foxy time...

First of all...Happy New Year!

Here's a sneak peek of MB's Foxy Stole that I knitted up for her. I got the pattern from Yarn Forward magazine which was sold in the UK, but you can find and buy this fun and easy pattern from tiny owl knits thru raverly. Here is the link my foxy friends: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mr-fox-stole-my-heart--mini-fox

The details...
This was a super fast knit (I actually knitted up a "test" fox in 2 days with cheap yarn before knitting MB's just to see if I needed to change anything). Great thing about that is that now Callie has a fox to play with :)

I used Cascade 128 Superwash yarn for the body & head and Mirasol Sulka yarn for the chin, tail, ears, and feet. I loved working with the Cascade, and although the Sulka has a great feel, it wasn't as much fun to knit with after using the Cascade. Then again, it was very little I had to use so it was worth it.

It's a gift, so I lined it with some super silky fabric and added a magnet to clip the head and tail together. It took some time after knitting, blocking, and sewing, but it was well worth it for my sister-in-law.

hats, hats, & more hats...

As always, I forget to take pictures of my recent fun knits. However, I did mange to get a few pictures of some fun hats I knitted up for a recent order. My dear friend Michelle let me have some freedom with the designs and colors which is always a most welcomed treat! I'm planning on selling the patterns soon at natandcallie.com, so stay tuned!

i see the lighthouse...

A dear friend of mine bought me this pattern as a ‘thank you’ and gave it to me on Turkey Day. It's from tiny owl knits and it's appropriately called 'ships & seaside'. I have to say, the actual cowl looks way more complicated than how it's actually knitted and plus, I ♥ the stripey pattern!

And since I couldn’t wait to get started and use beautiful, happy yarn, I’m using all this Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn that I got on a SUPER sale a while back (I mean like $1.50 a skein. Right?). So I busted it out and began knitting away that same night. So far, so good. I’ve never done a kitchener stitch, but I’m so not worried about it. That’s what YouTube is for ;)

Update Dec. 6 
Finished and it’s so super cute! Yeah, even with the Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn. Who knew. Kitchener stitch was pretty easy, especially once I got into the groove. I need to block it, but it’s been so cold in Los Angeles (first the winds, now our night time temp is at 32 degrees!), that I might wear it to work tomorrow. You know, to break it in ;)

Callie's Stripes & Hoods part II PLUS a Contest!

OMG...shame on me for not posting sooner, but I've been knitting away so many new and fun projects!
I finished Callie's super warm & cozy sweater using the awesomely wonderful Spud & Chloë Sweater yarn, and can I just say how awesome that yarn is???? Can I? Can I? And the best part was the squishiness of it! OK, so here's a picture of the final sweater, blocked, and with a kangaroo pouch added. I blocked it out as big as I could get it 'cause I want Callie to use it as much as possible before she grows out of it. Kids...I swear, throw some good old H2O and they grow like weeds.

So it turned out quite cute, but there's one HUGE mistake I made? All because I was getting excited at how it was turning out and wanted Callie to wear it. Anyone see it? First person to email me with my "mistake" gets my 'Turkish Delight' pattern for free!!! Yay!

Callie's Stars & Hoods...

After knitting up my Super Quick & Warm Cowl with Spud & Chloë Outer, I needed a fun project to knit up with the Spud & Chloë Sweater I had purchased. I remember seeing this pattern in 60 Quick Baby Knits (or click here to check your local libraries) awhile back and thought it would be cute on Callie if I could find the right colorways for it. Viola! Pattern decision done. 

Here’s how it’s going so far:

Oct. 28 
Since I had knitted up a swatch in St st a few days earlier using US 7 needles, I decided that I would use US 8 needles instead. The swatch came out too dense and I wanted a softer feel for Callie. Plus, I want her to wear the sweater over clothes and not be too hot. I sat down and checked to see if I needed to do any math as far as changing the pattern up. Turns out my gauge on US 8 came out to 9sts & 12 rows = 2” (exactly as the yarn tag said) and since the pattern gauge is 21sts & 26 rows = 4” (you can do the math here yourself), I just followed the pattern for 18 months.

OK, my changes so far: 
I want to add 2x2 rib along the hood and not the garter stitch the pattern calls for. I omitted knitting that part up so I’ll just pick up stitches along the hood and yoke when I need to. This meant I was always 8 sts less when I was following the pattern. Also, in joining the yoke, I added 4 stitches and since the pattern called for a k2tog of 4 stitches, I automatically ended up with the exact number stitches to knit in the round. Yay! 
I’m doing a fun stripe pattern and then using purple for the hood, cuffs, and bottom part of the pullover. I'm also toying with the idea of adding a kangaroo pocket in the front. Depends on how much yarn I have left :)

I finished the top yoke part and actually began on the purple. So far this is a fun & quick project.

A Pair of Gnomes...

How much fun would it be to wear these hats? I bet all the faeries would be jealous...

The Quickest Cowl Ever...

Knitted up my recent purchase of Spud & Chloë Outer yarn. Used US 15 on a circular needle and just did a simple Double Seed stitch. Fun and super warm!