Willow in W’illow

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

It might be ‘just’ a baby cardigan, but this is my most complex knitting project yet, and I LOVE the result. The yarn feels beautiful, the stitch patterns and construction add texture and interest, and Willow looks so sweet in red.

The pattern is the L’illo cardigan by Susan Power, published in Knitty, and the yarn is Merino Soft 4-ply Baby Wool from Skeinz. My Ravelry project page has details of my minor modifications.

Willow + L’illo = W’illow!

The construction with saddle shoulders is not one I’ve tried before.
I promise that seam is actually straight :)

I had to hand over the lint roller to get a close-up without having the camera grabbed…

I made my own closures using i-cord, after failing to find commercial buttons I liked. Each of the buttons is a 4cm length of i-cord tied in an overhand knot and sewn down, and each loop is an 8cm length arranged in an infinity shape, sewn on one side and left free on the other. It holds together quite well and I love the look with the ribbing and the slightly raised collar.

While I had Willow corralled on the table, with a camera in my hand, I took the opportunity to cajole her into counting so I could capture her world’s-cutest pronunciation of “eleven”. Success!

I have many more videos to upload, when I get the time. Willow’s all about demonstrating her new knowledge now, and every day is a non-stop stream of numbers and letters and colours and shapes and animal noises and questions and songs. She amazes me every day with things I had no idea she knew. It’s magical, and definitely makes up for the tantrums and mischief and squashing six bananas onto the lounge floor :P

Crafty Tools Tidied

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

Yesterday I made a little roll up crochet hook case – my dear hooks have been languishing in a plastic bag for too long!

The fabric is a remnant from one of the skirts I made, and I think the ribbon came from some gift wrapping? In any case, all the materials were already in my craft box :)

I didn’t use any pattern or reference for the construction, just thought about what I wanted and folded up a scrap piece of paper to make sure all the seams would end up enclosed. I figured out how to do it with one rectangle of fabric and one seam down each side! Then I sewed the pockets and it was done. I made spaces for all my current hooks, plus three extra – two smaller ones for regular size hooks, and one big fellow over on the right, since I’m interested in the concept of making a rag rug one day out of t-shirt strips and might need a giant broomstick of a hook.

To close, you fold the top flap down, roll and tie. My one problem was making the ribbons a bit too short, so making a bow is tricky – I’m thinking of replacing them with a loop of elastic and a button.

While photographing I pulled out my freshly arranged knitting tool and amigurumi supply cases too. These are both flat plastic boxes from $3-Japan shops, perfect for keeping everything sorted but accessible at a moment’s notice.

The knitting case has (top to bottom, left to right):

T-pins for blocking – most currently in use
Safety pins
Stitch markers
Row counter, yarn guide, thimble for sore fingers
Magnifier, clip and rubber band for general securing
Smooth cotton yarn for lifelines, provisional cast-ons and holding stitches
Scissors, cable needles
Thread conditioner, knitter’s hand cream
Measuring tape
Sewing needle assortment
Pens, ruler, chopstick for poking stuffing into small spaces, pliers for pulling needles through thick materials – more important than you may think, I have a chipped front tooth from doing this idiotically!

I’ve still got several empty spots for more tools, though one thing I like about yarn crafting is that you really don’t need much equipment.

The amigurumi case is mostly safety eyes of different colours and sizes, plus some DMC perle cotton for embroidering noses and mouths, and invisible mending thread for joining delicate parts. The front row of eyes are clear, which is my preference, as you can paint the back with acrylic paint in any colour you like – they came from excellent Etsy seller 6060. I wouldn’t buy any other kind these days, but as you can see I have plenty of older coloured ones from Spotlight to use up.

That just leaves knitting needles. I have two interchangeable sets, each of which came in their own cases – a metal Hiya Hiya set with sizes 2-8 which I use for almost everything, and a plastic Denise set with sizes 5-15. The Denise set isn’t great to knit with, but I keep it around because I do need one of those larger sizes occasionally.

Mmmmmmm, the joy of having tidy things!

Beach Baby W’illow

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

Willow and I spent last weekend in Whangamata with Mum and Coco-the-dog. To be honest I spent a lot of the time lounging about reading and taking naps – I hate the sun! – but Mum and Wil did lots of splashy water play and sandy beach play and doggy ball games and playground jaunts.

Babies in elephant-print ruffled swimming togs: TOO CUTE.

