Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Progress Report

I really ought to get the camera out but I've been lazy.

So what's going on here? The orange baby blanket is pieced together. I still have the lace edging to do but I've set it aside for a bit to get a break. I don't know why I ever tried to make a blanket I have to seam. I HATE SEAMING. It always looks like trash when I do it! I just wanted to cry after doing all that work and now the blanket is just awful looking. I'll finish it...not sure why, but I've put this much time into it I might as well.

I've done 2 new soakers - 1 medium/ small red and 1 newborn bumblebee. They aren't completely done, as I want to embellish the red and I still have a cord to knit for the BB. They are for the stocking of my store - HauteTot - hoping for a grand opening the end of May.

As I type I hear my DS, aged 2 years 1 month, desperately avoiding a nap. He needs to nap. Heck, I could use a nap. This has been the 3rd day straight without a nap. I can not - I will not - do away with the aftenoon nap. I need my downtime in the afternoon! ARGH! Plus I will never get crafting done midday if he is awake...he has a way of making a mess of things. Like most 2 year olds.

But on the plus side, the 4 month old IS napping. In her crib, no less, which is a pretty major feat after all the sleep battles we've had with her so far. And she is the needier of the two, so if I can get a few nap breaks out of her, that's fabulous!

Ok, I promise I will get some pics up soon!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

On Blocking Acrylics

I must raise my hand in confession that until Friday, I had never attempted to block.

I apologize to the knitting goddesses out there.

My first attempt was blocking my squares for the orange baby blanket. I wetted them down and painstakingly pinned pinned pinned...let dry for 2 days...pull it up to reveal...still curling edges! I turned back to my trusty internet source to learn that the validity of blocking acrylics is widely debated. So figuring why waste my time, I am not blocking the rest of the squares.

In my research however, I happened across this blog entry and I loved it and wanted to share:

http://www.islandofmisfitpatterns.com/2006/07/11/how-to-felt-with-acrylic/

Just in case you ever want to felt acrylics...lol...

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

10 Squares Down...

10 Down, 11 on the needles. I finally feel like I'm making some real progress on this blanket! 6 more and we're ready to piece together. I also need to block the pieces prior to seaming since they edges are rolling quite a bit. I think I'll try dampening them and pinning to my ironing board, so I'll have to do that about 3 at a time...better start on that soon.


Over the weekend I finished 3 flannel blankets - will update with pics once I get them taken. 1 is pink and white stripes hemmed around. One is a double sided shades of red and pink, and one is a majorly retro teal, green, and brown giant flowers. Totally rad :P DH hates it, but I think someone out there will like it.


I cut out pieces for 2 baby outfits. One is a dress and shorts set and one is a tie-back top and shorts, but from the same material. The dress is simple and ok...don't think I'll use the pattern again. I have high hopes for the tie top though.


I also made a trip to the LYS this weekend and found some AWESOME malabrigo that's just dying to be made into a soaker!

LOVE it - doesn't it just scream SUMMER?