Layette Sets 45 and 46

Before I get to the Layettes, I'm gonna briefly write about the ongoing chronic cough I've been fighting for 2 years just for my own benefit. You can skip on over it if you want.

It started the summer of 2018, in August, when we had an unusually bad wild fire season. The smoke was blowing into our neighborhood. At times it was so thick we could hardly see the road in front, or even the sun in the sky. I started coughing and having a lot of asthma attacks as a result because smoke worked its way into our house so matter what we did. It's been pretty bad ever since. 

I've gone back and forth to my doctor about it and he's had me try all sorts of drugs to bring it under control. None of them worked. Last November I talked him into referring me to a lung specialist. I saw the specialist last December, just after I had my second eye surgery. He gave me a lot of tests, then prescribed Prednisone and a couple other things, and said he'd get back to me when he had the results of all the tests they took.

The Prednisone worked, for the most part. My asthma is finally under control. I went from needing my inhaler several times a day to just a few times a week. However, I still have a cough. Not as bad as it was, but still very annoying. I usually cough in the evening. There's lots of phlegm and sometimes I cough so hard I get a headache, or throw up. I've even burst the veins in my eye's from coughing so hard.

All my tests came back good. Nothing bad was found, so now the doctor wanted to give me a sleep apnea test. I don't have symptoms of sleep apnea so I said no. My insurance company said no too. Well, then I didn't hear from that doctor any more.

Two weeks ago I went back to my regular doctor to bring to his attention I still have a cough. I told him about the sleep apnea test request and he agreed that I should take it. 

Shortly after that, the lung specialist called to make an appointment. I saw him Thursday. I tried to explain to him about the status of my cough but he didn't want to hear it. He's kind of obsessed with this idea that I have sleep apnea. Last night I took the test. I will have to wait a couple weeks to get the results. I guess a person can have sleep apnea without any symptoms except a cough.

I sure hope we figure out what's causing the cough. I'm so tired of it. Now, on to the FO's.

Layette Set 45

Cardigan

Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: White

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pretty in Pink

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Grape

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pistachio

Needles: Circular size 5 and 7

Started: May 9, 2020

Finished: May 24, 2020

Comments: For the 3rd yoke stripe, instead of a solid color, I did a fairisle hounds-tooth check. It was inspired by the background in the blanket fabric. I really like it.

Hat

Pattern: My own, not published

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: White

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pretty in Pink

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Grape

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pistachio

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: May 31, 2020

Finished: June 1, 2020

Booties

Pattern: My own, not published

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: White

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pretty in Pink

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Grape

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pistachio

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: June 1, 2020

Finished: June 6, 2020

Comment:  It was kind of difficult to put the hounds-tooth check in these booties.

Blanket

 Pattern: Shell stitch edging

Size: 36 by 30 inches.

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pretty in Pink

Hook: Size G

Started: July 24, 2020

Finished: July 25, 2020

Layette Set 46

Cardigan

Pattern: Super Natural Stripes by Fawn Pea

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: White

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pretty in Pink

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Sunshine

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Blueberry

Needles: Circular size 5 and 7

Started: June 18, 2020

Finished: July 17, 2020

Comments:  Swapped out the purple and green for yellow and blue. You'll notice these 4 colors come from the teddy bears in the blanket.

Hat

Pattern: My own, not published

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: White

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pretty in Pink

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Sunshine

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Blueberry

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: July 20, 2020

Finished: July 21, 2020

Booties

Pattern: My own, not published

Size: 3-6 months

Yarn: Big Twist

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: White

Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Pretty in Pink

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Sunshine

Yarn: Caron Simply Soft

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: Blueberry

Needles: Circular size 7

Started: July 21, 2020

Finished: July 22, 2020

Blanket

Pattern: Shell stitch edging

Size: 36 by 30 inches.

Yarn: Big Twist

Content: 100% Acrylic, worsted weight

Color: White

Hook: Size G

Started: July 26, 2020

Finished: July 27, 2020

Comment: When I got the first blanket done, with the pink edging, it didn't quite look right with this set, so I decided to make it white instead. It goes with it much better.

So, there you have it. I think this will be the end of pink hounds-tooth check. Not the end of the check pattern. Just the pink. I want to make a sweater for Zoey in, probably, purple hounds-tooth. Got the yarn. Just need to get busy with it.

Which reminds me. I finished knitting the second sleeve of the Norwegian cardigan only to discover I've knit both sleeves with the wrong needle size. I thought I was knitting on size 4s. Nope. It was size 3s. Trying to decided if I'm just gonna leave it and block the size difference out, or start knitting them over again. Ugh. You'd think after 52 years of knitting I'd stop making stupid mistakes like this.

After an unseasonably cool and wet beginning to summer, it has finally arrived. It's been hot hot hot. I don't go out in heat because it triggers my asthma. It's sure a lot nicer than snow. That's for sure!

