New Freebie: Rialto Baby Beanie

Rialto Baby Beanie

Size

° preemie (newborn, baby, toddler)

° Head circumference: 11(12-13, 14-15, 16-17)” or 27.5(30-32.5, 35-37.5, 40-42.5)cm

Materials

° Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print;50g/105m, 1 ball

° Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK; 50g/110m (or Debbie Bliss Rialto DK), 1 ball

° 4mm-16” circular needles

° 3.5mm-16” circular needles

° 4mm double pointed needles

° 1 stitch marker

° darning needle (preferably pointy & small)

Hat on the left:

Newborn size, Debbie Bliss CashmerinoDK colour 18 (navy), Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print 05 (Ravenna)

Hat on the right:

Toddler size, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK colour 43 (beige), Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print 01 (Florence)

Dowload the pattern Here

Sweaters in the Wild

Sweaters in the wild ..... Above is my niece, Lucy, wearing an old store sample, Tulips. My brother just sent me this pic, probably because:

1. he just got a new iPhone.
2. the kid is wearing one of my sweaters.
3. she seems to be dressing herself - not bad for 20 months. 

I'm glad she likes sweaters and mismatched brightly coloured socks. We are kindred spirits. I will make her more striped sweaters in the future. 

BTW, the yarn I made this with has been discontinued. It takes 8 colours and you can use an Aran or Worsted weight yarn, like:

• Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
• Cascade 220 Superwash
• Dream in Color Classy
• Berroco Vintage

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Petite Facile Progress: which button?

Our Petite Facile kids pullover is almost finished!  It looks great and I'm so impressed with the yarn (Cascade 220 Superwash Paints), it didn't pool at all. If I had produced it I'd feel proud. I just have to wash and block the sweater (think I'll add some vinegar to the bath to make sure the colour stays vibrant), and dye the button purple. 

I also can't decide which button I like best. What do you think, triangular or oval? 

I'm not loving the single big button hole. Maybe on the smaller sizes it's ok, but on the larger size the upper edge tends to flop around. If I did this again I'd make 2 or 3 button holes, and certainly make them smaller (I'd experiment with a 1 or 2 stitch button hole).  

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

Petite Facile

Liane is knitting up a Petite Facile for the store. It's so adorable, I thought you'd find it inspiring. It's also always nice to stumble across something great in your magazine back issues (it's from Interweave Knits Winter 2011, and if you are looking for a copy we presently have 5 for sale at Knit-O-Matic). 

The construction is really cool, it is made in one piece and then seamed up the side & arm, but it also has short row shaping in the upper part. I love that kind of elegant simplicity in a pattern - plus it's not so simple that it's boring, but not so hard that you have to pay attention every second. 

And above is Our Petite Facile, in progress. We're using 4.5mm needles and Cascade 220 Superwash Paints. The yarn is knitting up beautifully, it is comfortably soft and the colour isn't pooling, which is VERY impressive for a hand-paint variegated yarn. 

More to come once it's finished!

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

Finished: Arshile Remix Hoodie

Liane finished the Arshile baby/child pullover with Berroco Remix and I think it looks awesome. It's a pattern written specifically for the yarn (from Berroco #303) so I expected it would make good use of the yarn's inherent properties. I was surprised how tweedy it came out, the yarn doesn't have any wool, but it came out looking pretty close to a real tweed which is .... awesome - I like that aesthetic.  I've confirmed it to myself, it's a soft all season yarn that has some texture and interest, and it's machine washable = kid friendly!  :-)

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Project Round-Up!

I finished my Ombre Cowl! Love it, it's light, airy, and pretty. I'm soooooo into both ombres (colour gradations) and kid mohair (mohair but thin and not particularly itchy) right now. 

Over the weekend I started another prismy wrap. I'm going to keep at it until I get it right! I don't think I'll have to die trying, this one is looking great. I'm using Noro Silk Garden and Debbie Bliss Angel (holding the mohair double). This type of project makes especially good use of the more muted (dowdy) Noro colourways.

BTW, the Prism wrap is the greatest mindless knitting. Simple and effective. And it certainly moves along much faster when you use worsted weight yarn!

I finished the last prismy wrap, but am unsatisfied with my colour choices. The yarn choice worked well, the Berroco Remix can play either a lead or supporting role. 

