Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Zeke's Sweater Vest




Needles: Size 5 dpns
Size 5 straight ndls
Yarn: 4 (50g) skeins 4 different colors DK Merino Knit Picks

Front:

Cast on 60 stitches
K1 P1 rib for 1"
work patt of your choice for 6" (or desired length to arm pit)
CO 4 sts beginning of next 2 rows for pits
K to middle of vest (30sts)
Slip next 30 sts onto a holder
K back and forth in patt of your choice decreasing 1 st each end of K row 3X's
at same time decrease 1 st at neck edge to end of piece (2 more inches)
slip to holder and knit other side of shoulder the same way

Back:

The back is in a solid color.
CO 60 sts
K in KP rib for 1"
K in stockinette stitch for 6" (or same length as front)
CO 4 sts beginning next two rows (or same as front)
decrease 1 st at each end 3X's
K st stitch for 2 more inches (or same as front)
Slip first 14 sts on holder, 16 sts onto middle holder and last 14 onto holder (total three holders)

Assemble:

Weave in all ends on front piece
Attach front and back pieces at shoulders by using 3 needle bind off
Sew up the sides to pit
Turn right side out, pick up and knit 23sts (begin at V point)on right side of front of vest
K across back (middle) holder and increase 1 st for every 2 along the back of neck
Pick up and knit 23 sts down the left side
(Using four dpns at this point is very helpful. It helps you see the V more easily.)
Work in KP rib for three rows. On last row kp to last three sts K2 tog. Then knit last stitch and first stitch from next needle together, and then CO VERY loosely. (Caution: babies heads are large! Make sure its LOOSE. You can otherwise make it very uncomfortable for your little one if it is too tight.)
Pick up and knit 43 sts on each arm hole edge. Work in KP rib for three rows. It is not necessary to CO so loosely for arm holes.

I hope you enjoy this pattern and the pictures. I hardly ever write things down this coherently, but if you have trouble you can leave me a comment/question and I'll get back to you on it.

My babies are big. Zeke is about 11lbs. I will go so far as to say that this vest should fit a baby anywhere from 0-6mths.

This is my pattern, and you may use it if you like.

TTFN!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Zeke Says


"I really don't say anything yet, but my mommy advertises her thoughts on my clothing."

Friday, January 18, 2008

More Winter




I confess I was so bright and cheery last week when the sun was out and the temperature was in the sixties and seventies. I had forgotten how much the weather affects me. I love the rain. It doesn't have to be dry...just sunny. I sat on the porch last week with the baby feeding at my breast and just revelled in the sunlight on our cheeks. It felt like love and power absorbing through our skin.

Now the weather is back to fourties and fifties. We even had a whisper of snow yesterday morning. So for now I'll have to look into the faces of my wonderful little ones for the warmth and the joy. They are such beautiful little people. Here is another picture of my littlest sunshine. Zeke! Zeke means "Strength of God". How appropriate for my littlest guy. He's such a joy.

The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool. I am using it to make the pattern "Salina" from Vintage Style by Rowan. I love this yarn. I made a shawl with it once. It feels a bit on the fragile side though.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Baby Zeke


Just a picture of my adorable little bundle of a boy! He was born December 30, 2007. The labor was long and hard hard hard, but we made it.