This was a project made with lots of love. My BFF Monica (author of the crazy-popular blog The Yummy Life) is getting her first grandbaby soon. So exciting! And of course when I first heard, I immediately thought of all the fun things I could knit for that new little person. I finally settled on a baby blanket, because when I had Web Guy oh-so-many-years-ago, someone sent me a wonderful handknit baby blanket and I used it all the time. I wasn’t even a knitter at the time, but I loved that sweet blanket. Here’s the one I just finished:

I have had the Pine Forest Baby Blanket on my favorites list ever since Knit Nighter Robyn made one last year and worked on it on Thursday nights. It’s such a beautiful pattern and a little more interesting than the same old knit and purl baby blankets that are out there. I picked Spud and Chloe Sweater because I like that it’s machine wash/dry, and it’s 55% merino, 45% cotton (so not as hot as all wool). I used these cute heart stitch markers between repeats, and it was a nice visual of all the love I was knitting into that blanket as I worked along.

I think I’m going to have to send Little Loopy along with the blanket, as he’s a bit enamored with the whole thing. Plus, he loves babies. Every time one comes in the shop, he hops into their baby carriage. I’m not sure the moms always appreciate that.

I might need to make this baby a sweater for next fall, too. And I’ll definitely make this blanket again. I love how it turned out. Baby things are so much fun to knit.

Sheri nobabiesinmyfamilyrightnow,soIhavetoborrowthemfromfriends

P.S. This blanket would also be beautiful done in Dream in Color Classy, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, and Cascade 220 Superwash – all yarns that are machine wash and dry, which is important to moms with young kids.

It’s nice to be back with you for a regular Monday Update again! We have been stockpiling things in the stock room over the holidays, and tonight we start back into sharing the new things with you on Mondays. Just up, we added in:

Madelinetosh Merino Light. This single-ply fingering weight yarn is great for shawls, scarves, lightweight sweaters, and more. I used it for two different two-color projects (and have a few more 2-color combos squirreled away in my stash for more shawls to come.) I used it for a Pamuya:

And I also used it for a Whippoorwill:

It’s a wonderful base to work with. If you haven’t yet tried it, you ought to.

Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere. This is a luscious base. Also wonderful to work with, and so soft to wear. It would make great socks, scarves, cowls, hats, shawls, mittens and gloves. I used it to make a 28′s Cousin 53:

We also added in notions from HiyaHiya – Puppy Snips, Kitty Snips, Dumpling Cases, and Yarn Ball Stitchmarkers. How cute are these Snips?

We’ve also re-stocked the HiyaHiya needles (circulars, DPN’s, Interchangeable sets and tips, etc.)

And several different scents and sizes of Soak wash.

Remember, all of your 2013 purchases accumulate points in our new Loopy Rewards Program. We keep track and send you fun little gifts each time you earn them. We’ve had a great time sending out reward gifts already this week, and we look forward to sending out many more. We appreciate you all here!

Sheri thinkingaboutstartinganewprojecttonight.Howaboutyou?

Swan’s Island sent us this awesome Olivia Cowl pattern to offer with purchase of a skein of their Worsted weight yarn. I liked the look of it so much that I whipped one up. The trouble is, this one needs to stay at the shop, so I am going to have to make another one for myself. You can wear it in a single loop, or double up to get closer to your neck. It’s knit as a long (42″) piece and then you Kitchener the edges together. I made mine in the Raspberry color.

It was quick to knit up and I really like the way the basketweave stitch is on an angle. See?

I also like the substantial looking edges on the top and bottom. It looks like an i-cord edging, but it’s just the way the pattern knits up.

Do you need a new cowl for the wintery weather? If you order a skein of Swan’s Island Worsted and would like the pattern, just leave us an order note and we will email it to you.

Sheri nowworkingonababyblanketforafriend’snewgrandbaby!

One of the classes we’re teaching this quarter is “Your First Mittens”. I wandered by the class while it was in session and decided I needed to make those mittens, too. They are incredibly thick and toasty feeling. Made from a bulky weight yarn, they really keep the chill out. You can find the pattern free (Super Bulky Mittens for Women) and I made it with 1 skein of Malabrigo Rasta. I did add a total of 4 extra stitches to the mitten to make it a little larger, and I also did 10 rows on the cuff to make them a bit longer. This pattern would be equally stunning in The Fibre Company’s Tundra or Spud and Chloe Outer. I made this pair for a gift, but since it only took me one evening of knitting, I’m planning to make a pair for myself as well.

While I was looking for that pattern on Ravelry, I came across a few other fun, bulky (quick to knit) mittens and mitts you also might want to check out: Raglan Mitts, Axel Mitts (I like the turn-down cuff), Highly Regarded Mitts, Chunky Cables Wrist Warmers, Shelburne Mittens, Basket Weave Mittens, and Herringbone Mittens.

Of course as long as you’re making mittens, you might as well make a hat to match, right? So check out these cute bulky hat patterns (and remember – bulky usually means quick-to-knit): Garden Gate Mittens and Hat, Super Chunky Super Quick Toque, Thorpe, and Bella’s Hat. With just under two weeks until Christmas, it’s probably time to do a few bulky projects. Do you like to knit with bulky yarn? Those needles (size 11) seemed so big when I started, but by the second mitten I was whizzing right along with them. Plus, I really like that the mittens are so warm and thick. I imagine it’s the same with anything you knit out of bulky yarn. There are definitely a lot of pluses in using it.

Sheri whomightbeanewbulkyfan

We headed cross-country back to St. Louis for Thanksgiving weekend last week. The 13 hour car drive across Colorado, Kansas and Missouri certainly brings lots of knitting time! Consequently, I was able to (finally) finish my Derecho. This is the second one I have done. I did the first one in the smaller size (see it here), and chose to do this one in the larger size. The small size stops before the last two long strips on the bottom left and right edge, so you can see how the size compares. There is a lot of knitting in the larger size. I made this one out of Shalimar Breathless in Sea Glass, Neptune and Buttermilk. You need a light, medium and dark color for this pattern. For this larger size, I used 1 1/2 skeins of the darkest color, 1 skein each of the other two. Despite being a bit tired of all that knitting by the end, I did make the border a bit larger. I did 10 rows (including pickup and bindoff) instead of the 3 that it called for. I like that the border is twice the width of the regular stripes.

I wanted to share some of the beautiful Derecho Shawls (by designer Laura Aylor) that inspired me to make the two that I made this summer and fall. Thanks to all of you who chose this design for one of your Camp Loopy projects this summer.

Martha’s Derecho made with Madelinetosh Sock in Wash, Forestry and Mineral:

MK’s Derecho made with Madelinetosh Sock in Antler, Iris and Tart:

Beth’s Derecho made with Swan’s Island Organic Fingering in Blue, Iron Oxide and Forest Floor:

Glenna’s Derecho made with Madelinetosh Merino Light in Dusk, Mare and Sequoia:

Malia’s Derecho made with the Loopy Ewe Solid Series in Black, Slate and Malachite:

Kristi’s Derecho made with the Loopy Ewe Solid Series in Navy, Lilac and Orchid:

Jump on in to the Derecho pattern. All you need is a light, a medium, and a dark (fingering weight, 400 yards or so of each color, unless you’re doing the large size and then you’ll need more of the dark color). Or try one of Laura’s other beautiful patterns – Faberge, All the Shades of Truth, Enamored, Oak Park, Serra, and more. I think the Oak Park scarf will be one of my next projects. It looks fun to knit up! Plus, I like projects that involve more than one color. Do you?

Sheri offtocontemplatecolorsintheaisles

I shared my last cowl/mitt project with you a couple of weeks ago. I knit it with Prism Merino 12 and Plume, which are both soft and wonderful! I wanted to knit up a quick one-skein Merino 12 cowl on its own, too, and this is what I came up with. It should only take you a couple of hours and one skein of Merino 12.

Merino 12 Quick Cowl

Cast on 72 stitches on a size 11 (8.0 mm) 16″ circle needle.

Row 1: [K2, P2] all the way around.
Row 2: [K2, P2] all the way around.
Row 3: [K2, P2] all the way around.
Row 4: [K through the back loop of the second stitch on the left needle. Leave that stitch on the left needle and knit through the front of the first stitch on the left needle. Then pop both stitches off the left needle. P2].Continue this pattern all the way around.

Knit until you have just enough yarn to do a bind off row and you’re done.

K = Knit, P = Purl

Here’s a new recipe that Knitting Daughter has tried out on us a couple of times now, with rave reviews. Great for breakfast, or your mid-morning coffee break.

Gourmet Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbl. instant coffee
1 Tbl. hot water
1 1/3 cups mashed bananas (2-3 bananas)
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup chocolate chips

Sift together flour, soda, salt and baking powder.

Dissolve coffee in the hot water and add to the mashed bananas. Beat together the butter, egg, sugar and banana mixture. Add in the flour mixture.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Bake at 335 degrees for 30 minutes. Makes 18 muffins.

Have a great weekend!

Sheri makingprettygoodprogressontheprojectslistfromWednesday’sblog