One for the Road

I knit or crochet or sew every single day, but I no longer feel drawn to blog about it, so I've decided to discontinue this blog. I'll leave it up in it's present form so people can access my patterns, links, or anything else that might be useful or interesting.

I've been hanging out on Ravelry quite a bit lately, and I plan to start cataloguing my projects there. Stop over and say "hi" if you're a fellow "Raveler" (and if you're not, you really should be--it's fantastic!)--I'm kelleyjogirl on Ravelry. I'm also still on Etsy.

So . . . one final project to share here: K's long-awaited "lovey."

Pattern: Easy Ripple Afghan

Yarn: Filatura Lanarota Circus, colorway #4 (85% cotton, 15% acrylic--very soft and drapey and wonderful, but a REAL PITB to work with because of how it's spun/plied)

Hook: size H

Thanks for reading!

Dishcloth Love!

I have a new favorite dishcloth pattern. It's quick and fun to work up, it lays flat, the edges are neatly finished, and it looks good on both sides. What's not to love?

Front:


Back:


Pattern: Double Bump Dishcloth
Yarn: Sugar and Cream, Summer Splash colorway
Needles: US size 7
Mods: none

It makes a lovely scarf too, so I'm using this pattern and my old stash of Red Heart Super Saver (left over from the kids' crocheted play food) for some charity scarves for the coming winter.

My Latest Frantic Mama

Pattern: Frantic Mama Soaker
Yarn: Malabrigo, Apple Green
Needles: size 3 and 6 16" circs for body; size 3 12" circs for leg cuffs
Mods: used changes for babies with chunky thighs

Happy 4th of July!

My latest dishcloth project. I love it! The pattern is available on the Monthly Dishcloths group. (It's the June KAL, if I remember correctly.)

I *have* been crafting . . . See!

Crocus

Here's a new dishcloth pattern for you. I've been sitting on this since spring. I meant to post about it as my Crocuses were in bloom, but . . . well, life happens, especially when you have small children. :-)

Materials

Worsted weight 100% cotton yarn, one 2 oz skein

US size 6 knitting needles

Finished size: approximately 8 ½ x 8 ½ inches

Stitches
K=knit
P=purl
YO=yarn over
P2tog=purl 2 stitches together
P3tog=purl 3 stitches together

Cast on 43.

Rows 1–6: Knit across.
Rows 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19: K3, P37, K3.
Row 8 (right side): K6, *YO, K2, P3tog, K2, YO, K1. Repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5.
Row 10: K6, *YO, K2, P3tog, K2, YO, K1. Repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5.
Row 12: K6, *YO, K2, P3tog, K2, YO, K1. Repeat from * to last 5 sts, K5.
Row 14: K5, P2tog, *K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P3tog. Repeat from * to last 12 sts, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P2tog, K5.
Row 16: K5, P2tog, *K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P3tog. Repeat from * to last 12 sts, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P2tog, K5.
Row 18: K5, P2tog, *K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P3tog. Repeat from * to last 12 sts, K2, YO, K1, YO, K2, P2tog, K5.
Rows 20–55: Repeat rows 8–19 three more times
Rows 56–61: Knit across.

Bind off knitwise.

© 2009. This pattern is for noncommercial use only. Please do not sell the pattern or post the pattern on the Internet without prior written permission from the designer.

This has been test knit by me, but an error or two may linger. Please let me know if you run into any snags.

Enjoy!

A Grand Reopening at Dutch Baby Dudz

I will soon be reopening my Etsy shop. I have lots of new things in store. I'll be offering some new products along with the old favorites.

I'll continue to offer crocheted longies and shorties, and you will also be able to purchase the following new products:

knitted shorties and longies
knitted soakers
crocheted soakersPUL
cover and mini diaper sets (and covers and mini diapers sold separately
Fattycakes diapers and covers

I am working on becoming licensed to sell Hippy Hippy Snap diapers and covers as well.

Watch for me to reopen by June 1. Stop by and check out my new inventory!

I have also started a Yahoo Group where you can hear about all the goings-on at Dutch Baby Dudz. Be among the first to know about stockings, custom slots, sales, special promotions, and new products.

~Kelley
http://www.dutchbabydudz.etsy.com/

A Froggy Hippy Hippy Snap

A gift for an online friend who's expecting a baby girl:

The nitty gritty:

Hippy Hippy Snap pattern

flannel outer

killington flannel hidden (*love* this stuff!)

cotton velour inner

Aplix closures

lay-in contour soaker of terry topped with matching cotton velour (not pictured)

I hope she likes it!

My New Favorite Soaker

I have a new favorite soaker pattern--the Frantic Mama Soaker from Crazy Hat Lady. It's so easy to knit (gotta love pure mindless knitting for sleep deprived mommy brain), and it looks absolutely adorable on K.



(Pardon the "flashy" photos--I'm no photographer, and it's really hard to take a decent pic in winter in MI.)


