Tuesday, October 27, 2009

halloween 2009: johnny rotten and sid vicious (by amber)


this is probably the last year my children will allow me to dress them the way i want to dress them for halloween. i anticipate that next year i will have to honor requests for disney princesses and star wars or other things i do not care for.

so i wanted to make the most of this year. and yet, my kids are both toddlers who are very mobile and into telling me "NO." i knew their costumes would have to be as close to street clothes as possible, or there would be an instant meltdown.

and so: johnny rotten and sid vicious.

claudia is johnny because of her sense of superiority, her lack of respect for authority, and her political activism. lisa myers helped me get the striped mohair sweater right; i hope that both babies will get some more wear out of it this winter. it was knit in le gran mohair.

the headpiece (i hesitate to say "wig") is a bit... hyperbolic, i think someone called it. just as much ronald mc donald as johnny rotten. but come on, it's halloween. the headpiece was made, like the sweater, with le gran mohair. it began as a piece of knitting, and then sort of spread into sewing and latchhook -- with some tucking, felting, and a little mod podge.

béla is sid vicious, because he is more of a follower than a leader (so far); and, he's a softie, although he tries to make it seem otherwise. also, he had the hair for it naturally. the only thing that was knit for his costume is his chain and bike lock. that was just stash yarn -- it might have been baby ull.

i have already learned to get the "official" halloween picture before the actual parties and events on halloween -- it makes for a much more relaxed holiday. happy halloween! oh, and DESTROY.

Sunday, September 06, 2009

Knitters With Busy Lifestyles

Dear Rosie Knitters,

I wanted to re-introduce myself because I am listed as a contributor yet have not contributed anything recently to this blog. I've spent my morning reading through all the amazing projects and such and am really inspired by what everyone has created.

I, sadly, have not been knitting lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been craving all things creative. Reading about all the yarns I missed....oh my goodness.

The good news is the holiday season is coming quickly and I have several new babies in my immediate family. I'm looking forward to rejoining the 'knitting society'.

LJ

Monday, March 30, 2009

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

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

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!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

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.

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

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!

Monday, July 21, 2008

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)