Is it wrong that I’ve started knitting for December? I feel a twinge of embarrassment so I guess I know the answer! I picked up two skeins of sweetgeorgia superwash worsted and thought they would be perfect for Knitting Pure & Simple’s Children’s Neck Down Bolero #275. This will go to a little girl whose nickname is “Leaping Lill”. The vibrant colour should suit her nicely!

The button was an Etsy purchase from Buttonalia. I may just have to order these cherry red buttons as well!

[Ravelled]

My dear friend Erin has a brand new niece! I picked up some sweetgeorgia Superwash Merino in Savory (a nice, vibrant colour for a baby, I think) and knit up a cardi and hat set for little Madeline. The cardi is Debbie Bliss‘ Ribbed Baby Jacket and the hat is my go-to pattern for baby hats – the Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch ‘N Bitch.

[Ravelled: cardi + hat]

I started this cardigan way back in September. During the many months between then and now, I came full circle on bottom-up seamless construction.  It was my Moch Cardi, another bottom-up sweater, that turned it all around. I loved the neatness of the underarm seams and how effortless the yoke felt after finishing row upon row of the body. So I picked it back up and finished the sleeves and yoke, and I’m happy I did. I love it – the smocking, the I-cord edging and cuffs, and the Rowan Felted Tweed that I used. The pattern is Ysolda Teague’s Coraline – highly recommended!

[Ravelled]

I had a serious cute attack last weekend at Mokuba, where I picked up the pink ribbon for this cape. There were so many sweet, frilly options! Now that I’ve finally settled on the finishing touches, I’m ready to wrap this up and send it on its way to my friend Kozue and her baby girl Kaede in Kanagawa.

I used Mission Falls 136 Merino, a nice Canadian option, since Kozue and I met while she was studying in Vancouver and Canada has been close to her heart ever since. Her daughter’s name is actually Japanese for maple.

The pattern is another great one from Kristen Rengren’s Vintage Baby Knits. I can hardly wait to see photos of Kaede in the cape – this has to be one of my favourite baby knits so far!

[Ravelled]

Have you heard of Magpie Patterns? I came across this great collection of knitting, sewing, crochet and embroidery patterns through their blog, Crafty Bird.  They’re based in Portland, Oregon (as so many good things are!) and some patterns are printed and mailed, and others are downloads. I really enjoyed browsing Magpie’s collection of handpicked designs. Some designers I knew, but more were new to me! Here are just a few.

Kalea and Malia by Kids Tricots (Images courtesy Kids Tricots)

Kids Tricots is the work of French knit designer Muriel Agator (Ravelry link). Magpie carries six of her English patterns. These are some seriously cute kids’ knits. I’m glad my friends are giving me plenty of little people to knit for!

Hooded Cardigan and Floral Wrap by She's Crafty Handknits (Images courtesy She's Crafty Handknits)

New Zealand-based Hadley Fierlinger (Ravelry link) is the designer behind She’s Crafty Handknits. More adorable knits for little people! Hadley designs beautiful baby knits and is the author of Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. One of my absolute favourites has to be the Floral Wrap (above right). The next baby girl in my life will definitely be getting one!

Pasha and Elizabeth by Jane Richmond Designs (Images courtesy Jane Richmond)

Canadian designer Jane Richmond has designed some perfect slouchy hats and chunky scarves. I have a skein of Burly Spun that has her Autumn toque written all over it. Jane also has some really cute, and seamless (hurrah), baby patterns as well.

Gudrun Johnston’s Moch Cardi pattern is a great one. This was my first bottom-up sweater (seamless, yay) and it made for some good travel knitting over the holidays. I used Tanis Fiber Arts Green Label in Stormy; yarn that was originally intended for a February Lady Sweater knitalong. The Lady and I weren’t to be, so I frogged it and used the yarn for this instead. I love this cardi but think I would love it even more in a solid colour. Maybe I’ll just have to make another one!

[Photos courtesy of Chris]

[Ravelled]

This is the project that will accompany me on the five-hour flight from Toronto to Vancouver tomorrow evening. Paper Crane. Just the thing for a confined space and an extended knit session. Tiny stitches on tiny circular needles. And 20 cm of stockinette stitch to go on the body!

Happy Canada Day! The only connection this post has to my country’s birthday is the yarn used for this project. Mission Falls is 100% Canadian!

A Baby Yoda Sweater knit for Oliver, a new BC baby. Mission Falls 1824 Cotton makes this perfect for a coastal summer and autumn – lightweight and soft. I knit this in pieces and then assembled according to the pattern. If you have a deep hatred of sewing up (perfectly understandable!), there are seamless versions on Ravelry that are knit from the top down.

I love the texture of this yarn. There’s something pebbly about it. This was my first Mission Falls project but it won’t be the last! I bought enough yarn for another Yoda in a different colourway. When it comes to yarn, decision making is not my strong point.

(Raveled)

My version of Hannah Fettig’s wildly popular Whisper Cardigan is finally finished and blocked! There are more than 800 versions of this cardigan on Ravelry, and that’s just since the spring issue of Interweave Knits came out in February. The pattern calls for laceweight yarn, which makes for a nice light cardigan for spring. However, if I were to do it all over again I would knit it in a sport/ sock weight yarn instead. I found it challenging to get a nice fabric with the gauge given. I ended up knitting the largest size on small needles in order to make the cardi less webby and more whispery.

The cardigan is knit primarily in stockinette stitch, with ribbing at the collar and to shape the waist. It’s seamless, which is a real plus when it comes to finishing! Hannah posted a schematic on her blog if you’d like a closer look at the construction.

Another sweet, seamless pattern by Tora Frøseth! My first Tora knit was the Magda Tunic and I fell in love with the top-down construction. I used the same yarn in this Sweetheart Dress for Anaya – Cadenza by Estelle. Merino and tussah silk! Not too warm for an L.A. baby I hope.

The heart detail around the yoke is too cute. The body of the dress is worked in stockinette stitch, with rows of garter stitch at the bottom to stop it from curling. This project had me thinking about a me-sized knit dress, and then I remembered this lace dress from Védis Jónsdottir’s book Einband. Hmmm.

You can just make out this handsome Pottageville horse in the background of the top photo. As you can see, we were more interested in him than he was in us!