be.knit.picky.

Months, it's been months....

2011-11-21T12:15:00.001-06:00

And I am sure most of my readers have officially deserted my blog. Turns out having two small children and working full time has me quite busy! Although, I have somehow managed to knit up a couple of projects...

First up... Marching Elephants longies! The pattern is my own and the elephant chart can be found HERE. These were a custom knit for a super duper adorable baby boy. When I get modeled photos, I shall share! Knit using Cascade 220 in navy and light gray.

Up next is a stripy hat (another custom knit for a super duper adorable toddler girl!) and the pattern is again, my own. Mmmmmmmm. Malabrigo is the yarn I chose. The hat is roughly a 24mo size.

Baby K needed a Yoda hat for his Halloween costume. I whipped this up in about a day. The pattern can be found HERE. I decided not to do the ear flaps and cord b/c I um, ran out of time! I did however use glue to make the ears stay up more. Used Berroco Ultra Alpaca yarn for this project. Made for soft felted wool!

While I cannot promise I am back to blogging full time, I can promise that I am actually knitting over here. I have also been playing with interlock wool. This weekend I plan on dyeing a bunch of it. I'll keep you updated. If you haven't had a chance, go on over and "like" my FB page. I seem to be on there a little more frequently. I also have some giveaways planned so stay tuned!

Diaper Palz

2011-08-23T09:59:00.002-05:00

About a month ago I purchased a pail liner from Diaper Palz. The company was recommended to me and when I visited their super cute website, I saw the amazing prices and I ordered right away. Well, weeks and weeks go by and I had yet to receive my item. After emailing the company asking the status, they quickly responded with tracking info indicating that the liner was in fact, delivered. I then responded saying I definitely did not receive the item and that I was bummed. Before I could order a replacement, I received an email from the company saying they would send me another one. Now, THAT my friend is customer service. Clearly the item had been delivered and clearly I did not receive said item (I just know one of my neighbors is using it as I type - haha). Great company. Now, go order some fluff accessories.....

ps - They have $1 shipping EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

Five Months

2011-08-08T11:31:00.000-05:00

Baby K is five months old now. I know, how did this happen? Just yesterday I was complaining about how hugely pregnant I was and now here we are, 5 months later. I love this age. He is so sweet and cuddly. Smiles all of the time and has the sweetest giggle ever.

Baby K is rolling all over the place (need to baby proof the house asap!), putting everything in his mouth and loving his big brother. It's so awesome to watch the two interact. The Little Dude loves to make his baby brother laugh by dancing and singing. Baby K is like my little koala cub. Attached at the hip, hanging on for the ride. If I am in the room, he is on me and I love this. Having been down this road, I know how short this time is. Daycare drop off is really hard some days, but knowing I get to see him on my lunch break makes it a little easier.

Happy Five Months Baby K!!

Randomness

2011-07-27T09:06:00.004-05:00

I have lots of blog posts swimming around in my head, but no time to write them all out. So, I leave you with pure randomness...

The Little Dude completed a super impressive lego (castle!) project that is (according to the box) meant for ages 6-12. He's 4. I know he is my kid, but I really think he is super smart. The kid can focus.
My cloth diaper obsession reached a new level. I dreamed that one of my favorite brands (Sustainablebabyish) came out with a new color of knits. WOW.
I have 3+ custom knitting orders going on right now. I really LOVE to make things for other people. It's why I knit. Once winter (does that really happen here?) arrives you will see me complain about how I have no handmade knits for myself to wear.
I am already excited for the Holidays. Funny how I get SO excited months in advance to set up decorations, yet as soon as Christmas is over I cannot get the decorations put away fast enough.
I am often confused by the "competition" for sales amongst crafters. People buy what they want to buy. There is no need to try and one up or "steal" sales. Let's all play nice!
On the edge of my seat to see if I get accepted to a Masters program for the fall. They JUST started checking applications. Um, registration started this past Saturday. Something seems off about this. It's a UT system school and I am not sure what the delay is all about.
I will be SO sad if I don't get accepted. (see above comment)
I am camera-less. Had to return my lens because the auto-focus stopped working. Lesson learned: Do not buy a camera lens from South Korea off of eBay.
Knitting tip! When making a top-down cardigan, use smaller needles (by at least TWO sizes) for the first couple of rows so that the neck isn't all wonky and easy to stretch out.

I leave you with an adorable fluff photo of Baby K.

He is rockin' his custom made fitted diaper from Orange Diaper Company. The fabric is Heather Ross from the Mendocino (Large Octopus) collection. lovelovelove

Custom Orders!

2011-07-18T15:30:00.001-05:00

Did you know that Be Knit Picky is now accepting custom orders? See something you like in the shop, but it's not the right color/size? Send me an email and we can create a custom listing!

Coming soon are hand knit, 100% wool soakers, shorties and longies for your little one. There will be plenty in stock for insta-fluff gratification (I can even lanolize for you!), as well as custom orders. Have a specific color or design in mind, email me and we can make it happen.

Focusing

2011-07-16T16:12:00.000-05:00

Most knitters have lots of projects in progress. I refer to this as Knitting ADD. It's highly possible I suffer from this. Working on just one project is boring in my opinion. I often find too that while I am working on one project, I am thinking about another. In a sense, I am cheating on my projects. Bad, bad knitter!

