Finished!

I just finished this cardigan for Nell last night.  I used this pattern from Drops and added a crochet edging shamelessly copied from Alicia Paulsons version.  I also added these cute buttons from this lovely Etsy shop and I'm pretty happy with the results!  And the only upside to this stupidly cold weather is Nell will hopefully get some good wear out of it.

Itchy fingers

I haven't made much lately that isn't for the shop.  In fact not since Nell was born and shes nearly 7 months old now.  Last week I suddenly started craving a new project so popped onto ravelry, picked a pattern from my favourites list, got some yarn and now I'm knitting a baby cardigan.  I love baby knitting as its so quick!  Although Bea has requested I knit her something next (I'm thinking short sleeved top for speed).

I have also started planning dresses for the girls for Nell's 1st birthday in July.  Its good to have busy hands again!

A pink post

One of the best things about June is that I can have a lovely bunch of Peonies on the table.  Made me feel a little bit summery despite this ridiculous weather!

I made some more teeny baby shoes as a gift for another baby girl due soon.  I got the pattern here on Etsy and made them in a couple of hours - just the quick kind of knitting project I like!

Little sisters jumper

Hooray and hallelujah! I have finally finished knitting this little top for Bea that I feel like I have ben working on forever! That was partially due to a lack of knitting time and also having to restart about three times due to KWT (knitting when tired.)

The pattern also only went up to 24 months so I was doing made up maths as I went along to make it a bit bigger. Seems to have worked though!

The pattern is intended to be a dress but I decided to make it a top as it will be a more useful addition to Bea's wardrobe like that. And thank goodness I didn't have to go on knitting a whole dress! I don't know what it was about this project that made it seem such a slog - it was pretty easy and I really like the results.

I finished it off with two little floral covered buttons which I think are really cute. Now maybe if the autumn ever turns up she can wear it!

More red knitting

I am knitting a little top for Bea in the hope of finishing it by the autumn. Its a while since I knitted anything as I have been so busy making dresses on the sewing machine. Its another Tora Froseth design and another lovely, easy to read pattern. It can be found here on Ravelry.

The only thing that will stand in my way of finishing this before September is my Alicia Paulson Daisychain ABC sampler which arrived this morning and is already calling to me...

The birthday dress in action

I finally took a quick snap today of Bea wearing the red dress I made her for her birthday. She's not the most cooperative of models and wouldn't stand up but you get the idea! I'm really pleased with the way it turned out and the yarn has become lovely and soft after a few washes. I am planning to make this again as a top.

A red belated birthday dress

I didn't quite finish the red dress in time for Bea's birthday. Luckily she didn't notice! It is still too big anyway as I made the 18-24 months size as shes such a giant baby!

I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Its quite simple but the heart detailing is lovely.

Here's all the info:

The pattern is Sweetheart by Tora Froseth Design. It is pretty easy to follow and knitted on circular needles which was a first for me.

The yarn I used was King Cole 4ply merino in scarlet. It is quite soft although probably a bit itchy directly against the skin.

I think I will make another Tora Froseth dress for Bea at some point.

The birthday dress

Is coming along slowly! I had a disaster while untangling a knot in the yarn and quite a lot of stitches fell off the needle. As I was in the middle of knitting the little heart pattern I was unable to recover and had to start again. At least I have knitted faster the second time now I am so familiar with the pattern!

New on my needles

I have just started knitting a dress as a birthday present for Bea. I only have a month to finish it but as I tend to get addicted to knitting once I start a new project I should hopefully get it done in time. I'm loving the scarlet yarn.

Get some of those booties!

After making so many of these booties both for gifts and as commissions you can now order a custom made pair yourself from my etsy shop. Each pair will be made to order so you can choose the design.

Not more booties!!

I'm afraid so. Another boys pair for another new boy. I really think I could knit booties in my sleep now!

Handknitted booties make such a lovely baby gift though, and are small enough to keep as a memento of those tiny toes!

