Baby Blocks

As I mentioned last week, I finished a baby blanket recently. As it turns out, I was just in time, since the baby in question arrived the same week I sent the blanket to the office with my husband (it was for a friend of ours that he also happens to work with). My husband kept forgetting to ask when the baby was due, so I kind of thought I was handing the blanket over way early, but figured it was better safe than sorry. Turns out I got it done just in the nick of time! Whoo!

I am pretty happy with how this one came out, too. The proud parents also enjoyed it quite a bit. Hopefully the baby is digging on it by now as well! Anyhoo, here it is:

Alphababy Blanket by Cori 2012.

Pattern: Baby ABCs Afghan by Coats & Clark (Available in Blue Ribbon Afghans from America's State Fairs)

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Sage (6 skeins)

Hook: US G

I loved this pattern! It was pretty simple and easy to do, it just required me to keep count of my stitches pretty much the whole time. I think it is super fun for babies because the bobbles give them lots of extra texture to play with, plus, you know, it's educational. Win-win. The really cool thing is that it would be super easy to take the pattern for each letter and make your own design up with a name or whatever you want it to say too. I can see myself playing around with that at some point in the future for sure.

In other projects, I actually managed to finish the next baby blanket in line this past weekend. I am not sure how that happened. So this week I am going to give my socks a little TLC before I move on to the next, full-sized, blanket. I went ahead and picked up the yarn for that and the pattern seems pretty simple, so hopefully that one will go quickly too. We shall see.

Wishing you all a wonderful yarn-filled week! 

Ninja Turtles Are Awesome

Hey, guess what? I can finally show you one of the projects I have been working on, huzzah!

While at Emerald City Comic Con this past March, my husband and I noticed a guy walking around with a fan-freaking-tastic beanie. It was made to look like the top of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's head. My husband really seemed to get a kick out of, and I quietly made a mental note to be filed away for a later date.

Well, yesterday was my husband's birthday, so that later date recently arrived. I actually started making this the week of my birthday, which was admittedly poor planning on my part. Hmm, when shall I start making my husband's birthday present? How about the week that he has two days off and is around about a whole lot more than usual due to birthday fun times and summer breaks in some of his regular gigs? Yeah, that sounds about right. 

Somehow, though, I managed to get it done (though it took me much longer than it normally would have to make). For the most part, I am really happy with how this sucker came out. Hubby's favorite turtle is Donatello, so he got a purple mask. Here, have a looksie.

Turtle Power by Cori 2011.

Front on model.

Back on model.

Pattern: Completely improvised.*

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft in Dark Sage and Iris (one skein each).

Needles: US 9 Circular

Hook: G

*I did use the Panda Ski Mask pattern at The Running Yarn as my base pattern for this project. Largely I used this to figure out yarn requirements, get a basic size for knitting a beanie (which I had not done before), and to figure out how to make the eye holes. 

Though I did end up totally disregarding the eye hole part of the pattern because it would have involved much more cutting of and weaving in of ends than I felt like dealing with. I ended up slip stitching across with a crochet hook and then once the eyes were big enough, chaining across and picking up the knit stitches from the chain on the next row. I didn't count on the slip stitches actually building up as much as they did, however, so the eyes are smaller than I would have liked. Lucky thing my husband has tiny eyes anyway! If I ever make another one of these I would totally just follow what the pattern called for in regards to the eye holes. Lesson learned.

For those curious about the construction, basically I made this in two pieces. The Top is jut a green beanie, knit in the round. The "mask" is a strip of purple knit/purled back and forth (on circulars) with added length so that it can be tied in the back. Then I sewed the two pieces together. 

I do think, in retrospect, I would have decreased a little toward the bottom of the mask just so it would pull in a little, but that is probably the only change I would make apart from the eye holes.

Added bonus, this project also got me straightened out in my purl technique once and for all. Huzzah!

So, what did Hubby think of his TMNT hat?

Ready to get his ninja on.

Now, next project is on the needles and underway. I still can't tell you about it, but I am really digging it. I am also loving the yarn I am using for this project. This will be perfect to take along to the social at the yarn store this coming weekend. 

Heck, I'll even give you a sneak peek, just because I love you so much. Enjoy:

Current project, about twenty rows in.

More once it is finished and gifted. Have a great week folks! Happy knitting and crocheting! May you find much yarn to pet. 

Actually, I Can't Tell You

It dawned on me after I posted my last finished project that I won't actually be able to blog about my next few projects until after they are done and gifted to their intended recipients. Huh. I guess that means I will have to get creative for my next few yarny posts, huh?

That doesn't mean you guys aren't free to guess and/or speculate, however. So for today, I will show you the yarn at bat and on deck.


This is what I am working on right now. That top yarn is actually purple, though I couldn't get a shot that really showed off the color.

Caron Simply Soft in Dark Sage and Iris

Now this is what I got on my birthday trip to the local yarn store, Jenning Street Yarns. It's on deck. I am pretty stoked about it. The project it is for is going to require me to learn a new knitting technique, but hopefully it is a simple one. We shall just have to see, I suppose.

Berroco Vintage (Blue) and Berroco Comfort (Grey)

Speaking of my birthday, I got a lovely gift from my mother that I am pretty excited about.

Indigo Dragonfly Sock Yarn in TARDIS

I am really looking forward to working this up. It should be perfect for my TARDIS socks, assuming I ever get around to making them. They will go perfectly with my sonic screwdriver. I think, more than anything, I love that my mom saw yarn called TARDIS at Sock Summit and knew that she had to buy it for me. She may not always get my geeky ways, but she does understand that they are part of who I am. I love that about her.

Well, I've got some knitting to be doing, so I am off. Feel free to start formulating your hypotheses about what I might be making.

Have a great one, folks!