Picture Post (with hidden mini contest)

There's a new baby girl next door and I made this for her mommy. It's been years and years since I did some needlepoint(ing?). So it was a bit of an adventure. It's a handkerchief for the 3rd or 4th day after giving birth, notorious for lots of tears flowing. I haven't got a clue how to translate 'kraamtranen' so if any of my Dutch readers know, feel free to comment!

This I made for the wee girl herself. It's from 'One Skein' , a great and quick knit. I've used a vintage skein from a bag that was given to me by my MIL, no idea what brand it was... I made one for my little boy too (though it's a little girly I admit) I thought that one turned out quite big. I changed the needles by one whole size and made this pretty little thang. She'll only wear it the first few days, but that's when loads of pictures are taken ;-) and eventually she can use it for her dolls.

A while ago I made a little baby shrug for Iep to wear in his sleeping bag when it's colder. I used two random skeins from my stash. One Rowan type tweed in two threads (no label, sorry) and the other a Lana Grossa type tweed. The pattern is described in a Dutch book about how to go about getting a good daily routine for your baby. Although it's considered a bit old fashioned by some people, It's very popular and was an absolute eyeopener for me in the first few weeks of my little boy's life.
A late afternoon at the zoo. Bright and great light for pictures.

Yup, they're real. It looks like the set of a jeans brand's picture shoot or something, but it's the indoor space for these beautiful deer.
Spring is coming!
This is my view while nursing. Although I'd rather look at a bunch of trees (even one would be great) this is really kinda cool too. I'm enjoying how it looks different every time. Sometimes it's so foggy that the skyline just isn't there, very spooky.

Rotterdam's skyline from a bigger distance. A nice long walk around 'de Kralingse plas' (mini lake).
Back to knitting. I'm working on this pattern, it's a .... guess what it's going to be and I'll send you a small surprise! (first right answer wins, winner will be posted in a week's time)
Cobblestone is slowly but steadily growing.
Did I tell you I'm cheating...
I'm taking sewing classes at the Sewing Café where I teach my knit workshops. I've had two lessons and I can tell you now, it's a quick fix compared to knitting. Like a shot of tequila compared to a glass of wine. But I can never imagine setting aside, let alone leaving, my true love:
knitting!


Wow, I just blew about a dozen opportunities to post about in one blow. Talk about a quick fix...

If only I could do this to Ravelry... I'm still not updated and it's starting to haunt me.... argh!

Copy Cat

I saw Saartjes post of her daughter Lotte in her new hat and it was exactly what I was looking for. I'd seen these hats before, perfect for little baby's it keeps ears and forehead covered, and was looking for a pattern. So I did a little copy cat-ing! Hey Saartje, what a cute couple huh? Want to plan a blind date in 2025?




Iep was tired so I didn't get a good picture of the back, but look at Saartjes post for a great picture.
I used Drops Alpaca and knit with 2,3 (mm) needles for the edging and 3 for the rest.

Here you can find the English pattern. There's a Norwegian version too, but I don't have too many Norwegian readers so I think this will do.

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Our son is a sucker for knitted toys,


But he's a bigger sucker for watching soccer with dad, *



Come to think of it he's a sucker in general....



* (don't worry, it was only a minute or two to take a picture, I won't harm my son by exposing him to soccer, my boy is going to be a skate/snowboarder or at least a surfer, let that be clear! ;-)

FREE PATTERN: Space Invader

I got really inspired by Anna Hrachovec who designed the Woodins in the last Knitty issue. I fell in love with those cute creatures and wanted to design a stuffed toy myself. Other than that, I'm on ravelry now and just having one design there (and one really old one) is so, well, meagre.


I've always been a fan of the street artist 'Invader'. I like the way he uses an existing form and gives it another meaning. He takes the main characters from the 1978 arcade video game 'Space Invader', turnes them into mozaiques and then sticks them onto walls all over the world. So cool, so fun, such a friendly form of street art! Love it, love it, love it!


And so I thought it might be cool if the invaders took over the world one step further, this time 'knitty style'. So I designed knitted Space Invaders.

There's a big one and a small one, the small one is a little different. It was the first one that I knit and didn't turn out as boxy as I planned but I still like the little fellar so he can stay. Just so you know when you see the measurements beeing anything but logical. ;-)

Have fun invading!
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FREE PATTERN: Space Invader

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
This project is great for those leftovers that can’t seem to find a suitable pattern, it really doesn’t matter how big it will turn out so use all kinds of yarn just make sure you use the needle size that’s recommended or a bit smaller so that the stitches won’t bee too loose for filling. (So you still want to make a swatch... sorry...)

MATERIALS
Any yarn you like and 1 set needles to match the yarn, these ones are made with a 60% acrylic/ 40% wool mix, worsted weight knit on 4mm needles.
a tapestry needle
stich holders
stitch markers

GAUGE
17sts x 25rows = 4"

PATTERN NOTES
The space invader is knit in one shape, folded in half, then sewn up.

Used Techniques
casting on (single cast on + Double Cast-On aka Long-Tail Cast-On)
binding off
stockinette stitch
placing stitches on a holder
simple embroidery

PATTERN
Front Body
Cast on 10 (10) st
K 10(5) rows st st
(RS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and K to end
(WS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and P to end
(30 st on the needle)
K 12(5) rows st st
(RS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and K to end
(WS) Cast on 10(5) stitches using single cast on and P to end
(50 st on the needle)
K 14(15) rows st st

Legs
(RS) K 10(5) st, BO 3(4), K10(5), BO 4(5), K 10(5), BO 3(5), K10(5)
(WS) P 10(5) st, place all other st on st holder
*Continue with the 10(5) st on the needle, K 24(15) rows
Place these 10 st on second st holder
Get next 10(5) st from first holder, K 24 rows(15) *repeat 3 times
Now all 40(24) st are on the second holder
(RS) K first 10(5) st
Cast on 3(4) st using single cast on
Add next 10(5) st from second holder and k10(5)
Cast on 4(5) st using single cast on
Add next 10(5) st from second holder and k10(5)
Cast on 3(5) st using single cast on
Add next 10(5) st from second holder and k10(5)

Back Body
K 14(15) rows st st
BO 10(5) st K till end of row
Bo 10(5) st P till end of row
K 12(5) rows st st
BO 10(5) st K till end of row
BO 10(5) st P till end of row
K 10(5) rows
BO all st.

FINISHING
Using simple straight stitches embroider eyes onto front side, making sure you ALWAYS stick in the middle of the yarn to make sure that when the knitting is stretched, the embroidery stays in shape.

* don't be gentle with me, I'm learning, if you have a suggestion or a remark, let me have 'em!