Queen of Buttons

Yup, I feel like the queen of buttons.  Check out my stash:

Various assorted buttons

Yup, I haz buttons!  Lots of selection and that suits me just fine.  It gives me options when I need to use buttons for a project.

I've also got a stash of colourful ones which often work great for children's clothing or accessories.

Sorted colourful buttons

I've separated them into their various colours.  Me thinks I need to sort through the other buttons too.

Why was I looking through the button stash?  To find the perfect ones for my nephew's Baby Sophisticate.  The collar is complete and all the ends have been woven in.  I only need 4 buttons to finish it off.  I narrowed it down to a few possibilities:

Possible choices 

After "trying out" a few and consulting with my boys, I settled on two possibilities: plain wooden buttons and tarnished brass ones.

Wooden or brass?

I'm leaning towards the wooden ones 'cuz that's how I envisioned the finished sweater when I initially chose this colour for the project.  Decisions, decisions, decisions . . . 

Progress

One sleeve is complete.  Yay for me!

Detail of finished sleeve

And I've started work on the second sleeve.  Hard to see with the two circulars (my favorite method for working in the round--less likely to have ladders.  Guess everyone uses whatever method works for them).  A couple of inches left to go . . . (but don't hold your breath 'cuz I've been working in the yard this weekend).

In-progress second sleeve

Even managed to get myself out to knit night.  It's been a year--at least.  With the school semester done, I plan to get out more regularly 'cuz I usually get some knitting time in and it's nice to connect with like-minded crafters.

WIP

Time to start looking for another project.  I find that if there's a new yarn or project waiting for me, the incentive bolsters my odds of finishing that WIP.  ;)

Knitting . . .

Almost ready to cast off the body . . . 

Looks good from behind too.

Now if I could just need find my other 5.0mm circular needle to work the sleeves . . . .

Something New

I had meant to post about a new project last weekend.  But you know how it is when life throws you a couple of curves.  Between finishing my last project, helping my son with his project and getting started on my taxes . . . well, you can just imagine how much time or energy I had left.  Nil to be exact.

New project using a mega ball of Red Heart Super Saver

So I'm posting this now to let you know you that yes, I have been knitting.  I just have no updated progress photos to share.  

Pattern Detail

The project is the Baby Sophisticate (Ravelry link).  It's a lovely pattern knit from the top down.  And it looks . . . well, it looks sophisticated for a baby sweater.

I've made this before as a gift for one of my nephews many moons ago (check out my blog posts from 2009 or see my  Ravelry entry  for more details).  I remember it being an enjoyable knit and the finished sweater was rather cute.  Thus far I've cast on and worked most of the body.  With such good progress, here's hoping the project gets completed soon.

Baby Sophisticate FO

Well its sort of an FO--and a darn cute one!  The ends need to be darned in; the holes under the arms need to be sewn up; buttons will need to be found and attached. Yet I can't help but feel proud of myself.  Pardon my vanity, but I did a great job and in record time too!

The shawl-like collar construction piqued my interest as I had not made anything like that before.  The button bands and collar are worked at the same time.  With all the slipped edge stitches, it was very easy to pick up the band and collar stitches.  I ended up with exactly 100 stitches.  Go figure?  The collar required some short-row shaping.  It was a perfect opportunity for me to practise my technique.  I've said it before and I'll say it again: I love, love KnittingHelp.com for their instructive videos.  I referred to their short-row instructional video so that I wouldn't mess up (I always forget how to pick up the wraps). 

I also tried a different bind-off technique.  The designer recommended using EZ's sewn off bind off.  Thankfully the designer also left a link to Knitty.com which described the process with clear and concise step-by-step instructions.  It took me a little longer to bind off one hundred stitches, but it was well worth the effort.  I think the edge looks very clean and much neater than a regular bind-off.  Try it out for yourself on a swatch to see the difference.  I may have to try it on my lace projects when I'm ready to bind off.

Little Steps . . .

Bit by bit, things get done.  Even stuff you weren't sure about turn out okay.  Like that little patch by my front step.  Remember?  I thought it was rather sad looking and blogged about it here .  It's not exactly what I had planned to do, but in the end, it filled in nicely. 

The bleeding hearts didn't flower but they look very healthy and robust; the silver beacon and yellow aurea have spread and even the dianthus flowered again.  Despite the frost, the plants haven't succumbed--at least not yet.

In the same way, my gifts will be just fine.  I wasn't sure about a homemade Christmas (I'm still not sure).  It wasn't my initial plan.  Normally I don't knit on a deadline 'cuz I'm so slooooow.  It's hard enough to get one thing made on time, let alone many.  Will I be able to manage?  Here's hoping.  At least Baby Sophistictae is coming along. 

I've already surpassed what's pictured above.  One sleeve is complete and I've begun work on the second one.  I'm hoping to finish the collar this weekend.  The pattern called for a slipped stitch at the start of each row.  When I pick up for the collar, I just use each slipped stitch.  No counting involved.  Usually I pick up 3 stitches for every 4 rows and generally get close to the required number.  Always neat to try something new, n'est pas?

Here's hoping you had a good week.  And remember that tomorrow is Friday! :)

Wow! Progress!

I can't believe how much I've done on that Baby Sophisticate in one day!  Last night I separated the sleeves from the body.  If I can just slog through the main body, I just might be able to finish this sooner than anticipated . . .

Oh, but then I'd just have my lace scarves and no other plain knitting.  Speaking of lace scarves, one of them is growing very nicely.  See for yourself:

I'm almost at the halfway point!  I feel almost giddy . . .

All these wonderful gifts crafted with care and love have got my brain cells working.  There are others on my Christmas list who would enjoy hand-crafted gifts.  I've been looking through my stash (such as it is) and I think I have one more knitted gift in the works.  I'd also like to make a gift scrapbook too . . . hmmmm, am I making a tangled mess with all these projects?  Guess only time will tell.   :)

Oopsie!

I don't know how it happened, but I cast-on for a new project.  A few balls (four to be exact) of Vanna's Choice in gray were sitting in my stash asking to be made into something useful.  I finally obliged: here comes the Baby Sophisticate!  This particular pattern had been in my Ravelry pattern library for a little while.  I like that its a top-down construction AND its a baby sweater.  Hence a quick knit and no seams--gotta like that!

Judging from other knitters' experiences at Ravelry, this sweater should be done in a weekend (converting that to an acrylic-girl timeline that takes into account my turtlesque speed, estimated time for completion should be approximately one to two weeks.  Have I mentioned my lack of speed in the knitting department?). 

Here's hoping your days are full of knitting goodness :)