March 10, 2006

Cold baby! Thumper needs something to romp in!

In all the flurry of the destashing and stash sale, I forgot to tell you something. Remember what started the whole urge to destash? I was looking for the right yarn to knit the Child's First Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks and was quickly overwhelmed by the size of the stash. And then I asked you which yarn I should use for the pattern. Remember that?

I went with the Lorna's Laces Cranberry.

childssockstart.jpg

This sock got a big burst of attention during the Oscars, but has been languishing in its project bag since. Why? Baby knitting. Between socks and Rogue, I started to feel like I was neglecting the baby knitting. Yeah--that "Cold Baby!" feeling snuck in again, as unfounded as it may be. I picked the Sea Lion sweater up again, and also cast on for a new baby project. One I'm extremely amused by, so it will probably be finished rather quickly. A romper/overalls type thing for Thumper. Thumper's Romper.

I wasn't perfectly satisfied by any of the many patterns I found, so I'm cobbling a pattern together based on several Dale patterns and some ideal romper that lives somewhere in my head. I didn't want to knit it on #1 or #0 needles, which my loose knitting usually requires with Dale patterns. I wanted snaps along the leg for easy diaper changes. I wanted an unfussy pattern. And I wanted to use a cotton blend, since I'd like my June baby to be able to wear this right away. Oh--and I wanted to knit from the stash.

I'm using KnitPicks Shine. (From the stash!) Amazing what a good percentage of modal can do to make cotton...pleasant to knit. Yes, I said it. I'm knitting with cotton and enjoying it. That said, still keep the 100% cotton far from me please. But this stuff...knits up beautifully and makes such a soft fabric. Here's the first leg.

romperleg.jpg

I'm writing the pattern up as I go, so I'm not 100% sure yet what the top will look like. It will most likely be solid, probably using the lighter green.

Posted by cari at March 10, 2006 10:03 AM
Comments

sooo cute! i love the color choice. maybe you will share your pattern with us when you finish?

Posted by: Sarah

Wait, is that the little evil kitten creature? He's growed up.

Why does this make me sentimental?

Posted by: Juno

So cuddly cute. I can just picture it on a chubby leg. Some how it makes me think of shamrocks. ;-)

Oliver is seriously handsome. You've done well by that bedraggled kitten.

Posted by: LaurieM

That picture is too cute. Darling kitty and a darling little romper leg. Schmoos, all around.

Posted by: Carrie

Cute! A romper sounds fun to knit-looking forward to seeing how it knits up.

Posted by: brooke

Oh! How the kitty has grown. Sorry, blanking on the name and too lazy to look back through the blog and look it up. Anyway, he's grown quite a bit. I'm guessing other things have grown bigger, too. Hee!

Posted by: Carole

I'd comment on the knitting, but the sight of that lovely kitty has me seriously distracted. Is this really that poor kitty you saved so long ago? He look marvelous; it speaks to the love and attention he receives in your home.

Posted by: Gina

I was all ready to tell you that I've had good luck with using Shine for baby knits and to applaud your choice in yarn, but then I got distracted by the big and fuzzy kitty that has mysteriously replaced the tiny and scraggly one. So handsome!

Posted by: anne

kitty has turned into quite the magnificent creature! look at that tail! he's so lucky to have found you.

love the romper leg too. if I ever have a baby, i'm going to have to start my mat leave early just to accomodate all of the knitting i will have to do. . .

Posted by: megan

Great start on the romper - looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Love the Oscar pic too! He looks great. and Big. and Cuddly. and that tail!

Posted by: Rachel H

Thanks for the Shine review. I keep hearing good things about this yarn but haven't tried it out for myself yet!

Posted by: Karma

So cute! (Knitting and kitty both!) I love the fluffy tail!

Posted by: Andrea

What a lovely romper leg, and what a handsome teenaged cat! Those tufts! That tail! The beautiful whiskers! The beauty mark à la Cindy Crawford!

Posted by: Anne

Shut up! I'm making the same socks OUT OF THE SAME YARN! Freaky.

:)

Posted by: Kim

Who is looking extra cute today....

Those colors say Jolly Green Giant to me, but in a good way.

;-)

Posted by: claudia

i can't wait to see your little boy in the romper :-)

i'm already trying to figure out how to come visit :-) (olivia has inherited her mother's fear (and possibly allergy) of animals, so we'll have to be a bit creative around your house)

Posted by: rebecca

Such sweetness all around! Why is a little striped leg making me choke up? Sigh.

Posted by: regina

OMG, don't stop on the romper 'til it's finished - like IMMEDIATELY! It's going to be toooooo cute.

Posted by: Norma

Oscar! Dude! You look great!

I don't know why, but he looks like he might be a loud purrer. Something around the eyes, the curled paws...

I'm sure your baby will not be cold. Worst case, you can swaddle him in roving ;-) And I'm astonished at the "I'm enjoying cotton" thing. I loathe cotton, but I might have to try that stuff. It looks lovely.

Posted by: Lee Ann

Oscar! Dude, clearly you are getting some good kibble. Nice to see you looking so manly and grown up.

(Sigh, they grow up so fast)

Posted by: Cassie

The first thing that came to mind was the MinnowKnits Jailbird pattern - I saw one of my classmates knit it up and it's adorable! The legs snap and once knit seperately they join together for body before being sepearted for the top straps.

( http://store.nobleknits.com/jailbird.html )

Oscar is simply daper. The chair looks like a throne bought for his use only...

Posted by: Kristen

Wow, look at Oscar! That'll be a wonderful romper, but wow! Look at big 'ol Oscar!

Posted by: alison

Great green socks! And Oscar! He is looking all grown up. I have a kitty named Oscar as well and he has matured into a fine feline, despite his crazy antics.

Posted by: Robin

Cotton is perfect for the Carolina climate, but I avoid it because it makes my hands hurt. I'll have to give the Knitpicks Shine a try.

Posted by: Dani

How funny--I used to call my first child Thumper when I was pregnant with him.

Posted by: Amy

ohhh I love the romper already!!! The colours you choice are fab! Can't wait to see more of it!

Posted by: Kelly

Love the green! That cat is fluffy in funny places. Look at the ear hair! Cute!

Posted by: Julia

Kitty, kitty, kitty! He's all huge!!! How did it happen?? the stripey green leg is awesome!
Happy St. Ratrick's Day!

Posted by: pippy

I can't believe how big Oscar has gotten already. His tail looks like a big ol' feather duster. I love the stripes!

Posted by: Karen

Looking good Oscar!
I like how your cotton stripes are turning out. I have a very love-hate relationship with cotton.

Posted by: emily