Test Knitting Sweaters

Yikes! I have NOT been keeping up! It's time for a few catch-up posts about knitting and crochet projects, and then I can get into recipes again. I have a photo-documented calzone recipe, as well as Black Forest Cheesecake and maybe some others coming up.

Back in December, I test knit two sweaters for the designer Svetlana (tweedysheep on Ravelry), based in Moscow, Russia. It's fun getting to work collaboratively on a project across the world, and I'm thankful for Ravelry providing the means to do so efficiently. The first sweater I tested for Svetlana was the Momo Cardigan, in the age 8 size. (Available for sale on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/momo-2) This pattern caught my eye because "momo" means "peach" in Japanese, and I had a pet hamster named "Momo" after Momotarosan, the Little Peach Boy who is a folk story hero. The clever increase in the lace in the yoke intrigued me too, and I signed up to make this sweater without having a recipient in mind at first.

I ended up giving it to a second cousin. The photos aren't the greatest, another cousin took them while I was at work. This sweater was a quick knit, and fun. I used Berroco Vintage yarn, which is really soft and nice to work with. In the first photo you can see the heart shaped buttons I used. They aren't a perfect color match, but how often can you get away with using heart buttons?

While I was still finishing up Momo, Svetlana posted ANOTHER girl's sweater that I fell in love with and just had to test knit too. Since this second one had a due date of December 25th, I thought it would make a nice Christmas present for my cousin's 10 month daughter.
This pattern is Bloomsbury for Kids (both this and Momo have adult versions! I plan on making the adult verion with some lovely alpaca I got at a fiber fest this fall....) and it is also available on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bloomsbury-kids
My cousin, who lives in a warmer part of the country, was quite wonderful about taking lots of photos and sending them to me. Her daughter is ADORABLE with or without the sweater:

I can't wait until I get around to making a my-size one!! I love how the lace goes down the back and the sleeves, I find this construction interesting but easy to learn once you get started!

Jester Baby Suit

As promised, I finished it last night.
Ta-da!

And it's being sent to Japan this afternoon. <3

Sneak Peak

Hi,

I've been busy knitting, crocheting, baking and doing classwork and haven't been able to keep up with posting finished projects! Here are a few sneak peaks of what is to come:

This is a "jester" baby suit for a friend's baby. I anticipate finishing it TONIGHT (now that I've said it, I have to do it <----- see what I did there? accountability) and mailing it off to Japan tomorrow. More pics (of the details) to come.

This fall sweater is DONE: buttons, blocking and all. I've been wearing it around town in my stubborn belief that it is still fall. It reminds me of maple trees in autumn and the wool is super cozy. I have yet to get finished pictures of it due to the weather/ not being outside during the day/not having someone to take a picture.

Another sweater that is done: I knit it in August, but didn't block it until last weekend when I got pins/foam mats and could block the lace properly. I will add finished photos when I get them (for the same reasons as above)

Another sneak peak: 

More of this next weekend! (and a recipe too!)

:0)

Pumpkin Hat

Monday night at class I tested a pattern for this cute, crocheted baby hat. Not only was the pattern really well written and easy to follow, it's quick! I finished it in less than 2 hours- and that includes the part of class when I was taking a quiz! I think it's an adorable pattern and already have a recipient in mind, since I know someone who had a baby over the weekend. :0) Hooray for fall and seasonal items!

The pattern is available for FREE on Ravelry under the name "Harvest Pumpkin hat" so go check it out!