Home again, home again. Sorry for the radio silence knitters, but I always forget how completely full Madrona is, as an event. I knit my way across North America, trying hard to finish that little sweater – it had a hard deadline of Thursday morning, when I’d meet the little miss it was destined to grace. My connection was delayed, I missed three shuttles in Seattle, and finally called Debbi and asked for a rescue. She ever-so charmingly not only picked me up from the airport, but drove to the hotel with a light on so that I could cast off the sweater. I walked into the hotel, tossed the sweater in a sink full of water to wash it, gave it a quick block on an end table near a vent in my room, and went out to dinner, wishing it dry thoughts. Rather predictably, it wasn’t dry when I got back, and rather disappointingly wasn’t dry in the morning either. I stood there, my hand on the still damp sweater, and tried to figure out how I’d get it dry by 10:30, considering that I had a mountain of work to do, and couldn’t stand over it with a hair dryer or something. A series of failed experiments later (one involving a chair, my belt and a binder clip) I hit on the solution.
Bingo. So simple it was magic, and about an hour later (with breaks to let the dryer cool off) I had a dry sweater. (Well. Dry enough.) With 10 minutes to spare I sewed the buttons on, wrapped it in tissue paper I brought from home, and brought it down to meet its owner.
Her excitement was palpable.
Pattern: Rutelilje – it’s from an older Dale of Norway baby book, one I’ve had in the library for years, now sadly hard to put your hands on. (I buy all the Dale baby books I see. They’re always lovely, and transient.) Yarn is part Dale of Norway Baby Ull (for the colours) and Loopy Ewe solid series for the body – both delightfully from my stash.
It’s a charming little thing, and should fit the lady in question about the time she learns to sit up, stops puking on all her outfits, and can show it off to its best advantage. (A few of you with good memories have noted that this is the second time I’ve knit this, and I bet it isn’t the last. It’s a favourite of mine.)
The rest of Thursday passed in a blur leading up to the Teacher Talent Show for Charity (I’d tell you about it, but there’s a media blackout. Be assured you missed something remarkable) teaching 9-5, events in the evening, and culminated in Amy Herzog and I making the time for a rather remarkable (and expensive) 20 minute sprint through the marketplace on Sunday, just before they shut the whole thing down. I’ll tell you more about that tomorrow, but suffice it to say that three things remain true.
1. I make wild decisions about yarn when rushed.
2. I still have a fairly serious thing for stainless steel yarn.
3. My love of knits that fall into the fashion category of post-apocolyptic-my-clothes-are-all-rags-but-I-still-look-so-good-I-should-be-in-the-matrix is intact.
(PS. If that leads you to believe that I fell down and swiped my credit card on the way to the floor at Habu, you might be onto something.)
That is a brilliant way to pick a size to knit for a baby, also if you have it done when they’re this wee you’re almost guaranteed they’ll still be smaller than the sweater.
So sorry about your travel issues, and happy to hear you’re home. Hopefully you’re not getting as walloped by snow as we are in Ottawa.
Your blog always makes me smile. Love the wee sweater. Cheers
You can never go wrong with Dale Baby Ull or with Habu silk stainless. I’ve been toying with the idea of trying out my Cataraqui Scarf in the latter, but still haven’t got around to it (will the holes stay put or wilt, as they tend to do in wool?) And I agree with you on the attraction of the post-apocalyptic look (it must be in neutrals, I think), but then I see someone sporting bright turquoise and I’m sucked into that. Can’t wait to see what you got sucked into purchasing. Bet we’ll all be trying to order the same.
Charming indeed! I love the colors, but sadly, I just never pick really small gaged sweaters. Maybe when I don’t have a 2 and 4 year old at home…
P.S. I SENT EMAIL REGARDING RETREAT!!! PLEASE RESPOND. I NEED THIS!!!!!!!!!
Yay! You finished the baby sweater! With luck, the little miss will get to wear it before she encounters strained peas. . .