Be Knit Picky, the shop (hehe, sounds funny when it's written that way) is currently focusing on tees, which are awesome, but I need more hand knits. Over the next couple of weeks, I am going to be focusing on hand knits.

Longies or shorties, not decided yet...

What sort of hand knits would you like to see in stock at Be Knit Picky the shop?

Be Knit Picky on FaceBook!

2011-07-14T22:09:00.001-05:00

It' official, Be Knit Picky has a FaceBook page. I am now totally submersed into the world of social media...

When I get to '50' likes there shall be a knit-tacular giveaway... One that's for all people, not just the cloth diaper or yarn lovin' peeps. It's gender neutral too. An accessory that is useful to all.

Click on the button and go check it out..

Baby K's Pixie Hat

2011-07-12T10:10:00.002-05:00

OK, stop looking at his adorable chub chub rolls and focus on the hat. I know, it's tough. Who doesn't love a pixie hat on a baby? I knit this hat ages ago. In fact, I started it when I wasn't even pregnant or even thinking about baby #2! This was one of those projects that I started and then it sat in a project bag for months. Instead of nesting during my 3rd trimester with Baby K, I knit. A lot. Seriously, this kid had an entire line of hand knits (mostly cardis!) before he was even born. Before I even knew he would be a HE.

Anyways, the pixie hat... I love the simplicity of this design. It is knit flat, seamed up and then the strap is added by picking up stitches. I found that part to be kind of annoying. I actually ripped it out and started the strap part over about 3 times before I was happy with the final look. Since you are picking up stitches on a ribbed edge, it is hard to make it not stretch out. For every 4 stitches, I picked up two.

Again, focus on the hat. Rolls are so cute on a baby, how come they aren't on me? Wait, don't answer that question! The colors in this hat are incredible. Again, Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks that Rock, Medium Weight, does not disappoint! The colorway is Farmhouse and I LOVE it. Remember, I made some Magic Slippers out of this yarn too (same skein!). I would love to one day be a Rockin' Sock Club member. Fiber mail is just as fun as fluff mail!

This hat will fit Baby K for some time. Which, is great because we live in the HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH. "Winter" usually arrives in Central Texas sometime around late November and even then, it's probably not hat wearing weather.

details....

pattern: Stella Pixie Hat by Kristen Rengren

yarn: Blue Moon Socks That Rock, Medium Weight, Farmhouse

my ravelry link: Pixie Hat

A budding artist

2011-07-09T22:30:00.001-05:00

It amuses me how a toy that has been in the back of the toy closet for ages, emerges and is the greatest.toy.ever.

The Magna-Doodle. Classic toy. The possibilities are endless.

"fish"

"giraffe"

"swim lessons"

"daddy"

Magna-Doodle was in tow for the entire day. The TV was not turned on once, nor were an show requests made. A good Saturday indeed.

All illustrations created 100% by The Little Dude. Four and three quarter years old.

Favorite Fluff: Gen-Y Diaper Covers

2011-07-06T08:57:00.005-05:00

With all of the "I <3 wool" talk yesterday, I thought it might be nice to share a favorite, non-wool cover today. It's amazing how Baby K's diaper stash has transformed since the beginning of our cloth diapering journey. A couple of months ago, I came across Gen-Y diaper covers. They are AMAZING. Not only are they super cute, they are also 99% leak proof (sorry, no cover or disposable for that matter, can be 100% - blow outs are just inevitable!). The covers are offered in two different styles: Classic (XS, S, M, L, XL) or Universal (S, L). Personally, I like the Classics. They just seem to fit Baby K better. The Universals are cool though because you can adjust the rise and they have gussets.

Our current Gen-Y stash from top to bottom: Serenity, Yippee!, Free Range, Dinomite, Oh! Gnome and Sushi Toss

It's hard to pick out a favorite because they are all SO incredibly cute. I love that the owner of this company (awesome customer service too!) uses fabric for the outer and PUL for the inner. Since we started using these, we haven't had any daytime leaks. I am sure they would make great nighttime covers as well, but we stick to wool at night. No reason to mess up a good/leak proof thing. I usually pair these covers with a flat during the day. (Favorite flats post coming soon!)

These covers are so cute that there is no way I can cover them up. This has inspired me to make some tees for Baby K, which then led me to make a LOT more tees to sell in my Etsy shop. Here is a peak, you can find more tees over at BeKnitPicky (there is a permanent link in the top right sidebar 'Buy Knits').

Over the next couple of weeks there will be shirts to match Free Range, Sushi Toss, Edgy Veggie and AniMayhem. I do custom orders as well, so if you see a tee you like, but need it in a different size/color, send me an email beknitpicky@gmail.com. These shirts do not have to be paired with your favorite Gen-Y diaper cover. They are for all babies/toddlers and would look just darling with some lounge pants too!

