ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Progess report on the second try. This one is a size 1 (generous size) and is just a basic pullover. When I am happy with the basic then I will let my creativety take over. I am not sure if the sleeves are a little deep but that will be more evident when I finish. Little ones are better with deep sleeves but I will have to see how the larger sizes work. That won't be a big deal to tweek the numbers. I have hidden that bad bad odd ball deep in the land of stash. It will come in handy for my scrap hats or even mittens but until then it will not see the light of day.

Just for the fun of it, click on the patternfish link at the top of the sidebar, it will display my designs and my Friends of Cabin Fever designs that are available on line. I really must get back to my Baby ??? pattern and then I have another variation of Sam's Delight that I may write up and of course this red pullover. What I need is a ghost writer, so that all I do is knit.

Until the next posting, MOMMABEARKNITS, boy does she ever. Retirement is good.

O O P S ! ! ! ! ! ! !

I goofed big time. I had reached the body of the pullover, was proud of how it looked, well I already had a change or two in my head for the next one, but!!!!

Background info----For a long time I had several balls of Cascade Superwash in my stash. Quite some time ago I started a project, changed my mind and re-wound a couple of balls, wrong! I was going through my many balls of yarn, found what I thought was another ball of Cascade and put it in the bag with the others. I worked the pullover down to the underarms, separated the body and sleeves and then joined a new ball. I worked a few rows, looked at it ---- oh no!!!!! Different dye lot. No!!!!! different yarn. The colour was so close and the weight of both yarns was worsted. I very rarely knit with this colour so didn't even notice. I guess it is these old retired eyes of mine.

So I called in the "Frog Squad" and frogged the night away.

Going, Going!
Going, Going!
Gone!!!!

The good news is, I started another one, smaller size though, and am already one row from the underarm. What is also a good thing, I am able to put in the changes that cropped up during the process. I have put away the wrong ball and pulled out the right yarn. I will finish the yoke and by the end of the day will post the improved version. Oh so much time wasted. The frogs were a big help and they promised to stand by for the next goof!!!!! Go away Frogs!!!!!!

Progress Update

So far, so good. This sample will be a size 2 or 4 (not sure yet, the beginning #'s are the same.) It will depend on how soon I want to start something else. Keep in touch, progress report will appear again tomorrow.

Front view above, neckline looks like it will work ok.

View from the top.

I assure you, MommaBear will keep on knitting each and every day of the year.

Long Time No Posting!

I have not been posting but I sure have been knitting. I am working to build up my already plentiful stock of knitted garments (mostly babies, some toddlers). As you may have figured out when I design I knit many samples, different sizes, different colours, yarns, and especially variations of the basic do-the-numbers patterns. Some have been published by Cabin Fever and now that I am retired I have produced two of my own and offered them for sale on www.patternfish.com/shop; see pictures and the link to the left of my post. I am still working on the latest Baby ???? multidirectional pattern (no name yet), two pairs of socks and my special gift shawl. It is coming alone but I would have to take it off the needles to photo it. And of course there is quite a pile of UFO's waiting patiently.

So, Surprise, I have started another project, what else is new. It will be a top down raglan, no sew pullover. This one, hopefully will have a better neckline with the front dropped down below the back without all those short rows. The short rows are great but, I have to be different. I will post my progress. I have done the #'s (they will need some tweeking, but thank goodness for spreadsheets, I love them for the math). This one will be size 1 - 8 years as pullovers are not really practical for infants.

The first step is the neckband.

I will likely have the next picture very very soon. Come back and check it out.

Until next time MommaBearKnits

Love Your Acorn and a Big Oak Tree Will Grow

There is not much to say except the acorn project is finished and ready to go to it's new home. Hope the new Mom and Dad will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed the original design process. MommaBearKnits and loves to be different. All you knitting kooks out there, keep on picking up the sticks and playing with the string, knitting is a great hobby.

Acorns and Shawls - how weird is that?