Can’t wait to hear about the stuff you bought at Madona, but stainless steel??? Are you knitting a new kitchen sink??? (You can get ready-made ones from your local DIY store, you know.)
I haven’t tried the stainless steel yarn myself, but I’ve seen it in the store and it looks really cool- the metal is super-fine and doesn’t feel like metal at all. Stephanie did a scarf with it a few years ago. See here: http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2013/09/16/the_opposite_of_madness.html
Neat stuff.
Several of my friends were able to come to Madrona (I was happy for them and jealous simultaneously, of course), and one took your Color Theory class and has been raving about it ever since. I just wanted to pass that along!
Adorable little sweater. I have a paucity of tiny people to knit for at the moment. But I do have a stash of several Dale pattern books with kids’ sweaters in, socked away for that time.
I was in the color theory class also and it was wonderful.
I’m a fan of the post-apocalyptic look, too, but don’t think I can reasonably pull it off. I’ll leave it to you and Trinity in the Matrix!
The sweater is almost as beautiful as the wee one who will wear it. May she have many years of cozy sweaters in her future, and may her children wear this one in good health.
What a lovely wish – and a lovely sweater and even lovelier baby!
I’ve now done 2 Baby Yours and 1 Baby Mine, speaking of favorite small sweaters. no new babies; time for a 4 year old sweater.
I didn’t know that was a fashion category, but I like it. Love to look at other people’s yarn purchases!
I’m a fan of the post-apocalyptic look, but don’t think I can pull it off. I’ll leave it to you and Trinity from The Matrix!
That sweater is truly an heirloom! I certainly hope little miss is deserving of all that seed stitch (I despise seed stitch).
Hi Stephanie,
Glad you enjoyed your trip … and got to meet the new addition to your (or a friend’s family). Congratulations to all who will come to know that beautiful child! And good for you for getting that sweater done. You’ve knit so many lovely things, but there’s something about that little sweater … I think it’s the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen. Best regards, Maureen
That is one seriously gorgeous baby! And I feel just about the same love for that sweater pattern. The last time you knit it, I was SO crazy about it that I searched relentlessly until I found my own copy of the Dale pattern book. I have yet to make it myself, but it is high on the wish list. Can’t wait to hear more about the Madrona adventure!
I am almost hyperventilating because I’m worried about the hair dryer on the pillows catching on fire. Please don’t ever do that again. 🙂
It’s over. There was no fire. Resume breathing. As long as the air intake isn’t clogged, and it was not left unattended, it’s pretty safe. Knitting (and blocking) is a risky business.
I was thinking the same thing!
A very charming wee sweater and a very charming wee miss. Nice that they got to meet up. Loved the look back at the last time you knit this – you’ve come a long way in knitting photography, lady. Or maybe you just have better equipment now, but your pictures are better than ever.
…gotta remember that trick with the hair dryer….
bjr
Wish I had gotten into some others. Hope you will be at the Columbia River Fiber Festival in October
Very cute sweater.
Enjoyed your Color Theory class at Madrona. hope to see you at the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival in October
That is one seriously gorgeous baby sweater. I hope that after it’s no longer a sweater to be worn (puked on too many times, perhaps) it will be lovingly framed under glass and displayed in pride of place in that little girl’s home or the home of whoever inherits it from her. And yes, the baby is gorgeous too: that quiff on top of her head is drop-dead charming.
I’m so excited to see what you do with the stainless steel yarn! I admire and drool over all the Habu yarns every time I see them, but haven’t used them yet. Also, thank you for sharing again, since I know that last time you used it, it necessitated the “this blog is my living room” speech, so I know you thought on it before you posted about it. Can’t wait to see what it becomes!
That baby and your smile—I could just sit here and drink it in for the rest of the day. Beautiful, and oh, that sweater! Perfect!
I dried my cell phone out at both ends that same way last summer. It worked well and the camera recovered too.
The sweater is very detailed and so sweet – lucky baby! I can’t wait to see the purchases, I do love wide conference floors full of wooly things.
Awwwwwww!
How would / could I get that pattern? Thanks.