Hoot Soaker

2011-07-05T11:15:00.007-05:00

**If you would like to purchase the Hoot Soaker, please visit BeKnitPicky, the shop.**

It's pretty cool that my two addictions/obsessions can easily compliment one another. Cloth diapering and knitting go hand in hand, especially if you love wool as much as I do. Throughout my figuring out which cloth diapering scene works best for my boy, I discovered that nothing, in my opinion, beats the fitted dipe and wool combo. It's seriously leakproof and better yet, you are using all natural fibers. My husband thinks it nuts that I am putting our son in a wool soaker in the middle of summer in redic hot Texas. Wool is an amazing fiber though. It actually removes excess moisture away from your skin allowing you to keep cool in the hot summer. Bonus for cloth diapering! In the winter, wool acts like an insulator, allowing you to stay warm. Wool is sort of like a built in climate control system. I read a post on Facebook from a Mama who did an experiment and found that her little one's bum was actually 5 degrees cooler in the fitted dipe/wool soaker combo versus a disposable. Pretty neat! Another bonus for cloth diapering!

So, with all of this wool is a great fiber talk, I decided that Baby K needed some hand knit soakers. Retail value of these soakers can cost anywhere from $30 to $60! Yikes! Especially when you can knit one for less than $10. Over the next couple of months as Baby K grows, I hope to put out a bunch of soaker patterns. The first one I made while I was still pregnant and sadly, baby brain got the better half of me while knitting the pattern. I would love for someone to test knit before I put the pattern up (for free!). Comment on this post if you would like to test knit.

Introducing, the Hoot Soaker...

details....

pattern: Hoot Soaker by BeKnitPicky

yarn: Dream in Color, Happy Forest

my ravelry link: Hoot Soaker

Flashback Friday!

2011-07-01T10:25:00.000-05:00

Thank you for joining me for this week's edition of 'Flashback Friday'.

This week I bring to you a very special FO that I made back when I didn't know how to increase or decrease. In fact, at the time, I didn't even know how to purl. *gasp* I would LOVE to see this FO in person (it was a gift) and see just how I managed to actually make this. It must be a sight. However, to the non-knitter's eye, one would never know.

I bring to you 'The Ute'.

(PATTERN: Womb by MK Carroll)

Here's what I had to say about it back in July 2006:

"My sister and her wife tried having a baby for about 3 years. She found this pattern and asked me to knit this for her as a good luck charm. At the time I knitted this, I was pregnant (with my first son) and when I was finished, I rubbed it on my belly for good luck. My sister in law is now pregnant and due in November and my sister is pregnant with twins! Coincidence? I think not! How exciting!!!!"

My sister and her family. May 2011.

This November marks my nephew's 4th birthday and the twins turn 4 in March. My oldest son turns FIVE in October. How did this happen? *Sigh* Time really does go by so fast.

On a side note, 1 year ago today we found out we were expecting Baby K.

His name is chub chub

2011-06-29T15:13:00.003-05:00

Every time I look at this photo, I giggle. He is just so chub-a-licious.

Baby K is sporting a fabulous diaper cover made by the lovely ladies at Gen-Y. If you haven't used these covers before, do yourself a favor and order one up STAT. Do it quick though because they go fast. By the time you have read this post, they are probably all gone. For those of you who do own these, we will be having a whole boat load of matching tees coming soon to the BeKnitPicky etsy shop. In fact, hubbie is at home right now sewing away. Yes, you read that right. For those who do not cloth diaper, no worries, the tees can be worn with just about anything. Photo previews later this week!

Friday Fluff!

2011-06-24T08:44:00.001-05:00

Baby K sporting a Goodmama double brite.

Baby K rockin' a Gen-Y classic cover in Sushi Toss.

The A Team

2011-06-10T20:24:00.001-05:00

Well, it was only a matter of time that I would mention pumping and/or breastfeeding on this here blog. Both are a big part of my life now. During the week, 3 times a day, I hook up to my breast pump in this little empty office by my cubicle. It's nice, because I can leave everything set up. I literally walk in, sit down, hook up and pump away for approximately 15 minutes. I have it dialed in now. Pumping is a skill. You can't just expect your body to shift gears on it's own. Your baby will get way more milk out of you than any machine can. I have a different pump this time around and so far, I like it. Sure, it makes that funny noise, but what breast pump doesn't? I often wonder if my coworkers can hear the machine pumping away.

I feel so differently about breastfeeding this time around. With my first child, it was hard and I didn't last very long (a little more than 4 months). Perhaps it was my inexperience and/or lack of confidence, but I just never seemed to feel 100% committed to breastfeeding. I knew all of the benefits and had lots of support, but I just never felt it was for me. When we made the switch over to formula, I felt SO incredibly guilty, like I had failed as a mother. Turns out though, everything was just fine, including my son. This time around I feel so differently about breastfeeding. I actually like it. I would even go as far as saying that I love it. The one on one time I get to spend with Baby K is wonderful. I love that on my lunch break, I am able to go see him and nurse. It's truly a special, once in a lifetime thing that only Baby K and I share. We make a great team.

At Baby K's 3 month check up, our Ped gave us the green light to start giving him rice cereal at 4 months (which I do NOT agree with - more on that later). Amon other things, it made me incredibly sad to think that solid food time is just around the corner. How could time be going by so fast? I am not done with this infant stage. I am not ready for the next step. I am not done with exclusively breastfeeding. Someone press the pause button!