Live long and prosper. \\//

About Pink Houndstooth Check

For the last couple months I've kind of been obsessed with pink Houndstooth Check. It started when I ordered some baby themed fleece (from Fabric.com) for making layette sets for KnitWits. This fabric is so much cuter in real life than it is in the online picture.

I was all ready to do something fairly simple for the cardigan when I got the idea of doing it with Houndstooth check to match the background of the fabric. I googled and found this chart. It was perfect!

The rest is history. I have finished the cardigan and hat, more or less, plus the set I posted about in June,

and I'm working on the booties now.

I've got the blanket fabric all ready for it's edging. I should have this set done before the weekend is over.

As for the necklace in yesterday's post, I was browsing through the pattern files in the Peyote With A Twist group and ran across one named Houndstooth. I have a recently purchased pink t-shirt that needs a necklace. Well, I had to make that pattern.

I'm coming to the end of all things Houndstooth this weekend. I wonder what will grab my fancy next?

I have been working on the set for my nephews soon coming baby boy. I've finished one sleeve and started the second.

When I'm done with the layette, I'll focus on this one much more. Gotta get it done. September is coming quickly.

We're having nice weather right now. Unseasonably cool for July. Haven't had more than one or two days near 90F. It's usually much hotter, but I am truly enjoying the lower temperatures. We've been in the mid 70-80's.

I managed to sprain my back last Monday. It scared me. I bent over with a pair of scissors in my hand and felt a horrible 'pop' in my lower back, right where I had my back surgery. Agonizing pain shot through me, and I couldn't even straighten up. However, with the ice pack, resting with my feet up, and some Tylenol, I've been babying it and it's much better now. Hardly any pain at all. Just enough to remind me to not overdo things until it's fully healed. I'm so relieved. I was worried I'd really racked myself up and would need another surgery. False alarm!

Well, I should go out and work on my project. I have a concrete bird bath that developed some cracks in it during the winter. I'm filling in the cracks with some concrete repair goop. I'm planning to paint it grey afterwards because the repair stuff is a different shade of grey than the bird bath. I want it to look good cuz I'm giving it to a friend. I don't want it any more. So, off to the garage I go.

Live long and prosper. \\//

Pink Hounds-tooth Check

Yes, I'm still alive and kicking. Kind of forgot about the blog for a bit. I've been busy beading, and knitting, spraining my back, and other stuff. Life is never boring at the Parkarosa.

Here, we have a finished necklace in the Peyote With a Twist (Not Bead Crochet) technique.

Pattern: Houndstooth Vers. 2 by Norita Silva

Length: 20 inches.

Technique: Peyote With A Twist, Not Bead Crochet

Beads: Size 11 Japanese seed beads in opaque white and transparent pink AB.

I have definitely been in the mood for pink Hounds-tooth check this month.

I made the bead end caps and toggle clasp too. I incorporated a few 4mm pink AB  and a couple 8MM white AB Firepolished crystals in the clasp attachment.

I put some 3/8th inch soft nylon rope inside to prevent it collapsing because I did a looser tension so the necklace would be flexible.

This pattern is available for free to members of the Peyote With a Twist Not Bead Crochet Facebook group members. You have to join the group to get it, but it's a nice group.

You can learn to make a toggle clasp here:  Beaded Toggle Clasp

Beaded End Cap instructions here:  Beaded End Cap

All in all, I'm happy with my new necklace.

It sure is nice to be able to bead again. I'm so glad I got the cataract surgery.

Live long and prosper. \\//

New Pattern Is Up

I wrote about this yesterday on my pattern blog, but I think I need to write about it here too. Yesterday I published the Polka Dots Baby Set in my Ravelry store.

This 3 piece baby set features a seamless raglan cardigan, hat, and booties in 2 sizes, 3 to 6 months and 6 to 9 months. It’s knit in 2 colors of worsted weight yarn. It features a 2-color seed stitch pattern knit stranded. 

The prototype. Blanket is not included in pattern.

The cardigan is knit from the top down with sleeves knit in the round so there are no seams. 

The hat and booties are knit in the round from the bottom up on 2 circular needles. 

Suggested needle sizes are circular size 6’s and 8’s. The 2-circular needles technique is used to knit in the round, but can be adjusted for double pointed needles or the Magic Loop method.

If you're interested, you can download the pdf file on Ravelry:

Linky-->  Polka Dot Baby Set

Note: The booties require laces. I have been making twisted cords. There are other ways to make laces too. I suggest you visit this web tutorial for twisted cords as well as inspiration and how to’s for a nice variety of laces.

Laces for Booties

Live long and prosper. \\//

WIP Report

As promised, a WIP report. I finished the knitting for the cardigan

and the hat.

Just need to finish the booties and blanket. I've also finished the body of the snow set.

I cast on for the first sleeve, twice. I had trouble understanding the instructions until it dawned on me it's supposed to be knit in the round. Suddenly, it makes more sense. So, I've frogged it again and started over. It's correct now.

Drops patterns (patterns by the Drops yarn company) are what I call bare minimum patterns. The bare minimum of instructions are written, and not always in standard notation, so you need to be an experienced knitter who understands how knit garments are constructed to do them. Even then they can be hard to understand. With this particular pattern, it is clear to me it's been translated from Norwegian into English, and lost a bit on the way.

Speaking of being on the way. At the beginning of the year I decided I was going to make a fairisle sweater in fingering weight yarn for myself in my continuing quest to master fairisle knitting. I chose my pattern, and ordered yarn.

I had been seeing ads on the internet for the Hobbii yarn company, which is located in Denmark. I decided to try them out because the prices are so good. I ordered some sock yarn first. It arrived in 3 weeks and I'm very very pleased with the quality of the yarn, so I decided I was going to order the yarn for my fairisle sweater from them. I chose their Universe variegated yarn for one of the two yarns, which is on sale as a clearance yarn. I fell in love with color number 08 which is purples, pinks, and coral/salmon colors.

Universe 08

However, when I ordered it, I accidentally ordered 18, which is similar but without the coral/salmon.

Universe 18

When my order arrived I was kind of horrified at what I'd done. I logged on and went to the site immediately to order the color I actually want, but to my dismay they were out of it, no chance of getting it because it's a clearance yarn. So I resigned myself to using what I had.

A couple weeks before the Covid 19 Stay at Home order was issued by our governor, I happened to get in contact with someone in the customer service department of Hobbii and told him of my plight. I asked if he knew of any way I could get the color I wanted. Well, a couple weeks later I got a notice they had more Universe in stock, including color number 8. YAY! I ordered it right away. They shipped it to me the next day, it arrived in US customs a few days later and has been there ever sense.

I received na email from Hobbii this week letting me know that it is taking up to 8 weeks for orders to get through customs. So my plans to have the fairisle sweater done before the North Idaho Fair are shot down. Oh well. Best laid plans and all that. I have to say, though, that I've never had as good service from a yarn company than I have with Hobbii. They reordered a yarn they wanted to clear out so I could get my color. That's really something. Hobbii.com

Live long and prosper. \\//

Kep 2020 Knitalong Project

I mentioned a few weeks ago I'd joined a knitalong on the Facebook page The Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep. I've finished my kep early. I couldn't stop once I got a rhythm going.

Fair Isle Fishermen's Kep

Pattern: Fair Isle Fisherman's Kep by Anne Sinclair
Size: Adult

Yarn: KnitPicks Palette
Content: 100% Wool, Fingering Weight
Colors: Asphault Heather, Cream, Silver, Pumice Heather, and Iris Heather

Needles: Circular size 3 and 4

Started: May 18, 2020
Finished: June 7, 2020

Comments: I love this hat so much! I used larger needles this time, same number of stitches. The colors worked out wonderful together. It fits me perfect. What's not to love?

The circular stitch pattern is from the book Selbu Mittens by Anne Bardsgard.

These two stitch patterns come with the kep pattern. They make a nice contrast to the circular pattern.

I put a pompom on the top because I didn't want a tassel.

I'm looking forward to wearing this next winter.

It's 81F degrees out right now so I won't be wearing it for awhile. It's been fairly wet and rainy and chilly. Some places actually got frost Tuesday night. Thankfully, we didn't. Temps went soaring today. It's hot and humid, and I see black clouds headed this way. Thunderstorms, I assume. There have been some pretty nasty ones the last couple weeks, but the worst ones have gone around us, rather than over us.

I've been knitting quite a bit lately. I'll talk about that tomorrow.

Live long and prosper. \\//

WIPs Report

I have WIPs to share. First is a new baby cardigan for KnitWits I finally got started. I had this funky idea. The fleece I have for this to go with has brightly colored bears over a hounds tooth check pattern in pink and white. It inspired this.

The bears are purple, lime green, blue, and yellow. I chose the purple and green for the first set. I kind of like it.

The second WIP is the beginning of a second Kep. I joined the Knit Along being held on the Kep Facebook group.

The first week we make the cuff band. I've been having a hard time with it. Lots of stress in my life right now. I cast on 5 times before I got it right. Brain just would not work right. Once I got it cast on, everything smoothed out. I got this far. The tan is too light. You can hardly see it. I don't like it. So last night I ripped back and took the tan out.

I looked in my stash for a suitable brown replacement, but there isn't any. So I decided to use some of the leftovers from my Margaret Tudor sweater I made last year.

It isn't want I wanted to begin with, which was natural sheep colors, but it's what I have. So I'm going with it. It looks much better, contrast-wise, then the tan did. I'll be happy with it.

I am going camping this weekend and will be taking both of these projects with me.

This is the baby cardigan I've started for a nephew and his wife who are going to have a baby boy later this year.

It's a Drops pattern. Not an easy one because the instructions are not that well written. They assume you are an advanced knitter. I've got it sorted out. The pattern has a cardigan, pants, hat, socks, and mitts. I have until August to get this done.

Going camping for the 3 day weekend. Trying a new-to-us park. Looking forward to getting away for a little bit. Will be back Monday.

Live long and prosper. \\//