Today is JSR’s second day of a new job. He hasn’t been working since a prolonged illness last September, and Willow and I have loved having him home so much, but of course months without income have been stressful. His first day seemed to go well, and I really hope he enjoys the work.

I decided this was a good opportunity to reboot my daily schedule, so now we are all getting up with JSR’s alarm at 7.30am, as opposed to the, er, 10-11am rising Willow and I have been doing lately. We’ll have to see how this changes her sleep times, but I’m hoping for either a return to afternoon naps or an earlier bedtime. I know a time shift doesn’t really affect how many hours I have in the day, but I do feel much more productive when I get through all the laundry and chores before lunchtime!

I cast on for another toddler sweater this morning. I’m making Knitty pattern L’illo for Willow in a bright red wool. Perhaps I will call it W’illow! It’s quite a complex textured saddle-shoulder cardigan and I’m looking forward to the challenge. So far I’ve just got a little piece of sleeve but the stitch patterns are fun already. The only change I plan to make to the pattern is an alteration to the grafting at the centre back, since the half-stitch jog in alignment is rather obvious and looks sloppy to my eyes. I’ll see what other kind of join I can make when I get there – either a tidy seam, or a little strip of stockinette which will graft neatly.

Sage Acacia and Ivory Petal

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

Two more finished knits! Knitting and reading are the only things I’m really enjoying at the moment, so I’m doing a lot of both…

This top I finished for Willow last night. I started on January 1st so it’s a properly-2012 finished project :)

The pattern is Acacia by Georgie Hallam, and the yarn is Spotlight Yarn Bee Down To Earth in Sage. That’s a cotton-acrylic blend, which I would never buy now, but I’m trying to work through my deep stash. I remember getting this for $1.50 a ball on Trade Me years and years ago! And it was a little hard on the hands, but has turned out a more pleasant fabric than I would have expected, not plastic-y at all.

Ravelry project with technical details here: Sage Acacia Summer Top

The other project was finished late last year, a baby blanket commissioned by my mother for a new baby of her acquaintance. She gave me free reign on the pattern and yarn, so I chose a traditional cream colour, but in a heavier weight than might be expected in order to make a strong lace pattern. It’s a square blanket worked from the centre outwards with diagonal ribs, making four triangular lace sections, with a garter stitch border.

The pattern is Abby’s Blanket by Kirsten Kapur, and the yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mills Luxury 8 ply in Cream. The baby is due in late autumn, so a snuggly blanket should not be a problem!

Mmmm, squishy! And so soft, I see myself using this yarn a lot in the future.

Ravelry project with technical details here: Ivory Petal Blanket

Christmas Knitting 2011

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

The hats and scarf I knitted for Christmas presents this year!

Clover Slouch Beret for niece Jessie. The yarn is Cascade Indulgence in Denim and the pattern is the Ballard Slouch Hat by Felicia Lo. Ravelry link

Blueberry Swirl Hat for niece Stella. The yarn is Bendigo Woollen Mills Rondo in Ocean Spray, and the pattern is Basel by Woolly Wormhead. Ravelry link

Flock of Fans Hat for Maisie. The yarn is Skeinz Vintage in Wedgewood and the pattern is an improvised beanie shape with a stitch pattern from “Knit & Purl Stitches : 250 to Knit” edited by Erica Knight. Ravelry link

Blue Whisper Hat for Brydie. The yarn is Plymouth Encore Worsted in Blue Veil, and the pattern is Madison by Becca Sheffler. Ravelry link

Heavenly Cloud Scarf for SIL Anna. The yarn is Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Heavenly and the pattern is Party Lace Scarf by Lisa Sisk. Ravelry link

Weaving Through the Storm hat for Dad. The yarn is Skeinz Possum Merino in Storm and the pattern is an improvised beanie shape with a stitch pattern from “Knit & Purl Stitches : 250 to Knit” edited by Erica Knight. Ravelry link

Yes, they’re all blue! I didn’t even realise until the last one – I guess I just like to grab blue shades when I’m picking up single skeins for little projects :)

Two Hats

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

This is the hat I made my mum for her birthday. I chose a streamlined beanie style to stay put without fuss during her active outdoor pursuits, in 100% wool to keep her ears warm. When I think about my mum I think of warm colours like reds and yellows, so I picked this coral shade of Cascade 220 yarn and matched it with the simple lace pattern of the Windy City Hat. I improvised a bit with the ribbing, using my favourite twisted German cast-on, a twisted 1×1 rib, and then my very first vikkel braid.

