Camp Loopy

I must be a little loopy as I signed up and bought yarn to participate in Camp Loopy this summer. I remember watching others do this last summer but it was too crazy with moving for me to commit. This summer... well, it will probably be a little crazier with a new baby, but I wanted to play along. The Loopy Ewe hosts this event. There is a new knitting challenge for June, July and August, and there are prizes involved. Of course, it's really a way for them to sell yarn although you can use yarn from your stash if it is one that they sell. However, if you buy yarn for all 3 projects and complete them in the time given, you will receive a free skein. You can read all the details here.

This is the yarn I bought for the first challenge which requires using at least 375yards of a lace or fingering yarn. Only 1 skein allowed for the project. I picked this yarn because those are my colours. I love green and purple together, especially when pregnancy hormones aren't making me buy every orange thing in sight. Anyway, I plan on making this scarf. It looks like a simple pattern to memorize and I'll just knit until I run out of yarn. The skein is over 400 yards, so as long as I get it done and a picture posted by July 1st, I'll have completed my first project. Don't know what the challenge will be for July and August yet, so I might only participate for June. Who knows.

I think a lot will depend on this little guy and if he becomes a good napper when his older siblings are home all day once school is done on June 13th.

Finally!

9 days after his due date, our little guy finally arrived on Thursday, May 9th. Born at home, as planned, he's fitting into the family like he's been here a lot more than a week. Above he is wearing one of the hats I made him weeks ago, just a few hours after he was born.

Going for his first car ride, he again wore his green hat. He's also wearing the little blue cardigan I knit him but you can only see his shoulder peaking out from under his blanket.

This is the quilt my sister made him. It's an I-spy, row quilt . My older son spotted some fabrics he recognized from projects I've made him. I love it. And I love that she used pink and some flowery fabric, for a boy quilt.

The back. The older kids really like it.

Baby (still haven't decided on a name) cooperated this afternoon and I was able to get some pictures of him with his quilt.

He's yawning, not crying.

Beautiful boy. Thanks, Aunt Sarah. 

In Progress

Since baby still hasn't made an appearance, I've cast on a few things to keep myself busy.

My daughter's birthday is less than a month away. I cast on this cardigan for her, pattern here, It will have 3/4 sleeves and is size 11/12. I am aiming for this to fit her this fall. If I don't get it done for her birthday than I'll give to her for Christmas. So far I have the body complete to the armholes (bottom part of picture) and have started the first sleeve.

Started crocheting the parts to this toy car for the baby. Going to put a cat toy inside so it rattles.

I started this cardigan months ago, planning on giving it to a niece but changed my mind. However, I didn't take it off the needles. Going to try and finish it for my daughter as well. I made her one last year for her birthday in blue. This is one size bigger. You can see the one I made last year, here.

I wonder if I'll be able to finish any of these before baby appears. I really hope not.

One last little finish?

Still waiting on baby (5 days late now). I have hopefully finished the last little item for him before he is born. A newborn cardigan. A nice, quick knit. 

Complete with dinosaur buttons. Now he just needs to arrive so he can wear it before the summer weather arrives.

Little Finishes

While we wait for baby to arrive (2 days late), I've been able to get a few little things complete.

I finished the Autumn Dreams cardigan. Size 6 months. Have already washed it, just need a baby.

Gave it one little birdy button.

Had enough yarn leftover to make a little hat. Hopefully he will fit both at the same time.

My mom is staying with us for a little bit and commented/complained about the state of dishcloths at our house. I picked up some yarn and we went about making some new ones. I crocheted the one above.

My mother knit this one. It's been awhile since she has knitted and was a little rusty but got better as she went.

She got so good that we went to JoAnn's yesterday and bought more yarn and she made this in an evening. It is smaller but I was very impressed.

She even bought herself needles. It was really neat to knit with her since she's the one that taught me to knit many, many years ago when I was 8.

I finished a second one today. Think we're good for now but we bought quite a bit of yarn so I think we'll both be giving washcloths as gifts this Christmas.

Making progress

While waiting for baby (not here yet!), I've been making good progress on other projects. I took the next three pictures on Friday, planning on writing a post but ran out of time/energy.

Socks for my SIL. By Friday afternoon I had one finished and the heel finished on the second.

Almost done the Autumn Dreams cardigan for the baby. Just second sleeve left on Friday. Finished the second sleeve today (no picture yet), weaved in ends and added a button. Have enough yarn left that I've cast on a hat to go with it. 

I fell out of love with the striped cardigan I had been working on for the baby. Frogged it and cast on this newborn cardigan. I took it with me to work on during my son's skating lessons on Saturday and am a little further than this. About 10 rows from dividing the sleeves from the body.

The reason I may have run of steam to do a blog post on Friday is that I spent a few hours at the sewing machine. I made 3 burp/cloths or change table pads. They have terry cloth on the other side. My daughter was concerned that we didn't have any official burp cloths for him yet so hope she is happy with these.

I also finished making wipes. My daughter had helped make some and when I had finished sewing them all together, my mom helped turn some of them right side out so I could do the stitching around the edge. I like that the three of us all worked on them.

Yesterday, I finished the socks for my SIL. Washed them today. Might take another picture of them tomorrow on feet. I was going to wait and give these to her when she visited in June but since I actually have a birthday present done 2 weeks before the actual birthday, I might have to mail these.

WIP's

Made good progress on the socks for my SIL. Another inch and I'll start the toe. I doubt I'll have enough for a second but I was able to find another skein that someone is selling from their stash on ravelry, just need to buy it.

Started the Autumn Dreams cardigan for our little guy (due 2 weeks from today!). This is made in sock yarn and will be about 6 months size. Perfect for chilly fall days.

My daughter and I also spent some time this weekend making wipes for the baby but forgot to take a picture. Still have a few more to make so hope to get a picture then.