the waiting game

Still playing the waiting game around here... One benefit of extra time is finishing up another baby cardigan!

pattern: babe in the woods, by Melissa LaBarre

yarn: Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, 2 skeins

needles: US 5 Clover bamboo circs and DPNs

size: 6-12 months

my Ravelry project page

notes:
The leaf yoke pattern was very fun to knit. I used a rich dark brown to give the pattern a more “boyish” look. Picking up fewer stitches for the button bands would have worked better (or using a smaller needle), but I’m happy enough with it as is.

I used the same yarn as for the tiny trees baby vest. The yarn was a giveaway on Suze's blog, Mad Knitting, and I stand by my earlier assessment that I like it better than Swish -- it has a nicer hand and a little less of the creepy superwash feel.

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Still hooking away at the rosie posie granny square afghan... I'm not sure whether to do four more squares or fourteen more squares.

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Some more nursery photos, though we've made progress since these were taken.

The baby quilt made at my mum's baby shower for me! 

Paul's mother did the embroidery above the bookcase for his nursery when he was a baby.

My great aunt sewed this sweet christening gown for my aunt in 1940. It has been worn by many babies -- my aunt, mom, two uncles, brother, cousins, me, and even one cousin-once-removed.

the mad hatter strikes again

I asked my mother to help me select a design for birth announcements, and she studiously pored over dozens of layouts. When I asked her which were her favorites, she said, "The ones where the babies were wearing hats. Have you knit some cute hats for the baby yet?"

* cue cricket noises *

Hmmm. I hadn't, so set out to rectify the situation right away.

pattern: Solid Shells Earflap Hat, by Posh Patterns

yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Bobby Blue and Indigo

hook: size H Clover Soft Touch (Bobby Blue)

size I Clover Soft Touch (Indigo)

size: newborn (Bobby Blue)

3-6 months (Indigo)

my Ravelry project page

notes:
My first time crocheting something that actually has to fit! Usually I crochet afghans and the like. These were pretty fun to make -- very quick, and I enjoyed not having to switch to DPNs and fiddle around. They are worked top-down. Initially I made the little one in Bobby Blue, then began to fret because it looked so tiny! So I made another in a larger size with a larger hook. After blocking, the tiny one looks just right. Not a bad thing for "Ragnar" to have a larger hat for the winter, too, though.

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Also, a wee owlie hat for our little one! Love the owl cables and the yarn.

pattern: owl cable hat, by Teresa Cole

yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Natural

needles: Clover US 7 bamboo 16" circs + DPNs

size: newborn

my Ravelry project page

notes: 

I seem to recall that there may have been some minor typos or errata in the pattern, but it was such an easy little knit that I just improvised. Should have taken better notes!

fo: Schieffelin Point Shawl

Cool autumn nights call for cozy handknits, don't they? I love this time of year.

pattern: Schieffelin Point Shawl, by Kate Gagnon Osborne

yarn: Lou's Luxury Yarns, Earth Bunny, 1.7 skeins (~ 500 yds.)

needles: Clover bamboo US 7 circs

my Ravelry project page

notes:

I purchased this wonderfully soft and cozy yarn at Needles 'n Pins Yarn Shoppe in Delavan, Wisconsin on my knitting group's annual weekend getaway. This truly is a treat to knit -- a local yarn with lots of fluffy angora content, in such a nice natural melange of colors.

The pattern was easy to knit -- miles of garter stitch, with a lace edging knit at a perpendicular angle at the end, though I began to tire of the lace pattern at about the 90% mark. My only complaint is that the increase rows in the garter stitch are pretty visible, and not in a decorative way.

curious onlookers -- the cats love to supervise from the back porch whenever we're out grilling in the yard (or taking photos of handknits)

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I didn't break out the ice cream maker too often this past summer, but this recipe turned out to be one of Paul's favorites!

Biscoff ice cream

2/3 C. Biscoff spread (I used creamy, not crunchy)
1/4 C. sugar (I used regular/caster sugar, but I think brown sugar would be awesome)
2 C. heavy cream
1 C. skim milk
3/4 tsp. vanilla

Prep your ice cream maker as directed (I put the bowl in the freezer the night before). If desired, put an empty freezer-safe storage container in the freezer, too.

Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides a few times. Freeze using your ice cream maker, following the manufacturer's directions. I use a Cuisinart and run it approx. 15 min. Transfer the ice cream to a freezer-safe storage container and chill for at least a few hours before serving.

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I've been admiring these bright and colorful Blabla knit dolls lately (esp. the cats, the fox, and the raccoon). It goes against my nature to purchase one, though since they look fun and easy to make, so I'd like to try knitting something similar. Any pattern suggestions?

the final countdown

We're busy getting ready for baby these days. The countdown to our little guy's due date is under two weeks. I'm alternately torn between being ready for him to arrive RIGHT NOW and wanting a few more days to finish decorating the nursery and to square things away at the office.

My mother's friends and family appliqued and embroidered these sweet teddy bear quilt blocks at a baby shower for me way back in 1978. Each teddy bear is different and bears the initials of its maker. Grandma (who was very crafty!) did all the finishing work, truly a labor of love for her since she enjoyed making garments, slipcovers, and curtains, not quilts. I love that my mom kept this all these years, and I feel so lucky to incorporate it into our little guy's nursery. Sugar is quite fond of it, too, as you can tell.

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More cardigans to keep wee "Ragnar" warm are off the needles...

pattern: Baby Sophisticate, by Linden Down (the free version)

yarn: Knit Picks Simply Cotton Worsted, green tea heather, 2 skeins

needles: US 7 and 8

size: 6-12 months

my Ravelry project page

notes:

This is the project where I finally mastered short rows! Huzzah! Cute little sweater -- I like the shawl collar shaping. I used US 7 needles for the body, but had to switch to US 8 DPNs for the sleeves to get gauge. I used US 8 for the bind-off, too.

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pattern: Little Coffee Bean Cardigan, by Elizabeth Smith (free!)

yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, 1 skein each of Lake and Almond

needles: US 6 and 7

size: 3 months (?)

my Ravelry project page

notes:

Yipes, stripes! I love them! The color combination is one of my favorites. Used up the very last of my Cotton-Ease stash, acquired many years ago.  I accidentally knit the collar with size 7 needles instead of 6, but remembered to use size 6 for the cuffs, bottom hem, and button bands. I didn't think through my button placement very wisely.

The sizing seems... well, quite generous, which is better than the alternative. The sleeves also seem pretty large in comparison to the body, but I'll evaluate the fit once it's actually in use.

fo: summer flies

Mid-August already?!? Summer truly is flying by.

pattern: Summer Flies, by Donna Griffin

yarn: Orange Flower 50/50 merino/silk fingering weight, .7 skeins

needles: US 6 Clover bamboo circs

my Ravelry project page

notes:

I love this pattern! It knits up quickly, and you don’t get bored, since you switch stitch patterns fairly often. I especially enjoyed the knotted openwork near the end.

This looked tiny when I finished knitting it, but blocking really opened it up. It’s a useful scarf size. You could definitely add some rows of knotted openwork if you wanted to use up more yarn.

This yarn was originally used for a Gaenor shawlette, which I loved, but I didn’t pay close enough attention and ran out of yarn. : ( For a blend of merino and silk it help up to frogging and reknitting quite well. Orange Flower yarns are always gorgeous, and this is no exception.

I knit this as a thank-you gift for my Aunt Patrice who hosted just the loveliest baby shower for us last weekend.

No, we're not really naming our little guy Ragnar -- it's a family joke (though it does have a nice Nordic ring, doesn't it?).

fo: pear drop shawlette

We are in the midst of reshuffling our library to make room in the nursery, and Moxie has discovered a new favorite hidey-hole. Such a funny kitty!

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Another handknit is not only off the needles, but it has already been delivered to its recipient while we were in Minnesota last weekend.

pattern: Pear Drop, by Ysolda Teague

source: Afternoon Treat

yarn: The Plucky Knitter 80.10.10 MCN, Tracy Lord Haven, 1.2 skeins

needles: US 6 Clover bamboo circs
size: small

notes:

The construction of this shawlette intrigued me! You begin by knitting the edging. I actually looked forward to picking up stitches from the edging (I’ve never said that before!) and then working inward, decreasing the semicircle. I wasn't happy with the bind-off -- you end up just cinching the last few stitches, which seems like a sloppy end to an elegantly constructed project.