FLASHBACK FRIDAY, 1st Edition

2011-06-03T10:32:00.001-05:00

As temperatures begin to reach the 100s here in Central Texas, I am reminded that summer is upon us. I thought I would kick off "Flashback Friday" with a super fun summer knit that I made for Little Miss (my niece) a couple of years ago. This project reminds me of how far I have come in just 2 years. I can only take half credit for this project, as I didn't even know what a bobbin was going in. My Mom graciously attached the skirt to the bodice for me. This was one of three Summerlin dresses I made for Little Miss.

I actually got this fabric prior to my Heather Ross obsession. Who knew that in just two summers I would be scouring the Internet trying to find this out of print fabric collection (Mendocino). Not too long ago, I saw an ebay listing for ONE yard of this print (Seahorses in Aqua) going for $40+.

It's incredible how much she has changed in just two short years. Little Miss was almost 18 months when these photos were taken. Sigh, they grow so fast...

details....

pattern: Summerlin by Alice Schnebly

yarn: Berroco Comfort, Aqua

my ravelry link: Seahorse Summer Dress

All photos taken by Carey, Finding Chaos

Matron of Honor Capelet

2011-06-02T11:12:00.000-05:00

One of the more popular patterns on Ravelry, the Anthropolgie Capelet, is a pattern I have now made a couple of times. In fact, this pattern was the first sweater I ever knit back in 2008! It's a classic, top-down raglan knit. Super easy for a beginner and a sigh of relief for an advanced knitter when all you want to do is knit and purl with out much thinking. Plus, it's quick. I actually started and finished this project while on a road trip to my little sister's (fabulous) wedding in Florida.

Knit with Malabigo Merino worsted (Polar Morn) held double, this capelet (well, it's really shrug) is super soft and very warm. It was perfect for my sister's outdoor, December evening wedding in FL. Notice how pregnant I am in this next photo. I felt SO huge and I was only six and a half months pregnant at this point.

details....

pattern: Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet by Julia Allen

yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Polar Morn

my ravelry link: Bridesmaid Capelet

The 1st of many Firsts

2011-06-01T09:09:00.000-05:00

Today is a tough one. Even though I have been back to work for a little more than a week now, today, Baby K starts going to daycare. While he is going to (in my opinion) the BEST daycare in town, I am still a little sad. Sad that someone else, besides my husband or I, is going to experience so many firsts with him. Sad that someone else is going to get to feed and cuddle with him. Sad that someone else is going to get to make him laugh and console him when he is sad.

However, with the sadness of missing out, I do know there are many pluses to daycare. For starters, he is going to have mad social skills and as soon as he is able to, he will have buddies. Friends that he will grow and learn with. Who knows, maybe some of the friends he makes will end up being life long friends. Two of the groomsmen in my wedding have been friends with my husband since their daycare years.

Drop off went well this morning and even though it was tough for me, knowing that he is receiving good care makes it a little better. Plus, I am going to see him in a couple of hours for lunch.

Crafter, Somewhat Crunchy, Full Time Worker, Wife, Mommy of 2 Boys

2011-05-31T11:16:00.000-05:00

While digging through my glove box this morning, I came across my work name tag. It reads:

Brenna Kotar

Administrative Associate

It got me thinking. What would my non-work name tag read if I were required to have one? Here's what I came up with:

Brenna Kotar aka Mommy

Crafter, Somewhat Crunchy, Full Time Worker, Wife, Mommy of Two Boys

There, that's much better and much more fitting. What would your name tag read?

Hat and Soaker Set

2011-05-29T22:18:00.001-05:00

Have you noticed how popular knitted accessories are in newborn photos lately? They are everywhere. There is just something incredibly darling about a wee little newborn and hand knits. This next project was inspired with a photo shoot in mind. This gift was for a very special baby girl who made her debut into this world a little early. While she won't be able to wear this for her newborn pics, she will get to wear these this fall.

details....

pattern: Hat by be.knit.picky & Snapdragon Soaker by Heather Eccles

yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Gray Frost and Damask

my ravelry link: baby Lennon's Hat and Soakers

Cloth Diapering, The Beginning

2011-05-29T13:31:00.003-05:00

About a year ago now, a new Mom-to-be told me how she was going to use cloth diapers. My immediate thought - Is she nuts? When we found out we were expecting too, I didn't give diapering much thought. We already had one child and used disposables when he was a baby. Then, about 4 months into my pregnancy, a friend gave me some newborn prefolds and covers. She went on and on about how easy using cloth was. She made it sound so simple. I discussed my interest in cloth with my husband and he of course, laughed and said I wouldn't last a month. Well, our son is almost 3 months old and I am happy to say we are still using cloth. In fact, it's become an obsession. I haven't drooled over yarn in months. It's that bad people.

How can someone become obsessed with diapers?? It's easy. Have you seen how cute they are? Since the beginning, I have tried every style. From pockets to flats and aplix to snaps, I have explored every option. It's taken me about 3 months to figure out just what kind of cloth diaper wearer my boy likes best. In the end, I have found that fitteds are awesome for night (we have a heavy wetter here!) and flats with covers are nice and trim for the daytime.

