Tuesday, June 7, 2011

batches of baby love

I've noticed that I tend to work in batches.   One month I'm knocking myself out with dishcloths, the next I'm whipping out owls and right now I'm smack dab in the middle of a baby sweater phase.  Who knows what July will bring?  But, the sudden urge for baby sweaters is practical in nature because there are several babies who will soon be making appearances and I thought it would be fun to knit some sweaters to welcome them.
 The very originally named Pretty Baby Sweater has been in my knitting binder for several years.  I am not sure why I waited so long to knit it, but it is a gem.  It knits up quickly and the seaming is painless and easy as the pattern calls for a crochet slip stitch. 
There is no need to cut the yarn, you simply seam the sleeve and keep on knitting.  Genius!  It is knit from the yoke down and when you're done you only have two tails to weave in. (your cast on tail and your cast off tail)  I knit this green one from some Ella Rae Classic.  I was able to get an entire sweater out of one skein. 
This heather green one has already been given to my friend Michele who just recently had her fifth baby....a precious little girl.  She loved it and I'm sure it will keep Elizabeth warm when those Kansas winds start whipping. 
Because I was able to knit an entire sweater from one skein of Ella Rae Classic with some left over, I wrongly assumed that one skein of Universal Classic Worsted would suffice for my second baby sweater.  Wrong!  I'm stalled on this precious yellow one until I pick up another skein to finish it.  Good thing this baby is not due until September. 
Oh well, that was just excuse enough for me to cast on for a third baby sweater...this one for a precious little boy.  I'm knitting my friend Beth's favorite raglan sweater
She sent me this pattern (and several others a while ago - thanks again Beth) and I found the perfect denim blue yarn.  The yarn is Plymouth jeannee and it is so soft and perfect for a baby knit.  I'll work on this until I get back to my lys to pick up my additional skein of yellow yarn.
In the meantime, I'll be plugging away with my newest fascination....how about you?  Do you work in batches or are you solely passionate for one project at a time?  No matter what your M.O. might be, I hope you find joy in the process.  Have a great day friends!

19 comments:

Meg said...

Oh, Lisa, these are so beautiful! Discloths are the only thing I seem to make in batches--if I knew anyone having babies, I'd surely get to work on this pattern! I'm trying to start a batch of cowls, but I've started the first cowl over three times. I'm almost afraid I'm snakebit with this one!

Tonya Gunn said...

That sweater is beautiful Lisa. How sweet of you to be knitting so for the new babies in your life.

I tend to have a wide variety of projects going on as my chooses will change throughout the day.

From All Stitched Up said...

I want to start a baby sweater stash. The last time a baby was born I was scrambling. It's hard to knit under pressure. I love the baby girl sweater.

At Home Mommy Knits said...

I love your baby sweaters. Sadly no one is having any babies right now so I will be tucking those pattern links away for future use. I am all over the place when it comes to knitting but I loved seeing so many baby patterns and sweaters in one place :).

Anonymous said...

I have decided I like to work on one project at the time. I used to have several going at once, but there is something burdensome about having more than one going at the time. I guess I do have things going in batches though. I am on a spree to knit as many sweaters for family members for Christmas as possible. (tall order since I have 6 kids and 1 sil!) I probably will not get them all completed, but as many as I can...

Hang in there with the baby sweaters. This is really something I need to do as well; to have baby gifts on the ready!! ~Jan

no spring chicken said...

Definitely batches. It's that way in life too. I focus on one passion at a time until I burn it out and do something else for awhile. Then eventually I can't figure out why I got so tired of old passion and obsess there again, until I burn out... :)

Looks like I may be getting passionate for baby sweaters again. Thanks for the inspiration!

Blessings, Debbie

Blessings, Debbie

Gloria said...

Oh, what sweet and beautiful gifts those are! You are so thoughtful to make these.
I always have a million projects going on at once. I know that doesn't sound disciplined, but for some reason it works for me. It drives some people crazy not to finish one project, then move onto the next. I just know I will finish it when I am inspired to. But, for gifts I do press on until I have it completed if I have decided it will be given as a gift!
Your work inspires me to get busy on projects waiting for me. Even though I don't know how to knit at all! Thanks for sharing!!

Happy Summer to you,
xoxo...Gloria

Christina said...

I very frequently go through project batches, or fads, as I call them. : ) I have to say that I simply love your batch of baby sweaters! They are so beautiful and cozy-looking.

Leslie said...

What a sweet sweater! I don't seem to be able to get past the dishcloth stage.

Tracy said...

Sooo sweet, Lisa! I love baby knits, they are so satisfy--usually quick & easy, and happy feeling of making for a little one, a new life. Now that I think of if, I do tend to create in multiples--few knit spa cloths in a row, several earrings at once, pastel sketches... I hadn't thought about it before. But mostly I just love variety, and working on several different things at once. Oh, and must say, LOVE, love, love your new banner--is oozes summer fun! :o) Happy Days to you & yours Lisa ((HUGS))

~ The Jolly Bee ~ said...

You are so much like me, it's not even funny! Everything I do, I seem to do in batches -- as if one is never enough! I wish I new someone having a baby now....It seems like so long since I've held a little one. I'm sure your gift will be handed down through the generations.

Gigi said...

Love the new cardi -- so sweet! That's another one going into my Ravelry faves.
And you know I'm all over the place with projects - must be ADD or something ;). At the moment, I've got a blanket and summer top (for a granddaughter) on the needles, and partially finished pillowcase embroidery, and I just finished acumulating all the fabric I need to start a quilt -- eep! I haven't made a quilt since my DD was a baby, and she's a grown up with her own babies now!
Looking forward to seeing the rest of your lovely projects as they unfold ;).
Blessings,
GG

Carolyn said...

Sweet sweater! Love the cardigan! I Love the baby girl sweater.

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Anonymous said...

What beautiful sweaters! They look satisfying to knit and very wonderful to receive. I've never thought about whether I knit in batches before, but I tend to be knitting more than one project at once. Often I have a bigger project and a smaller project on the go.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful sweaters! I have crocheted 5 rainbow blankets in the past two weeks and I'm working on my second baby sweater/hat/sockie set in the past 3 days! I have 6 babies due at my church in the next 3 months. All this in the middle of trying to make hats for Japan. So far I've made 69 hats. So I guess you can say I work in batches too!

Betsy in Spokane

Mary said...

That sounds like a great pattern since I don't like seaming. Thanks for sharing. I'm always amazed at how much you accomplish. Maybe next month I'll have some time to say hi. Hope you are doing well.

Heather said...

Everything is so beautiful, and perfectly sweet. I always have a few projects going, as it helps me to knit in whatever mood I am in; Baby, home, husband, etc. Everything looks great!

Kristyn Knits said...

Can't say LOVE loud enough!! I'm thinking the Pretty Baby Sweater will be perfect for Ellie for Christmas! And even better, I have a skein of Ella Rae from my FLS to knit it up! I love when you find wonderful things and share them...now if I could just find a purse like yours!!
xoxo

Missouri Mommy said...

The sweater is so beautiful! Thank you for making it for Elizabeth! You are so talented and I'm glad I was on the receiving end of your gift! Enjoyed seeing you!