Bulle Means Bubble in French

So, um, yeah I've been gone from this space for practically eternity.  Being pregnant with 5 kids sorta makes you switch your priorities around.  However, I just finished a project and goodness I got so many pictures that I just HAD to share them all here.

The lovely Shannon from luvinthemommyhood is hosting her annual Tops, Tanks, & Tees Knit Along.  I must confess when she announced it I wasn't sure I would take part.  While I love the KAL experience I haven't had the best track record with actually FINISHING projects and I was (still am) in the throes of knitting for Somebody coming in June.  However, after finishing up not just one, not just two, but THREE different knitting projects for Somebody I felt it was time to knit for someone else (how many sweaters does a baby really need?)  Elsa, seemed a tinge envious of all the baby knits and since Shannon graciously allows us to knit for babies and children if we desire I was in.

 The B&W photo was the very first picture I took during our photo session and by the looks of the Girl I wasn't sure how well it would go...she went ahead and surprised me:

Of course we had to have a little fun too:

Honestly I just kept clicking away, 47 pictures in about 5 minutes and all of them so delightful to look at.  We timed it perfectly because as soon as we were done the sun went behind the clouds and hasn't popped back out since.

Details

Pattern: Bulle by Karen Borrel

Yarn: Cascade Sierra Quatro, 80/20 cotton/wool blend

    I actually happened upon this yarn already knit up into a cardi at the thrift store.  I knew the yarn on site (parlor trick of mine) and at $3 for the sweater I couldn't allow it to stay languishing on the rack.  The cardi wasn't my style at all (nor the color) but I knew I could unknit it and make something stunning-which if I do say so myself I did!  There was just over 300gms from the sweater which equals 3 hanks and I didn't use it all either :)

Universal Dolce Merino, 50/50 micro fiber/merino blend for the pockets

Mods

I didn't get gauge but didn't want to tinker with different needles to see if I could so I simply cast on for the 3/4 to get the 5/6 width and just knit the extra length.  I'll tell you that I began to grow nervous that it might not be big enough...well long enough but after blocking it was perfect.  She'll be able to wear this all summer long and the bonus about it being a tunic is eventually she'll get to wear it as just a top!

I loved the pattern, it was so neat and just about the time boredom set in something changed.  I'll definitely consider making it again, maybe in all wool for the autumn season.  The part that I loved the most in the pattern, but was the most irritating to do...the pockets.  Yeah, you knit those after the sweater is done and in the round, but because it is in the round you are constantly having to pick up the sweater and turn it for each round...annoying but certainly not a deal breaker in the pattern.

And ladies, don't fret, if you see what you like here I'm happy to report that there is also a Lady Bulle pattern!  I'm thinking I just might knit one for myself this summer :)

Shower Gifts

So I didn't mean to go radio silent on you guys, it's just that I have been hard at work on my crafty endevors and well...blogging sort of got left behind.  So sorry.  I'll make it up to you now by showing off not just one, but TWO finished projects.  I've been sewing and knitting up a storm over hear...I'm hoping it's the kind of storm that brings sunshine ;)

Last night I went to a baby shower and well of course I had to make something for the baby, it was for a dear friend who is expecting her second baby girl any day now.  So with my needles I whipped up this adorable sweater,

If you've been around blogland for any amount of time you've probably seen this pattern, it's the Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker.  I think I first saw it when Shannon made one and knew that the next baby that came (not my own) would get this.  Bonus it's a free pattern for the smallest size, though there is a pattern for larger sizes.

Vinny picked out the buttons and I do say he did a fabulous job.  The sweater is a top-down so there aren't any seams.  The most sewing you do is the buttons.  The mother proclaimed upon receipt of it that "Side buttons are my favorite."  I think it was a winner.

Of course no shower gift from me can be complete without baby shoes,

I just love these Little London Loafers.  This is the smallest size and they just use scraps, scraps I tell you of fabric.  One of the guests at the shower told me I should sell them, maybe I will one day.  