Found the set on Ravelry for $7.00
How / where could I get the little sweater pattern? Thanks.
I’ve just searched e bay and Amazon there is a lovely one on e bay with little blue flowers.
That’s the same one – the main photo in the Dale booklet has blue flowers. Also a matching bonnet and booties.
The sweater turned out great. And the habu looks interesting so far. I’m excited to see what it turns into.
You’ve convinced me – I’ve added this sweater to my queue. I do have that issue of Dale in my pattern library, so I will have to make this someday for a special baby.
You do know this is like torture, to post an incredibly darling little baby cardigan, the pattern for which is UNOBTAINABLE!! So sad that I will never knit this incredibly darling little baby cardigan. Sigh.
Try looking for a used copy. The commenter a couple of notes up found the book on ebay. You might also try ABE books and interlibrary loan.
You can find the pattern on Ravelry. I posted the link in a later reply.
That sweater is absolutely precious! I knew I had seen you do one like it before. Too bad the pattern is out of print 🙁
Can we start a campaign to get Dale of Norway to reissue the pattern, either for download or in a collection of popular patterns — call it “Dale’s Greatest Hits”? I’ll never knit it (no babies to knit for and no skillz), but people who have both should have the chance to create such lovely things.
PS: your verifications are a bit eerie: I had to touch the clock while reading the blog amid a bout of insomnia.
I’ll sign there must be someone who can persuade them.
These patterns are lovely. I wish they were still available just found one on E Bay for another beautiful girls cardigan but the postage from the US is almost as much as the pattern.
You can buy the pattern on Ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/129-01-rutelilje
Ah yes, blocking on the wet coast always requires days in the wet months – unlike in the parts of Canada blessed with a “dry cold”! 🙂 . Excellent use of your resources!
That’s a serious fire hazard, what you have there with the dryer… on top of pillows… on a bed.
To Anyone thinking that’s a good idea: Please, just stop for a second and think about this. Your FO’s aren’t more important than life and limb.
Nah, It’s pretty safe. The whole hair dryer stays cool enough to touch, the elements are way inside and there’s no way for them to make contact with the pilllows, the air vent was clear, and I was sitting a metre away. No risk! I wouldn’t advocate walking away, in any case, but I’d have been very hard pressed to start a fire with that set up.
We should all be FAR more worried about the choking hazard posed by those buttons.
SNORT!
Double snort.
Triple snort for a hat trick. 🙂
Thanks for representing knitting so well. I agree with a previous comment, your blog always makes me smile. I almost came down to the Marketplace on Friday morning, but, alas, my cash-flow and stash-flow couldn’t take it. Next year……
Stainless steel yarn??? Seriously?
Just. Lovely. Have you seen the new Dale of Norway book “Retro Baby”? (It’s on its way to my bookshelf 😉
The baby and the sweater are both lovely!!
Sorry to have missed Madrona…again. By the time we got headed that way, it was 1:30, which meant we would have gotten there in time for it to close at 2. Kinda wish I had gone anyway because I could’ve witnessed your “fall” through the market. Can’t wait to see what you got.
You can buy the baby sweater pattern on Ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/129-01-rutelilje
What a lucky baby 😉 Such a pretty sweater.
Adorable sweater with adorable baby inside. Do we get to know her name and who she belongs to?
Just checked, and abebooks.com has some Dale of Norway books, including one for new borns, maybe even the one you knit this sweater from.
Just checked and the baby sweater, along with booties and a blanket, is available on Revelry for download. Wonderful Revelry!!
Shoe problem- head to Millers in Hamilton. They can fit anyone. On the way you can stop at Needle Emporium in Ancaster to check out their yarn . Two birds one stone- it will be magical day! I have no affiliation to either store but I too have had this magical day.
Doеѕ your blog ɦave а contact рage?
Ι’m һaving trouyble locating іt Ьut, Ι’ⅾ likle tо sᥱnd уߋu аn е-mail.
I’νе got ѕome ideas for
yⲟur blog ʏⲟu might bᥱ іnterested inn hearing.
