Sweet William

Here is my latest finished sweater and I love it!  I love making sweaters for the boy because small versions knit up so quickly!

The pattern is called Sweet William and was purchased on Ravelry.

Here is the finished yoke before I blocked it.  I was a little worried because the colorwork areas were a little puckered before blocking.

The side of the neck opening is closed with two buttons.  I chose these pewter colored metal buttons from my stash because they had an art nouveau vine look to them which went well with the stylized rabbits.

Most of the sweaters I've knit for Marek were with fingering weight yarn and this one was no exception.  This was hand dyed local yarn from Sin City Knits in Las Vegas that I purchased last year on Dave's bowling trip.  Adult sweaters knit from fingering weight take forEVER but I didn't mind this at all.  Also, most fingering skeins have 400+ yards in them so it doesn't take much.  I used a skein and a bit to complete this.  Now what to do with the remainder...

Taking a decent photo of the boy was a bit of a challenge.  The sun is out today and I'm not complaining about that, but I wanted some overcast for a nice photo.  We tried to confine him to the shaded portion of the deck which wasn't easy because he moves so fast!

He is wearing the second hand dressy pants I picked up at Saver's.  The pocket linings match the sweater perfectly.  I was trying to keep him busy with a foil wrapped chocolate bunny.

We still have snow in the middle of the deck and he was very interested in it.  I am so pleased with the fit of this sweater.  The sizing on this pattern goes up to age 10 if memory serves me.  I might have to make a few more of these!

Here is a quick photo of the sweater after I took it off him.  I was really pleased with how the yoke smoothed out once blocked.  The garment was knit from the collar down first back and forth to create the buttonband/neck opening and then joined in the round for the yoke.  Sleeve stitches are held and later picked up while the knitting continues down the body.  This was an absolute pleasure to knit!  It is almost as pretty as my son's eyes!

Child Life

Marek and I watch Sesame Street almost every day.  I loved it as a kid and it is PBS so it is good for you.  It's hard to believe this show is 50 years old and still wonderful.  On this particular episode, I immediately noticed Alan's shirt.

Does it look familiar?  I HAVE THIS FABRIC!!!!  Familiar fabric sightings always excite me.  Clearly the Children's Television Workshop shops at Joann Fabrics!

Speaking of fabric, I made a new pillowcase for the boy.  I am a sucker and get a new travel size MyPillow pillow every year at the State Fair because there is a deal in the coupon book year after year.  It is just the right size for a little boy in a crib.  I made a Miffy pillowcase with an open end based on the Magic Pillow Tutorial.  It was really cute but he pulled it off the pillow every time he was in the crib.  For Christmas, Mom had asked for some fold over style pillowcases for her State Fair MyPillow pillows so I made a few.  My measurements were a 15" x 20" piece for the front panel and two 15" x 15" panels for the back flaps. 

I realized Marek could use a fold over case and found the perfect little boy fabrics.  I picked up the rick rack style piece at Walmart of all places in their pre-cut fabric area.  The colors are so versatile and would look great as lining or backing or whatever.  The dinosaur fabric was a fat quarter found by accident at Hobby Lobby.  My fabric stash is all stuff I've collected over the years that I like and find appealing.  None of it is really frou-frou or girly, but it is decidedly lacking in "boy prints" so I was happy to put this together for M.

I have gotten out my copy of The Felt Book for some projects.  I've made several of these patterns for other peoples' kids over the years and now it is time to make some for my son!  His baptism booties were from this book and there is a hat I'm thinking about.  I want to make the one pictured in the book and of course I'm thinking of making another but as a Minnesota Gophers version!

Here is the monster puppet I finished for M this weekend.  There is nothing more satisfying than using up scraps and I am a sentimental fool.  I can't help but notice the red, orange and gold and think they are the leftovers of the felt campfire I made years ago.  The mottled pink is leftover from the Valentine candle mat.  I do the same thing with cotton prints.  As a kid, I remember mom showing me a scrap quilt her mother had made and describing the pajamas her brother had from a certain print, and play clothes they wore from another, etc.  We have several blankets I've made from scraps and I enjoy looking at the project remnants embedded in the quilt top.  I guess it is a way for me to have my fabric cake and eat it too!

This puppet is so cute and simple that I decided to make another one for my dear friend's granddaughter.  I made one of these for my 18 year old niece when she was a toddler.  I can't remember doing it on the machine though. 

Yesterday was relatively warm and overcast in the morning.  We were heading over to Dave's parents' to take his dad to Menards for potting soil.  I thought it would finally be a great opportunity for a 3 generation photo of the boys in their Gopher knitwear.  By the time we all got out on the stoop, the sun decided to come out so this is the best we could do.  That little boy loves his grandparents!