Knit for Nat

I've been feeling guilty. Since Nathaniel was born I haven't knit him anything. I had good reasons: it was the summer, other people knit him great stuff, and he had hand-me-downs from big brother Owen. Remember this jacket?

I'm happy to report it is still being used:

As we fast approach the next clothes size, I realized there would be a knitwear gap as Owen was a winter baby and it was summer when he was 6-9 months. I decided to go with the Ribbed Baby Jacket hot off my Ravelry queue. It's super cute and will be perfect this winter.
Pattern: Debbie Bliss's Ribbed Baby Jacket, size 6-9 months
Yarn: Valley Superwash in colonial blue
Needles: US 7 and 8
Thoughts: It was a fun pattern and I'm pleased with the result. The color looks great with his blue eyes. (It is mysterious to me how 2 green-eyed parents ended up with one brown-eyed child and one blue-eyed child.)

answer

This post is in response to a reader's question about the dinosaur hat I made, specifically how I used my heel flap knowledge to turn the hood. The pattern does tend to be awkwardly worded.

Where it says "Rejoin yarn to [c]enter 12 stitches, and continue working for about 18 rows..."
is where instead I ignored the previous directions of binding off the side stitches and began using short rows. Basically you are starting with all active stitches divided into three sections. I do not remember how many stitches you have at this point, but you should have 12 in the center and an equal number (18?) on each side (remember this doesn't include the seed stitch borders). You will now "grab" a stitch from each of side sections until they are gone.
(row 1)With the right side facing, first knit across the first 2 sections. At the 12th stitch, knit 2 together (the last stitch of the middle section and the first stitch of the next section).
(row 2)Then turn the work and purl back and at the last stitch of the middle section purl 2 together.
Turn and repeat the last 2 rows until all the side section stitches are used up. You'll see that the side sections will naturally turn up and make a hood.

Here's what the end result looks like with the side and middle sections denoted.
Good luck! I hope this helps and if you have any more questions please give me your email address.

Did you?

Anne sweater

The Anne of Green Gables inspired sweater is finished!

Yarn: Bartlett Yarns 2 ply in Mountain Blue, 4 skeins, purchased at NYS Sheep and Wool
Needles: US 6
Pattern: My own, inspired by a cardigan I saw Anne wearing in the Anne of Green Gables movie. I used Elizabeth Zimmermann's EPS system and instructions for a seamless raglan.
Thoughts: Love it! It's just what I was imagining. The lace detail is a nice touch. I am unhappy about that color change halfway up, which I only just noticed when photographing it. I made sure when I bought them that all my skeins were from the same dye lot. It seems less noticeable when I'm wearing it (I think).


For the first time I used Elizabeth's Zimmermann's phony seam. I like the way it looks, though I don't know if I'd do it again.
I got these cool buttons at Webs. They look a bit like Roman coins.