Baby Cocoon

I found some yummy superwash merino at the Needle Emporium, and with one skein, made a fast knit, very stretchy,  baby sack / cocoon.  It will be for only the first month or two, but what a lovely warm hug for a newborn in the winter!  The added bonus is it becomes a slouchy winter hat for the parents after baby has outgrown it...  sweet.

 Photos with my bear who is 16 inches tall, and quite chubby. 

 Hat for daddy!

Baby Cocoon

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino worsted weight.  100 grams, 210 yards  (superwash, so in the machine it can go!)

Needles:   5.0 mm  (US 8)  FOUR double point (knit in the round, so no seaming)  AND a short circular needle in 5.0 mm  (you may be fine on just the double point needles, but you can switch to circ’s if you prefer once the total number of stitches are reached)

Stitch marker

Gauge   22 sts = 4 inches in 2 by 2 ribbing, relaxed.  (very stretchy, so close enough will probably work fine too!)

Pattern:  2 by 2 ribbing:  knit 2, purl2, round and round (must be worked on total stitches that divide evenly by 4!)

Pattern:  Starting at the bottom of the sack (the top of the head when worn as a hat):

Cast on 12 sts.  Join without twisting and knit one row.  Place marker to show row end.

Next row: knit in the front and back of all the stitches:  (24)

Knit one row. (knitting all the stitches)

Next row:   [Knit 1, Knit in front and back of next stitch] repeat to end of row (36)

Knit one row.

Next row: [knit 1, purl 1, knit in front and back of next stitch] repeat to end.  (48)

Single rib next row: [knit 1, purl 1] repeat to end.  (48 still)

Work in single rib for 2 more rows.

Next row:  [ Knit front and back of next stitch, purl 1] repeat across row  (72)

Next 3 rows:  [knit 2, purl 1]

Last increase:  [knit 2, purl front and back of next stitch] repeat across row (96).  (you may want to switch to a short circular needle for the rest of the knitting.  Must be short enough to work evenly around the sack.)

Rest of rows:  (you can take the marker off now, as you will just work the pattern until length is reached)

Knit two, purl two until total length is 14 inches from the start.  Cast off loosely all stitches.  Graft the small opening at the start of the cocoon.

Baby Bunting Coat

Baby Bunting Coat

31 years ago I made one of these for my first baby.  He wore it in the stroller, car seat, and out to visit family.  I used it as outerwear, over his cute sleepers and clothes.  It was stretchy enough to it all the car seat straps around.  Now I re-create it with fabulous Noro yarn,  Crazy soft, and funky colours!

Size,   3 – 9 months.  24 inches around the chest.  Should be worn loose over regular baby clothes.  Outerwear.

Yarn:  3 balls of NoroSilk Garden.  (or any Worsted weight that knits to gauge)

Needles, 4.5mm (US7).

Stitch holders, and markers.  Buttons.

Gauge:   16 sts and 20 rows = 4 inches.  CHECK GAUGE please.

The body is worked in ONE piece until under arm, then separated into tow fronts, and one back.   This keeps the stripes matching until the top bodice.

Body: Cast on 101.  Row 1: knit all stitches    Row 2: knit 6, place marker, purl 89, place marker, knit 6.

Row 3: knit all sts, slipping markers.

Row 4: knit 6, slip marker, purl to next marker, slip marker, knit 6.

Repeat row 3 and 4. **** Buttonholes:  on row 11 (right side facing) knit 1, knit 2 together, Yarn over, knit 2 together, knit 1, continue to work rest of row. Row 12, work to last marker, knit 2,  Knit in the front AND back of yarn over below, knit 2 ( you just created two sts in the top of the button hole).*****

Work the row 3, 4 repeat, placing a button hole AT THE RIGHT FRONT EDGE on every 11^th row, about ever 2”, as described above,  until piece measures 20.5 inches. 

Right side row:   Separate fronts and back :  Knit 25, cast off 3, knit 44, cast off 3, knit 25.  Place both sets of front stitches (25s) on stitch holders.  Working the back (attach new yarn, and start on the wrong side) work in stocking stitch for 4.5 inches,  then cast off stitches.

For right front: pick up the right front stitches, attach yarn starting on the wrong side: work for 2.5 inches, keeping the garter stitch band on the 6 front edge sts (inside the marker)AND KEEPING UP THE BUTTON HOLE PLACEMENT.  With right side facing, cast off 6 sts once (remove marker), then 1 st and the neck side, 3 times.  When front is 4.5 inches, cast off all sts.

Left front, pick up the sts, working from the wrong side, work 2.5 inches.  With wrong side facing, cast off 6 sts once, then 1 at neck side, 3 times.  At 4.5 inches, cast off all sts.

BEFORE you sew the shoulder seam, add the sleeves!  With right side facing you, Pick up 16 sts DOWN from the shoulder to the armhole, then 16 up the other side.  Work in stocking stitch, decreasing one st each side on row 4, and every 4^th row, until 26 sts.  Then garter stitch (knit every row ) for one inch.  Cast off all stitches.  Work other sleeve.

Fold sleeves in half, you should have a TOP of sleeve seam and shoulder seam to sew closed.

HOOD:  With right side facing, pick up 15 from right front, 8 across the back,(center of back) place marker, 8 more from the back, 15 from left front.  Work hood with 6 garter stitch front edge (use markers if needed), and stocking stitch in between. 

