Maia woke up this morning and declared, “You forgot about my red sweater!!!” To someone with no sense of time, I’m sure it seemed like I had.

I’m working on a third Boheme for Maia. I think I added 6 stitches to the pattern to increase it to a two year old size. I think it’s a little too big! Oh well. Kids grow. I’m using Raspberry Lamb’s Pride. Since I only had one skein, I perused Ravelry to locate another. I got lucky and found one for 5 bucks. I always bypass lamb’s pride these days, but it really is a solid choice for a warm kid’s sweater. I’m glad this has short sleeves though… it would be way hot.

Maia got her first haircut this summer. With playschool starting this month I though it was time. not too mention that she would NOT let me brush it or put it up. The end of the day was always a sticky, sweaty mess. Now, because she has a haircut, she allows me to brush it. Yay!

Toward the end of summer we were able to partake in Brooklyn General’s knitting breakfast on a few regular Fridays. Maia and her buddy Miss P had fun moving the ENORMOUS amount of new stock all around the store and Cassie got to spend some quality time with her built-in bf. Miss P’s sister arrived just a few months behind Cass.

Oh yea, those home improvements? The hallway and my “office” area are complete, but I haven’t taken photos yet. Guess I’ll work on that next.

In honor, I would like to share the reading our friend Sean did at the ceremony…

Each generation, in its turn, is a link between all that has gone before and all that comes after. That is true genetically, and it is equally true in the transmission of identity. Our parents gave us what they were able to give, and we took what we could of it and made parts of ourselves. If we knew our grandparents, we will have taken from them what they could offer us, too. All that helped to make us who we are. We, in our turn, will offer what we can of ourselves to our children and their offspring.

The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self.

When we love a person, we accept him or her exactly as is: the lovely with the unlovely, the strong along with the fearful, the true mixed in with the façade, and of course, the only way we can do it is by accepting ourselves that way.

We need to help people to discover the true meaning of love. Love is generally confused with dependence. Those of us who have grown in true love know that we can love only in proportion to our capacity for independence.

Love and trust, in the space between what’s said and what’s heard in our life, can make all the difference in the world.

All excerpts from the writings of Mr. Rogers. Yes, that Mr. Rogers.

Off to celebrate!

Pattern: Boheme by Allegra Wermuth (Ravelry)
Size: 6 months
Yarn: Rowan Magpie (aran)
Needle: Size 7
Mods: I skipped out on the lace, lost count on my increases and did a 4 st garter border around the whole thing. The buttons are vintage, given to me by a friend from her grandmother’s sewing box… perfect.

I’m really happy with the results! I hope this will keep Cassie warm, but not too warm as the cooler air starts to blow in. I knit at a slightly tighter tension to make it more like a coat. Another one is already in progress for a friend’s baby, due in November.

A couple other random shots to keep you entertained. This one is a stash shot for Ravelry (Hempathy, Elsebeth Lavold), but check out what’s going on in the background. Maia is giving ol’ Joey (17) some love. Because, “she is OUR tiger”.

Cassie loves to sleep with something over her face. Mostly this giraffe…

Sieving jellyfish…

Cuddly new friends…

(felted elephant from Mary)

And a birthday for me…

it’s a happy, crazy summer!

(yes, that’s a giant stuffed penguin)

I committed to some WIP Wrestling with the Spiders Team over on Ravelry… I think I’m going to bring the team down! First of all, I’ve watched about one hour of the Olympics (not counting the entire, amazing opening ceremony). I am so exhausted in the evenings. I’ve also had my birthday, some visitors, and awesome weather to contend with. Not to mention our small home improvements, the purchase of a new car, and a haircut. It’s been a whilrwind of small changes–all of which are probably to blame, at least in part, for Maia’s unwillingness to nap. But, that’s another story.

For me, the Olymipcs has served as a reminder that summer is almost over–boo! It lit a fire under me to finish certain already cut sewing projects before it’s too late.

This little number just needs some buttons. It’s the first sewing project that I didn’t totally screw up. I didn’t have to break out the seam ripper until my machine went haywire while making buttonholes. That’s the last step and I decided to pause and give the machine a break. Thanks for being my hanger, Mary

Pattern: New Look 6576 (sans applique and headband)
Size: Small 13-18 lbs (pattern goes up to 24 lbs, I am thinking of making one for Maia’s first day of “school” this fall)
Fabric: ummmmm, purchased in Hudson, NY
Mods: I did french seams down the side–so cool! Not a raggedy edge in site on this thing.
Improvements: I think I would do a better job on the hem if I had the motivation. I just did a straight stitch and I think it would be better with a blind hem. I am pretty sure Cassie doesn’t give a crap though.

Pattern: from Stardust Shoes
Fabric: some calico of my mom’s and some flannel
Mods: I didn’t interface anything. It’s not really a big deal, but the shoes would have more structure if I had.
Other: Lots of stupid mistakes. I cut holes for the elastic in in the top of the shoes, hence the cheezy ribbon. My stitching didn’t lock down on the sides so i had to do some hand fixing. These were gifted to Jennifer for her new baby (arriving today???? updated: YES!!!). I hope she likes them and forgives my spazticity.

Ok, now reallly, go visit Popknits.

We’ve been a little sick here, but things are still trucking along.

We play with Playdough almost every morning…

We dispense Infant Mortin as needed…

And we visit special people like Lily-the-cousin-once-removed that give us wonderful hand me down toys… I continue to be amazed by how much kid business has found a rightful place in our apartment.