This is an Elizabeth Zimmerman Baby Surprise Jacket hot off the needles. My favorite-little-girl-in-the-world looks cozy and warm. Just a thing for a winter day that started out at 7 degrees. Friend Muriel is facilitating a Baby Surprise knit-along at Linda's shop Raveloe to unlock the mysteries of this fascinating pattern. It involves strategically placed double increases, double decreases and unusually situated shoulder seams. I tried to make one ages ago without success. Under Muriel's tutalage I was able to make this with relative ease. This precious baby looks so sweet in it!
I have been slightly obsessive in the mitten making department.
top left: These handspun cormo mittens are adult size large. I bought this pretty hand dyed wool at the Shepherd's Market in Rush NY. hey are really soft.
top right: These mittens are made of a mixture of about twenty different fibers - wool, alpaca, cashmere, buffalo, yak and the list goes on. This is the finished product of the Happy Family gathering I participated in a while back (again at Linda's shop). Each of the eight-or-so participants brought samples of exotic fiber and we assembled it all and then divvied it up. Other folks have made lovely shawls and cowls with the yarn they spun.
bottom left: These are children's mittens. I used Lion's Brand Fisherman's Wool. I originally dyed it using Queen Anne's Lace. That resulted in a dull yellow. I overdyed that when there was a natural dying workshop (go ahead, guess where it took place) with indigo. The result is very pretty. Dark blue with bits of green peeking through. As I knit, the yarn did crock a little. That means some dye was left on the surface of the yarn and turned my fingers blue as I worked with it. Because of that I am slightly hesitant to give them to a child. An afternoon in the snow could result in the poor waif having his hands dyed blue. I might try a vinegar rinse to make the color a little more fast.
bottom right: I am almost finished with these little mittens. It is a merino wool dyed by a women's cooperative in Chile. The gradations of color are really pleasing.
Other things I've been enjoying in the last couple weeks:
- I went to see "True Grit" and "The King's Speech". I really enjoyed both movies
- I received a Kindle for Christmas. I have not quite bonded with it, but just today I found out that books can indeed be lent to other Kindle owners for 14 days. I still get confused when I try to navigate around, but I do enjoy reading with it. Currently I am reading Bill Bryson's "Into the Woods". I wanted something not too challenging and I really enjoyed his most current book "Home".
- There are two tv shows which I am completely enthralled by - Pillars of the Earth and the PBS Masterpiece Classic Downton Abbey.
I am grateful, profoundly grateful that my anemia has been resolved. Over the past year I have gotten very run down to the point of having critically low iron levels. After medical treatment a couple days ago, i feel better than I have since I can remember. All in all, the year has started well.
The sweater is wonderful; it looks great with the purple leggings. I cannot wait for babies that can wear my knitting!
Posted by: Rebecca | January 17, 2011 at 06:06 PM
The baby surprise looks great! I love how the variegated yarn worked up without any of the common variegated sins.
Posted by: knitica | January 29, 2011 at 08:21 PM
I'm doing a search for some local kniting groups and came across your blog, which is fantastic! I am a mother of a two and four year old who is looking to find some direction in a place that offers knitting or crocheting lessons. I learned how to knit when I was very young, however that was at least 2 decades ago. I would love to learn how to make the mittens that are featured on your blog and some childrens hats.
If you know of any groups please let me know.
Thank you,
Posted by: Michelle | October 20, 2011 at 09:41 PM