Wednesday 29 April 2009

A bevy of beautiful bootees



I whole stack of bootees that I made for Harry over the last few weeks of my pregnancy and while resting in hospital.

Most of them are from a really old Patons pattern book. Most are knit in 3 ply but the stripey one is 4 ply.

All so cute. I just love bootees and I prefer them to socks as they can move their little feet around more, not so constricting. And they look so sweet :-)

Loving having a winter baby!!!!

Saturday 18 April 2009

Bobble Hot Water Bottle Cover





Here is a hot water bottle cover I made up. the pattern is included below...

I have started using a hot water bottle since I started getting pretty intense lower back pain. Bub has moved into a posterior position and WOW the back ache has really increased! The hot water bottle helps so much, since I am having contractions every 5-10 mins, it really sucks, but the warmth helps.

Anyway, so it is made in a 12 ply wool, which i have had stashed for ages! so glad to get a use for it. took me 2 days to finish, so yeah it is a quick knit with the chunky wool. The neck is knit in the round on circular needles.

The pattern is super simple, mostly sticking stitch but there are some bobbles worked in there which keep it interesting.

Here is the pattern so you can make it yourself! Enjoy!

Bobble Hot Water Bottle Cover

Materials:

Approx 150g 12 ply wool
6.00mm needles
2 stitch holders
6.00mm or less Circular needles (I used 4.00mm and worked loosely.)
Tapestry needle

Abreviations

st st - Stocking stitch
k- knit
p-purl
MB- make bobble - (k1p1k1p1) in next stitch, turn, p4, turn, k4, turn, p2 tog twice, turn, k2 tog.

Method:

Cast on 45 stitches.

Rows 1-8 : Work 8 rows st st starting with a knit row, working 3 knit stitches at beginning and end of purl rows to make garter stitch edge.

Row 9 : k4 ('MB', k11) x 3, 'MB', k4.

Rows 10-16 : work 7 rows st st with garter stitch edge.

Row 17: k10 ('MB', K11) x 2, 'MB', k10.

Rows 18 - 24: work 7 rows st st with garter stitch edge.

Repeat rows 9-24 to form bobble pattern. Repeat until work measures just as long as the hot water bottle, ending with a purl row.

Cast off 5 stitches at begining of next 4 rows (25 stitches).
Leave remaing 25 stitches on a stitch holder.

Work another in the same manner.

Neck:
Sew top of cover together (I used back stitch). Put stitches onto a circular needles Work one round of k1p1 rib, increasing 2 stitches evenly around. Continue in k2p2 rib until neck is desired length. Cast off loosley in rib.

Sew sides and bottom together (I used back stitch). Put a hot water bottle inside (fold in half lengthways if you need to) and fill with hot water. Mmmmmmmm... toasty warm.....


Thursday 16 April 2009

Basic Newborn Hat in 3ply



Here is a little hat I have made for the new baby to wear as a newborn. It is a little cold in Katoomba hospital so a little hat is great!

I like to use 3 ply with babies, maximum 4 ply, as it is nice and delicate for them. Not too big and chunky!

I used dpns but you could use straight needles and then sew it up.

This one I made with some 3 ply baby super soft acrylic yarn with nylon. Since I made the pattern up as I went along I thought I would share it and put it on Raverly as there isn't really a basic 3 ply hat pattern that I could find on there.


Basic Newborn hat in 3ply

Materials:
3 ply yarn
2.25cm (US 1) dpn
Tapestry needle

Cast on 100 stitches and distribute evenly among 3 double pointed needles. Work 10 rows 2x2 rib.

Work in stocking stitch until work measures approx 3-4 inches/7.5 -10cm.

Round 1: K1, slip 1, K1, psso, knit to last 3 stitches, k2 tog, k1 - On each needle (ie. decrease 2 stitches on each needle. 6 stitches all up) (94 st)
Round 2: Knit

Repeat the last two rounds until 40 stitches remain.
Then repeat row 1 until 22 stitches remain (ie. decrease every round).

Graft together remaining stiches using kitchener stitch
or
Cast off and sew together


Enjoy!!!


Monday 6 April 2009

Purple Jumper with Shawl Collar



A jumper I made with Spotlight branded 100% wool. Kimmy chose the colour, its quite nice! The pattern is a Panda pattern from 11 Handknits for Kids, Jumper with Shawl Collar and Raglan Set in Sleeves.

It was pretty easy/boring for the most part, just plain stocking stitch throughout. The rib is K2 P2. The shawl collar kept things interesting, it was a little fiddly but nothing major.

I made size 4 - there was only a pattern for size 2, 4, 6, etc... But she really is a size 3 so its a tad big, but wearable. She will still be wearing it next year I think.

Very happy with it!