"B" is also for Bear

Hey Everyone!!

Meet "B" is also for Bear...my latest project.  I didn't want to give him an actual name, since that is the job of the little guy he is being given to.  He is made from Susan B. Anderson's "Baby Bear" pattern.  Click here for the Rav link.  This is the second bear I have made from this pattern, and I love it more and more each time!!!  Susan's patterns are so easy to follow.  They have converted me from a double pointed needle hater to a person who has more projects going on dpns than not!!  She recently released a children's sock pattern that I may try...I cannot stand knitting socks, but I have a feeling that I may change my tune after trying her pattern!!!

I knit this guy in Red Heart Comfort Sport.  Nothing fancy, but Uber-durable!  It is the same yarn that I used for my "B" is for Boy blanket.  Both the bear and blanket are being sent off to Maine this week.  A childhood friend of mine is having her second baby boy this summer, and I thought she needed some knit goodies for the little guy.  I hope these fit the bill.

So, what's next on the needles??  Well, I am still plugging away at the Diva's sweater...I started it when she was in the hospital in November, and though it is an easy, semi-mindless pattern, I am having trouble finishing it.  Oh well...it will be huge on her (done on purpose), so I'm not too worried.  I still think it will be the project that will come with me when she goes back in the hospital soon. 

I am planning on casting on this project tonight.  I have plenty of appropriate colors in my stash, and I think Hannah will like having a new reversible friend for Easter.  I have been wanting to try Susan's reversible toy patterns, and I think this will be a good introduction to them. 

The Diva's Miffy doll is still on the backburner, and she is now saying that she might not want a Tasha doll afterall (since she already has one from the store...her words.)

One of these days, I'll get Charlotte out and get spinning again.  I have some beautiful fiber that is begging to be spun...and knit with!

Well, I'm off to enjoy this sunny day...have a good one everyone!!!

Cheers!
Sharon

No bug will stop me!!!

Hey Everyone!!

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit...Hannah and I were stopped in our tracks by a nasty stomach bug! She got sick the end of last week, and it hit me this past weekend. We're on the mend now, so I'm back to knitting and posting new projects.

First up, Baby Bear. I still have to put a face on this cutie, but I am still considering her to be finished. I love her little tail...it is so cute!!! I have more of this yarn in different colors, so I am hoping to make a few more of this bears in the near future!!!

Hannah named this bear Lolli. I asked her if it was because the colors looked like a Lollipop and she replied with, "No, just 'cuz". Ahhhh...2-year old logic!!

The same night I finished Lolli, I cast on a new baby sweater. This one is the 5-Hour Baby Sweater. They weren't kidding...if this took me 5 hours to make, I'd be shocked! It was so quick!! The only seams are under the arms, so it flies!!! I also whipped up a matching, Quick and Easy Baby Hat. The pattern was made to match the sweater, and it took me about an hour and half or so to make and seam. Because the sweater is a bit more frilly that what I would usually make, I made it in a pretty purple-blue color. I figured it would tone down the frilly-ness of it! Craig's cousin is due with a baby girl in March, so I think this set is going to be headed to Boston before too long.

Here's the finished set. I bought some ribbon that matches the color of the sweater, but I think it is going to be too wide to look right on the hat (you weave ribbon into the bottom row of eyelets). I'm going to keep my eyes open for something that better suits both the sweater and hat. Once I find what I like, it will also be used to tie the sweater closed at the top. I didn't feel like making I-cord ties.

Not bad, huh??
So, that's what I have been up to. I already have another baby sweater on the needles...they never rest! This sweater is for a childhood friend who is having a baby in May. I need to get all of these projects done before Hannah goes into the hospital, since I don't know how much knitting time I'll have after that. I am still throwing around the idea of making Hannah a Tasha stuffed animal, using Susan B. Anderson's Hippo pattern. It will require a bit of designing on my part to make a dress for it, but I think Hannah will love it! If I get to make it for her to take to the hospital, I plan to work on it at night so she doesn't know about it. Hmmm...I think I just convinced myself to do it! I wish I had a Uniqua pattern (or something I could modify), but I have yet to find anything. Oh well....one Backyardigan at a time!!!

Well, I'm off for now.

Cheers!
Sharon

Beautiful Fiber, a Blanket, & a Baby Bear

Hey Everyone!!

So, I have been “attempting” to spin with my new wheel. I’m not quite ready to show the results to everyone (I need to adjust a few things first), but I wanted to show you what I have been spinning. My friend Tamara, the one who came with me to buy my wheel, gave me this beautiful fiber. The colors are so pretty, I feel bad for using it!



When I first decided that I was going to buy a wheel, my friend Cara bought this beautiful stuff for me…



It is much tighter than the other fiber, so I am going to hold off spinning it until I get better. Right now I am just enjoying petting it!!!

In knitting news, I have just finished up my 8th WCOBBS stripe! I wasn’t planning on doing any blankets for a while, but when a fellow knitter had to bow out, I couldn’t resist. So, with that said, Pooh Bear and Friends made their way back to my house! It is actually kind of cool since I started Pooh several months ago. It is always nice to see the finished product in person!!



I was supposed to do a stripe that represented Pooh bear himself. I chose a mock honeycomb stitch. It was super easy once I got the hang of it. I think it looks really nice too. I’m quite proud of this stripe!!

I have also been working on a stuffed bear. I started it a little while ago, and took a time out with it for the blanket. Here is an “In Progress” photo.

I worked on her a bit last night and got a leg done…I think I’ll work on the other one at Knit Night tonight. I love the way the yarn is self-striping…it looks really cool!! The pattern is Baby Bear from the Susan B. Anderson book, Itty-Bitty Toys. It is actually coming out quite large…and I am so happy with it!!! Hopefully I’ll get it done soon…photos to come!!!

I hope you are all having a wonderful start to 2010, and I look forward to posting lots of knitting and spinning projects this year!!!

Cheers!
Sharon