Finally, we're working on a new project for the store, a little hoodie pattern called Arshile knit with Berroco Remix.  We've decreased our needle size, but it doesn't have anything to do with the pattern, Liane's tension on straight metal needles (they are her very favourite) is a bit looser than the suggested tension.  So far so good, I think it'll make a really cute year-round kid sweater.  

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Lil' Devil Helmet

My hats for Lucy are finally back on track!  After all the knitting drama with the Pussy Cat hats, I took a break and made little L something to match her red jacket. It started as a Lil' Devil Baby Hat, but I made modifications. I added some length at the back, and turned the ties into a strap (the straps are super cute, but they are a choking hazard) which attached with a snap (a great big one that little hands can't open). 

I made my mods on the fly, and while I wrote them down they got complicated and I don't think they are worth reproducing in their present state. I'll have to knit it up again in an easier way and write that up to share. 

 I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, and it was perfect for the project and felt great!  

Oh, BTW, the reason kiddo is modelling in her jammies is because she had just dropped a great big smelly log and it smelled soooooo bad that we (aka. my sister-in-law) had to change her out of her clothes before her afternoon nap. Seriously, it was nasty, seriously nasty. That kid should not eat chickpeas.  

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Ruminating on Kid Things

I'm thinking about making something for my niece, who is 3 months old this week. The only thing is that she's a grower and I'm not really sure what size she's going to take from week to week, and what size she'll be in any given season. Moreover, she's gigantic (in the 95th percentile for weight and height), and I don't know if she's going to take after my father and I and be tall, or if she'll slow down after a year and fit regular kid sizes. Maybe I should just make whatever project I choose in a 2 year old size?  

Simo

My sister-in-law put in a request for a felted jumper, which isn't going to happen in knitting - poor kid would cook. But I do love this little dress from Berroco's Remix Booklet #303.   The sizes range from 2 to 12 years, so the sizing issue could work out.

Berroco Remix #3956

I would use colour 3956, dungaree (light blue). I think it's a safe colour for a pale kid, and she seems to look great in blue. It only takes 3 skeins to make a size 2 (also 4 and 6), and the price is right at $11 each, so it's not the end of the world if she mucks it up. And the yarns is completely washable, so this one is a definite maybe.

Knitting Pure and Simple Baby Tunic

I've also been thinking about making a little hoodie for her. I love this version by KimDillard, and I have some Koigu Kersti kicking around, but I don't think it's a good colour for my niece. It is rose with highlights of royal blue, pumpkin and black. It sounds bad, but it's not, it's just too dark and too pink. 

Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky

Another option is Dream in Color Classy in "Some Summer Sky". It should be a great colour on her, and when we go to the park it'll be really easy to keep track of her. 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

I'm thinking about making something for my niece, who is 3 months old this week. The only thing is that she's a grower and I'm not really sure what size she's going to take from week to week, and what size she'll be in any given season. Moreover, she's gigantic (in the 95th percentile for weight and height), and I don't know if she's going to take after my father and I and be tall, or if she'll slow down after a year and fit regular kid sizes. Maybe I should just make whatever project I choose in a 2 year old size?  

Simo

My sister-in-law put in a request for a felted jumper, which isn't going to happen in knitting - poor kid would cook. But I do love this little dress from Berroco's Remix Booklet #303.   The sizes range from 2 to 12 years, so the sizing issue could work out.

Berroco Remix #3956

I would use colour 3956, dungaree (light blue). I think it's a safe colour for a pale kid, and she seems to look great in blue. It only takes 3 skeins to make a size 2 (also 4 and 6), and the price is right at $11 each, so it's not the end of the world if she mucks it up. And the yarns is completely washable, so this one is a definite maybe.

Knitting Pure and Simple Baby Tunic

I've also been thinking about making a little hoodie for her. I love this version by KimDillard, and I have some Koigu Kersti kicking around, but I don't think it's a good colour for my niece. It is rose with highlights of royal blue, pumpkin and black. It sounds bad, but it's not, it's just too dark and too pink. 

Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky

Another option is Dream in Color Classy in "Some Summer Sky". It should be a great colour on her, and when we go to the park it'll be really easy to keep track of her. 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Blast from the Past

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

Remember this little number? It is a Tulips in Dream in Color Classy that I was never particularly satisfied with, it just didn't look right (sometimes my mojo is off, it happens once in a while). But Lisa liked it, and I always intended to give it to her when she had a baby. Bu after washing it in preparation for gifting, it just didn't sit right with me. It started nagging and taunting. You know what came next ..... RIP!  This is the beauty of a top-down knit: you can edit. I've pulled out all of the yellow trim and am replacing it with a plain 2x2 rib in dark blue.  Will I get it done in time for the shower tomorrow? Anything can happen .....  ;-)

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Finished - Aviatrix Baby Hats

Finito!  I made these two little Aviatrix Baby Hats with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for my cousin`s new twins. Luckily, the babies are fraternal, so I got to use the pink and the blue!  The Cashmerino was really nice to work with and I think it will be especially well received (the palette is right on and the texture can`t be beat). The pattern was pretty straight-forward. It took a bit more time than I expected, but it looks great and is more interesting than a plain, old hat.  

I think the pattern would work especially well with a slightly textured yarn, which would disguise the short-row wraps. On the blue I tried unwrapping the wraps and knitting them in, but it didn`t make a difference in appearance, so just knit right over your wraps like Jussi directs. I was also a big confused bu the yarn suggestion - they used a DK, but knit it on a 4.5mm needle and got a gauge of 4.5 sts per inch. I wen`t with the suggested gauge and used a yarn thant knits up at 18 sts & 24 rows over 4 inches. 

As always, find us at www.knitomatic.com!

Store Project: Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss

I thought I should update you on our latest project for the store, we are making the Ribbed Baby Jacket by Debbie Bliss (a free pattern available online) in the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in colour Pea Green no 502.  The yarn has been on the market for a while but we have only just started carrying it. An the results: so far, so good!  The yarn has a very stretch quality so it goes further than a regular merino (the smallest size only uses 4 balls max). It is super soft and has a very satisfying squish to it. Squish, squish, squish!  It's definitely in the petting yarn spectrum. 

This is the colour we are using, Pea Green.  I think it's closer to pea soup green, but that's not really relevant. One thing for sure, Debbie Bliss's design sensibility is always impeccable. The yarn colours are gorgeous and the patterns are always lovely - she's the Martha Stewart of knitting.

Oh, and as for the pattern, it's a pretty simple little thing. The sweater is knit in one piece (back, arms, fronts), seamed up the sides and down the arms, and then the ribbed collar is picked up & knitted. Super cute!

Big Bad Baby Blanket

Our new Big Bad Baby Blanket made in Cadenza is done!  It is pretty, soft and warm - everything a baby blanket should be! :-)

beret city

OK, I knit this Beret in Malabrigo Aquarella up and finished it before I got a chance to tell you about it. It is an Urchin by Ysolda. I was a little confused when I first started but once I got the hang of it it was really easy. One caveat, you will REALLY want to have a set of locking or split ring stitch markers at hand to keep track or your short rows. Every time i did a Wrap & Turn (w&t) I stuck a marker in the wrapped stitch. Listen to me now, believe me later. I'm not sure I love the Aquarella for this hat, it may be a bit thick. I should have made a size Small, I did a Medium and it's a bit big - although, if you have a big noggin it is probably just right. One thing I notice now, looking at the pattern pictures on Ravelry, I don't seem to have the ridges that bisect the sections. I must have read something wrong, but it's easy enough to adjust next  time (if there is one).

This is my Parisian Beanie Beret (raspberry beret) from Stitch Diva Designs - almost finished except for another round or two of decreases  and some ends woven in. I was working on it while in line at the flu clinic on Monday (don't go to the one at Yonge & Eglinton, what a mess). I made some good progress on it, almost finished except I RAN OUT OF YARN! I finished it yesterday, it is drying right now. It looks really big!  I think it may have been a mistake to knit it in a superwash yarn. After you wash a superwash it can often loosen up a bit, and I think that because this hat is knit on 6mm needles that a yarn that has a more consistent body would be a good idea. Maybe a Malabrigo Worsted or Lamb's Pride Bulky. Otherwise, i think it would be a good idea to change the needle size and use 5.5mm or maybe even 5mm. But I'll get back to you with the final pics and how I feel about it.

Hey, by the way, I taught myself how to knit with gloves on! The trick is to wear those thin, lycra stretchy one size mini-gloves. The ones at H&M are pretty good.