Otto got in on the photo shoot too. Cats and knitting, BFF!

Ravelry project with details here.

I’ve also finished another hat for Willow. This one is Basel by Woolly Wormhead, which was the most complicated thing I’ve knit yet in terms of needle acrobatics. I love the effect though, with the columns of twisted stitched swirling like a galaxy, and I’m very likely to knit the pattern again.

The Crucci Drift yarn I used is quite tufty and has a bit of thick-and-thin variation, so the stitches don’t look perfectly even, but it’s going to get mauled by a toddler so no matter :)

Ravelry project with details here.

Here’s a little video of Willow being adorable putting the hat on all by herself:

Willow’s Words, and also a Hat

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

A finished project I can show you! This was originally going to be one of my gift knits, but it turned out too small for the intended recipient – I was winging it without a pattern, just making a basic hat shape with some slip-stitch colourwork inspired by a blanket design – so it’s now Willow’s winter hat for next year :)

I like the way the top swirls in, it reminds me of a little bundt cake.

And the pattern is a little like tiles, perhaps in a swimming pool, so I’m calling it my Aqua Mosaic Hat.

Ravelry page with details of yarn and so on here.

Willow’s speech has sprinted ahead in the last week. She’s learned to say eyes, nose, face, neck, banana, cake, car, socks, flower, slide, peekaboo and comb as well as becoming very consistent with greetings and a few other expressions like oops and cool. We only count words when she uses them unprompted and in context, so there’s a lot more she will repeat after us but hasn’t broken out with spontaneously yet. It’s so exciting after only saying cat for months and months! She now asks “wha-za?” (what’s that?) all day long which is a good reminder for me to keep naming objects for her. I tend to spend my day in monastic silence otherwise, which I’m sure isn’t very helpful. I’m told I will eventually want her to stop talking so much, but for now every little word makes me happy!

Plague House

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

Usually Willow’s TV time is fairly moderated, but when she’s sick I don’t think there’s any harm spending a day on the couch with a blankie and Nick Jr – and some kittypals. It’s just a cold so she’ll be fine, but she has a runny nose and raspy cough and isn’t sleeping well. JSR has the same thing, and I’m feeling a bit bleh myself. PLAGUE HOUSE!

A snuggle for an unimpressed Pippin.

My knitting progress has been slow recently. I have mostly been working on a pair of socks, except it turns out my hands really don’t like small needles. Each time I work on them the fingers of my right hand go numb, then later they ache. I’ve tried slippery metal and grippy wood, DPNs and two circulars and magic looping, and they all have the same result.

I’ve got this far on the first sock (including the heel which you can’t see, it’s jolly difficult to photograph the back of your own foot!) and it is very comfortable, but I really can’t afford to hurt my hands so I’m going to frog it and double or triple the sock yarn up to make chunky slippers instead. I’ve never had a problem crocheting or knitting DK/worsted weight yarns. I’d love to do some delicate knitting but it’s just not worth the risk. I need my hands in tip-top shape!

Now, do I make a sensible plain pair of slippers, or the ones with the curly elf toes?!

Last week the guilt of having oranges fall off our tree finally got to me and I made some of them into jam. I was under the impression that sweet oranges would make a delicious orange jam, rather than stinky old marmalade, but I was mistaken. JSR likes marmalade so it won’t be wasted, and it does look pretty, but it’s not what I wanted. My attempts at orange cake haven’t gone well either, but there’s always fresh squeezed orange juice!

I’ve been doing better with banana cake. This is one I made yesterday, with a new frosting recipe I hadn’t tried before. The method is unusual – you cook flour and milk together to make a thick goo, then stir it into creamed butter and sugar – but the result is delicious. It’s like a vanilla buttercream, but lighter and fluffier and less overwhelmingly sweet. Mmmmmm.

The Coat of Hate

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

I finished knitting the Tomten coat for Willow yesterday!

She… she kinda hates it.

As soon as we put it on her she tears it off again. It’s actually quite hilarious as she’s never reacted like this to a piece of clothing before. The wool is very soft, not scratchy or itchy at all, and she wears plenty of other knits, so I’m not sure what the problem is!

