And The Beat (Knit) Goes On!!!!

First of all I must have socks in progress. These are more children's sizes, a little bigger but still using up my left over sock yarn, mixing up the colours; self-patterning mixed with solid colours.

Addicted to socks, I am, I am!

When Deb and I were in Huntsville on Monday we walked in and there on a table, just sort of sitting there was this display of awesome yarn. It is called Zauberball made in Germany. It is fine sock yarn. I carried different colours around with me the whole time I was there. Finally, made the decision. I must have it!!!!


I purchased two balls, hopefully, that will be enough to complete another Evelyn Clarke shawl. It came home and I placed it in my hanging garden and photographed it.









I just had to play with it one more time before setting it aside until another large project is finished.

Guess what that project is --------










First on my list now is the Adult JJ. It will be a little more stylish than the Baby J and the Jr. J with a nice rolled collar. The idea is that this version of the design will serve more as a jacket that a cardigan and will be a great fall and early winter coat. The collar can be buttoned up and rolled over for warmth or left laying off onto the shoulder for a nice look.




I have completed the collar, two front panels and 1/4 of the centre back panel. It is a lot of knitting in garter stitch but I look forward to the finished project. Deb and I are both working on this version and it will definitely be available as a Cabin Fever Pattern by September.



Until next time, keep up the beat ---------




MommaBearKnits non-stop.

Great Day Road Trip

Today Deb and I went to visit the new yarn shop in Huntsville. "Knitting Three Together" is a great networking place to visit and stay for a while, knit, shop, knit, network, etc. It is a welcoming friendly yarn shop and boutique. It is just getting started and will get better and better as the inventory grows. Brenda Allan and Judith Ruan made us feel welcome and I had a great knit day with Dana, Deb, Brenda and Judith. The first impression is the window display, wow! Then the rest of the afternoon was great. Customers came and went, they all seemed to enjoy the space and joined in the conversations and the knitting. Check it out at www.knittingthreetogether.com .

Done; Done; Done; Progress; Begun

Done!!!!

Huggy Bear with cabled collar and cuffs

Done!!!!

Ten pairs of Baby Socks

Done!!!!!

Shawl

It measures 58"X25" before blocking. I think it will surpass the pattern blocked measurements of 64"X32" no problem. I cannot wait to see it blocked. I really enjoyed it and could not put it down, that is why it is finished so quickly.

Progress!!!!

I am still working on Lynda's Fancy Stitch Cozy. No point in showing it again until it is finished.

BEGUN!!!!

AND!!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!

I am knitting, along with Deb, the final vesion of the "J" series.

Adult "JJ" is on the table.

It will have a collar and be more of a warm fall/winter jacket than a cardigan. I am more than half way through the collar, LONG WAY TO GO, GARTER STITCH IS A LOT OF KNITTING BUT WELL WORTH IT.

Until next post MOMMABEARKNITS

Progress Report

Shawl is growing, I am enjoying it and do not have to make myself pick it up and knit. I do have to follow the pattern very carefully so I only work on it first thing in the morning when I am more attentive.
The sock project is almost to the end, at least for the Comfort DK 5 balls of assorted colours. I will start another sock project from my stash, perhaps a bigger size, toddler 2 - 3.

I had 5 balls, each 50 gms. Red; Yellow; Green; Blue and Varigated that had all the other colours in it. I will have 10 pairs when I am done. See the last work in progress in the centre. See just how much yarn will be left, not much. The socks will likely fit an eighteen month old baby, I will have to check the size to be sure. I am awaiting the Adult "J", that will be a lot of knitting but it is time to put it out there.

I have also finished knitting the Jr. Jacquard, Huggy Bear. I just have to sew on the buttons, end a few threads and I will post it's final picture tomorrow.

MommaBearKnits

Frog Squad Came, new Shawl Under Construction

The shawl above, while lovely, it was far too big for my plan. There was still many many rows and then an edge, it would have reached the floor on a short person like me. I tried to keep at it but for some reason I kept turning to other projects. I think it should have been in finer yarn on smaller needles, oh well, lesson learned. Onward and upward. The yarn will emerge from the frog pond and live to fight another day. I am posting the picture just so you all know that I really did put a lot into it.

Now, new shawl started. It is an Evelyn Clark Design called Heartland Lace Shawl. It will be smaller and more lacy. Deb had originally recommended that I visit Evelyn Clark's web site and see her patterns. but I had some sentimental reason for choosing the other one. Deb, I should have listened to you, I am enjoying this pattern and find it real easy to follow. What I like the most is that it is written out line by line and also charted. I am still knitting baby socks, sweaters and Lynda's cozy as well. They work when I am watching TV, the shawl requires more attention.

MommaBear is still knitting.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM-IN-LAW; TODAY WE CELEBRATED OUR MOM'S 97TH BIRTHDAY. SHE IS STILL A STRONG WILLED PERSON AND WE ALL LOVE HER.

The little stuffed cat in her arms is her baby, she is still a great mom!!!!

Update on my Labour of Love!!!!

Yesterday I trashed a closet full of off season clothes, mostly never worn in many years; so -----dumped them, cleaned the closet and guess what, started to store my stash in some sort of system, yah right!!!!