Cute Baby Update

There's nothin' like a little bit o' cute on a grey day! Here are the pictures I promised you of the Little Devil Hat I made for Harlow. The hat is so cute that I might make one for my Sister-in-law's nephew, Liam, who is 17 months old. Liam is one of those really fun kids that everyone loves because they're so easygoing and interact with everyone. He's got 2 words right now, 'this' and 'that', and I was charmed when he asked me to take a ride in his little plastic car by pointing at it and saying "this!". I also developed some affection because he was perfectly ok with my only being able to get my head and right arm into the vehicle. Crazy Kids.

regia cardie & furniture

first things first, i am almost finished my baby cardie in Regia 6ply Design Line (the Kaffe Fasset sock yarn, but the DK thickness). i think it looks great, despite the over exposed photo (sorry, i will take a better pic when finished). i just washed it and it is drying now. buttons and labels go on, the it is finito!  i had to wait a while to get the heathered grey trim colour in, but in general it took very little time.  i love the way superwash wools loosen up after a bath in Eucalan!  beffore they go in they are so uptight, and when they come out they're all "hey man, wanna get high?".

but lets move on to important things like my new sofa!  i am furniture proud, i spent thursday cleaning my new/old sofa, gratis kristen.  the fabric says it can only be cleaned professionnally, but it is scotch guarded and i have my methods.  actually, my method comes from doityourself.com.  i don't guarantee any results, i only attest to my own. test it first in a small spot in back to make sure you won't be wrecking your sofa.  also, i found this to be a gentle and slow process, i had to go over the dirty parts several times. that said, the sofa is a fairly light colour and dirt befirends light coloured fabrics.  i have not found that the Eucalan discoloured the fabric at all, but parts that were stained i scrubbed harder are noticeably lighter, although when i went back over the surrounding area it all came togther. my sofa only had surface wear, but if you have to dispatch some smells i suggest you maybe try the Eucalyptus or Lavender scent.  i also tried the grapefruit sent near the end but found the smell extremely gentle and i don't think it really  astayed in the fabric afterwards.

this is how i did it:

1. vaccum sofa, clean off solid debris.

2. in a big mixing bowl (the bigger the better) pour 1/4 cup Eucalan and 1 cup water (i used unscented, but none have dyes anyway).

3. with hand mixer or mixer whip the soap into a stiff foam. it is acutally a very satisfying feeling.

4. with a clean sponge scoop up a generous amount of foam (no water) and gently scrub the foam on in circles.

5.  you do not need to remove the suds as instructed in the link above, they dissipate quickly.

6. let fabric dry. repeat util your sofa is as clean as you want it to be.

While i was picking up the sofa a few other pieces of furniture came into my possession.  this is my new cash register nook.

the shopping basket district.

and a new addition to the front window vignette! so basically, now Knit-O-Matic looks like Kristen's sun-room. the sofa is soooo comfortable! love it! someone intoned a desire to bring their dog on it and my reaction was reasoned, but inside i was thinking "You want to do WHAT? You want to put your drooling, ass sniffing, unbathed pet on MY beautiful new sofa, which I've spent ll day cleaning? I don't think so.  I don't even know why you presumed to think so."  but ya know, in retrospect, I think maybe they were playing with me. From the outset I was planning to get a cover, but i don't think it is the shape of sofa that will fit a cover properly, or at least elegantly.  i've seen stretchy lycra covers that are designed for the less conservative sofa, but they look like a unitard and feel even worse.

anyway, hat's about the size of where you set your eyes. xox

addenda 9:06 pm
it was not a joke, she really wants to bring dog on sofa. will purchase sofa-tard.

february baby sweater

 
i finished my february baby sweater last week. i cheated and knit the arms in the round.  it looks very cute. the yarn colour actually looks ok with the lace. but more importantly, i got to use some of my strange coloured vintage glass butttons.clearly, baby clothes are what odd colouured vintage buttons were made for. it only took 1 skein of dream in colour classy, not bad!

people have been commenting on the Dream in Colour yarn, saying that it is very well priced. well, that it was, becuase i accidentally priced it incorrectly, at the cost price.  so if you got it for $11.80, lucky you, but the price has now been adjusted to $22. 

good news, i got a sofa for the store!  i will post pictures tomorrow. it is a very nice sofa, which i have spent many hours cleaning with Eucalan.