I managed to get a few photos with my mum to help hold her today:

Our best effort…

…then some frantic grabbing…

…and it’s coming off!

I will put it in the wardrobe for a while, and see if she forgets about her loathing. There’s plenty of room in the sleeves, and if it gets a bit tight I can always pick up stitches and make the front bands wider as I have a couple of balls of yarn left over. We’ll see how it goes next winter… I’m not upset, these things happen when you craft for children, and I had a good time knitting it – until the second sleeve, at least, by which time I’d really had enough garter stitch.

I won’t be able to blog about knitting progress for a while as the next seven (!!) projects in my queue are gifts for various people who may be reading this, but I will have lots of reveals in the coming months!

This week I set up a use-it-up shelf in my pantry. It’s dedicated to various grocery items that I have purchased for one reason or another but don’t normally use – the ones that get pushed to the back and end up being thrown out five years past expiry. I put half a dozen things on the shelf, which is right at eye level, and I am making a concerted effort to craft meals to finish them off, replacing each one with something else as it is used up.

The shelf currently contains:

rice stick noodles
small tin of sweet chili flavoured tuna
seameal custard (which we do eat, but I’ve ended up with three boxes)
cornmeal (bought to make cornbread; it turns out JSR doesn’t like cornbread)
orange jelly crystals
vegetarian stir fry sauce (quite mysterious as we’re not vegetarian!)

In the last few days I’ve used up half of the rice stick noodles in a Vietnamese chicken salad, some of the cornmeal in muffins for Willow and I, and a package of strawberry jelly crystals, so I think I’m doing okay! There are plenty more oddments, doubled-up packets and things nearing expiry so I won’t run out of items for the shelf any time soon.

I also used some of the cornmeal to make an Orange Cornmeal Cake on Wednesday. I found the recipe while searching for other things to do with cornmeal, and since we also have a tree full of oranges it was very convenient. The only alteration I made was glazing while hot with a mixture of icing sugar and orange juice, instead of sprinkling granulated sugar over the top, which looked like it would get very messy.

I probably wouldn’t bother with this recipe again. The orange zest made it a bit too marmalade-y for my taste, it wasn’t very sweet, and the bottom got brown while the middle was barely cooked. But it was still a cake, which I will not turn down, and it looks nice in the photo :)

Poorly Babe

Posted on August 5, 2011 by Annette / Soft Like Kittens

Willow is still sick. Not sleeping well, not eating well, and such a sad, confused little face. This is the first significant infant illness we’ve had to deal with and it’s awful. Aside from feeling sorry for her and wishing I could make her better right away, the sleep is the most difficult part. We haven’t got her to settle before 11.30pm for the last week and she’s up for hours during the night too, then waking at her normal time. I can’t sleep while she’s chirping even if JSR has the situation entirely under control, so I’ve been getting deliriously tired. (A couple of days ago I prepared a bottle for her… then held it out for Pippin to take. Oops.) We’ve been pulling out the ‘last resort’ card of driving around until she drops off at least once every day, sometimes two or three times. Plus hours of cuddles and rocking and soothing pats and lullabies.

I have the chance to write now because my MARVELLOUS, WONDERFUL, SPECTACULARLY GENEROUS mother offered to look after Willow for the weekend so we could catch up with ourselves. They left at lunchtime and I slept all afternoon, snuggled up with JSR (who is also still ailing) and Otto, and I am looking forward to an early night with my book. Usually when we’re baby-free I like to try and go out and see friends as much as possible, but this time my focus is SLEEP, and a little bit of reading and house-keeping in between naps. Two days of rest should charge me up for at least another week of intensive mothering, and hopefully Willow will have recovered by then!

The only thing of any use I’ve managed recently has been some more knitting, a few rows here and there. The little coat I’ve started making for Willow is coming along well – it looks like a big rectangle so far, but I divided for the armholes just after this photo was taken. There’s some short rows in there too, so it’s not exactly a rectangle, though it still feels like one to knit. (Time for some lace or colourwork after this, I think…)

The yarn is The Rare Yarns Company Surino Slub in Slub Fern, given to me by my friend Becs. The garter stitch is making a soft, bumpy fabric and I hope the pointy hood will make Willow look like a little wild pixie. I’m calling the project my Nubby Forest Tomten.

Ravelry page with more pattern and project details!

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Soft Like Kittens

Idle life with yarn, cats and a small hu-man.

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