baby stuff - Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts

FO Friday: Magic Coffee Baby Hats

Posted by Vanessa on March 1, 2013 at 11:58 am

Mar 012013

Last week a wonderful co worker of the SGT’s asked if I could make his two sons some hats. He wanted something hand made to take back to India to give them and to show his wife my skills. I was flattered and agreed. I used the Magic Coffee Baby Hat that was in my library.

Since his children are 4 and 2 years old respectfully, I went up two needle sizes and made the largest size. The ribbing on the orange hat is K1tbl, P1 because I misread the instructions. Since I was using mystery scrap yarn, I ditched the stripes and the I-cord loop on top. It was a fast knit and rather enjoyable. I hope his wife and children love them and I hope they fit.

More information about the hats can be read on my Ravelry page. More FOs can be seen over at Tami’s blog.

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WIP Wednesday: Bear’s Rainbow Blanket

Posted by Vanessa on January 16, 2013 at 10:17 am

Jan 162013

A friend of mine (and sometimes blog reader, I’m not naming names) is having a baby. Which means I absolutely have to make the baby a blanket (a sweater, hat, and booties will also be forthcoming). I fell in love with Purl Soho’s Bear’s Rainbow Blanket and had some Koigu left over from my Seagrass socks.

So far I’ve got, ah, two squares done.

blanket_squares

I still have enough yarn left over for one more square in orange. I’m going to start dipping into my too-large-for-a-hexipuff-too-small-for-any-thing-else scraps to make this a very colorful blanket. I love a good crocheted blanket.

For more WIPs, check out the list at Tami’s.

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Pimped Out By My Mom!

Posted by Vanessa on August 28, 2012 at 2:01 pm

Aug 282012

Ha, I bet that caught your eye! But seriously, my mother pimped out my knitting skills. And to make matters worse, she low balled my price!

Don’t be fooled! She’s pure evil!

One of the teachers at her school is having a baby boy. Teacher Lady asked Mom if I would be willing to make a hat and blanket set and if so, how much. My Mom said, “Oh I don’t know. $80?” Teacher Lady said OK.

I call my Mom and she informs me of Teacher Lady’s request and that she said to TL that I would do it for $80. I tell her that’s way too low and besides, I don’t have the yarn on hand to make a baby blanket. I said at *least* $100 and besides, what color does TL want it? “Oh, I don’t know,” my mother says.

“Well, when does she need/want it by?” I ask.

“I don’t know,” says Mom.

“Okay…can you ask her next time you see her?”

“I rarely see her. Just make it in blue or something.”

The quakes that southern Cali felt this week were caused by my headdesking and facepalming.

“I can’t believe you pimped out my knitting, Mom. You’re a terrible chulo and you don’t even get all the information I would need.”

I’m not sure I’ll do this until I find out which Teacher Lady it is (is it one of the teachers who treats my mom nicely or like the hired help? My mom is one of the cleaning ladies), what color she wants and when she wants it by. Oh and if she’ll be willing to pay more. Until then, it’s a solid No.

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Happy Birthday Baby!

Posted by Vanessa on July 23, 2012 at 2:57 pm

Jul 232012

We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog post to make an important announcement!

Little Carter, my great nephew, was born last night at 9.30pm Eastern! He’s quite the heavy weight at 9lbs 8 oz and has a full head o’ hair. Just like his great auntie! Okay, maybe more like his Dad (love you, Josh!). So yes, I’m a great aunt at 27 and my mom’s a great grandmother at 72. Which makes my oldest sister a grandmother. I think this is the start of baby fever in our family.

Oy, seeing that in print makes me feel old.

Welcome to the world, little dude!

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FO Friday: Baby’s Cocoon

Posted by Vanessa on June 8, 2012 at 3:44 am

Jun 082012

I’ve had this one finished for ages and I’m so happy I can finally show it off! Remember that awesome Colorful Nest yarn I got from Tricky Knits at Stitches South? Well I also picked up Trish’s book, Welcoming Home Baby the Handcrafted Way and I made the Eskimo Kiss Hooded Cocoon!

I made this a month ago, according to its Ravelry project page. I’m finally blogging about it now because Saturday is the baby shower. My oldest niece Katie is going to be a mom in July! I’m five months older so it’s really weird to think that we’re both old enough to be married ladies starting families. In my mind, we’re both still 7 years old and playing with our My Little Ponies.

I’m hoping her baby, Carter, will be the right size to fit into his cocoon. Our families are filled with big babies so fingers crossed.

For more FOs, check out Tami’s blog.

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FO Friday: Baby Sweater!

Posted by Vanessa on July 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm

Jul 222011

I finally finished that baby sweater last night! The ladies at the Knit Happy Knit night were quite pleased with my progress. And I proved to myself that I can finish something that I’ve started!

Click to be taken to its Ravelry page!

