adorbs

Just whipped up a few matching accessories for two of the "Steps to Stranded" prototypes I knit last year. My mom wants to give a present to the baby granddaughter of one of her friends and asked if I had any baby sweaters hanging around the apartment. What a silly question!


In fact I have four unclaimed baby sweaters hanging around the apartment. I'm kind of glad to be getting rid of these because I feel like holding onto that many baby items is probably jinxing my ability ever actually to have a baby myself.


Once again, Saartje's Booties come through! I adjusted this pattern to use sock-weight yarn and size 1 needles at a gauge of 8 stitches/inch, because Lorna's Laces is really quite thin. My adjustments: cast on 39 stitches, which makes 19 stitches on either side of the center stitch, increase to 63 stitches, then knit straight to 12 garter ridges. On decrease row k19, ssk 6 times, k1, k2tog 6 times, k19. BO center 27 stitches. For the straps CO 15 extra stitches to make straps 27 stitches altogether. Those notes make sense if you look at the original pattern. I knit them flat because I don't mind seaming and I hate purling, but in retrospect I'd probably use Fleegle's in-the-round variation.

Phew!

I passed my Orals, and I am celebrating by knitting another yoked baby sweater. I feel no shame about knitting a baby sweater with no intended recipient -- and I'm not alone; Grumperina just spoke on the subject herself.

This is made with some splurge yarn -- Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in "Andersonville" and Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in "Cedar." Both are just gorgeous, sophisticated colors, and they work really well together. I have some questions about how well the Sweet Georgia will hold up as it seems a little fuzzy from the get-go, but I don't care. Who could resist that glorious, complex shade of blue-green?

As summer approaches I am lining up some more knitting projects and taking a vow that I will actually finish at least two sweaters I've been sitting on. And of course, I've also got to start writing the dissertation!!