Akimbo

April 23: I wanted to try to clear out some of my WIPs before starting new projects, but I just couldn’t help myself today in starting this shawl. The very beginning section was a little tricky (although I’ve done similar starts before), but I just tried to cast on loosely so I could more easily pick up those stitches. I also used a k1fb instead of M1 for the set up row because I had trouble finding the bar between stitches to pick up to make the new stitch.

April 26: I finished the garter stitch part and am ready to add in the contrasting color and start the chevron section.

May 21: The chevron section is rather slow going. It’s taking me around 30 minutes for each row so I’ve been trying to do a little each day instead of one massive knitting session. And after today’s little bit, I have just four rows remaining. Almost there!

May 22: And done! Needs to be blocked, which I’m about to go do. I really like the colors together.

May 24: All dry and ends woven in. I’m really happy with how this turned out.

Pattern: Akimbo by Stephen West (available to buy on Ravelry)
Yarn: JulieSpins Merino 370 in Garnet and Black Beauty

For sale in my etsy shop.

Fresh Picked Baby Hat

May 17: This looked like a really simple hat pattern and I mostly wanted to use it for the numbers. I started with the middle size, but quickly ran into problems--with the numbers.

Cast on was 114 stitches and a 2x2 rib was an option. Well, with that cast on, it would be uneven. So I cast on 116 stitches instead and did a 2x2 rib. After I started the stockinette portion, I decreased back down to 114 stitches.

As for the decreases, I’m not there yet, but the numbers don’t add up there either. So instead, I’ll start with a K4k2tog decrease, then go to K3K2tog, and so on. Looking at the numbers, that should work okay.

May 18: Okay, so apparently I read the pattern wrong. (Honestly, I think it’s a poorly written pattern.) The decrease as written: “On your next row, knit 3 stitches, knit two stitches together, continue with all stitches on needle.” I originally read that as continue doing K3, k2tog along the needle, but the more I looked at the pictures, I realized that the decreases weren’t happening that often. So what it really means is do one decrease and then continue just knitting for the rest of the needle. Once I got that figured out, decreasing was a lot easier, but the ending bit was off count so I just winged it at the very top. I really think that the pattern could have been written more clearly.

I did not include the little bit at the top, just made it a flat (well round) top.

Pattern: Fresh Picked Baby Hat by Leslie Clarkson (free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino in Lettuce

Another Baby's Hat

May 1: I was going to make a pair of baby socks from this yarn but I decided to do a hat and see how much is leftover afterwards. I’m not following any particular pattern, just trying to do a very basic hat.

I cast on 88 stitches and started a 2x2 ribbing. I’ll probably keep that up for an inch or inch and a half. Then I’ll switch to stockinette (will increase two stitches so I get up to 90, which will help even things out when I get to the decreases for the top) and do basic decreases around the top.

May 7: Finished. The yarn has a lot more pink in it than I first realized, so I’m thinking I’m going to have to save this one for a baby girl rather than my own little boy.

Pattern: Improvised
Yarn: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering in Just Plum

Baby Socks #2

April 28: Finished first sock and up through heel flap on second sock. Super easy pattern and quick to knit up!

April 29: Second sock finished. So cute!

Pattern: Easy Baby Ankle Socks by Hattie Adkins (free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Impressionist Sky