Either ԝay, ɡreat site ɑnd І ⅼⲟоk forward tօ ѕeeing іt grow оνеr
time.
mʏ web site … Texas Towers
Crabs are a good source of the omega-3 fatty acids
that help lower blood pressure, reduce the rick of heart diseases, lower triglycerides,
enhance your immune system and lower the risk of
getting cancer. That is because they are rich in saturated animals fats, making you gain excessive weight that is also
linked to prostate troubles. A professional, in-house teeth whitening
at your local San Antonio dental clinic can bump that confidence tremendously.
However, if you want to create drum beats and
incorporate them into your own original music, full featured drum machine software are more ideal.
Rap songs are played in various parties and clubs, though one cannot really shake
a leg on these songs but definitely get into a euphoric mood and dip oneself into the
music with complete surrender. There is a famous team of wrestlers here attracting wrestlers from other places
to compete with them.
The water you drink is not just for hydrating your cells,
but to flush impurities from your body. These pills are meant to purge toxins, so they act like laxatives, causing increased
bowel movements. Detox Pill #1 Chlorophyll is a natural plant pigment, green if you haven’t noticed, and plays an important part in photosynthesis.
This will allow you to note which actions cause them to respond positively.
The fact is that there are no universal dog training commands for training dogs,
as they are taught in all sorts of different languages.
It’s important to discover positive methods of
reinforcing your dog’s training.
Maybe you believe that real estate investors
take advantage of people. Once you decide on a group to
focus on, you can begin the process of listing your properties.
In many cases, whether one heir or multiple heirs own the property, they
simply do not want to deal with it.
In comparison to gunite pools, this does not cost as much because it’s liners are made up of vinyl; however, the
liners often need replacements after about ten years.
Employees will also be a lot happier if they’re near entertainment centers since they don’t have to travel long distances in order to reach them.
The tallest residential building at present is in Australia and its height is 323 meters.
The Hawaiian Islands are a favorite vacation destination throughout the year.
Below is a portion of Vhong Navarro’s statement which was gathered by the National Bureau of Investigation. More likely
the areas near to the institutions particularly universities where student’s number is in thousands
are as sweet as honey in terms of student housing because students always prefer
to choose their accommodation nearer to their institutions whereas these areas are not fulfilling their demands because a massive shortage
is found in student accommodation.
The bank or other providers may sometimes consider you apartment loans without
taking into account the location of the apartment but they will never be willing to
provide you gas station construction loans without having profound information regarding the location.
The other is to maintain a record of all communications sent and received in case it is necessary to refer to
that record for any reason, such as legal disputes or liability.
Thus, it is important to check the requirements before you apply for these funds.
Another thing I recommend is that you download my 2 free self defense e – Books.
For Amazon Kindle owners, they will be limited to the Amazon. Focus on what works keeping the fight on your feet with you as
the dominant aggressor, no matter how badly the outlook may seem.
Sports injuries and dancing injuries – What should I hope
for from a massage session. Everyone needs to be pampered at one time or another, so why not
let a massage chair do the pampering for you.
In order to get better at massage therapy, it is absolutely essential to get a great deal of real, hands on experience.
It will also allow all the options available for load-bearing attachments
such as rear carriers (racks) or trailers. Only a
handful of athletes have completed the route by bicycle. Elk become more unsettled with objects that travel at a rate of speed that indicates flight,
or in the case of a cougar, a charge.
In order to use this properly, you will need to apply the black mascara from the base of your eyelashes to the tips
of it, gently wiggling the brush as you go up your
eyelashes. After all it is an important part of many people’s lives so
the following is some easy steps, explained in a way that anybody can understand and do.
Graduating your eye makeup from at your lash line to your brow will give your eyes more depth.
The cost per page for color prints with this printer is around 16.
Finally a piece of suggestion; when you buy a new laser
printer toner cartridge, you will be left with the old
one that has served you for so long. Most of these types of equipment
will also include extra features such as memory card slots,
extra displays for viewing pictures and other features.