The yarn from The Plucky Knitter is gorgeous, as usual -- a very rich, deep red. It bled a lot in the wash. The pattern specified laceweight yarn, but I wanted something more substantial, so I went with fingering weight. If I were to knit this pattern again, I'd try a DK yarn like this beautiful example. 

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More Moxie goodness:

Happy weekend!

preppy

Our little guy will be rocking a wee sweater vest this autumn:

pattern: tiny trees baby vest, by Kylie Bates

yarn: Valley Yarns Superwash DK, 1 skein (137 yds.)

needles: Clover US 7 bamboo 16" circs

size: 0-3 months

my Ravelry project page

notes:
The yarn came from a giveaway on Suze's blog, Mad Knitting, a while ago. I used the first two skeins to knit Babe in the Woods (which still needs buttons but is otherwise complete), and the lone last skein was just enough for this tiny vest. It's very soft and cozy, but has a tendency to stretch (as superwash is wont to do). That doesn't bother me with baby knits, but I'm not sure I'd use it for a sweater for me. I might actually prefer it to Knit Picks Swish, the superwash I use for baby shower knits all the time. Hey, if it's a gift and I'm not sure that the recipients are used to washing wool, I'm not breaking out the Madelinetosh -- that's all I'm saying.

The pattern is easy and would be good for a newbie knitter, though it does call for you to kitchener stitch the shoulder straps together (though honestly you'd be fine just binding off and seaming, and it would probably give the straps a little more structure).

Hmmm... I'm also working on a new crochet afghan using Cherry Heart's free Rosie Posie Granny Square tutorial. I love the look of the round centers, but magic rings make me a little nuts. This pattern is reminiscent of Posie Gets Cozy's Sunshine Day afghan. I broke my yarn-buying embargo to acquire enough yarn for the afghan, and I'm loving the colors so far! This was a go-big-or-go-home Knit Picks order, so I also picked up yarn for these adorable moc-a-soc booties and aranami.

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Chicago's heat wave broke last week, and I've been so thankful. My Nordic blood can't handle heat and humidity, and I turn into a total sloth when the mercury hits 90. A crabby sloth, at that.

Now that it has cooled off our garden is perking up again (as am I, despite being seven months pregnant and feeling ungainly). I picked some basil tonight and tried Nicole's new recipe for mozzarella and basil bread. Mine doesn't look nearly as pretty as hers (note to self: thoroughly flour both the board and your hands before kneading so that you can shape a nice ball), but it is delicious. That said, it doesn't hold a candle to my mom's dilly bread (a yeast bread made with dill and cottage cheese -- I'll have to post the recipe sometime soon, esp. since there's a bumper crop of dill in my herb garden).

fo: easy baby cardigan

We're back in the city after a relaxing long weekend in the north woods of Wisconsin. Swimming, boating, and plenty of reading and knitting -- just the prescription for what has been a rather hectic summer so far.

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The latest in the parade of baby knits! I have been stockpiling baby knits for months, but am just now sewing on buttons and the like.

pattern: easy baby cardigan, by joelle hoverson

source: more last-minute knitted gifts

yarn: patons classic wool merino, denim marl, 1 skein

needles: clover US 7 bamboo circs

size: 6-9 months

my ravelry project page

notes:

My gauge was a little off, but I was happy with the fabric, so I followed the measurements for the next size smaller.

Not my favorite pattern -- the increases on the neck are awkward and result in puckering. It really is easy, though. The yarn is also not anything to write home about, but it had been marinating in my stash for years, and I was very happy to use it! Still two more skeins left, however.

The buttons are basic navy blue plastic ones from JoAnn (yes, I used them for the bitty cabled cardigan, too). As usual, I delved into my embroidery floss stash to sew them on.

off the hook

I swear, this is going to be the warmest, coziest baby in North America. I haven't just been knitting -- I've also been crocheting for our little guy. I find crochet quite soothing and relaxing. I could work on this afghan even at the queasiest and most exhausted point of my first trimester.

pattern: swaddle me blankie, by crochet kitten

yarn: knit picks simply cotton worsted, wave heather and green tea heather

hook: clover soft touch g (4.0 mm)

my ravelry project page

notes:

Yes, yet another diagonal box-stitch afghan! Love that stitch pattern. I've said it once, but it's worth saying again: working corner-to-corner is amazing. No need for fiddling with a foundation chain -- mine always end up too tight. I did many more repeats of the stitch pattern and skipped the hood.

