Baby-bob’s Giftie!

One of my gfs is having a baby near the end of June (read: had her baby yesterday).  Apparently this baby is male – so they dubbed him baby-bob.  Then I started feverishly working on a cardigan for a baby-bob so that he would have a lovely giftie for when he was born. 

The cardigan came out so well; I am very pleased.

Baby-bob will be a dashing little man.

The pattern was a touch difficult to follow as it was all written in paragraphs as opposed to bullet points.  It worked out pretty well all in all though.  Somehow I managed to make two front sides that were the same and the seaming – though tedious (as always) – was not as horrible as it could have been. 

Then came the search for buttons.  I happened to be by a quilting store and they had these amazing square buttons that looked so cute – but they were $0.99 a piece!  I needed 4.  That seemed like a lot for 4 buttons.  Then I looked down, there before my wondering eyes was a bucket of buttons and a ladle – no I’m not kidding – with a label that read “button soup.” So I filled a bag of buttons – and made sure to include some round beige buttons – and paid only $3 for more buttons than I could possibly ever use.  This, of course, does not mean that I will not be on the hunt for buttons again.  It just means I have a better chance of starting my button search at home. 

Oh… right.  I almost forgot.  I made a blankie for baby-bob too.  I’ve made this pattern before and it is easy and comes out so pretty.  I changed the border to something more akin to the border for this pattern and managed to sneak just the slightest hint of blue into baby-bob’s lovely new blanket.

I hope he likes them!

Work for hire – Newborn baby hat – Bear

My mom has recently retired – read, left her job as a teacher and started working at a jewellery store.  This is awesome for me because I can buy myself awesome diamond studs for a ridiculously inexpensive price tag.  Oh yes.  It also became awesome for me because one of her co-workers had a friend having a baby.  She wanted a baby-bear-hat made.  Mom offered up my skills.  So for the first time ever, I made something that was not for me / anyone I know. 

How’d it turn out?  Well, it’s fine.  I had a few issues with the pattern.  1. the sizing is all wrong.  I ended up going to a K hook and doubling the yarn (ie. Crocheting with two strands) and am STILL shy on the width.  It’s close enough now, but really?  Come on.  2.  I just don’t really like it that much.  I guess this is the joy of working for a “client” you make what they want – rather than something you’d like to make. 

cute enough, but not really my style.

So, the outcome?  I sold something.  That’s interesting enough.  Would I do it again?  Sure… as long as it wasn’t too hard.  Will I love it?  No.

Sapphire socks for mom

I found this pattern ages ago and had the “perfect” yarn for it.  Or so I thought.  These socks seem to have worked out well in the end, but I was freaking out near the beginning because there was so much purple / burgundy.  I couldn't see the pattern and thought I had made a giant mistake when it came to colouration. 

When the yarn finally started changing colours though, these turned into magic.  The pattern makes the socks *look* like they were really difficult to make, when in fact they were really very simple. 

So bright!

 LOVE this pattern.  LOVE the outcome.  So pretty.