Project updates

The New York cardigan came out lovely, wearing it now in fact!  Will get a good post blocking picture up soon.

As for the swaddle sacks, I had taken a complete guess as to how big they should be, and when I saw a comparison to a similar item it was laughable how small mine was!  It's funny how your memory messes with you.  I had an average sized newborn not all that long ago, how could I forget so quickly??  I'm gonna blame it on hormones and sleep deprivation haze.  After a reworking, it went from 14" circumference and 7.5" long to 20" circumference and 12" long and I used juuuust under one skein.  Next I need to write up a pattern and get it up on Etsy and Ravelry!  They seem to be a quite popular item, so I'm curious to see how they sell against the pants patterns.

I also need to work on my knitting design layout.  It's fine in Word, but definitely has an unfinished look. I wold love to have something more professional that I could take to the local yarn shops. Publisher seems to be the way to go, but I so far have felt pretty overwhelmed when I sit down and try to figure it out.  C'mon, I'm a techie, I can do this!!

Check out this snuggly baby in the swaddle sack, can you hear my ovaries screaming right now? So cute!!

New York sweater - Almost done!

I really doubted my ability to do some resizing to a smaller size needle on this project, not sure why.  It fits exactly how I wanted it to!  Once again, I was wrong to doubt myself, silly me!  

I did swatch up a square with a size 8 needle, and I liked the drape of it, but then the stitches become inconsistent looking.  I think that would come out in blocking, but anyways I decided to stick with my original idea on size 6 needles.  I find it's usually in my best interest to stick with the original vision I have for a project.  Once I rethink it too many times the vision is lost.

I did have to shorten the sleeves and I think I like it better this way!  I'll try wearing it a few times and see what I think.  I can always attempt to order a couple more balls of yarn.  

Here's a shot before blocking.  Just have to weave in those pesky ends and cinch up the collar at the back of the neck, which I will leave for after blocking. 

Swaddle sacks

Working on a new project for my photographer friend, swaddle sacks.  It goes on just over the baby's body, over a wrap.  Really cute and I love the colors, but not sure if I got the sizing right.  The thick and thin yarn is a bit challenging to work with though, it's tough to get good tension.  Can't wait to see what they look like on a lovely little newborn!

Current project

I'm currently working on the New York Cardigan (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Suze/new-york-cardigan).  I had ordered 7 skeins of DK weight yarn intending to make a sweater out of it, but didn't have a pattern picked out for it.  Now I'm running out of yarn! :(  I had decided I liked the look of a tighter knit, so made it on size 6 needles instead of the size 9 the pattern called for.  Now I'm regretting that decision because a larger needle would make the yarn go a little further.  Is it totally crazy that I'm debating reworking an entire sweater so I can avoid ordering more yarn?  Gah! I'm not even sure if it would be enough to make the difference I need, but I'm still considering it anyway.  I think I will swatch up a piece tonight with size 8 or 9 need and see what I think of the drape.  As usual, I should have done that before I jumped into the project, but that's the great thing about knitting, you can almost always redo it!

Designing knitwear

In the past year I've started on a small side venture, designing knit wear.  It all started after I had Matilda and met my wonderful baby photographer.  I had brought some knit shawls in for the baby to be photographed all wrapped up in.  She later asked if I could knit her some baby items to use as props in exchange for future photo sessions.  I couldn't find a pattern for what she requested, lacy baby pants, so I designed one myself.  We were in the yarn shop and the owner was saying she could surely sell such a pattern, so I should write it up and give it a try.  So I did.  And it sold!  Ok, not a lot, but some anyway.  It's a great feeling, putting my expertise to use to create something new.

Since then I have created a few more patterns and it's interesting to see what sells and what doesn't, though I haven't put much effort into ads or self promotion.  I have a whole list of things that I want to try my hand at designing, either because it's an interesting pattern, or something I want for Matilda to wear.

Some designs that I've been thinking about:

• Pants with patches on them, hearts and ovals.  Maybe the patches could be little pockets?
• Entrelac heart banner.  A good way to use up odds and ends.  Could I make it all in one piece?  Most people prefer less sewing up at the end.  Another idea is to crochet the cord to desired length and add the banners every N stitches.
• Pants with a skirt/ruffle.  Tilda inherited some RTW pants with a skirt on them and I love that look, so cute!  There are lots of possibilities here: lacy, ruffly, garter, color combos, stripes.

What I came here for

I picked the blog name Threadscapes because it relates to knitting, my favorite past time and forever obsession.  I'm not sure exactly what it is about it, but I can always find something new to excite me about knitting.  Endless colors, yarns, patterns...the choices are infinite!  I can spend an entire day knitting and not be bored.  And yet, not a single post so far about knitting.  Interesting.  There are lots of other topics I'd like to write about as well, but it's easiest to think about writing things related to knitting because I have some sense of accomplishment and mastery there.  While some may judge my style or color choices and I could give a rip about that, it's far scarier writing about real life and all it's challenges.

Anyways!  The next couple of posts I have in mind ARE knitting related, so let's get to the good stuff!

A most excellent day!

Today was amazing!  I woke up with so much energy and got a ton of stuff done.  I felt like I could just keep going and going and going...did someone put crack in my breakfast or what?  We cooked a lovely breakfast of pancakes and eggs with feta and veggies, and had some nice family time.  Tilda was so cute wandering around munching on a tiny pancake.  Rocky tried to steal it more than once, but didn't get it.

When Tilda went down for a nap (and stayed down for 3 hours, woo!) I decided it was time to do laundry and get some cooking done.  I made butternut squash soup, this time with cloves as the recipe calls for but I usually don't have.  I'm not sure I liked that addition.  I also burnt the onions just a little, so not sure which threw off the flavor.  

I also washed and chopped the rest of the veggies in the fridge, so now we have butternut squash cubes, cauliflower and broccoli, as well as all the salad veggies ready to be used.  It's nice to be prepared.  I don't mind cooking most nights, but it's tough to add all that prep time on a weeknight.  

Matt had band practice, so I took Tilda to the Wilmot gateway park.  She wasn't too into swinging today, mostly just wanted to stand and watch all the big kids playing.  She's so interested in other people, it's really cute to watch.  I took her down the slide a few times and she seemed to like it.  Then we took a nice long stroll along the Sammamish River Trail.  So pretty out there.  It was in the 50's and sunny in January, I love living in Seattle!

Next we ran a quick errand at the mall (argh, they forgot to take the security tag off my sweater) and hit the grocery store.  I dawdled there a little too long and Tilda hit meltdown city as we checked out.  Need to be packing more snacks!  Now that she's eating solids more at least we can get snacks on the go if we have to.  I got some frozen halibut filets at the store and made fish en pappillote for dinner with a salad and potatoes.

I don't know what got into me, but I like to think all this energy comes from the heathly eating and exercising lately!  It's a good reminder that taking care of yourself really does pay off.  Tomorrow I am going to take the day off for this week, so I can go to bed dreaming of what I'll have for brunch, and we're going to see a movie at the fancy iPic theater in the afternoon, popcorn time!