finished cafe coffee toddler pullover

Yesterday evening after work, I just sat on the couch and finished these sleeves. I was planning to pick up stitches and knit a garter stitch collar, but I think the rolled edge boatneck is just darling. What do you think? Leave a comment below and I'll decide whether this baby is finished or needs one more thing, :)

Instructions to follow soon. Happy Knitting!

cafe coffee baby pullover progress

As I'm sure many of you experience, some weeks are crazy, filled with errands, long hours of working multiple jobs, running from one place to another, traveling to visit friends and family, etc. Last week was like that for me, but this week has been very restful. And it's only Monday! :) 

I'm sitting at home on my couch listening to knitting podcasts from Never Not Knitting and admiring other knitters' projects and working on my Cafe Coffee Baby Pullover. I will posting a pattern once it is finished. This was one of those projects that I had all intentions of following a pattern for, but in the end, I only really used the pattern I found to figure out how many stitches I needed to cast on and how to establish raglan sleeves. In the end, I actually created my own way to make sleeves because when I reread the pattern, I wasn't remotely following it. So, out of that mistake, I'm getting design my own baby sweater. 

But in all reality, it's more like a toddler sweater. Maybe a really big baby could fit in it, but it will probably be more suitable for a 1-2 year old. Its relaxed fit, machine washability, loose neck, and soft fabric will be perfect for a messy, adventurous toddler who has more opinions about his clothes than a non-verbal infant would. It could be worn with a t-shirt and toddler jeans (why is anything in a small version instantly so much cuter?) or with khakis and a button-up shirt for a fancy day :) or whenever toddlers have "fancy" days. 

Cafe coffee baby sweater

Yesterday I finally unpacked and organized my yarn. I decided I really wanted to make a top-down raglan baby pullover. I wanted it to have stripes. I only had two yarns that were the same weight, so I decided to take the plunge and stripe beige and gray. As I worked on it today in the library, I was pleasantly surprised about how everything was coming together. I made a mistake with the increasing for the sleeves, so I just redesigned them. Also, for being a fingering weight yarn, this project has gone by very quickly. When I finish it, I'll post an outline of my pattern with a link to the original I based it off of for reference. :)

For whatever reason, this sweater reminds me of quiet afternoons in a cafe drinking coffee. Maybe it's the warmth of the beige from the wood floors and the cool gray of the metal stools. 

The contrast of the beige and gray has made the gray look like a dusty blue. It really shows how color context changes how we perceive the warmth or coolness of a color. Do you have any favorite baby projects or gifts?

preemie baby caps: free pattern

roughly 80 yards of worsted weight yarn (I used Malabrigo in a blue colorway).
size 4 double pointed needles

Cast on 60 stitches, divided between three double pointed needles, twenty on each needle. Join in round without twisting the stitches.
Knit two, purl two across row for four inches. 

Decreases:
Knit two together, purl two across row.
Knit one, purl two across row.
Knit one, purl two together across row.
Knit one, purl one across row. 
Knit two together across row.

Cut yarn, leaving a 8 inch tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread through the remaining stitches, pulling the circle closed. Weave in ends. 

Because it takes very little yarn, it doesn't take long or very much yarn to knit two, the perfect gift for preemie twins. The edge can be folded up or left down.  If it is knit longer, it will work for a full-term babe as well. Because it is knit in rib the entire time, it is very stretchy, which works well for babies who grow really fast.

If you have any questions about this pattern, or want to leave a link to your baby cap, please leave a comment below!

Happy Knitting!

second finished baby sophisticate

I finished the second baby sophisticate. It takes gumption to get going and actually finish a second sweater. This is why most knitting projects are left abandoned in knitting bags and baskets in attics and closets with one mitten, one sock, or if knitting an adult sweater, if you make it through the back, it gets abandoned in disgust somewhere during the second sleeve. 

But I did it! I conquered the "second" syndrome. And it's adorable.

It's tiny, so it will definitely be for a newborn, but it's cute. 

And the buttons match perfectly.

And, quick side note, I hadn't purchased enough buttons (I was short just one button), so I called the yarn shop, hoping that they still had it. I felt slightly ridiculous, calling someone, asking them "do you still have a half-inch button, it's kinda gray-blue, with an orange stitched border? It has two holes." And they had it!

So I drove back to Apex to DownTown Knits, and Michelle had the button waiting for me at the front. And it was exactly the one I needed to match the other three I already had. So over last weekend, when my family celebrated Christmas early with my grandparents, cousins, and aunt, I sewed in all those annoying tails and sewed on my buttons. 