I acquired my original (its totally different now!) stash in various ways. There is the friend who loaned us her prefolds and covers. Also, another good (and generous!) friend passed on her diaper stash. It consisted of about 30+ FuzziBunz in various sizes, 30+ flats in infant and toddler sizes, a bunch of random covers and also some hand knit wool covers in larger toddler sizes. Prior to my friend saying she would give us her stash, I placed an order with Kelly's Closet for a pack of Bummis prefolds in the infant size and 3 covers. I chose this store because of the free shipping AND they throw in a free one size diaper if you order a certain dollar amount. The free dipe ended up being a Rumparooz OS and I blame this on how my obsession came to be. You see, the used stash from my friend was very well loved (diapered TWO children from birth to PT!!) and this RaR, well, it was SO nice and new. I had no idea that diapers could be this nice. I mean, after all, think about what diapers are used for! How could it be so cute?

So here we are today, at almost 3 months and I LOVE cloth diapering. I post in forums, ask my own and answer other people's questions and even belong to certain groups on FaceBook. The cloth diapering community is so much like the knitting/crocheting community - nice people who are passionate about what they like.

(my new fav dipe, Sustainablebabyish snapless multi)

Little Miss, Sewing and Colleen!

2011-05-27T10:56:00.001-05:00

While on maternity leave, I got my sewing groove on. Since Baby K turned out to be a boy, I will have to focus all of my crafty girlyness on my super cute niece, Little Miss. She's spunky, sassy and well deserving of handmade items. She loves beautiful dresses and the way she tilts her head to the side and says "Baby K" is quite possibly the cutest thing you will ever see or hear. I told my sister she needs to record Little Miss talking because she has the sweetest.voice.ever. Did I mention how sassy she is? Over leave, I got the opportunity to visit family for a couple of weeks and spent about 5 days at my sister's house. Little Miss has a sass all her own. She has her own idea of how things should be done and she totally let's you know it. I love her more than anything. It's a good thing Baby K was a boy because I am just not sure there is room for another baby girl in our family!

So, back to sewing. My sister requested some pillow case dresses for my niece. Sewing can be so much more satisfying than knitting when you have limited time. In a couple of hours, I whipped up two dresses and a dress for Little Miss's baby, Colleen. More on Colleen in a little.

The pattern is my own (just made it up as I went!) and the fabric is from Amy Butler's Lotus collection. Since red and aqua is one of my favorite color combos, it was obvious to me that the rick rack and ribbon closures should be aqua.

Isn't Little Miss just the cutest little girl you have ever seen?!

Colleen really likes her new dress too. My mom adopted Colleen from a cute little store on Etsy. She is a beautiful handmade traditional waldorf doll. Even has her own serial number! You can find out more about Colleen here, as well as some other friends that are up for adoption... Maineartisen

All photos taken by Carey (aka, my sister).

Magic Slippers

2011-05-25T10:44:00.001-05:00

Ever heard of Blue Moon Fiber Arts? This company has some of the yummiest colorways paired with some of the most beautiful fiber. The most popular yarn they offer is the Blue Moon 'Socks That Rock' (offered in Lightweight, Mediumweight and Heavyweight). About two years ago, I ordered a skein of mediumweight in the colorway, Farmhouse. It sat on my shelf looking pretty until it was ready to be made into some adorable Magic Slippers. At the time of their creation, I had no idea that I was indeed having a baby boy, so I thought this pairing was very gender neutral. I remember making them thinking they were SO tiny. Hah! They are huge and still do not fit my 95th percentile baby boy! I am thinking they will fit just in time for the cool weather months here in Texas (no really, we have those sometimes!).

details....

pattern: Magic Slippers by Caroline Dlugy-Hegwer

yarn: Blue Moon, Socks That Rock, Mediumweight in Farmhouse

my ravelry link: Magic Slippers

PS - I'm back!!!

It's a boy!!

2011-03-13T14:53:00.000-05:00

Wow, have I neglected this space. The last month of pregnancy can be a bit tough, but it's over now. A little over a week ago we welcomed our 2nd boy into the world and couldn't be more happy. The labor went as planned and he is just perfect.

So now, I'm back to this space and hope to show you all of the things I knit (and some crochet projects too!) over the last month.

Hunter's Vest Giveaway - WINNER!!!

2011-02-03T09:31:00.000-06:00

This is by far my favorate part - announcing the winner!!!

Drumroll please........

The winner is comment #32 from yaron:

yaron said... Love the pattern! Very stylish! How much yarn will I need for size 2y? Love the grey!"

Yaron - I will be sending you an email shortly. To answer your question, you will need 2 skeins to complete the 2T size.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest!

For more information on Hunter's Vest, please visit the link below.

Hunter's Vest!

Last day to enter giveaway!

2011-02-02T11:16:00.000-06:00

WOW, what an awesome response for the giveaway! If you haven't had a chance to enter, please do so now!!

Just a reminder that today at 8pm, I will close the comments for the giveaway. If your lucky "number" is chosen, I will send you an email letting you know.

Thank you to all who have entered!!

All my bags are packed...

2011-01-29T18:34:00.001-06:00

I'm ready to go...

However, I am not leaving on a jet plane. More like leaving for the hospital in a couple of weeks. When I was told my due date for my (now 4 year old) son, I actually expected for him to arrive on that date. So, when I went into labor 11 days early, I was not prepared at all! Around 2am my water broke and while I laid in bed having (pretty minor at that point) contractions, my husband packed my bag. I ended up with a huge mess of stuff that I never even ended up using.

