Learning...

Today I made a lot of progress on the finishing work for two baby sweaters that I knit last fall. I had said before that I wanted to wait until I felt more confident in my finishing techniques before ruining the sweaters I spent so much time knitting. So after taking that class last Saturday and getting some valuable input from my more experienced knitting friends (thanks again to mamma and Tam), I set out to try to get them done before they are too small for Sproutie to fit into. Here is my first foray into wet blocking: This is an unusual sweater designed by Erika Knight that is actually knit in one piece. That's why it looks so funny pinned down. It is knit in wool/cotton, and it is the matching shirt to the leggings I just finished for Sproutie. I'll have more on the particulars when I get it seamed up. But I'm so proud of myself for diving in and getting it done. (doing the happy dance now). I've blocked before, mind you, but with steam and in the back room of the local yarn store with help. Now I've graduated to doing it all by myself. I feel so self-sufficient.

Tam asked for a picture of the newly felted Rowan Aura hat for Girlie. Except I don't know if I'd actually call it felted, because Rowan Calmer is a cotton/acrylic blend, not wool. I just counted on the cotton content giving some shrinkage, which it did. And it made the stitches pudgier, for lack of a better word. Girlie likes its softness now. Here is the picture of the two hats together. I don't know if the camera shows much difference. The shrunken one is on the right.

And today I also discovered a great way to be able to fold my laundry without Sproutie getting separation anxiety. Yes, he is now at that stage where I can't get more than three feet away from him without him crying. So here is what I came up with: He's playing with his little fishy here. It seems to make him happy. Oh, I love him so.