Now that he's opened his present, I can share a photo of my very first pair of socks! Once I got accustomed to using little tiny double pointed needles, these were a breeze. Well, except for the kitchener stitch on the toes. I looked up diagrams in all my knitting books and watched little online tutorials and I'm still not entirely convinced I did it right. Now I know why knitters get hooked on socks and go through periods of knitting nothing but socks and wearing nothing but hand knit socks (well, on their feet, I mean). I put these on so I could snap a quick pic and really didn't want to take them off!
You might think I'd move on to a project with more of an immediate gratification factor, but I decided to knit up a baby sweater I've had bookmarked in an old copy of Interweave Knits for years. Knitting for babies and children can go pretty quickly, but not when you're knitting them up on size 2 and 3 needles. It is going to be very pretty though;)
Speaking of knitting for baby, can anyone point me in the direction of their favorite baby knits? Not necessarily looking for free stuff, just cute stuff that's not knit on gigantic needles (I think little babies in bulky knits always look a bit overstuffed and uncomfortable). I adore Debbie Bliss, but having worked on a couple of her projects, I always seem to end up saying, "Now why did she do it this way? Surely, it would have been easier to just..." It seems I'm proficient enough to notice when it could be done more efficiently, but not necessarily while initially reading through the pattern. She just seems to leave a lot of finishing. A lot of hats with seams to sew, as opposed to knitting them in the round. I had planned on starting the holiday sweatshop early, but I think a better use of my knitting time this summer knitting for baby;) One of the nicest things about knitting for someone else, is all the time you spend thinking about them while you are knitting and I think spending some time thinking warm happy baby thoughts will be very nice indeed.
Hmmmm, babies.
Yay for socks! As for baby-wear, if you are looking for a quick fix, then this Sweet Baby Cap can't be beat. A book I like to recommend is Chic Knits for Stylish Babies: 65 Charming Patterns for the First Year by Patricia Wagner. You can see images of the patterns on knitpicks.com.
Posted by: Rebecca H. | March 03, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Yay for socks! As for baby-wear, if you are looking for a quick fix, then the Sweet Baby Cap can't be beat. A book I like to recommend is Chic Knits for Stylish Babies: 65 Charming Patterns for the First Year by Patricia Wagner. You can see images of the patterns on knitpicks.com.
Posted by: Rebecca H. | March 03, 2008 at 04:56 PM
I love socks, too. Try a toe-up design that uses a clever 'magic cast-on' which I think I found on Knitty. Also easier I think to get a good fit. I've yet to master Kitchnering--it never looks right. I've seen several lovely 'Baby Surprise' cardis from the Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern which I hear are a delight and whiz to knit.
Posted by: Sarah K | March 03, 2008 at 06:14 PM
very comfortable socks indeed, I shall keep them for special occasions, as they wear shall I return them for darning, I hope you have kept extra wool ?
please don't encase your babies in woolies, they don't like it, babies need silk, and some men, babies don't cry because of full diapers or hunger they cry because of itchy wool. now stop it.
Posted by: peartree | March 05, 2008 at 08:55 AM
woohoo!
ps, I emailed you.
Posted by: rawedges | March 15, 2008 at 07:55 AM