Knitting Update - week of 2/28

What a crazy week it has been!! I swear just when I think I'm going to be able to get ahead...the power goes out for 36hrs. The week started off well with the finishing of the Surprise soaker. I was just about to wash it when I heard on the news that a wind/rain storm was in store and there would be wide spread power outages so I dove into doing the weeks laundry instead of work (thank goodness!) so it did not get washed/blocked before the power went out. After 36 cold hours of boredom it has been washed and is blocking. I cast on a soaker for Finn in the dark Friday and to my surprise it is hole free. Shaun bet it would have 4 holes...my guess was 2.

On ward to this week...I have lots of loose ends to tie up this week. With Shaun having three days off I hope to finally get a head...well just back on track so I can stock something at Bitty Fluff this Friday.

Who? Hat - done...still waiting for buttons
Surprise boyish soaker for drawing winner - done, pics to come
Guinevere Longies for Garrett - frogged
Bunny Hat - casting on after Fundraiser 1 item
Item for Fundraiser 1 - soaker
Item for Fundraiser 2 - casting on asap Giving them an instock item instead (Selah Skirty)
Woodland in Spring Soaker for Finn - 50% done
Woodland in Spring Hat for Finn
Woodland Tale Sweater for Finn
Copper Patina longies Finn
Double Chocolate Lollipop longies for Finn
Guppy Longies for Finn
Blanket for Shaun

For spring/summer....
Dragons Lair shorties for Garrett
Mosaic Moon Cestari Srappy shorties for Garrett
Woodland In Spring shorties for Garrett
Woodland In Spring shorties for Finn

Knitting Update - Week of 2/22

I didn't get as much done this week as I had hoped. But isn't that how it goes every week? High hopes for this week too...we'll see how it goes.

Who? Hat - done...just needs buttons for eyes on the "front" owl
Surprise boyish soaker for drawing winner - 50% done, hope to finish this up tonight
Guinevere Longies for Garrett - frogging tonight...see pic below
Bunny Hat - casting on after soaker
Item for Fundraiser 1 - casting on asap
Item for Fundraiser 2 - casting on asap
Woodland Tale Sweater for Finn
Copper Patina longies Finn
Double Chocolate Lollipop longies for Finn
Guppy Longies for Finn
Blanket for Shaun

For spring/summer....
Dragons Lair shorties for Garrett
Rockland shorties for Garrett - sold this wool to fund a baby carrier
Rockland shorties for Finn - ditto above
Mosaic Moon Cestari Srappy shorties for Garrett
Woodland In Spring for Garrett
Woodland In Spring for Finn

Whooo Hat


Guinevere Longies for Garrett
This was taken before they were frogged. I am doing a cable down the side and I want the cable to stand out more. Plus I can't stand how the yarn was working up. Too much stacking for my taste.

Finn's first love...

Finn's in love. I know he's a little young to be in love but he is head over heals in love.
He stares lovingly at his love most of the day. Tonight after his bath and feeding he turned his head, coo'd and gave his love a great big satisfied smile.

I never though I'd be jealous of a ceiling fan. But I must admit....I am. :-)

Laurel Love Cocoon

Laurel Love Cocoon

This pattern is for personal, charity, and WAHM use. WAHM’s are welcome to sell items made from this pattern, all I ask in return is for credit for the pattern with a link back to my site http://www.laurellove.com/

(Example credit: This cocoon was knit using the Laurel Love Cocoon pattern. http://www.laurellove.com )

 If you have a question about this pattern please email me at laurelloveboutique@gmail.com

*** Pattern Updated 2/27***

FO should measure approx 8in. wide and 13.5-14in. long

Size: Newborn
Gage: approximately 2.5 stitches per inch (10 stitches = 4 inches)
Yarn: 1.5 skeins or approx. 100 yards of Super Bulky - I used Aquarella Malabrigo
Materials Needed:
40” US13 knitting needle
embroidery needle
tape measure
stitch marker

This cocoon is knit in the round using the Magic Loop technique. If you are not familiar with it www.knittinghelp.com has a great video tutorial on it. Of course double point needles would work just as well.

Cast on 40 stitches. Join in the round, place marker and begin knitting in stockinette stitch. Continue knitting in stockinette stitch until knitted piece measures 12 inches in length. Follow decrease sequence. End by running a 6” tail of yarn through remaining 8 stitches. Weave in ends. I did not wash nor block my cocoon as I wanted it to retain the “puffy” yarn look instead of the flatter more uniform look of a washed/blocked garment. Gently place newborn in cocoon and cuddle. Don’t forget to snap a few pictures for everyone to swoon over. <3

Decrease sequence
R1: *K8, K2tog, repeat around from* (36 stitches remain)
R2: K all stitches
R3: *K7, K2tog, repeat around from* (32 stitches remain)
R4: K all stitches
R5: *K6, K2tog, repeat around from* (28 stitches remain)
R6: *K5, K2tog, repeat around from* (24 stitches remain)
R7: *K4, K2tog, repeat around from* (20 stitches remain)
R8: *K3, K2tog, repeat around from* (16 stitches remain)
R9: *K2, K2tog, repeat around from* (12 stitches remain)
R10: K all stitches
R11: K2tog around (6 stitches remain)
R12: cut 6” tail to weave through eight remaining stitches.

