Last month I started a baby sequence blanket for some friends who are having a baby boy, due this fall. I followed Diana Poirier's free Hillside pattern. I used Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande Hand Dye, Col 144, Lot 210536 from work. Without my store credit, the yarn alone would've cost $155.70. The only reason I am noting this is to remind others not only to value their work but also the mere cost of supplies when knitting a nice gift.
I used about 6, 100g/110yds hanks to knit the blanket. I rarely ever knit anything bulky and/or
with size 10 needles nowadays and it was nice to get lost in the repeating sequence while letting the luxuriously soft hand painted baby alpaca glide through my fingers.
When I was in Michael's the other day, I saw these storage boxes on sale and I thought this box would make a perfect gift box for the blanket.
I haven't met up with my friends to give them their blanket yet but I am sure they will appreciate it.
I didn't block it because I know from previous experience that the baby alpaca fibers will relax on their own over time.
This is such a beautiful blanket that I almost want to knit a grown up sized one for myself. Even the WS looks and feels fabulous!
Next I would like to share all of the yarn I recently bought from Ritual Dyes. Featured in this photo is the Spring Equinox kit, Zodiac kit and 3 different mystery bags from the spring sale last weekend. This is my favorite West Coast Yarn company and at the end of the month Irina and I going on a roadtrip up to PDX to visit their retail space for the first time! I am SO stoked!!!
Because I liked the toddler cardi I knit for Xena in March so much, I started another one at the end of April.
I knit the largest size of the pattern. I used some terrific triangular shaped buttons that I think I bought on clearance at JoAnn's over a year ago.
I did my own calculations to knit the sleeves in the round and it was a much more pleasant experience than knitting them flat. Instead of working flat with increases beginning at the cuff, I reversed the pattern to knit 14 decreases at the top of the arm (2 at each magic loop end) for a total of 7 decrease rounds every 4th row and every 5th row on the final decrease.
I finished most of the seaming with SC using an F hook and not only does it look better than being sewn, it adds so much more structure and shaping.
Of course, Xena just had to have pockets. I cast on 21 stitches, worked 1x1 ribbing for 7 rows and stockinette for 14 rows for perfectly square pockets.
It was a very windy photo shoot.
We already received multiple compliments during its debut at the playground yesterday.
Nothing beats yarn matching mommy and me cardis!
