the mini Magnum Capelet #1

When faced with having to get a last minute birthday gift for my daughters friend I decided to rework the Magnum Capelet #1 to fit the little ones.

I wasn't sure how much yarn I needed but knew I wouldn't need a full skein (123yds of Magnum by Cascade). Since I have a lot of partial skeins of Magnum I thought I would cast on and see what happened... it helps the capelet is worked top down.  I'm not sure how much yarn in the above color combo I used but it felt like it was just over half a skein.

My daughter really liked the capelet and with her birthday only a couple of days later I wanted to make her one too. I just happened to have a full skein of Magnum in purple (her favorite color) so it  gave me a chance to better gauge the amount of yarn I would use.

I had less than half a skein left when I finished. I was really hoping I would be able to get 2 out of the one skein knowing her sister would want one but after seeing it on her I didn't like the way it looked.

It was a bit big. 

I cast on with the remaining purple Magnum to see if I could squeeze another one out of it...

and was happy to find that with the remaining yarn I got yet a smaller version that is more proportionate for a 2 1/2 year old.

Available as a PDF download. $6.50

Finally, Happy Birthday to my big girl!

the end of summer baby jacket

 Sweet little baby Jesse, 10 weeks old.

I purposefully disconnected this summer to connect more with my family and like that the summer has flown by! And what a great summer we had, but wow! 3 months since my last post?! Although I've been disconnected in the technological sense I haven't been disconnected from knitting and here's my latest design... a stylish end of summer jacket for the little one.

 

Before I had kids I made the mistake of making a friends twins matching sweaters that were sized 3 months. I just wasn't thinking about how fast they grow! It was a lot of work for such limited use I learned my lesson with those, although their mom really cherished the sweaters and that made it worth it.

 

 someone didn't last long for this photo shoot!

 

So with a few late summer babies to knit for I wanted to make something that would get used a little longer. Designed with a growing baby in mind this long sleeve jacket for a newborn becomes a cropped 3/4 length sleeve jacket for a toddler.

Worked top down in a raglan style the upper body, sleeves and mini shawl collar are in reverse stockinette stitch while the lower body is worked in a 1x1 rib and finished with a kitchener bind off. One of the best things about it is it only uses @ 218yds (@199m) of a bulky weight yarn with #10.5 needles also used #10 for the ribbing & #8 for the kitchener bo. I used Cascade's Venezia Bulky but was sadly informed that this yarn, a wonderfully soft merino/silk combo is being discontinued. They do carry this in a worsted and a sport, which ironically I used for Wilhelmina's Baby Sweater the worsted same color too! Subconciously I must have something for this green.

The use of different increases & a kitchener bind off being the most difficult parts of this jacket would make me rate it for the intermediate knitter, but with the bulky yarn it's a quick knit... good thing too since my list of babies to knit for keeps growing!

 

I thought the handmade buttons helped complete the look. 

 

A simple slip stitch crochet button loop. 

 A crochet chain piping in a contrasting color around the neckline & under the collar gives a hint of color.

 

The kitchener bind off, a nice polished finish.

I think she's done.

Available as a PDF download $6.50