Finished at last! (and not too many mistakes)

I started knitting this cardigan for myself last January. Then I found out I was pregnant and got too poorly to knit. I revived the project towards the end of my pregnancy and managed to finish it all except sewing on the buttons before baby turned up. Now at last I have sewn on the buttons and can wear my creation with pride!

Its nearly perfect - I made a mistake in the moss stitch on the back - but I can blame that on the baby brain, and I can't see it when I'm wearing it so have chosen to pretend it isn't there!

This is the pattern in case you were wondering.

p.s I've just noticed my sleeves are way shorter than on their pictures. No idea why.

New blue booties

Yes another pair of baby booties! This time in blue and with a variation with pompom ties instead of ribbon. I find making pompoms very relaxing! These are a gift for a new baby which I had better get wrapped up - he could probably do with some cosy booties in this weather!

Easter

Hello,  hope you had a nice Easter break.  My favourite thing about Easter is these puffy little chicks that appear in the shops.

I have this pack that my sister bought me a few years ago.  I have never used them for anything and in fact they have never been taken off their card because all the pleasure I get from the little things can be got just by staring at them.  I don't know what it is about them but I could look at them all day and nearly explode with the enjoyment.  It might be because they are so tiny, or so fluffy, or because I love their little faces but I am obsessed by them.  As a student I worked in a card shop and every Easter we would get boxes of these things in in all different sizes.  I would hardly be able to get any work done until we sold out.

This Easter, as well as staring at little wired chicks we spent a couple of days with my sister and her family.  I got to see some of my knitting in action:

Here is the little green dress and shoes combo modeled by the very cute Tilly.

And apparently these booties (the first thing I ever knitted) make perfect slippers.

She also wore the other booties I made her but was only sporting one in a bold style move so I didn't get a picture.

Brown Paper Packages

Some Little Green Button items ready for posting.  The booties were custom made for someone and are a variation on my favourite bootie pattern.  The package is a mini Little Red Riding Hood book safely wrapped up in brown paper.  I like wrapping parcels to send out, its like christmas!

Update Number One:

Ok, so what have I been doing since I lost the will to type?

One thing I have done is finally get an etsy shop set up to sell some hand made items such as little illustrated books and knitted items. Please visit Little Green Button to see what's currently for sale.

Happy New Year!

So its 2009 and time to get back to work!  But before I leave 2008 behind let's have a little look at christmas, starting with dress you may remember I was knitting for my unborn niece.  I talked about it a couple of times here and here.

It turned out really well and made a great present for my sister and her husband.

I also made the matching shoes which fasten with little buttons.

And here is the dress.  It fastens with a row of buttons at the back.  The yarn is so soft, perfect for a little baby dress!  When I started knitting it I had no idea what size it would turn out as the pattern called for 3 ply and I used 4 ply.  It just seems impossible to get 3 ply in nice colours!  I estimate that it will fit at about 3/4months.  We shall see...

Cutie booties

This is the third time I have made this booties pattern - Its proving very popular! I'm loving this pink ribbon.

On a completely different topic - Why is my scanner so temperamental!!  All I want to do is get a drawing into my computer!  Is that too much to ask???

Introducing...

Stripy Mr Cat!  I have finished embroidering the face of my first knitted toy.  I like him.  He feels nice and wooly. 

Also, my sewing machine arrived today hooray!  I already have a couple of projects in mind.  Just need to get my hands on some nice fabric...

I learn from my mistakes

I am having a break from cushion covers to make a start on the vintage Vogue baby dress I mentioned.  It was coming along very well until I realised I had done forty rows wrong. Aaarghhh!  So now I have unravelled them and am ready to reknit that bit later on.  Oh well, it has taught me to read instructions more thoroughly from now on!

I would also like to mention that the yarn I am using is soooo lovely.  It is unbelievably soft and a gorgeous colour that this photo doesn't quite do justice.  It is RYC cashcotton 4 ply and I think I will be buying some more as it is so nice.  Except that as I am knitting bits of fluff fly around and get up my nose.  But that is the only negative thing I have to say about it.