I loved making these onesies. I made them for my not yet born nephew but I couldn't resist making a few girly ones too. I'll just keep them to look at





But my favorite one is this one. there's a story behind it. My nephews name will be Damien Blaze. So how could I not give him a blaze? I used one strand each of red, yellow and orange.



But wait! It gets better. My brother is a big tattooed dude. Sleeves on his arms, covered legs, back, you get the picture. I thought little Damien would like his own tattoo so I stitched this on one of the arms.


This was my first time stitching on onesies. I was a little concerned with the stitching rubbing on the baby (especially if he has the ultra sensitive skin my son had) so I stitched on white cotton fabric, and then I used lightweight heat and bond and stitched around the edges. Now he only has a little back stitching to worry about.

I might just have to make more

This is a pattern from the "Bend-The-Rules" book. I used a kitchen towel for the outside, I just loved the texture. I learned one thing though, it is a bear to stitch through. I bent a needle or two, and it's a little sloppy here and there, but I love the end results!

Front:


Back:


Inside Flap:

Finally! I am finished. I had no problems knitting the body, and sleeve one but as soon as I started sleeve 2 I had major burnout. It took me a whole month just to knit the second sleeve and sew it up 

I am WAY happy with the end product. I knitted the sleeves slightly longer, since that is how I liked them. Of course, after I finished the first one is when I started reading about the "growth" issues. There was no way I was re-knitting so I kept going.

Before blocking, the sleeves were perfect...completel y perfect. But the body was just a little too short. The first picture is pre-blocking. It is hard to tell it's a little short, partly because I stretched it right before the camera snapped. A second later, it popped back into place.




And here are the post blocking pictures. First off...the pants from the first shot sat at my belly button...these pants are low rise, so the top doesn't like that different, lengthwise, but trust me...It grew at least 3 or more inches. (Sort of embarassing but if you look closely you can see the "crater" that is my belly button, lol) So the body is now perfect, but the sleeves... 
A little too long. Happily, they only grew in length, not in width.


Here's with the sleeves rolled twice. And as much as I liked the ribbed cuff...I quite like it rolled up too. So it works. And I LOVE it! Even better, it got cold again here in Southern Virginia so i will get to wear it once or twice before it warms up! yay!


One last thing...I had to go up several needle sizes to get gauge. For the size I made (34) the pattern called for 7 skeins. I always buy extra so I bought 8. I used 5 and I have three completely untouched skeins left.  Enough to make some fab knee socks by Cookie 

Finally! I am finished. I had no problems knitting the body, and sleeve one but as soon as I started sleeve 2 I had major burnout. It took me a whole month just to knit the second sleeve and sew it up 

I am WAY happy with the end product. I knitted the sleeves slightly longer, since that is how I liked them. Of course, after I finished the first one is when I started reading about the "growth" issues. There was no way I was re-knitting so I kept going.

Before blocking, the sleeves were perfect...completel y perfect. But the body was just a little too short. The first picture is pre-blocking. It is hard to tell it's a little short, partly because I stretched it right before the camera snapped. A second later, it popped back into place.




And here are the post blocking pictures. First off...the pants from the first shot sat at my belly button...these pants are low rise, so the top doesn't like that different, lengthwise, but trust me...It grew at least 3 or more inches. (Sort of embarassing but if you look closely you can see the "crater" that is my belly button, lol) So the body is now perfect, but the sleeves... 
A little too long. Happily, they only grew in length, not in width.


Here's with the sleeves rolled twice. And as much as I liked the ribbed cuff...I quite like it rolled up too. So it works. And I LOVE it! Even better, it got cold again here in Southern Virginia so i will get to wear it once or twice before it warms up! yay!


One last thing...I had to go up several needle sizes to get gauge. For the size I made (34) the pattern called for 7 skeins. I always buy extra so I bought 8. I used 5 and I have three completely untouched skeins left.  Enough to make some fab knee socks by Cookie 

Here's my progress at the end of my first ball of yarn. (pardon the crappy picture. My camera is not feeling well apparently. And red does not photo well! It's darker in real life.)