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in the kitchen

Have you seen this one-pot-wonder recipe making the rounds on Pinterest?

I was intrigued, so we gave it a try. It goes against everything I thought I knew about making pasta -- you throw in everything all together with very little liquid. The flavor permeates the linguine noodles themselves.

Absolutely delicious, especially considering how easy and quick it is to make! Next time I'd add some chopped sun-dried tomatoes to make the flavor a little richer. Topping it with some browned Italian chicken sausage or sauteed shrimp would kick it up a notch.

fo: bitty cabled cardigan

Thanks for all the kind words about our big news! Once I got over my morning sickness, I was bitten pretty hard by the baby knitting bug. This cabled cardigan is absolutely teensy, and I know that our little guy will fit into it for approximately three minutes, but I couldn't resist.

Plus it turns out that baby knitting is a great way to use up leftover yarns and those random single skeins I used to pick up at fiber festivals.

pattern: bitty cabled cardigan, by Heather Cabanas

yarn: knit picks swish worsted, dove heather, 1.5 skeins

needles: US 6

size: newborn

my ravelry project page

notes:
Easy-peasy wee cardigan! I love the top-down construction, and the cables were fun to knit. Next time I might reverse the cables on one side so that they're mirror images. A very fast little project. I picked out the inexpensive navy buttons at JoAnn. I've kind of given up on finding great buttons -- if you have any bright ideas or great sources, please share!

This is a pretty strong contender for what our little guy will wear home from the hospital this autumn. : )

P.S. There's now a bigger bitty cabled cardigan pattern with larger sizes.

letting the cat out of the bag

Some things have been happening behind the scenes chez A Caffeinated Yarn.

Paul and I are expecting a little one this fall. Our baby boy is due Oct. 2. : ) We are through the moon with excitement.

The cats are big fans of the nursery so far -- I keep finding them snuggled up in the crib. We'll see how they feel about the actual baby!

Oh Moxie, exploring every nook and cranny...

pop!

In a moment of idiocy last spring I purchased a skein of Malabrigo Arroyo for the contrast color on my Pop Spots shawlette -- this was to go with some ochre-colored Malabrigo Sock from my stash.

I *thought* I was buying Sock, and didn't discover my error until I ran out of blue yarn with seven inches of the lace edging to go. Arroyo comes in much shorter skeins than Sock (it's a thinnish sport weight rather than light fingering). Anyhoo, I finally made it back to Windy Knitty and luckily found another skein in the same dye lot, and now Pop Spots is complete!

Kind of a frustrating project. I initially wanted to make this in ochre and natural, but no yarn stores in the area stocked Malabrigo Sock in natural, so I (being the impatient sort) went out on a limb and bought blue. The combination just isn't what I had envisioned, though it's perfectly nice. Making the spots seemed magical the first few rows, but became a chore as the project wore on. Making the small version was a good choice.

pattern: Pop Spots, by Juju Vail

yarn: Malabrigo Sock, ochre, .75 skein

Malabrigo Arryo, azules, 1.4 skeins

needles: Clover US 5 bamboo circs

my ravelry project page

The cats, on the other hand, enjoyed many aspects of the Pop Spots process, from blocking...

 

to supervising the backyard photo shoot:

But it's done! And I love the contrast edging! All's well that ends well, I suppose.

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Paul recently presented me with a Sodastream machine, which I was hesitant to use at first (it emits an alarming loud buzz that scares the cats), but which I am now loving. Mostly I use it for sparkling water and add a slice of lemon or lime, but I've also added homemade ginger syrup and...

 

homemade rhubarb syrup. Rhubarb soda is pretty much the best thing ever. The rhubarb syrup gives it a beautiful rosy hue, and the taste... just delightful.

I made a double batch of rhubarb syrup on Saturday morning and used the "spent" rhubarb to top Swedish pancakes. Delicious! I followed Alicia's recipe for Swedish pancakes this time, and they're just perfect.

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As many of you know, Google Reader is dead, alas. I've been trying out Feedly, Reeder, Bloglovin, and Flipboard, and I just signed up for The Old Reader. None has won my heart yet, but I'm giving it time. I'd like something that keeps track of what I've already read across multiple platforms (the various computers I use as well as my iPad). Let me know if you have any favorites or suggestions, please!

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