Pattern: Baby Boy 5 Hour Sweater

Made for: no one in particular. A future baby perhaps

Needle size: US 7

Yarn: Lamb’s Pride Bulky 2 skeins in Frosted Periwinkle

I could have knitted this faster but since it was so easy, I would pick it up and put it down when the mood would strike me. This isn’t made for any particular child since I don’t know anyone with a baby so once it’s been washed and blocked it’ll be put away until I find someone with an appropriately sized child. Perhaps, that person will be me soon. Since it’s wool/mohair, it’s very squishy and very warm. I’m also a tight knitter so it’s quite dense.

For more FOs, check out Tami’s blog.

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WIP Wednesday: That Darn Baby Sweater

Posted by Vanessa on July 20, 2011 at 3:08 pm

Jul 202011

Apparently, this is going to be a three part series on the 5 hour baby sweater. Good news is that the end is near!

I finished both sleeves and I’m adding length to the body, which is almost there, and then I just have the garter stitch hem to do. With luck I’ll finish this by Friday!

The yarn is super squishy and very soft. There is a bit of a fuzzy halo since it’s a wool/mohair blend. I’m not sure how prudent putting mohair is on a child but, I never started this sweater with a real baby in mind.

I do have a question for you, Gentle Readers, what’s the best way to photograph a “large” item like a sweater? I don’t have access to babies (or baby sized dolls!) and the white poster board I normally use isn’t wide enough for a good neutral background.

For more WIPs, check out the Mr. Linky on Tami’s blog. Come back tomorrow to read my interview with her!

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WIP Wednesday: 5 Hour Baby Sweater, Part Deux

Posted by Vanessa on July 13, 2011 at 3:50 pm

Jul 132011

I’ve started working on that baby sweater I started a few weeks ago. I’m about 25% done now that I knitted and joined the right sleeve.

I wasn’t quite sure how the sleeve would work out but I’m rather pleased with the results. The garter cuff is also a cute touch.

The yarn has been a dream to work with so far. I’m almost done with this skein, thankfully I have one in the same dye lot. I’m going to go out on a limb and estimate that it’s going to take 1 and a half skeins of Lamb’s Pride to make this. We’ll see if I’m right or not.

Also, the Yarn Fairy mystery has been solved! I totally forgot that I signed up to be a test knitter. That’s what that wonderful Rowan yarn is for. So I’ve been happily knitting away. I can now see why it’s so expensive. It feels a lot smoother and nice than the Lamb’s Pride even though they are the same weight and fiber composition. I do find that the Rowan has more of a fuzzy halo than the Lamb’s Pride. (I keep typing “Limb’s Pride” instead!)

I’m also working on some video game inspired intarsia charts but those won’t be posted until I’m done with the whole thing.

Be sure to check out Tami’s blog for more works in progress!

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WIP Wednesday: Baby Sweater

Posted by Vanessa on June 29, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Jun 292011

Click on the image to view the Ravelry page

Pattern: 5 Hour Baby Boy Sweater (Lies! It’s taken me three days to knit this much)

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky in Periwinkle

Needle Size: US 7

I’m working on a baby sweater. I have no idea why, just am. No one that I know is pregnant or really trying to get knocked up so once this is done, it’s going to be packed away somewhere.

The yarn is very nice to work with even if it is a bit fuzzy from the mohair. I like how it’s spun really thick like an udon noodle. Mmm, udon noodles. The pattern itself while easy to follow along, isn’t clearly written or organized. That is, for some rows there are stitch counts, for other increase rows the author left them out. Also, the author gives up numbering rows at some points nor does s/he list which is a right side or wrong side row.

Then again, having to do so much research for the Master Knitter course has made me incredibly picky but I don’t think I’m being too harsh in my criticism.

That’s all that I’ve got on the needles for now. To check out more Works in Progress click here.

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National Teddy Bear Day

Posted by Vanessa on May 19, 2011 at 4:39 pm

May 192011

According to Stacey from Fresh Stitches (who got it from Facebook), today is National Teddy Bear Day. So in celebration (and because I’m sifting through 26 years of stuff) here are my two teddy bears. (Upon further Googling, it’s either today, September 9th or November 10th. I’m declaring that it’s today!)

Meet Teddy!

I’m not sure who gave me Teddy, but I’ve had him since I was born. He used to have a bib that said “It’s a girl!” and he plays Brahm’s Lullaby. He was with me for almost all of my hospital stays this year and while I felt a little silly, he was a great source of comfort.

Meet Puppy!

And Puppy was my other favorite teddy bear (dog?). As you can tell by their names, I was a very original child. These are the only two bears I’ll be keeping. I have some stuffed Fraggles that someone gave me a while ago that I may keep as well. Still undecided since there’s no Mokey Fraggle plushie for sale. Travesty really.

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