Enjoy!
~ Melissa Riley

Knitting Update

I finished Finn's Coastal Sunset longies just in time to make them his Valentines Day outfit. On the needles is my first cabled item. A hat with cables that look like owls (God willing). Next I have a soaker to do for the "Surprise" soaker drawing, and a bunny hat for a friend's baby boy. I've decided to use our three skeins of Woodland Tale to make a sweater for Finn instead of longies. I need to run to Halcyon and grab the pattern.  

Coastal Sunset Longies for Finn - done
Who? Hat - 20% done
Suprise boyish soaker for drawing winner - casting on tomorrow
Bunny Hat - casting on after soaker
Woodland Tale longies for Finn
Woodland Tale longies for Garrett
Woodland Tale Sweater for Finn
Copper Patina longies Finn
Double Chocolate Lollipop longies for Finn
Blanket for Shaun

For spring/summer....
Dragons Lair shorties for Garrett
Rockland shorties for Garrett
Rockland shorties for Finn
Mosaic Moon Cestari Srappy shorties for Garrett
Woodland In Spring for Garrett? Finn??
Gueneviere for Garrett? Finn??

MM Coastal Sunset Longies

Declan Finn - 1 month 2 weeks old

The Riley Boys

On a bench at L.L.Bean...


Seeing them all together just fills my heart with joy and pride.

Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness

 Just a gentle reminder...please keep families who are living the nightmare of pregnancy/infant loss in your thoughts and prayers.

"Daddy please don't look so sad, momma please don't cry.
Cause I'm in the arms of Jesus, and he sings me lullabies.
Please try not to question God, don't think he is unkind.
Don't think he sent me to you and then changed his mind.
You see I'm a special child, I am needed up above.
I'm the special gift you gave Him, a product of your love.
I'll always be there with you, so watch the sky at night.
Look for the brightest star and know that's my halo's brilliant light.
You'll see me in the morning frost that mists your window pane.
That's me in the summer showers, I'll be dancing in the rain.
When you feel a gentle breeze from a gentle wind that blows.
Know that it's me planting a kiss upon your nose.
When you see a child playing and your heart feels a tug,
Don't be sad mommy, that's just me giving your heart a hug.
So daddy don't looks so sad and momma please don't cry.
I'm in the arms of Jesus and he sings me lullabies!
~Unknown

Smile!

Decland Finn smiled today. What an amazing milestone!!
And to make it extra special Daddy was able to see him smile too. We were sorting laundry on our bed while I fed Finn...and when he was done eating we talked and talked to him until he coo'd and gave us a smile.

A Cloth Diapered Cutie

Knitting Update

I got lots of loose ends tied up this week such as drawstrings and washing/blockings that needed to be done. I listed two soakers and a FFS drawing at Bitty Fluff and a skirtie listed at Laurel Love.Boutique . Not sure what's next to go on the needles. I looked through my yarn stash and couldn't find trim for anything I want to knit up so I may end up at The Knitting Experience later this week for some cascade or malabrigo to use as trim.

Birthday Boay Soaker (Custom Order) - Done
Coastal Sunset Longies for Finn - 95% done...needs a drawstring, ends woven in, and a good washing/blocking
Woodland Tale longies for Finn
Woodland Tale longies for Garrett
Copper Patina longies Finn
Double Chocolate Lollipop longies for Finn
Blanket for Shaun

For spring/summer....
Dragons Lair shorties for Garrett
Rockland shorties for Garrett
Rockland shorties for Finn
Mosaic Moon Cestari Srappy shorties for Garrett
Woodland In Spring for Garrett? Finn??
Gueneviere for Garrett? Finn??

Mosaic Moon "Birthday Boy" Soaker custom order


Finn's Mosaic Moon "Coastal Sunset"

Emeral Sheepy Sack (another bad picture...thanks Ben for the finger prints on the lens. :-/ )

Knitting Update

Yellow soaker with Woodland In Spring drawstring and duplicate stitch heart - Done
Birthday Boay Soaker (Custom Order) - 80% Done
Coastal Sunset Longies for Finn - 35% Done
Woodland Tale longies for Finn
Woodland Tale longies for Garrett
Copper Patina longies Finn
Double Chocolate Lollipop longies for Finn
Blanket for Shaun

For spring/summer....
Dragons Lair shorties for Garrett
Rockland shorties for Garrett
Rockland shorties for Finn
Mosaic Moon Cestari Srappy shorties for Garrett
Woodland In Spring for Garrett? Finn??
Gueneviere for Garrett? Finn??

Coastal Sunset longies progress picture...


Selah Skirtie...




Selah Soaker...


Yellow Soaker with Woodland In Spring accents...

Happy 11th Birthday Logan!

Logan turned 11 years old today. Or should I say he'll be eleven years old at 9:46pm.
He had his family party yesterday (combinded with Garrett's since Garrett was sick last weekend...and yep..he was still sick this weekend).