bestitched

love is the color orange

Those who know me, know my love of all things orange. There's a lot of orange around the house. It's almost like a Hare Krishna exploded.

orange shirts on my kid (hey, put down my cell phone you stinker!)

orange jello for an afternoon snack with LL

orange egg cups above my sink

orange and white towels in my kitchen drawer

So, when my friend E showed up wearing an orange cashmere scarf, color me...well, you know...

So, now the plan is for a simple but elegant scarf using Twisted Sisters Dakari yarn in Achiote.

Sunshiny goodness ahead.

As for LL's swing coat, it's coming along. Hopefully it will done in time for an Easter visit to the grandparents.

what? another baby in handknits? will it never end????

Yes, that's right. More adorable children in the things I knit for them. Here is baby Max in his little cotton sweater. Love little Max and I love this sweater. I think that my true calling in life is to outfit the next generation in handknits. LL will lead them in the revolution.

BTW, as I write this, I'm listening to BL give relationship advice to his oldest friend who is single.  Hilarious and kinda sad at the same time. Oh, honey...   

swing coats

So, no swing coat for me. Yah, that's probably not the best idea given my shape.  But what about LL?  Definitely!  Toddlers can wear just about anything.  (Well, maybe not some of the stuff in the last IK. That would be creepy).

I'm using basics from the top-down hoodie . I've just knit past the armholes and started double increases in the front and the back to ensure abundant swingy-ness (all the better for twirling). Pockets are a must and there will be a seed stitch collar, cuffs, and hem.

The yarn is Nashua Cilantro in Marine. I love this yarn. Soft, stretchy goodness.

I'm looking forward to seeing this one on my model.  And speaking of toddler fashion, the Sartorialist will be writing a column for Cookie . Hooray! 

photo shoot at indoor gym

LL's new vest is done.

What a fun knit this was and I'm really pleased with the result. A lovely little vest to keep my girl warm and cozy for the rest of the winter.

Pattern: Cozy Tank Top from Lucinda Guy's And so to Bed

Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Tatamy Tweed in Fireplace and Pumpkin (leftovers from my U-neck sweater).  I used less than 1 skein of each. Each skein is about $6. Now that's a bargain.

Needles: US 5 + 6

Mods: No extra row of crochet around the bottom of the sweater and no ribbon in the pocket. 

LL's new vest

I've finished the back of the new vest for LL and started on the front this morning.

I'm using Lucinda Guy's Cozy Tank Top pattern (scroll down - it's the one with the pocket on the front) from And So to Bed. What a great pattern. So nicely written and all the details are lovely (which you can't see in the above crappy photo).

This morning on the bus I met a woman who was knitting the Pearl S. Buck swing coat designed by Kate Gilbert for Interweave Winter 2005. So v. nice! I've got swing coats on the brain now (read completely and utterly obsessed) and this was fuel for the fire.

Swing coats, swing coats, SWING COATS!

the monkey off my back

Never have I been so happy to finish an FO.

Forget about second sock syndrome. Try dealing with fourth sock syndrome.

Socks for the Nephews (who better wear them until threadbare)

Yarn: Elann Esprit

Needle: US 3

Pattern: my own, I guess.  I just got their foot measurements and went from there.

Baby H in handknits

Baby H's momma was nice enough to send pics of her little one wearing some handknits

Here she is in the peapod sweater

And one of her in the pink sweater

[Yes, that's me holding her and I'm wearing my so-called scarf]

As for current knitting projects, LL's vest is on hold so that I can finish the socks for the nephews. Just oen more to go. It's "eat it with a fork time".

The gulfarium

Once, when I talked about taking LL to Stone Zoo, Miss JMB quipped, "Don't bother. They have two animals and one of them is a squirrel."

Well, Miss JMB, a sorrier affair is to be found at the Gulfarium. They had a bunch of goldfish, some ducks in a pond, and three dolphins. Pretty sad for the entry price of $18.50.

Even LL was chagrined.

[Thought bubble: this is so lame]

We lit out of there and got some ice cream and then had some good beach time followed by reading on the deck.

knitting during naptime

Slow progress on LL's new vest, but can you blame me given my current view of the world?

Last night we had a lovely dinner at Old Bay Steamer. Lovely, that is, except for the wild animal that was at our table. At one point, my sweet child was eating mac & cheese with one hand and applesauce with the other. No utensils, mind you, just with her bare hands, even though utensils were made available to her. And then she bit through the bottom of her cup of apple juice, pulled out her hair bands (with her applesauce- and cheese-covered hands) and starting singing at the top of her little lungs nonstop.  And it was the only time on this trip I didn't have my camera.

sunday on the beach