Pattern: Frantic Mama Soaker (pdf)
Yarn: Wool of the Andes in Winter Night and Tomato (I think that's what the red was called--long since lost the ball band)
Needles: Knit Picks 16" circs, sizes 3 and 5 (plus a 24" circ in size 4 for the flat knit portion of the crotch--my gauge is looser knitting flat)
Mods: None

Balsam

Here's a new knit dishcloth pattern I've been working on. I call it Balsam because it reminds me of evergreen cones. One of my testers knit it in turqouise, and it looks like peacock feathers! Enjoy!

Materials:
Worsted weight 100% cotton yarn, approximately 2 oz.
US size 7 knitting needles

Finished size: approximately 9” x 9”

Stitches:
K=knit
P=purl
YO=yarn over
K2tog=knit 2 stitches together
PSSO=pass slipped stitch over

Cast on 39.

Rows 1–6: Knit across.
Rows 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21: K4, P31, K4.
Row 8 (right side): K5, *YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO, K3, YO, K1. Repeat from * to last 4 sts. K4.
Row 10: K5, *YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO, K3, YO, K1. Repeat from * to last 4 sts. K4.
Row 12: K5, *YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO, K3, YO, K1. Repeat from * to last 4 sts. K4.
Row 14: K5, *YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO, K3, YO, K1. Repeat from * to last 4 sts. K4.
Row 16: K4, K2tog, *K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO. Repeat from * to last 13 sts. K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K1, PSSO, K4.
Row 18: K4, K2tog, *K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO. Repeat from * to last 13 sts. K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K1, PSSO, K4.
Row 20: K4, K2tog, *K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO. Repeat from * to last 13 sts. K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K1, PSSO, K4.
Row 22: K4, K2tog, *K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K2tog, PSSO. Repeat from * to last 13 sts. K3, YO, K1, YO, K3, slip 1, K1, PSSO, K4.
Rows 23–38: Repeat rows 7–22
Rows 39–46: Repeat rows 7–14
Rows 47–52: Knit across.

Bind off knitwise.

© 2008. This pattern is for noncommercial use only. Please do not sell the pattern or post the pattern on the Internet. (You may link to this blog post.)

HUGE HOLIDAY SALE at Dutch Baby Dudz

Get your woolies now!

All Dutch Baby Dudz inventory will be 25 percent off through Christmas.

www.dutchbabydudz.etsy.com

Etsy Buy Handmade dutchbabydudz

I will be adding lots more inventory soon!

Throw-Back Wipes

I just had to share this fablous stack of retro cloth diaper wipes!

These are made from hand towels that my mom had in the master bathroom when I was a kid. I just love taking old, well-loved things and turning them into something new.

Whoops!

Earlier this summer, I had a little piece of denim left over from another project and decided to make T some shorts out of it. I very cleverly maneuvered the pieces to fit them onto the fabric and use up that itty bitty piece. But . . . I neglected to pay any attention to whether or not the right sides were facing up! LOL!

I let the pieces sit in my sewing basket until a couple nights ago, when I decided to say "heck with it" and sew them up and consider the mismatched pieces a "design element" instead of a flaw.





I *love* them! I wish I had sewn them up right away so T could wear them this summer. At least we usually have plenty of warm days in September.

Real Diaper Week

The Etsy Cloth Diapers street team is at it again! This time we are hosting Real Diaper Week, and our goal is to help bring real diapers to a baby's bottom near you! There will be introductory packages containing everything you need to get started using cloth. Already a cloth user? You'll find packages to boost your stash. Each participating shop has something different to offer, but some of the promotional listings include:

Multi-diaper packs at discounted prices
Easy to use diapers that are 'just like sposies'
Getting started packs
Variety packs
Cloth diapering travel packs with wetbags and wipes
Sew-Them-Yourself kits

Real Diaper week runs September 19-29 (yes, it's a long week--it includes both weekends!) and all the details about who is participating will be available on the team blog on September 18th. Come, visit, shop, tell your friends, and most of all, give your baby real diapers!

This promotion coincides with our new series of posts of information about cloth diapering. Many members of the team are writing the posts, and we hope that our combined knowledge and experience will be helpful for our readers. If there is a topic you would particularly like to see covered, please leave us a comment.

A Couple More Woolies for Little Peanut

I had juuuuust enough leftovers from my Purewool longies to knit a couple of size medium soakers. They should fit Little Peanut next summer (fingers crossed).



For some reason my camera really doesn't like this yarn--it's fairly true to life colorwise, but it looks so flashy . . .

