I finished the gift for Bridget and Tony just in time-- phew! Now I am off deadline for a little while, so I am busy rewriting the pattern for the ruffled jacket to fit a newborn. It involves teaching myself pattern grading, and possibly knitting in the round from the top down. We'll see. The white bobble sweater helped me get comfortable with the tubular cast on for ribbing, which is very professional looking. I was impressed with myself when I saw the results! I'd planned to make the same sweater in pink for our March baby, but I'm not sure I want to make the exact same project back to back. Hence, the drafting project. Plus, I'm busy reviewing my list of projects-to-be and my stash of unused yarn to see if I actually have the right materials on hand. If not, a lot of these items may end up in the box when the Great Stash Redistribution Project comes to town.

I went to the used and rare book dealer looking for knitting stitch treasuries by Barbara Walker. These books are still available through special order, but I wanted to find a used copy. I like buying used editions of stitch dictionaries because they are old-fashioned through and through. New copies are often just outdated looking. Plus, I like to think that the older copies were actually read and used by former owners, although if that were true, they would likely still be with those original owners...

Instead of stitch dictionaries, I found two inexpensive layette books circa 1960. I liked the different lacy layette options, but really liked the simple designs that were also based on simple yarns. No fancy designer names and unusual yarn weights. These patterns could be made with most modern generic baby yarns. (I think!) So I took a gamble and brought them home. Aren't they sweet?

The finishing fiesta I began on October 20th has come to a successful close. The blue baby sweater is finished! I ripped out the entire thing and started over to make it a smaller size. (This is not evidence that I am a perfectionist really-- after lying fallow for a couple of months, I honestly could not figure out where I was in the pattern! Plus, it was huge.) I'll be mailing it this week and hoping the sweater and baby will both be the same size sometime in the next 3 months. I finished the self-patterning stripey socks long ago

See?
And I am 75% done a second pair. I've started a million new things. The current list includes 2 new baby sweaters (one is even for my own baby!), finishing the second pair of socks, completing my swatch project for the pre-masters course, and a quilt! Wish me luck...

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