This is just the beginning, I need more containers and likely more closet. I will keep on sorting and storing.

Oh, by the way, while I was looking and touching I brought out a big ball of yarn that I got at the K-W show last year. I didn't know what to do with it but had to have it. Bought it, stored it, and then it called me ----"Come get me, I want to be Lynda's (Cabin Fever) Fancy Stitch Cozy. Lynda demonstrated the fancy stitch cozy pattern and taught the local guild how to do it at the May Guild Meeting. My version is a little different, smaller needles, more stitches cast on and a different edge. The yarn is supposed to be doubled heavy worsted weight worked on size 9mm needles. I worked mine double but it is finer and the needles are size 6.5mm. The stitch is absolutely beautiful, I cannot wait to try it on something else.

My huggy bear (sort of like the pattern) in Bernat Jr. Jacquards is almost done, I was not happy with the previous picture, the blue striped T did not do it any favour so I took another photo. I am still working on socks, now have completed 7 pairs.

Bad Things Happen and Mistakes are made even to us who Knit:

Now I have a confession to make, I have fallen away from my shawl and tried to get back at it but no way, my sticks and string just would not work. Now I know why, I do not like it. It will be far to large for the person that I am knitting it for. Guess what I am going to do today -----Frog It. I will start another, smaller one and will finish it in time, I know I will. Frog Squad is coming in now. Commenters, I really appreciate your comments but do not try to talk me out of the frogging, I have made up my mind and by the time you comment it will be too late.

Good-bye, keep on knitting.

Knitting Again, Oh I guess it is Knitting Still

Current Projects are a variation of my Huggy Bear in Bernat Jr. Jacquards; and baby socks in a supply of Berroco Comfort DK that has been dwelling in my stash bins under my bed. I have five colours, so I am making a pair in each colour (so far three colours and one sock in the fourth colour, still have the royal blue to do) then I will mix the colours up with perhaps different colours for the cuffs, heels, toes and perhaps stripped socks as well. It is 50% nylon/50%Acrylic, should be good for wash & wear. It will be interesting to see just how many pairs I can get. I prefer bright colours for babys, none of that baby blue or baby pink lives in my world. The yarn calls for a size 4mm needle but I am working the socks in size 2.75 mm; makes for a nice tight texture and should really hold it's shape and stay on the foot nicely. Until next time keep on knitting, I am.

MommaBearKnits aka berniebydesign

Question Answered

Katrina: You asked about Baby Compass and Baby "J". Baby Compass will not be in Garter Stitch. I just did that for the mauve one because I wanted to try it just to see how it looks. My several samples of Baby Compass are worked in an alternating Garter Stitch/Seed Stitch pattern and that is what I want for the final project.

The multidirectional construction of the two patterns are quite different even though I realize the picture of the last project looks very similar. Baby "J" is worked sideways from centre front panels and Baby Compass is worked down from the centre sleeve panel. I know that is a simple explanation but that is it in a nutshell.

I am now off on a little break, I took out some stash yarn and am working on baby/toddler socks just for the fun of it. Until my next post, Happy Canada Day to my Canadian Visitors and Happy July 4 to my American Visitors.

ANOTHER PROJECT DONE

Picture shows it all. Garter Stitch version of Baby Compass.

MommaBearKnits on into the future, no problem with summer heat, just keep playing with the sticks and string.

No Post Just Answers to Comments

Thanks again Katrina, you are a boost. The socks are strictly out of my head passed down from my mom out of her head. I rarely use a sock pattern, I just cast on---turn the heel--- knit the foot and decrease the toe depending on the size I want and the weight of yarn. I really prefer fingering but a lot of the baby ones are knit in DK just so they match the cardigan and also they serve as booties. As for the hats, the same thing applies, cast on multiple of 8 stitches to accommodate the 8 stitch decrease for the top and then try to work in a pattern that is divisable by 2, 4, & 8. Sometimes I add a stitch or subtract one to accomodate the seed stitch. The blue one that you commented on is in a twisted stitch which, you are right, was used in the book Kid's Knitted Sweater Book. Deb and Lynda have an awesome hat book out that will make any hat you want knittable. I am still knitting and just today started a pair of baby socks from left over momma sock yarn. Of course I am working on a self patterning DK Huggy Bear; the same only different than my pattern. Come back, I will have more pictures.
MommaBear sits in front of a large fan and knits in this heat. Nothing can stop her from her sticks and string.

Current Project and Blocking Inventory

Today I washed and blocked more of my stock. I had to use my dining table inside, and outside and even the lawn chairs. Twenty Eight garments and hats and even some baby socks.

Baby and toddler cardigans, hoodies & pullovers.

This pile is in the gazebo.

This is my current project. It is done in worsted weight yarn with the numbers from "Baby Compass". I expect that it will be a size 2-3 when complete. Instead of the textured pattern, I just used garter stitch. I have loved garter stitch for a long time and keep going back to it. Remember Baby "J". This one is similar but not the same. Back to my sticks and string. MommaBearKnits.

This is Baby Compass (one of many) that I just completed. It is also in worsted but the numbers are for a smaller size. (Size 12-18 months.)