Joan McGowan-Michael's Alyce

Last year, I took a class at Rosie's, and anxiously ordered yarn to make Joan's Alyce Sweater. It is lacy and made of Classic Elite Premiere, a luxe creamy shiny cotton that I just love! I had a hard time getting started (think of the recent Yarn Harlot post about not being able to cast on the right number of stiches over and over). By my ravelry notes, I had ripped back to row four on March 1st, so everything past the 4th row has been knit in the last month, while I was watching tv. I've actually finished the back and am starting the two small (21 stiches) x 8" pieces that go over the shoulders and come down near the lace panels to finish up the top of the arm holes. Some sleeves, and this will be ready to wear for summer!



And lately, I am in total grandmom baby love mode. Gabe came down to have lunch with me on Friday, and I happened to have plans to meet with Courtney and Clyde, so there was a playdate. Gabe was very interested in Clyde. But Clyde, having just learned how to walk, and seeing some steps, really wasn't that into Gabe.

Clyde and Gabe

Kate's a Ravelry Star

A big Woot for Kate and Selbu Modern! It's made it to the Ravelry new and popular list - making her a Ravelry phenomenon. Thanks for the wonderful pattern, Kate, and thanks to everyone at Rosie's for making cool patterns for us!

claudia, the pile of leaves

sorry to be posting as "knithappy" again but i don't use blogger for anything but this blog and have a slippery hold on my identity herein.

i am amber, and here is my daughter claudia, previewing her halloween costume. she is a pile of leaves. notice the rake. it is the most important part of the costume, if you are claudia, anyway.

all the leaves are knit from manos del uruguay. quite a few of them are knit from color 121, "cornucopia", of which one might say i am particularly fond. there is a machine-sewn shell under the body, headpiece, and both feeties of the costume. the leaves were then handsewn onto the shell. she is wearing a brown turtleneck onesie and brown cableknit stockings from baby gap underneath.

she can't fit into her stroller in it, but give her the rake and she is happy to sit in one spot and just be a pile for a good long time.

Thank you Courtney!

Aside from the fact that there hasn't been a post on here in a while, I wanted to give a shout out to Courtney. I don't know how to crochet. In the past, Courtney has taught me how to do a single crochet for a shell edging, and I just about got by. Well, today I went in for some crochet help for a hat/mitten pattern. Of course, I forgot the pattern and the book had sold out at Rosie's. Still, Courtney knew what I needed to do and helped explain some of the terms.

Tonight, I went home and read the directions again. I did a test swatch and then felt confident enough to start the crocheted picot edging on the hat. Check out my first attempt at more than just a crochet chain:

Here's the final product:

It's Susan Anderson's Cupcake Set (minus the scarf) from Itty Bitty Nursery. I knit it in Rowan Cashsoft DK (Pixie, Snowman, and Poppy). I knit the 6-12 months size.

Thanks so much Courtney!

Baby James Dean Hat (Rosie Knits pattern)

Just wanted to share the Baby James Dean hat I finished and gifted to a co-worker and his wife's new baby.

Thanks to Courtney's Max for the idea. I used Koigu mill ends and a size one circular needle. I didn't even mind the kitchenering over 50 stitches at the end since it was for a baby (maybe I should make socks for babies instead of myself - nah)

i am not "knithappy", i am amber dorko stopper. and i can't remember my login. but i want to show off my daughter in her new cotton tunic.

while i knit all summer long, i am not that interested in "summer knitting"-- but wanted to make something for my daughter to wear before autumn.

this tunic is from the "knitting pure and simple little girl's sundress or jumper" pattern and is knit in nashua's creative focus ecologie cotton in "chestnut".

the pattern is very easy to resize -- it barely requires any math, and can just be done with eyeballing. it's a toddler-sized pattern and claudia is only three months old.

this may very well be the one garment she is wearing next summer too, as a top. i made the armholes extra deep so that it might be possible.

i also added a folded picot edge, as that extra weight gives the bottom of the garment some swing, which is cute as heck.

as you can see, claudia's very amenable to having her photograph taken.

Don't forget- Wine and Wind is tonight!

Just a friendly reminder tonight is our Wine and Wind party at Rosie's! Bring all your stash from Maryland Sheep and Wool to show off and wind while enjoying some fabulous cheese and wine.

Festivities start at 6pm!