I didn't have any velcro squares so I opted for a snap...I was mildly disappointed in the pearl snaps that I used (not Dritz, so other off brand) as they cracked when I set them.  Still, you won't get cut on them but it did mar the beauty of the pearl top.  Note to self: Get more pretty snaps of quality.  Honestly I'm in love with snaps...so quick and easy and they add in my mind a professional look to them.

Of course for gifts it's all in the presentation so I whipped up a cute little box out of scrapbook paper, a few cotton balls in the toe of the shoes and I had this picture perfect gift to present.

Based off of all the other gifts received this baby will be one stylish girl!

So what have you been up too?  Any projects you're dying to show off?  I'd love to see anything you've made.  Next week is packed with projects to show off for you so no fears of me being silent forever!

Really, I Have Been Knitting...

I know I've been promising some pictures of finished projects so here they are (please don't mind the cell phone photography)...

Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood

Yarn: Wool-Ease by Lion Brand

Color: Heather Grey

Okay, first I had a love/hate/hate/love relationship with this pattern.  I love the look of the cables and twisted stitches, but I hated having to cable them with a needle...ugh!  Every other row is a cable in pretty much every set of two stitches.  I was able to do 2 rows of cabling without a needle but for the cables involving purl stitches and knit stitches I used a needle (just and extra dpn).  

I also hated the decreases, I had to pick back the first row of decreases THREE times because the directions were unclear to me.  But I do LOVE the end result...I probably won't make this again, or at least not for a very long time ;)

Although I'm not a super big fan of slouchy hats I did the amount of repeats for the Men's sized hat because I wanted it long enough to go over my ears but that added a little too much length so it is a bit slouchy.  It'd probably look nicer as a slouchy hat if I had used a yarn with more drape...but then the cabling would have been a nightmare!

Still all in all it was a good knit, and relatively fast...maybe 2 weeks?  Which for this momma of five is fast.

Pattern: Rae by Jane Richmond

Yarn:  Baby Cotsoy by Queensland Collection

Color: Navy

As a self-proclaimed hater of scarf knitting this 'scarf' surprised me.  It is ridiculously easy to knit and memorize the pattern.  You simply have a decrease or increase every four rows.  That was enough to keep me interested.  This is a great travel project and I knit most of it in *GASP* Church or BSF (I retain so much better if my fingers are moving, just ask my college professors).  I can definitely see myself knitting this again but I might mix it up with a bulkier yarn or maybe a lighter yarn just to see the different results.  I used just over 2.5 skeins of yarn and if I had weighed all my skeins before starting I could have used it all up, but it was more than wide enough for my tastes in the middle when I started my decreases.

Yes, I take all my cell phone self portraits in the bathroom :)

Pattern: Capucine by Adela Illichmanova

Yarn: Taos by Tahki

Color: Black/Grey Variegated

First off I have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this pattern!  It took me all of 2 days to knit and the construction was so unique and fun that I wanted to knit a dozen more of them as soon as cast off.  I left off all the tassels because as Momma to little ones I knew they'd just get in my way and drive me nuts!  I definitely am planning on making another one (or 7) because they were so fast and I get comments on it every time I wear it out.  The other winning note in the pattern is that you can still wear it with a low ponytail or low messy bun which really is great for bed head days...or sick days...or I don't feel like doing my hair days...

The yarn was also fun to work with.  Soft and light and because of it's bulky weight felt a lot like roving wool.  I was skeptical of how it would knit up because it does have a thread than has been plied around it for texture.  In the past I have not always enjoyed working with this type of yarn because it tends to split but not with this yarn.  Also I loved the punches of color the yarn had, overall it is a dark charcoal grey but there are spots of blue, orange, magenta and even purple, really it was a great yarn.  Even better was that it was a gift I received on my birthday.

Well there you have it, my latest finished objects for knitting that is.  Never fear I'm still plugging away at the sewing but caught a cold and find myself knitting more than sewing...

{{hugs}}

So what have you been crafting lately?  Any finished projects you want to show off?  I'd love to see them so post a link in the comments or send me a pic!