Today, I spent my morning packing my hospital bag. I have 5 weeks left until my due date and well, this time, I am totally prepared! The contents of my bag this time around are a lot less. I am only bringing necessities. Toiletry items, outfit for me to wear home, outfit for the baby to wear home, fully charged iPod, something to knit (duh, how could I leave home without yarn?!) and some breastfeeding supplies. As soon as I finish my labor socks, they will make it into the bag too. Oh and I do have a hat and booties (hand knit by me!) for the baby to wear while in the hospital.

The bag shown in the photo is the diaper bag (Vera Bradley "Baby Bag" in Imperial Toile) we are sporting this time around. My husband hasn't seen it yet and I am sure there will be comments. It's been 4 years since my last VB baby bag and the model has changed. For the better I might add! A LOT more pockets, a fully lined interior, bigger changing pad and even a strap to clip in your car keys.

Kettle Dyeing Yarn Tutorial

2011-01-28T10:11:00.000-06:00

Originally posted on FiberFervor.wordpress.com (my old blog!).

Learning how to kettle dye yarn can be overwhelming first. In this tutorial, I hope that I have simplified the process enough so that anyone can dye yarn in the comfort of their own kitchen. Please know that dyeing yarn does take a little practice. I highly recommend buying some cheap (100% wool) yarn to practice on. Knitpicks.com offers an affordable variety of yarn weights that you can purchase. Feel free to email me (fiberfervor@gmail.com) with any questions you may have. While I am not a pro yarn dyer, I have dyed many skeins of yarn. Some good, some not so good and some great! I really do feel that kettle dyeing yarn (esp. variegated) is sort of a crap shoot. However, the more experience you have, the more you know what not to do. Good luck and happy dyeing!

MATERIAL.

Undyed Yarn
Acid Dyes, I recommend the Jacquard Acid Dyes. Find them at Knitpicks.com
White Vinegar
Big stainless steel bowl
Measuring Spoons & Cups
Glass Measuring Cups (one that can hold min. 4 cups of water)
Cling Wrap
Enamel Pot
Mason jars (you need one for each dye stock)
White Vinegar
Laytex Gloves (you don’t have to have these. Just know you will have dye all over your hands for a couple of days if you don’t)
Face Mask (goes over your mouth and nose)
dish detergent (Dawn)

DYE STOCK SOLUTIONS.

Materials Needed: Acid Dye, White Vinegar, Face Mask, Mason Jar, Gloves, Cling wrap, Measuring spoons & Cups.

First thing first, you need dye stock solutions. Lay cling wrap down on your counter so you don’t ruin your kitchen counters in this process. Boil some water. Put gloves and mask on*. Get mason jar and add two teaspoons of the powdered acid dye. Fill jar (carefully!!!) with boiling water about 3/4 of the way. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Put lid on tightly and shake. You want the dye to be completely dissolved. Set aside and make as many of these as needed.

*You MUST wear a mask for this portion. The dye can become air born and go into your lungs and cause irritation. Also, make sure no one else is around while you are making dye stock solutions. If other people are around, make sure they are wearing a mask as well.

YARN PREP.

Materials Needed: yarn, dish detergent, stainless steal bowl

Yarn needs to be in skein form. Make sure to tie the yarn in minimum 2 places. Fill bowl with room temperature water. Add a couple drops of dish detergent. Submerge yarn in bowl and let soak for 30 minutes. For a more marbled effect do not soak yarn in water prior to dyeing.

PREPARE DYE BATH.

Materials Needed:dye stock solutions, rubber gloves, glass measuring cups, cling wrap, measuring spoons

While the yarn is soaking you can start preparing the dye bath. Fill measuring cup up with hot water. A little at a time, start adding dye stock. Make sure to keep track of what you are doing if you plan on duplicating the dye solution for future use. I usually add a tsp. of dye stock at a time. If you are mixing two colors, start with the lighter color. The more dye, the more saturated (darker) the end result will be. Use scrap yarn to “test” the color. Just remember that once the heat is applied in the actual dyeing stage, that your color will change slightly.

DYE TIME.

Materials Needed: soaked yarn, enamel pot, dye solution, gloves

Wring out excess water from the yarn that has been soaking. Place yarn in enamel pot. Slowly pour dye solution in. For solid color kettle dyeing you want enough dye to actually submerge the yarn completely. Around 10 cups of dye bath. Gently move the yarn around to make sure the all of the yarn has access to the dye solution. Sometimes, the yarn can form a barrier and not allow dye to certain parts.

Turn stove on lowest setting and let the yarn “cook” for approximately 30 minutes or until the dye bath is exhausted (the water is clear). Let the yarn cool back down to room temperature (this can take a couple of hours!). Once the yarn is at room temp., remove from pot and rinse in room temp water until no more dye comes off of the yarn. Set yarn aside. Fill sink up with room temp. water and add wool wash. Place yarn in sink and let it soak for 15 minutes. Remove, wring out excess water and place on a drying rack to dry.

VARIGATED KETTLE DYEING.