First the update for the shawl. I have finished the centre and begun the inner border. The border has 262 stitches on the needle to begin the border and will end with 370 stitches. Then the lace edging begins. I cannot take a picture of 262 stitches on a relatively short circular needle, I know I should put the stitches on a string but whatever, maybe next time when I post. I will have to go to my LYS and see just how long a circular needle is available. The stitches are getting crowded and I am afraid of them slipping off. For the time being I will put the shawl away and work on the many other projects that are on my plate. Socks, Socks, Baby Jackets, and of course my next pattern.

In the meantime, I was asked about an acorn baby hat for a gift. As you may know, I cannot stop at just a hat soooooooooo this is what I have come up with.

The colour is a little off as the jacket and socks are still wet and the hat is not. I will place a couple of leafs somewhere on the jacket, any suggestions where to place them? I also am still looking for acorn buttons or if not then perhaps a leaf button. Again, any suggestions?

Apparently the acorn has some sort of sentimental connection between a sister and a brother. The brother's wife is expecting a baby in August and the sister wants to gift him and his wife with an acorn. I think that is nice and I am happy to accommodate. I searched the web and my many books and did not find an acorn pattern anywhere. Perhaps soon there will be one, you never know!!!!!

Until next time MommaBearKnits and she also designs. She is having a great retirement too! Life is good in Ontario Canada and summer is coming on. So are the black flies and mosquitos, oh well, that is the way it has always been and hopefully will still be.

Shawl Progress

I am now at the end of Row 79; 84 stitches on the needles. The test ball of yarn is done, need to go and get some more to finish the project. The shawl is a go with the yarn I am testing. I will likely pick up the rest on Wednesday, the day I go to visit my knitting guru (Deb).

Next an update on my grandbaby Rusty the Cruster Ruster. He is taking over my life now that I am home a lot more. He insists on his walk each and every day, rain or shine. To get my attention he steals one of my walking shoes and proceeds to the centre of the living room and shakes the daylights out of it. So now I am trying to train him to go and get the second shoe so that we can get on the road again. Not easy, have you ever tried to train a hound to do anything that does not involve animal tracks, animal scent, or food. Ooops, got to go, he just came down the hall with the shoe, now I will try to convince him to bring the other one.

Oh dear, he just did, that was a fluke. He really must want to go out with me. I can tell myself that he is learning but that would be a false statement. He is just in a devil mood. I will keep on trying and perhaps will some day succeed.

Until then, MommaBearKnits.

OFF ON A NEW DIRECTION

Well not really. I am already going in all directions with my "Baby ???", but now I started a shawl. Well, hopefully I will start it. Right now I am just checking out the pattern and choosing the yarn. I am working a sample of the pattern with a Sportsweight/DK. The pattern calls for size 5mm needles, I tried that, didn't like the look. Went to 6mm, still a little too tight. Settled on a 6.5mm. Time will tell, if the yarn pleases me, I will purchase more to finish the project.

So far I have worked 33 rows and have 38 stitches on the needle. Long way to go! The Pattern is called Highland Triangle Shawl from the book called `Folk Shawls` by Cheryl Oberle. After completing 171 rows, I next have to work the `Inner Border` then a lace pattern, then a Lace Edging. I think that is it. The centre pattern is charted (not my thing) and the edging is written out, then the Lace Edging is charted. Wish me luck, I am going to need it. This project has a special meaning to me, as it will be a gift for a special person. Cannot elaborate more than that, she just might visit my blog. I doubt it, she is not a knitting kook like me, but she might.

MommaBearKnits, what else is new.

Butterscotch Loves to Model

"Baby ?" needs a name.

Butterscotch is wearing the Preemie size.

'Baby ?' is coming

Picture says it all. I am on the home stretch with the 18 month size. I have knit the Preemie size now I just have to confirm the #'s for the in-between sizes and then I am off and running again.

If anyone has a name for it please leave me a comment. Remember it is knit in North South East and West directions and is suitable for a girl or a boy.

Mommabearknits on into the night.................

Hoodie Bear is Up and Running

I just received confirmation from Patternfish, Hoodie Bear is up on their site for sale. Just click on the pattern to the left and it will take you to the site.

MommaBearKnits, designs and is still having fun. Retirement, What Retirement?

'Baby ?' Progress

The picture Speaks for itself. Steps 1, 2, 3, 4 complete and working on step 5.