Funky Baby-Wear

Because two of the attorneys at my summer job were expectant mothers (congrats to both!) and I have a new nephew, I've gotten to knit some cute and tiny baby things lately.

---

First there was the Baby Sheep Hat for my little nephew:




Baby Sheep Hat by Melissa Burt

• Yarn 1: Morehouse Merino Gator Yarn, color "CreekCroc," 100% Merino Wool (225 yards / 57 g per skein), 0.3 skeins
  
• Yarn 2: Patons Classic Wool Merino, color "Worn Denim," 100% Merino Wool (223 yards / 100 g per skein), 0.19 skeins
  
• Yarn 3: Cascade 220, color "Natural," 100% Wool (220 yards / 100 g per skein), 0.13 skeins
  
• Yarn 4: Cascade 220, color "Black," 100% Wool (220 yards / 100 g per skein), 0.02 skeins
  
• Yarn 5: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Superwash Worsted, color "Corn Silk," 100% Washable Wool (200 yards / 100 g per skein), a yard or so
  
• Needle: US 3 (3.25 mm) double pointed needles

I cast on 84 stitches for a bigger hat, adding two of the front-facing sheep to fill in the blank areas between the normal pattern repeats, giving me 8 sheep in total.



The last time I tried to make a pom-pon I managed to produce only an anemic shadow of one because I didn't use nearly enough yarn. This time I was determined not to make the same mistake -- so instead I used so much yarn that my little "fluff" ball is actually quite solid and significantly heavier than you might expect. Ah, well... such is life.




The hat has multiple uses. For example, it doubles as a tiny wastebasket (with a fluffy surprise in the bottom):



A close-up of the sheepies:



Moana graced the hat with one of her rare photo sessions:

---

Next, I knit a Baby Surprise Jacket for the daughter of one of my co-workers (although we didn't know the baby's gender when I started):





Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann

• Yarn 1: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight, color "Muddy Autumn Rainbow," 100% Merino Wool (360 yards / 127 g per skein), 0.33 skeins
  
• Yarn 2: Malabrigo Yarn Sock, color "Ochre," 100% Merino Wool (440 yards / 100 g per skein), 0.29 skeins
  
• Needle: US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Knitpicks circular needle

It's a pretty ingenious design. I love the way it comes together, from this...



...to this...




I added ribbed cuffs and a little collar after seeing this cute version.



Here are some other views:





All in all, a very cute little sweater :)

---

Lastly, I knit these short-tailed albatross* feet for my other co-worker's new baby boy:



* Note: Descriptions of short-tailed albatross foot color range from pale bluish to pinkish gray to yellow. Evidently, juveniles have dark legs, and as they mature their legs become paler.

Duck by Jeny Staiman

• Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock, color "Ochre," 100% Merino Wool (440 yards / 100 g per skein)
  
• Needle: US 0 (2.0 mm) Knitpicks circular needle and double pointed needles

And now for the modelled shots. On my fingers:



On Moana (hey, it was worth a try!):



On Bug:






On the back feet:








...and on the front feet:






(bat ears in first and last pictures courtesy of a wide-angle lens)

Two socks are better than one

At least, they are more useful for performing vulcan mind-melds with your cat :)

• Sock Recipe: A Good, Plain Sock by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (in Knitting Rules!)
  
• Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi, 80% Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon, (215 yards / 57 g per skein), ~1.51 skeins, colorway "Vera"
  
• US 00 (1.75 mm) aluminum dpns
  

I made the first of these socks in May/June 2007 to convince myself that I would be able to produce something resembling socks for Sockapalooza 4. I made a pair of fiery looking Monkeys for my Pal in June of 2007, and... I've been intending to make the second sock (to complete what should have been my first pair) ever since.

I have been trying to put my new job's long public transportation commute time to good use, and the second sock was the first knitting beneficiary (I've also gotten more reading done than usual). I'm pleased to report that I didn't lose any of my needles on Caltrain or MUNI, and my yarn ball managed to behave itself - admirably resisting the urge to leap off my lap and go tumbling down the aisle or beneath the seat in front of me.

There's not much to say about this basic sock, except that I like the pattern very much :) I found it to be straightforward: easy to follow and to understand. I cast on 76 stitches and used teeny-tiny needles (00) to accommodate my gauge. I did make some notes in the margins of Stephanie's book, but I mainly used the first sock as a guide for the second.





Bug was game for a little photoshoot once he discovered I could itch him under the chin (albeit rather clumsily) with my toes.







Of course, he's always happy to model blanket-like objects...




I'm trying to post more often, even though I'm feeling awfully busy, and I hope to get back to more blog reading as well as I get settled into my new schedule - I am missing so much of what you guys are doing!

In the meantime, I hope you all have a great week!