Mom & Baby set is all done

The whole set is done.

For the mom: Clapotis

For the baby:

Noro spiral one-skein hat by Manuele Ducret
saartje-bockstark-bootee (see below)

The hat didn't spiral. It goes fine with the set, though. I thought a scaled down version of the adult Clapotis Hat wouldn't be right for a baby.

The mom was not going to find out the gender, but during the ultrasound she saw he was a boy. I hope the colors aren't too feminine, but for a newborn it should be all right.

Stash Knit-down 2008 progress

Ravelry's Stash Knit-down 2008 Group

My goals: 12 FO this year from stash.

1. Nephew/Niece blankie
2. Scarf for handspun hat.
3. Clapotis
4. Pink scarf
Update 6/8/2008 with two more FO's
5. Noro Chevron Hat.
6. Niece tunic.

April challenge: Finish or Frog WIP's.
I am making exception for

• DD2's cable sweater. That will take months when I'm doing a couple rnds a day. No big hurry. I'm kind of saving it for car knitting on our summer trips.

• The swatch afghan that I've been constructing a few blocks here and there for about 3 years. It's done whenever I say it is. DDs both want it for college. Uh-huh.

The only other WIP I found was a green Noro Kuryeon hat for DH. I just cast on 2 weeks ago and I already forgot about it. Right after I took these photos DS2 took the teakettle and poured the water on my swatch.

Saartje-Bockstark Bootee

Saartje-Bockstark Bootie
Originally uploaded by swjuliet

Did one bootie for the Mom & Baby Clapotis set today. DD admitted she probably wouldn't really wear it much, so it will be for the expectant mom.

Bockstark, another mother of twins on Ravelry introduced me to this bootee. I got one done today even though DS#2 did not take his nap. Edited to add: Finished the 2nd on 4/15, wthich is the next day I picked it up.

The original pattern is Saartje's Bootees.

Bockstark (Kris) posted her version in the round, which I modified for my worsted weight yarn as follows:

Cast on 23 st.
Round 1: Place marker after 11th st, k1, pm...
Increase through Round 6, then work even.
Only work 13 rnds (bootee about 1.5" tall at this point) before changing to CC and doing decrease rnd.
Please refer to original patterns above for complete directions.
My other variations--I made the straps 21st long total, and did my buttonholes by a y00, k2tog at end of the strap. I did not move my increases to the corners of the toe area, but kept them on each side of the central toe stitch.

Clapotis is finished

Here is DD#1 modeling Clapotis for me. I used the aqua colorway for the increase and decrease sections, alternated aqua and periwinkle every 2 rows for about 24 rows, and did the center straight section in periwinkle. I'm really pleased with the way the colors worked.

Other than purling the st to be dropped, I followed the instructions. That was unusual for me. I think I may do a SK lace version with plain yarn. I wanted to keep this one extra-easy, though.
I realized after a few rows these colors don't match my complexion. DD#1 said she wasn't interested either, so I was quietly planning to give it to a friend's daughter who is expecting her first baby this summer. I'm not well acquainted with her daughter, but she is going through some difficult times right now. I thought Cpapotis would make a nice wrap when a sweater might be too warm (or not fitting anymore), and could be used to cover Baby when she's walking outside later. I was going to make some matching booties and a baby hat from the leftover yarn.

After the photo shoot on a cool, windy spring day, DD has decided she would like it after all. She thinks it would be nice for air conditioned places in summer. She assures me she will not wear it once then throw it on the floor, forgotten. Which is what happened to her Christmas cape from 2004. Which is what happened to her handbag from 2006. Hmmmm...now what do I do?

Clap is almost done

I will finish it tonight. Doesn't it look like "waves"?