WIP Wednesday

I bet you're wondering why I didn't do WIP Wednesday last week. Well, I did an entire post and then my iPad app, Blogsy, ate it.  I have a baby, yo! I don't have time to be rewriting blog posts. It was a major bummer, but life goes on.

Started AND finished: Patio chair
On the drive home from Ancastor last weekend, we realized we had an hour extra on our Zipcar reservation and were just about at the exit for Ikea. I've been talking about getting a patio chair for our balcony for a couple weeks now. Actually, I wanted two chairs and a table, but DH pointed out we  didn't have the budget for a patio set.

So a single chair would have to do. He put it together for me as soon as we got home and handed me the care instructions.  Normally, I would ignore these instructions, but I'm working on being an adult, and you know, taking care of my stuff.  So, off to the hardware store I went to get sandpaper and teak oil.

Voila!  A chair protected from the elements.  And just in time; it rained last night!

In Progress: Pin Tuck Tee
I have now started this project three times.  The first time, several stitches got dropped while jostling around in my project bag under the stroller and try as I might, I could not pick up the twisted knit stitches properly.  Since I'd only done about 8 rows, I was fine with ripping and starting again.  While ripping I realized that the large was going to be much too wide, so I cast on a size smaller.

Take two and guess what I found in the middle of my skein?Two of the six strands in my yarn were broken.  So annoying.  I cut out that piece and continued.  I did my wrap and turns for my short rows and everything looked great.  Then I started picking up the wraps and everything went to hell.  Not really, but I wasn't happy with how they looked.  I'm going to look up some youtube videos on picking up wrapped stitches so that this attempt is more successful.  I have done the first six rows for the third time and am about to start my short rows.  Wish me luck, third times a charm and all that.

Upcoming project
I have a lot of yarn, needles, notions, project bags, what-have-you.  With multiple projects on the go, it's hard to keep organized.  I have some great organizers, all from Namaste. But even so, things can get a little messy.  We do live in a small condo, after all.  This is what my stash currently looks like:

There is a second wicker basket of yarn up on a shelf and a needle case and scissors on the coffee
table.

I bought these bins at Winners and they match the green in some of my wall art.  I plan to use them to declutter and pretty up my pile o'stash in the coming week.

So, what have you been up to this week?

WIP Wednesday: Rafi's Dress, Week 2

I  was going to start this post by saying that I wasn't able to get very much done this week on Rafi's dress.  But, looking at last week's WIP Wednesday post, I actually did the majority of the body of the dress.  All that's left is about 5 rows of the body and then the ruffled hem and binding off of the arms. With her birthday less than a week away, I need to get a move on!  Next week I hope to be posting the finished product.

WIP Wednesday: Rafi's Dress

The Pattern

Currently on my needles, is the Maxi Dress by Elena Nodel from her blog Knitting Adventures.  This is turning out to be a surprisingly quick knit.  It's knit top down, in one piece (no seaming!). 

This dress is destined for my adorable neighbour, Rafi, who is turning two on June 6.  Her parents are fantastic people who have been so generous to Kivi and me since our Pumpkin arrived.  They are always dropping off something new for us.  Last week it was a teething toy that they said was Rafi's favorite thing to gum.  The week before it was homemade curry.  They gifted us bibs and washcloths and on and on.  Not to mention the advice and support around becoming parents. We are so lucky to have friends like them! 

The Yarn

I'm using Mission Falls 1824 Cotton 

and Estelle Cotton Cloud

I got a terrific price from Haley at Knitomatic on the Mission Falls because the line is being discontinued.  I paid about $3 a ball.  Not too shabby. Rafi has a dark complexion so I think the fuchsia and browns will really suit her.

The WIP

I was able to accomplish a good chunk of the dress driving to and from Ottawa this past weekend. I'm knitting on 4.5 mm circular needles (16 inch length) and making size 1-2.   If I was to do it again, I think I'd go up a needle size, because I'd like this to be a summer dress and while the fabric isn't think, it would be airier and lighter with a bit more drape.

Rafi is a tiny little sprout, so I really hope this dress will fit her!  I can't wait for her to try it on.

Work in Progress Wednesday

Crafty bloggers all over the web participate in Work in Progress (WIP) Wednesday.  Every Wednesday, I will be discussing my current project, complete with photos.  I can hear how excited you are.  Let's get started...

The Pattern
On my needles is the very popular Baby Sophisticate cardigan.  This pattern was published in Stockinette in April 2009 and according to Ravelry, has been knit 1695 times.  Whoa!  That's a lot of cardis!  I'm making the 6 to 12 month size for my little one.  Other knitters have noted that the pattern runs a bit small so I took a few hours to read various project notes (again on Ravelry) and have found a few modifications that I intend to use.  I plan to cast on 1 stitch under each underarm when splitting for the body and sleeves and pick up 3 stitches on the underarm when starting the sleeves and then decrease 2 of them on round 5.  Thank you Susan for these suggestions!

But hey!  I haven't gotten to splitting for the body and arms yet.  I've just started this project yo!

The Yarn

I am loving knitting up the Taiyo yarn by Noro that I chose for this project.  I don't generally enjoy knitting cotton, but this stuff is incredibly soft and easy on the hands.  It's aran weight, 

40% Cotton, 30% Silk, 15% Nylon, 15% Wool and 100% luxurious!  The colourway is fabulous. Lots of greens, yellow, teal and purple.

The WIP

As you can see, I haven't gotten very far yet, but I'm very pleased with how quickly this is knitting up.  I'm also happy with the width of each stripe of colour.  At first I wasn't digging the mustard yellow but it has really grown on me.

I don't think I'll get very much (if anything!) done on this cardigan in the next seven days because I have just cast an adorable dress for one of the little people in my life whose birthday is fast approaching.  I'll tell you more about that project next week. 

So, what's everyone else working on?

P.S.  Some of my links are to Ravelry and I'm afraid you need an account to login.  If you are a knitter or crocheter, you must must must sign up.  You won't regret it, promise!