Has it really been 5 months !?!

Wow! I am amazed that I have not blogged for five whole months! Much is new and doe to morning/day/evening/midnight sickness, I lost the urge to knit. Very sad indeed! But, it is back :) I have even bought some new yarn which is inspirational.....I am just running out of time here! So, I will update on what I completed before I found out I was pregnant :)

I knit this for my neighbours daughters 1 year birthday in February. It is 100% cotton from Patons; BumbleBee. It is a now discontinued yarn, but I managed to but a bunch of different colors a few years ago. I used EZ's February Baby Sweater pattern, but did short sleeves and only three buttons. Raveled Here!

Another Baby Surprise Jacket :) These are so much fun to knit, I think I am seriously addicted to them! I knit this for a special friend who was expecting her 7th baby...He came in May! Is is nice and chubby and very yummy :D

The best part was using all different yarns that I had on hand. I used 20 different yarns from Elanns Sample Skeins subscription, plus may other balls of different brands. I also had saved these wooden ducky buttons for the perfect project and was so glad to have them on this sweater. I added a hood and did an asymmetrical front closure with loops for the buttons instead of holes. Raveled here!

Another sweater for Willow! This little girl loves anything that I knit for her and wears her knits ALL the time. She is so appreciative; how can I not knit for her? I found this Phildar pattern about 2004, but at that time, had no little girls to knit it for. I saved it and am glad I waited as I did quite a few mods. What fun would knitting be with out mods, right?

To begin, I used two different types of yarns, both the same weights, but when I started using them, found out that they really weren't the same weights. I used Elanns Peruvian Pure Alpaca Fina (100% Alpaca) and Elanns Peruvian Highland Sport (100% wool). I was going by color and immaturity in the art of knitting :) I ended up doubling the alpaca and this did the track. I was very thankful!

Mods: I knit this in the round, and added steeks at the front and for the armholes, which I later cut open to add the sleeves and the front button bands. I also did not add waist shaping and carried the pattern around the back instead of doing stripes as the pattern called for to match the sleeves. I knit this tube in one piece, right through to the collar! I also added a 3st i-cord around the collar a la EZ :) I used hand carved wooden buttons instead of a zipper. I really like nice buttons :) I also bought an extra color and managed to work it in. All Raveled here :)

Overall, this has been one of my favorite projects. I completed it in February and was the last project before my knitting hiatus. I am currently knitting Corona for India in Debbie Bliss Chashmerino dk. I should be done in a week or so. I have lots of soakers to knit for the new baby, too. I have knit a little merino wool hat and knit for the new baby that needs buttons and then I will have something new to blog about :)