Beginning a New Baby Project

I decided to begin a baby hat for the new baby last night. I couldn't find a pattern that suited me, so I'm making one up as I go. I may need to begin again, or redo it. Being a simple hat, I'm sure I'll manage just fine. If I'm happy, then I'm going to teach myself cabling on a baby hat next.

No Christmas work for Lent

Now that we are in Lent, I cannot in good conscience continue work on the Christmas stocking. Instead, I'm knitting for my older boys and looking for new patterns for the baby to come in June.

Reviewing the End-of-Year Work

After having a rough time at Hallowe'en, I took things easier than expected for the end of the year. I only made one gift, and didn't finish the Christmas stocking. I have avoided burnout, to which I was close approaching. I'm ready to begin the New Year afresh, and find my footing again.
























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Wow! Both projects completed!

I've been working on both the afghan and wall hanging for so long that I didn't realize how close to completion I was. I'm done! I completely finished the afghan before bed last night, and have all but the finish work on the wall hanging. I'll finish that within the next two hours (nap time for the boys.) While working, a few stitches here and there become loose, and occasionally, I'll skip a stitch. That's what I go back and do for "finish work." I don't worry to much during embroidery, especially cross stitch about that during the project. Like a typo, it's easier to go back and hone in on the odd mistake, while keeping my fast rate, rather than backtracking several times and loosing my momentum.

Now, I have a week for one Hallowe'en costume. Then, I can begin Christmas gifts, and complete one Christmas stocking. The younger boy is too young for me to fret over not having a proper stocking. Next year, I'll make his cross stitch or needle point stocking. This year, he can just enjoy presents in a simple stocking.

No more work on the hat

I've suspended work on the little hat for Vivian. She was born on Sept. 23rd, and passed away early Sept. 24th. I've posted more at the Cottage. This afternoon's work will be on the afghan, and our needlework focus will be on that work for now. I'm going to meet the deadline for this year, and put my energy towards that during this sad time.

Lessons Learned

Decreases while knitting in the round should not be where needles meet but in the middle of one needle: lesson learned.

Dropping a needle while knitting in the round should not be done preemptively. Knit with all the needles as long as possible: lesson learned.

Don't twist stitches unless one is knitting cable stitches: lesson learned.

Most importantly - Don't knit while too tired to keep from making mistakes. Not quite sure if I've really learned that one, yet.

I've had to pull out all of my stitches from the last few days. I'll try to start again with the hat, half way through.

Knitting my own baby hat

I'm working without a pattern for the new baby hat. I've done about an inch of ribbing, followed by a row of knit. Then an eyelet row in knit, followed by stockingette in the round. I'm decreasing as I feel like it. I never found an appropriate pattern, so I just decided to go along as I felt like it. I may not finish in time, so this may end up as a general charity piece. That takes the pressure off to make it just so.