Saturday, March 10, 2018

Winter Knitting Projects

Winter is a great time for knitting since there are less daylight hours and it is so cozy to curl up on the sofa and knit up some garment or other. Even though I knit throughout the entire year, it is something special and very comforting during the darker season.

At the end of January a very special little girl turned three. I have been knitting for all of her birthdays so far - I showed you the projects here and here - and this year didn't make an exception. I find a lot of knitting projects on Pinterest where I have several knitting boards and when I saw this pattern I knew this was the one for the Kiddo.


It has a beautiful leave pattern down the front of the cardigan - unfortunately you can't really see it that well in my photos.


In the back it has a super cute ruffle row - easy to make and such a nice touch!


I used a rustic tweed DK yarn with 65% wool, 25% Alpaca, 7% acrylic and 3% viscose - probably not the ideal yarn for this, but I like the look of it. Here's the Kiddo on her birthday:


I am currently knitting this cardigan in a bigger size for another little girl, and this time I used a worsted yarn. I will show you how it looks when it will be done. I still need to do the neckband and sew on the buttons.

My friend Lyz celebrated her birthday in February, and since she had lost her home and everything that was in it in last October's firestorm I made a sweater for her. My yarn store had my favorite worsted yarn - Malabrigo Rios pure merino - in a truly scrumptious color, called "Reflecting Pool". Lyz's name was written on it!


The sweater is called "In Stillness" and is a very simple, but beautiful pattern. Now, knitting a sweater is always a bit tricky. I had Lyz's measurements, but I couldn't try halfway through whether it would fit her since it was supposed to be a surprise. Sometimes I had doubts that it would be too small, then I thought she might not like the color... anyway, a couple weeks ago we met and I gave her the sweater. She tried it on and - what can I say? It actually took my breath away, she looked so beautiful. The sweater fits perfectly, and only I know where the mistakes in the pattern are. The pattern description was sometimes a bit unclear and the stitch count was downright wrong, but somehow I managed to follow it and even learned a new cast-off technique.


In between I knitted a Baa-ble hat because I needed a quick project before starting another sweater, and this hat knits up so fast and is fun to make.


As you know I love to knit clothes for dolls, especially 18-inch dolls like American Girl dolls or the My Generation dolls you can get at Target. This blue swing top is really cute and not very difficult.


The trick is to pay attention and make the increase stitches in the right places which I sometimes forgot even though I had stitch markers everywhere. There are times when I just get carried away and knit and knit - and forget to do the important increases (or decreases for that matter).

I'm not quite sure about the yarn. It is an acrylic yarn, but I don't know by which company. A friend of mine who passed away last summer once gave it to me from her own stash and it didn't have a label. I do like the light blue and the tiny specks of white, pink and yellow in it. It also has a subdued glimmer.


This swing top is knitted from the top down, no seaming needs to be done. Three buttons are in the back so that even small hands can put it on and off easily.


At the moment I'm knitting another swing top (I often work on several projects at the same time), this one with a completely different blend of nylon, kid mohair, wool and metallic. It's not an easy yarn and drives me up the wall every now and then, but the colors are so vivid. Shortly after I had taken this picture I realized that I had messed up earlier and had to unravel it again. Story of my life...


And socks... there are always socks. I found this wonderful superwash wool from Cascade and offer socks in these colors in my shop right now (these socks are made to order):


I'm making a pair in the purple color right now. When you see the yarn as a hank you can't really see how beautiful it will turn out when it is knitted. Remember the socks I made for myself last year? That is the orange-red yarn from this very same series!


Of course they pale compared to Kaefer's blue snowman slippers...


16 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

Awe and wonder. My fingers are all thumbs and I look at your work with oodles of awe and wonder. And the birthday girl looks brilliant in your gift and I have no doubt that Lyz does too. Gifts to treasure.

Karen Lakis said...

A beautiful sweater for a beautiful special girl! Your knitting is wonderful. On and off through the years, I've enjoyed knitting - but find I don't really have the patience needed to keep at it. I always love seeing beautiful hand knitted items, and think - maybe I'll do this again, someday.

My name is Erika. said...

Gorgeous knitting. I know exactly what you mean about knitting in the winter! Hugs-Erika

Jeanie said...

Oh my -- that sweater was pretty just in display but on her it is exquisite! What a gorgeous child and she wears it well! Loving your socks!

Sally Wessely said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. It is so nice to “meet” you. I loved this post about knitting. I so envy you ladies that have this skill! I keep thinking I will learn how to knit, but the few times I’ve tried to learn, I’ve not stuck with it. It must be so relaxing to knit, and you have wonderful projects, gifts, and useful items to show for your time.

Sarah Huizenga said...

I admire people who can make amazing knitted creations. I don't think I have the patience to sit that long.

Jenny Woolf said...

Those socks are really wonderful - even if your feet are cold it feels as if the colours would warm them up :)

Tracy said...

Hi, Carola! Thank you so much for visiting me at my blog during the weekend--so great to meet you, and find your creative place here! :) LOVELY knitting!! That little cardigan is beautiful--the cabled button band/panel makes is very special. And how pretty it looks on your beautiful little sweetheart!! :) So very sorry about your friend losing her home and so much. Such a gorgeous blue sweater you made for her. Your sheep hat design is just ow adorable! The doll top is so sweet--lovely blue too. You socks and ALL those delicious skeins of sock yarn are making me drooling! haha... I'm not kidding. Learning sock knitting is on my list for this year. I've tried times before, but never got the hang of it. This is the year! Thank you for all this wonderful knitting inspiration... My fingers feel itchy! ;)

Magic Love Crow said...

When can I put my order in? LOL! Wow girl, you are talented! I love them all! That first cardigan is so precious and I love the picture! So adorable! That little girl is priceless! Big Hugs!

GlorV1 said...

Hi Carola, long time no see. Love those sweaters and socks. Hope the world has been treating you good. I'm mostly on Instagram now. Have a wonderful life.

Red Rose Alley said...

Your knitting projects amaze me, Carola. How special that you knitted a sweater for the little one. And I love that little blue doll sweater and the pretty color. Your cozy socks looks so warm. Keep knitting, my friend. What a wonderful hobby this is.

~Sheri

windrock studio said...

I believe this little cardigan is the sweetest thing I've ever seen until I saw it on that precious girl, so perfect and so is that gorgeous blue sweater. You really do beautiful work, my friend.

Tammie Lee said...

all your knitting is lovely.
the first piece for kiddo, well she and the sweater are beautiful together. So special.

Sylvia said...

You've been very busy, Carola, your knitting is so lovely !
That sweet little girl looks so pretty in her new cardigan !
Sorry to hear about your friend ...
I used to knit a lot too ... but that's a long time ago :-)
Have a lovely week,
Sylvia

Michelle B said...

You have been busy! What wonderful things you have created! I love the design and buttons on the first sweater, and your socks look so pretty and also warm. I have tried knitting a few times, but I don't like to sit still that long, so...I have ever finished a knitting project. :)

Anonymous said...

Carola, all of your knitting projects are so beautiful! And those orange/gold socks are like a warm hearth for the feet. They don't pale in comparison to ANYTHING!