Pattern: free Fern and Faerie soaker, size medium
Yarn: 100Purewool 3 ply in Festival colorway; this looks a bit better knit up, but I still don't really love it. *shrugs*
Needles: US size 3 and 5
Mods: knit the ribbing a bit shorter and the stockinette portion of the body a bit longer



Pattern: free Fern and Faerie soaker, size medium
Yarn: 100Purewool 3 ply in Warm Ice colorway
Needles: US size 3 and 5
Mods: knit the ribbing a bit shorter and the stockinette portion of the body a bit longer

A Passel of Woolies for our Little Peanut

I've been working away on some woolies for the new baby. Here's what I've got so far (none of these have been washed or blocked yet--I was too eager to share):

Pattern: Ladybugz Morning Glory Longies, size small

Yarn: 100Purewool 3 ply, Warm Ice colorway

Hook: G
Mods: Made straight leg instead of flared. Worked a few extra stitches at the crotch join to form a small gusset.

Pattern: Ladybugz Morning Glory Longies, size small
Yarn: 100Purewool 3 ply, Festival colorway (this colorway looked gorgeous on the hank, but it pooled really weird in crochet--very long color repeat); I'm not sure like this pair that much, but they'll be warm and soft and water resistant. :-)
Hook: G

Mods: Made straight leg instead of flared. Worked a few extra stitches at the crotch join to form a small gusset.

Pattern: Sheepy Sack (pdf)

Yarn: Patons merino, denim colorway

Needles: US size 3 and 6

Mods: none

Pattern: Sheepy Sack (pdf)
Yarn: 100Purewool 1 ply, Colibri II colorway
Needles: US size 3 and 6
Mods: none

Pattern: Punk Knitter's soaker, size small
Yarn: Fisherman's wool, Kool Aid dyed by me

Needles: US size 3 and 5
Mods: none

We're not finding out the sex again, since it was so much fun to be surprised the first time, so I'm sticking with yarns that I would happily put on either a boy or a girl. However . . . I have a funny feeling that this peanut may be a girl, so I think I might work up a few girly things too just in case. Lots more knitting and crocheting to do . . . And I need to buy more wool!

I also recently tried out a new pattern to make a soaker for T. I like it!

Pattern: Adirondack Babie soaker, size large

Yarn: Fisherman's wool
Hooks: E and F

Mods: None (but smaller hooks to get gauge)

Socks for Me!

You may remember me posting about these often quite some time ago. These are the very first socks I ever started knitting but the third pair I've finished. I put them down for a looooong time and knit a gift pair and a Sockapalooza pair in the interim. This week I got sick of looking at them sitting in my knitting basket and decided to finish them. I can't wear them until fall, but it's good to have them done anyway. Can't wait to wear them!

I think I did a pretty good job of matching up the stripes--until I got to the toe on the final sock. I ran out of yarn and had to join the little piece that I wound off searching for the right spot in the color repeat to start the second sock. So the second sock has a weird brown and blue toe:

I ended up having only five yards left! Look what a tiny ball five yards makes:

So if you have feet larger than about a women's size 8 or 8 1/2, you might want to steer clear of Magic Stripes.

Knitterly details:

Pattern: Silver's Sock Class--basic sock on four DPNs

Yarn: Lion Brand Magic Stripes, denim stripe

Needles: US size 1 DPNs
Mods: used size 1 needles instead of size 2s as called for in the tutorial (I did knit one sock on size 2s, and it turned out much to big for me.)

And since I have such a bingey personality, I couldn't resist casting on for a new sock. (It's a basic Silver's Sock Class sock in Magic Stripes again--I got two skeins at bargain basement price, so I may as well practice on it.) It feels really good to have a different project inhabiting my sock sack.

Jolly Green Giant

T's nighttime soakers from last summer are a tad short in the rise for his now truly gigantic overnight diapers. So . . . what's a mama to do but knit up some new nighttime woolies? (It seems huge after the newborn size stuff I've been working on. LOL.)

Pattern: Punk Knitters soaker

Yarn: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes Bulky, emerald

Needles: US size 5 and 7 (and 6 for the flat knit portion of the body, since my tension is looser for flat knitting than knitting in the round)

Mods: Bulky instead of worsted weight yarn (and needle sizes to work with yarn weight). (I knit a size down to get correct sizing for T with the bulky yarn.)

T is showing the very beginnings of interest in potty learning (yay!), so I'm hoping I won't need to knit all new woolies for him for next winter. Not that I don't love having stuff to knit, but some non-diapering stuff would be fun! *fingers crossed*

A Sneak Peek

Holy cow! It's knitting content!

This is my latest project. Can you guess what it is? (And don't you just love how the yarn is swirling?)

I'm also all done knitting, washing, and blocking T's BSJ. It just needs buttons and a photo shoot. More on that when I get back from vacay. :-)

Every Little Boys Needs a Star Wars Diaper

I think this is my favorite diaper I've ever sewn. I just like everything about it. :-)

It's a pocket fitted from the VB AIO pattern. The outer is flannel, and the inner is two layers of birdseye. Love the birdseye!



The front pocket is so easy to sew. I think I may add a little flap of some kind next time to encourage the insert to stay put:



And since my new sewing machine has an alphabet function, I stitched in a little something to help me remember this diaper is a size medium long: