Keeping Up With AmyLouLa

Something in the Water?

I know of at least 5  people who are pregnant right now. For me, that means knitting. I am never quite so happy as when I'm knitting for a new baby. I have found that I really enjoy making blankets. They take a bit longer to make than my average project, but the return is amazing. The above I knitted up for my former roommates, Becky and Chris. I'm so excited that they are welcoming their first child in just a few months. Congratulations to all the future moms and dads out there!

New Knitted Cap for Austin

  
I have, of course, been knitting pretty consistently, even though I haven't been posting about it consistently. The above-pictured cap was knitted for my friend and co-worker, Austin. He's an amazing gentleman and so wonderful to work with, efficient yet fun and quick with a smile or a joke. He filled in for me a few times when I couldn't be at work, and to thank him, I made him a tuque of dark green. When I ran out of the dark green, he and I put our heads together and decided to finish it out in brown. I think it turned out rather nice, and it fits him perfectly. (A special thank you to SARAH for taking the photos!)

  

I knitted a similar tuque for Jimmy, also a good friend and co-worker, but I am writing up that pattern and will publish it when it's ready. His was in Slitherin colors and I want to see if some of the Potter knitting sites will carry it. Also knitted in Slitherin colors for Jimmy: a pair of fingerless gauntlets for those chilly mornings working the drive-through window. Uncle Tommy got a pair of camouflage-colored leg warmers for his calves, so he could get through the chill this winter brought to Florida.

I am knitting more projects for friends and family. I find knitting for people to be very rewarding. And honestly, there are only so many scarves I can have, and my favorite ones were made for me by friends. So if you get something in the mail from me, don't be surprised. It's just my busy fingers at work!

A Touch of Teal

 

Just a quick post today. This is one of a pair of fingerless mitts my friend Kathleen "hired" me to make for her friend Lisa. Lisa is a writer, and these will be perfect for her on chilly days when she wants warm hands but still needs nimble fingers.

Bradley is in Indianapolis this morning. Still no word as to where he'll go next, but it's pretty likely Fargo. Have a great Friday!

Christmas Hat for Jasper

Bradley's daughter, Robyn, asked if I could knit grandbaby Jasper some warm hats for Christmas. Of course I said yes! I am ecstatic to do it! Here's one of the ones I made. Robyn, there is another one that will match his coats, but I was inspired to knit something Christmas-y.

This is a very simple pattern based on Lyra's hat from the movie "The Golden Compass." The original pattern is here. I modified it by adding some white eyelash yarn to the front to imitate Santa hats. It is a super-easy cap to make, and knits up in just about an hour. I can't wait to see a picture of Jasper in it!

How about you knitters out there? Anything on your needles? 

Baby Cap For Baby Devlin

My friends Allison and Brock in Los Angeles just had a baby, so you know what that means! Baby cap!!

I knitted this one using a machine-washable and -dryable synthetic yarn (I think from Lion's Brand) in lavender and purple. Cast on 60 stitches to a size 7 circular needle and knit in lavender for about 2 inches. Then alternate 2 rows of purple with one row of lavender for about 5 inches. I used a 3-needle bind off and added tassles. Voila!

Congrats to the new moms and their very lucky and loved babe!

Latest Finished Object

This is a little Gryffindor cap I knitted for a guy I work with whose wife just had a little girl. Since they're such Harry Potter fans, I wanted to make something that would incorporate their love of their favorite Hogwarts house. I based it on a pattern called "Baby Hat with the Swirl on Top," although, since I modified the pattern, it looks nothing like it's supposed to. I kind of like it, though.

Basically, I cast on 60 stitches to a US size 7 circular needle and knitted in maroon (I know it looks like red and yellow, but it's maroon and gold) for about an inch and a half. Then, I alternated colors every third stitch. I decreased the top by dividing it into four sections and knitting two together around the stitch markers. I added the pompom and voila! Gryffindor Baby Cap!

Baby Blanket For Baby James

Our nephew James was born June 12, but it took me a wee bit longer to get his blankie knitted and shipped off. I thought, since the blanket was delivered and there are no surprises now, that I would share the pictures of it with you.

It's knitted using two strands of yarn held together. We knew it would be a boy, so I used the somewhat "in" colors of light blue and chocolate brown. This is a fun block pattern from a small booklet called "Quick Knit Baby Afghans," by Evelyn A. Clark. The patterns in the book are really nice, and I recommend them if you have a babe to knit for. They are just fun enough to keep your interest without being too complex.

Baby Hats in a Jiffy

My wonderful awesome family doctor just had a baby with his wife. I made the baby these. Super easy and quite quick. I have two more I am making for another friend's wife. They too just had a babe not too long ago. I love making these because they go so quickly. I'm actually thinking about trying to sell them on Craigslist. How much would you pay for hand-made baby caps, customized for whatever little tyke you're buying for?

Inspired Again

It's getting to be the time of year when I like to knit. This summer it was difficult to get motivated, partly because of the heat (who wants to think about wearing knit hats and scarves?) and partly because we had the house to focus on. But then, my friend Dana made me this avatar, and it inspired me to get knitting again:

Isn't that just the cutest cap? I want to make one just like it. But meanwhile, here's the first project I'm working on for fall:
 

It will be a cap with a broken rib pattern. I love this pattern, and I've adapted it slightly to make it my very own. I'm hoping that if I can get it down to a science so that each one only takes me a few hours, I can sell some and make some extra cash. Especially if I knit them in UT orange and white. With the weather getting chilly again, they should sell like hotcakes.

Taking orders now!

What projects are YOU working on for fall?

My Blue Sky Scarf

I just finished this the weekend before last, just in time for our "Dogwood Winter" day. So I got to wear it one time before the weather warmed up too much. Hooray!

I knitted this using a pattern Melise gave me: Classic Elite Yarns "Sinful" Ribbed Scarf. Scroll down to the bottom of the linked page to download a PDF of the pattern. It's a very simple pattern, easy enough for beginners, but fun and different enough for more medium to advanced knitters too.

Instead of using the Classic Elite Yarn, "Sinful," though, I used one of my most favorite yarns in the world: Blue Sky Cotton, in color 616, "Sky." It's a lusciously soft yarn that knits up like a dream and looks amazing in this pattern. It feels good on your skin, too.

This scarf took me many months to complete, simply because I would pick it up for a while, then put it aside. It's a good project for that because it's not too complicated, and very easy to pick up on the fly. It was worth the wait though, and it's my new favorite scarf. Now I just have to wait for cooler weather! But I'm not in any hurry...