Stay Inspired Every Day~

Feeling stuck? Feeling like you are drowning in your To-Do list?

This article shares some simple steps to keep yourself inspired... 

5 Simple Steps to Stay Inspired 

by Gimundo Staff on Gimundo.com.

(Gimundo is a news feed that featured  GOOD NEWS.) 

LOVE THAT.

What is YOUR special thing? YOUR passion?

Mine is my art and my knitting.

 

Paul loves all things apple. His trees, his ciders...

Ann loves to write and paint and write and paint. (and write)

Eve loves her gardens. 

Don't let life whiz by and never take the time to explore what tugs at your heartstrings.

(cross posted on PeculiarAmbitions.com)

Baby Surprise Jacket #2~ 2012

This sweater was knit for Isaiah~

Pattern is the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. (Ravelry Link)

Made from Miss Babs Yowza in Black Walnut.

Yowza is my favorite, favorite yarn right now. 

Gauge on a size 8 was 4.5 st/in. and 6.5 rows/in.

I used a provisional cast on in the beginning so I could add length to the sleeves. Cast on 160 stitches.

For the decreases I used a sl2tog knit wise, k1, psso.

For the increases I used a Kfb.

Once the body of the sweater was finished, I put the live cuff (sleeve) stitches on a piece of yarn to hold them and seamed the shoulders.

Seaming done using the sewing technique shown here at Pam's Knitting & Spinning Blog~

I then placed the live sleeve stitches onto don and knit the additional length in the round. 

I extended the sleeve length by 1.5 inches, decreasing evenly at the bottom of the sleeve, (from 34 sleeve stitches to 28, approx. 1 dec. every other row) then knit a k1p1 ribbed cuff for another 2 inches. This cuff can be rolled back when Isiah is smaller. Total sleeve length is 8 inches from armpit to cuff edge.

Chest measures 18 inches, which is a standard 18 month according to this chart: 

http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/babysize.html (this is how I calculated the final sleeve length)

I finished the edges off with an attached icord.

Buttons are from my gram’s button tin.

Baby Surprise Jacket #1~ 2012

I can finally reveal the baby sweaters I have been knitting. 

Babies have arrived and been gifted their sweaters! 

YAY! Welcome to the earth, little ones.

Introducing the Baby Surprise Jacket#1, knit for Baby Jackson, (aka Jack).

Yarn is Handsome Fibers Anne Elliot

hand dyed worsted weight superwash merino

Gauge on a size 8 was 4.5 st/in. and 6.5 rows/in.

I used a provisional cast on in the beginning so I could add length to the sleeves. Cast on 160 stitches.

For the decreases I used a sl2tog knit wise, k1, psso and purled the knit stitch on the return row.

For the increases I used a Kfb and purled the center stitch on the return row.

Once the body of the sweater was finished, I put the live cuff (sleeve) stitches on a piece of yarn to hold them and seamed the shoulders.

 Seaming done using the sewing technique shown here at Pam's Knitting & Spinning Blog~

I then placed the live sleeve stitches onto dpn and knit the additional length in the round. 

I extended the sleeve length by 1.5 inches, decreasing evenly at the bottom of the sleeve, (from 34 sleeve stitches to 28, approx. 1 dec. every other row) then knit a k1p1 ribbed cuff for another 2 inches. This cuff can be rolled back for when Jackson is smaller. 

Total sleeve length is 8 inches from armpit to cuff edge.

Chest measures 18 inches, which is a standard 18 month according to this chart: 

http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/babysize.html (this is how I calculated the final sleeve length)

I finished the neck edge with a single crochet stitch around. (see photo)~

Buttons are from my gram’s button tin.