Get your colors ready. For this to work, you only want enough liquid in the pot to barely cover the yarn. And some parts may not be covered in the end and that’s ok. Think of your pot like a clock and pour each color in a section.

Amazingly, the dye will (for the most part) stay where you pour it b/c of the yarn. The yarn sort of holds the dye in place. Some dye will mix with one another and this creates yet another color. When you do this, keep the color wheel in mind. You cannot mix colors that are opposite on the color wheel otherwise you will end up with a mucky brown.

Hunter's Vest & Giveaway!!

2011-01-27T09:24:00.004-06:00

We are officially in the home stretch. Baby K is set to arrive within the next 5 weeks and preparations are in full force. I have been knitting up a storm. Seriously, this baby will have a hand knitted item to wear every single day of the week and then some. My 4 year old is even getting in on the knitting fun. Which, is where my latest design idea actually stems from. Hunter aka 'The Little Dude' suggested that I make a vest for his soon to be baby brother or sister (eeeek, the anticipation of not knowing whether we are having a boy or girl is at it's peak right now!). He even picked out the yarn from my stash for said vest. What can I say, the kid has great taste - he went straight for the Malabrigo Merino Worsted.

So today, I present to you, Hunter's Vest. The vest is knit in the round from the bottom up and the two smallest sizes (0-3months and 6-9months) include a button closure. If you have ever wrangled an infant/baby you know this is a must have feature! I love the texture that this stitch pattern gives to the garment. Not too busy, yet busy enough to give the vest that extra design element. Plus, it is really easy to follow and you will memorize it quickly. I actually knit the sample (0-3 month size) in one day. Since it is a gender neutral pattern, this would make an excellent baby gift!

details....

pattern: Hunter's Vest by Brenna Kotar

yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Lettuce, 1 skein

size: 0-3 months

my ravelry link: Hunter's Vest

Click HERE to purchase via Ravelry.com for $3.00

Click HERE to purchse via Etsy...

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

In honor of my new pattern, I will be giving away one skein of Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Burgundy, Frost Gray OR Shocking Pink as well as a copy of the pattern. One skein is enough to make the 0-3 month or 6-9 month size. I'll even throw in some matching buttons!

Please comment on this post with your color choice (and don't forget email!) before Wednesday, February 2nd at 8pm. The winner will be chosen via random number generator.

Baby Hat

2011-01-20T11:11:00.000-06:00

I know, this is the first hat that I have made for Baby K's noggin. How did this happen? I somehow got sidetracked with cardigans! OK, so this is one of my "go to" baby hat patterns. I have made it numerous times and each time, I like it more and more.

details....

pattern: Baby Hat by Leigh Radford

yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Butter
size: newborn

my ravelry link: Baby Hat

I always make the same mod. The pattern calls for you to knit the umbrella edging and then knit in the round until the piece measures 3.5" from cast on. I like to knit for at least 4". Otherwise the hat doesn't cover baby's ears!

In total, this project took me 2 hours. I have been working on this new yarn holding technique that has really helped me speed up, especially when working straight stockingnette.

Random: When I left my house this morning it was 56 degrees. It's now in the 30s and it has only been 3 hours.

Hoot Cardigan

2011-01-17T17:35:00.001-06:00

I think I am in love with these little cable owls. They are just so cute! It should come as no surprise that they were the inspiration for my latest design. Hoot Cardigan is a unisex cardigan that is knit all in one piece from the top down. Using worsted weight, this cardi knits up quick! Perfect baby shower gift, especially when the gender of the baby is not yet known!

details...

pattern: Hoot Cardigan by Brenna Kotar

yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Rich Chocolate

size: Newborn

my ravelry link: Hoot Cardigan

BUY HERE!

Pattern Notes: Hoot Cardigan is knit from the top down. Button holes are worked every 12 rows. First 3 stitches and last 3 stitches of each row make up garter stitch button band . For raglan increases, you will be knitting into the front and back of each stitch before the marker and after the marker. The body of the cardigan is knit in stockinette stitch, minus the owl cable pattern and button bands of course. If you have any questions, please contact me at beknitpicky@gmail.com

Skill: Beginner to Intermediate. Must know how to do cables, yarn overs and knit two stitches together. I wrote the pattern assuming that the Knitter knows how to keep track of button hole rows and the owl cable pattern without writing row by row out.

Nesting in my own way...

2011-01-16T23:26:00.001-06:00

Lushyarn Handmade Knitting Needles

There are so many things that I am working on right now. From knitting to organizing, the nesting instinct is in full swing. Tuesday marks 33 weeks or 'T' minus 7 weeks until full term. This isn't our first rodeo and I know that Baby K can make his/her debut earlier or later than my actual due date. Unlike last time, I would like to have my hospital bag packed and ready to go. This includes hand knits. Currently have a cardigan drying (my own pattern!), one on the needles, another in the planning stage, a hat about half way finished and some labor socks under way. LOTS of knitting going on over here.

PS - LOVE that I have tomorrow off from work! Paid holidays really never get old.

Once upon a time...

2011-01-13T11:39:00.001-06:00

There was a wedding. This wasn't just any wedding, this was my little sister's very special day. A day she had been dreaming about for over 10 years. A day in which planning had begun well over a year prior. The day was December 11, 2010 and everything was just perfect....