Happy Christmas!

Finished In Threes Baby Cardigan

I wove in my ends and sewed the buttons on the In Threes Baby Cardigan that I posted about here and here. The pictures don't do the buttons justice. They are pale mother of pearl buttons, white and pearly pink. 

It can now go in my completed pile of baby sweaters for my aunt. 

Happy Knitting!

Refresh

Seeking refreshment has been a big part of the past month. Being constantly tired has also become a big part of my life.

I've started reading Refresh:an experimental eBook by Hayley Morgan and Jessi Connolly and The No-Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley Morgan. Hayley blogs at The Tiny Twig and Jessi blogs at Naptime Diaries. Hayley and Jessi start with the basis of finding our refreshment in Christ and focusing our lives around Him.

Focusing on finding contentment in the place and stage that Jesus has called us to. Not rushing the difficult moments for the grass-is-greener-later-on mentality. Abiding in Christ.

But, thankfully, Hayley and Jessi are both very realistic women. They recognize that finding patience and pep every day isn't reality. We need to find our first Well of Life in Jesus and learn to use refreshment in practical ways: cleaning a messy closet, taking a nap (my favorite), and refresh daily rhythms, among others.

So this blog post won't be about crafts, because I haven't done a lot of sewing and haven't knit in months. This blog post is about what my life has been like since I got home from school. Living life, gardening, attempting to learn volleyball, nannying two precious little people, cooking, baking, and unpacking. And me trying to find refreshment in all of it. 

Taking my sisters to piano lessons:

Reading in light-filled windows with flowers:

Planting flowers in the garden boxes:

Playing with my two favorite little people, Coen and Norah (nannying kids, not mine): (Their amazingly creative and sweet mom, Ash blogs at love. lulu) 

Admiring the hydrangeas in my mom's garden:

Sewing a baby tunic:

So this summer, instead of waiting around for blog-worthy moments, I'm going to simply blog about my life and my journey to find refreshment in Christ during tiring, always-ready-to-nap days.

Have a lovely day!

Toddler Dress with Peter Pan Collar

The sewing-baby-clothes bug has really gotten me. I decided to make a toddler dress out of fabric in my stash with a Peter Pan collar. I was always nervous about collars and zippers, and especially both in the same pattern. On a child's scale, however, they aren't so intimidating, and so I'm willing to try new techniques. 

I also used a serger for the majority of the sewing so that the edges won't fray in the wash. It is amazing how well a serger can churn over all the gathers and layers without a glitch where my sewing machine would have made a fuss. 

I found a free sewing tutorial and pattern on Small Dream Factory for a toddler's dress with the Peter Pan collar (http://smalldreamfactory.blogspot.com/2012/09/toddler-dress-with-peter-pan-collar.html).

I wanted the dress to have a gathered skirt instead of just an A-line, so I mimicked this dress (http://vanillaandlace.storenvy.com/products/442850-mini-lucy-p).

I used a contrasting, pale pink bias tape to finish the armholes and still have to attach the collar. I'm still uncertain whether I want the green collar or if I need to go find a solid green or purple to make it more cohesive. I'm planning to tie the collar color together by having a small edging on the skirt in the same fabric as the collar. Should I stick with the pale green and white floral collar that I have now or should I hunt for a solid? Thank you!

Happy Crafting!

Twirly Baby Skirt

It has been way too long! Crafting and blogging basically went out the window during the second semester of college, aside from an occasional apron or a few knitted rows, but it's summer and so my crafting has begun again. 

I found this lovely vintage-bicycle fabric in Jo-Ann Fabrics a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it. I wasn't sure what it would be. A dress or skirt for me was the original plan. But when I pulled it out today, it just seemed like the perfect little twirly skirt for a baby girl. 

I followed the instructions on two different blogs, Made (danamadeit.com) and Pink Suede Shoe. I wanted something the size of a six month old, but a didn't want to make it too bunchy with having it double-layered and reversible, like the version on the Pink Suede Shoe. So, I pieced together the two versions and have a cute little twirly skirt with vintage bicycles and birds on it. I think it will work well with a pink top and a pair of bloomers. 

Instead of hemming the edge, I used a pale pink bias tape to edge the skirt and I decorated the edge with a white grosgrain ribbon.

The links to the two tutorials I used are: http://www.danamadeit.com/2008/07/tutorial-a-simple-skirt.html

and

http://pinksuedeshoe.com/2010/06/04/twirly-skirt-tutorial/.

Happy Crafting!