I am just about halfway to the first measurement. (Sorry, I'm not looking at the pattern so I don't remember the wording. But I'm doing the "knit until 12 inches" part, after ribbing. I did the math and it's 80 rows to get to that point, I'm on row 36 now. Phew! It goes fast, and slow all at the same time.


And I heart the knitpicks gloss...this is going to be a soft sweater

Finally! Here are my pictures. I received last week and kept meaning to post them. Sorry to my partners!


From Alibeachgrl


And from Kantha_stich


And my absolute fav two out of the bunch!!

I heart teeny flowers, especially vinatge looking ones. And the pink one, I had in my shopping cart the other day and reprodept, but I resisted. So perfect, these two

And for the record...my camera has never taken such bad pictures. Not sure what's going on there

I received my package on Friday from Mariska.

She did an AWESOME job! When I saw the case, I told my husband if I saw it in a store, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. Here it is...



(the big flowers were sewn onto the pink fabric)
And the back..


She even put the perfect game size pocket on the back...

I fit three games in there (Which is all I have not counting the one in my DS)

I LOVE this case. I'm a huge fan of pink and brown combinations so it really is exactly what I wanted.

I also got some kick butt german chocolate, sorry no pictures, I ate that the first night   And two little bears for the kids...

So cute, and soft, and the bow is the same fabric on my case. My kids love them... Want to see how much they like them?








What a great swap. Thanks again Mariska! You totally rocked it 

I received my yarn ball on Monday and I finally got around to uploading the pictures.  Here's what I found when I opened the box



There's two balls of Knit Picks wool of the Andes in cranberry and a pattern for Nakiska from knitty. My winter coat is red so the color is perfect! Later, Monday night, I cast on and in less than three hours I had an FO, and a box full of goodies.



Here's a list of what I got:

1)Family planner calender (I've been needing one now that I'm an 'official' soccer Mom)
2)Mini scrapbook set. I'm sorry to say this kit has mysteriously disappeared. I bet, if I looked in my 5 year old daughters art drawer, I'd find it.
3) Ephemera set
4) Two cute soaps (daughter tried to steal this but I caught her)
5) Felt pin cushion
6) Felt puppy (which is sooo cute. Daughter has stolen this too!)
7) A slinky jr ( Need I say who stole it?)
A gorgeous red beaded bracelet (I'm a pink girl, but the last few months I've been doing more red so this is perfect)
9) Fabric cuff bracelet (way cool!)

(Oh yeah...some purple tea light candles too. Don't know why they aren't in the picture. Sorry...)

Apparently, my daughter is destined to live her adult life as a professional thief. Little stinker!

Her she is modeling the Nakiska headband. I made it for me, and it does fit. But I forgot to do a stretchy bind off and it's just snug enough that it makes my glasses move up off of my nose. Of course, I'll still wear it.


I had a blast doing this swap!

I used an Amy Butler charm pack to make a quilted messenger bag. I couldn't find a simple pattern I liked so I just made it up as I went. It's my first time making something without a pattern. I don't think it turned out too bad. I did learn a few things I should do differently next time.

It has a magnetic snap closure, and zippered interior pocket.


(Don't mind my messy table or the fat cat "helping" me!)

Front:


Back:


Flap Open:


Inside:


Another Front View:


I'm hoping to make another one next week. I used batting with this one, but it was a bear to sew seams with. I think I'll try fusible fleece next time, and some interfacing for the lining. And I've got to work on the straps. I made the sides 3 inches wide, so I thought I should make the straps 3 inches wide at the base. I didn't like them that wide though, so I sewed them wrong sides together. It's a little better, but not the look I wanted.

Any thoughts? Suggestions for next time?

Thanks!

I used Simplicity 4589. It was very easy...I have plans to make several more.

Close-up


Natural light...The skirt is something I picked up at goodwill. It was ankle lenght (Ugh!) so I cut it down.


My Mom called me Hippy Dippy when she saw me in this outift. I was wearing birkenstock sandals too.