All photos taken by the amazingly talented Lindsey Troph of Pure: Photography by Lindsey Troph.

Little Latte Bean Cardi

2011-01-10T08:19:00.000-06:00

I am just knocking these baby cardis out left and right. I love the simplicity of this design. Knit top down and all in one piece is what I like best. Worsted weight is also huge plus. The yarn selection is another first for me. While Debbie Bliss yarns are hugely popular, I have always found them to be a bit pricey for the yardage. I scooped up these colors online via Webs during a sale. Normally, I wouldn't dream of knitting a baby item in hand wash only yarn, but I caved on this one. The merino/microfiber/cashmere blend seemed like a perfect fit for a baby to wear close to his or her skin. I'll just need to remember why I chose this yarn the first time Baby K spews all over it!

details...

pattern: Little Coffee Bean Cardigan by Elizabeth F. Smith

yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

size: 0-3 months

my ravelry link: Little Latte Bean Cardi

When picking out the buttons, I asked a little girl in the button isle at my local craft store what she thought about this combo. Her reply was "they will look pretty" and then she turned to her Mom and asked if she could learn to knit. Made my heart warm. Needless to say, the buttons were purchased. I love how they add a subtle pop of color to such a neutral color combo.

The Little Dude

2011-01-09T12:46:00.000-06:00

We took a trip to Orlando for my little sister's wedding back in Decemeber. On our way out of town, we stopped by Disney World for a couple of hours. The Little Dude is a HUGE fan of all things Disney. Even though we went on "the coldest day in over 20 years", we had a blast.

To a 4 year old, Disney World consists of characters, parades and the Mad Hatter's Tea Cup ride. We made all 3 of those things happen for The Little Dude. Even threw in a bus ride and a monorail ride or two.

We'll go back to Disney when he is older. I think 4 years old is still way too young. It's really expensive to get in, plus a ton of walking and waiting in line is involved. I am an adult and even I have issues with that much waiting. However, I am SO happy that we had the opportunity to take him at this age as the "magic" of Disney was overflowing!

Tiny Shoes

2011-01-08T15:21:00.000-06:00

You know, just in case Baby K is a girl. I think every girl needs a pair of mary janes. Especially knitted ones to go with her Bitty Cabled Cardigan. Same yarn (Spud & Chloë , Sweater, in Turtle) and same pale yellow buttons I used on the cardigan. If Baby K is not a girl then the next friend to have a girl will be the lucky recipient of these.

details...

pattern: tiny shoes by Ysolda Teague

yarn: Spud & Chloë , Sweater in Turtle

size: new born, but heavily modified due to using worsted weight yarn

my ravelry link: Tiny Shoes

Bitty Cabled Cardigan

2011-01-07T11:30:00.002-06:00

details....

pattern: Bitty Cabled Cardigan by Heather Cabanas

yarn: Spud & Chloë , Sweater in Turtle
size: newborn

my ravelry link: Bitty Cabled Cardigan

This cute little cardigan fits the bill for the perfect baby shower present or quick knit when the gender of the baby is not yet known. It's knit top down and all in one piece. Now, that's my kind of knit! I love the simple cable detail and cannot wait for Baby K to wear this. The yarn, is my new favorite. I've had my eye on it for quite some time. It's a little pricy, but for baby knits, it's just perfect. The "sweater" weight is 160 yards per skein and is just enough for a baby sweater and a matching pair of shoes (more on that later!).

The pale yellow buttons practically begged me to be put on this cardi. A gender neutral color choice, yet a nice contrast to the green. I love this cardi and will definately make more in the future.

Milo and Baby Booties

2011-01-07T10:35:00.001-06:00

As my due date for baby #2 rapidly approaches, I have fully immersed myself into the world of baby knits. The Milo vest is a classic, gender neutral pattern with a range of sizes offered.

Vest
pattern: Milo by Georgie Hallam
size: Newborn
yarn: Noro Silk Garden in unknown colorway (had the yarn for a VERY long time and lost the label!)
my ravelry link: Milo for Baby K

Booties
pattern: Oh! Baby Baby Booties by Judy Nemish
size: Newborn
yarn: Noro Silk Garden in unknown colorway (had the yarn for a VERY long time and lost the label!)
my ravelry link: Baby Booties

I love the color changes and how each bootie is totally different, yet still matches. The booties are ridiculously adorable. Too bad they don't come in my size because I would have them on my feet constantly. As for the vest, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. The owl cable motif is perfect for what I have in mind for Baby K's nursery.... This is going to look adorable with a pair of jeans and a long sleeved white onesie underneath the vest. Eeeek, I cannot wait for Baby K to be here!!!

be.knit.picky

2011-01-07T10:23:00.000-06:00

Welcome to be.knit.picky! With a new year, comes a fresh start and a new place for me to share my love of all things fiber related. From knitting to sewing and all things in between, I hope that I can inspire you to create!

Since first picking up a pair of needles back in 2006, I have become obsessed with the knitting world. Just recently I have started to dabble in pattern writing. I hope to release many patterns over the next year. Of course, I am on Ravelry.com and my user name is fiberfervor. If you ever have any questions about patterns, knits, designs, etc..., please email me at beknitpicky@gmail.com .

Thank you for visiting!