Continue in this pattern, increasing one stitch on each side of the center back marker every 4 rows, 7 times (50 sts.)  Work even until hood measures 8 inches.  Cast off.  Fold in half, and sew top of head seam.  Sew bottom edge of bunting.

Sew on buttons

My Italian Villa

For the last few months, I have been working on a painting. It is an acrylic on canvas, based on a lovely photo of a friends family home in Italy.  The photo has been the desktop photo on my computer, and I have zoomed in to each section to get the details into the canvas.  I presented it to my friend today and she was pleased.  It is being framed now.
It is a large piece, 4 feet by 2 feet.  Perfect for over the sofa.

 The bricks on the old farm house were so cool to paint.  The black holes were left over after the scaffolding(wood posts) that was built into the wall as it was constructed, were removed.

 The property sloped down the side of the hill...  Small villages are seen in the background, surrounding the local churches.

 Chickens in the yard...

 Sheep in the lower yard...

And the original photo.  Beautiful.

I will miss her.... ciao bella

Tizzy Bunny

Here she is!  Tizzy bunny is made from an unusual, but inexpensive yarn, bernat tizzy.  You will find it soft, with a million squiggly fingers.  You cannot see the knit stitches AT ALL, and my friends needed to be told several times that, yes, it is a knitting project.

 Two views, one with flash and one with natural light...

 She can only stand if leaning on the pillow, and is 15" tall.

 tiny button tail....

Tizzy Bunny

This cute plushy is SO fast to knit, I started and finished it in about 5 hours (and yes, I am a quick knitter, but still, that was a quick knit!!).  Not for beginners, but still simple enough for knitters that know stocking stitch, increases, decreases, and never drop stitches (this yarn is difficult to see the stitches for pickup!).  It is worked on straight needles and seamed, so you also need to know sewing seams, and hand or machine sewing for the ear lining (felt), and nose, eyes and mouth.  I do not know if it would look as cool in ANY other yarn, so beware switching yarns.

She stands 15" toe to tip of ears.

Yarn: One ball of Bernat Tizzy, white.

Needles:  6mm, (US 8)

Gauge:  9 sts = 4 inches on 6mm needles.  Note this yarn suggests 10 mm (US 15), but by using a smaller needle, you will end up with tighter gauge that will not allow the stuffing to “peak through”. 

Other stuff:  poly stuffing, bits of pink fabric, and blue fabric (tee shirt knits work great), white felt for ear lining, and rose yarn for mouth.  Ribbon for neck decoration.

Body and Head:  (working from bottom of bunny)  Cast on 20 sts.   Wrong side:   Knit this row, increasing 4 evenly across. 

Work in Reverse Stocking Stitch (purl right side, knit wrong side) for 3 “, ending with purl row.

Next row (wrong side) knit row – decreasing 4 evenly across (this in the neck decrease)

Purl next row, then knit next row, decreasing 4 more evenly across.  Purl one more row.   (16 sts on needle)

Increase for head:  Knit 3, Knit front and back (increase), knit 3, knit front and back, knit front and back, knit 3, knit front and back, knit 3.   (20 sts on needle)

Purl one row.

Knit 9, knit front and back, knit front and back, knit 9.   (22 on needles)

Work 3 rows.

Knit 10, knit front and back, knit front and back, knit 10  (24 on needles) – this is the point of the nose-

Purl row

Knit row, decreasing 4 evenly across the row.

Purl row

Knit row, decreasing 4 evenly across the row.  (16 on needle)

Purl row

Knit row, decreasing 4 evenly across row.  (12 on needles)

Cast of all stitches.

Legs:  Cast on 10 sts, work 4 “  in reverse stocking stitch, cast off all sts. (make 2)

Arms: Cast on 8, work 3”, cast off all sts.

Ears: Cast on 6 sts.  Work 2.5 “.  Decrease 1 sts each side on the right side rows, until 2 sts left, then knit 2 together and slip yarn through loop to finish. (should make a bit of a point)

Tail:  Cast on 4. Purl row.  Knit row, increasing 2 in row. Purl row.  Knit row, decrease 2.  Purl row.  Cast off.

Now comes the sewing.  I found that using the Tizzy yarn to sew seams looks great but is super difficult, due to the million fingers catching in the needle.  You could use a matching sport weight yarn that is smooth, to sew up to ease this part.

Sew back seam of body head, leaving opening at the top and bottom.   Stuff lightly the body and head, and sew the bottom seam.   Sew arm and leg seams, closing one end, and lightly stiff the other end (do not stuff too firmly, not as cuddly that way!).   Sew legs and arms to body.

Fold tail into a cute bump, sew around this to the back side of bunny.

Ears: cut felt lining to a size smaller than the ear, and sew in place by machine or hand.  Fold bottom edges to meet in center (see close up of bunny face) and sew ears to the top opening, closing the head opening and securing ears in upright position.  The felt will help hold ears up.

Nose.  I used a bit of pink tee shirt scrap and made a folded rectangle (edges tucked under) and sewed in place with regular thread and needle.  With darning needle and rose sock yarn scrap, I sewed the mouth detail.   

The eyes… you could use buttons if not for a baby or toddler, but mine is for a baby, so I cut a half inch strip of peacock tee shirt fabric, about 15 inches long. Using a large eyed darning needle, I made french knots in the eye position.  To reinforce these eyes, I also used regular needle and thread and sewed them more securedly in place.

Ribbon at neck and you are done!

 Close up of the face, embroider mouth, fabric nose, french knot eyes.