February - Knitting on a deadline

I have been frantically knitting away trying to meet the deadline of my bestfriend's impending birthing. She is due in early April and she is having a little boy, they are calling Byron. I bought a heap of yarn when I found out so I would have heaps to choose from. There are 2 other babies expected this year, my sister's first and my friend's second. Not sure of sexes for these two yet but I've started knitting anyway. I have made half of a small pair of boys shorties using the JJ Retro Prince colourway and a boys Newborn Set with longies, a beanie and a pair of socks... all using 100g of the YC Rocky Creek Single Ply worsted yarn and a miniskein of Blue Steel Treliske. I LOVE making newborn stuff!!!

This is what I have managed to make Byron so far: Tom Vest in light blue Dashing, Small Longies in JJ Athena in the Retro Prince colourway, A newborn Curly Purly soaker also in the Retro Prince colourway, a small Snapdragon Soaker in JJ Splish Splash colourway on single ply 100purewool. I did a couple of t-shirts to match the woolies as well so it ended up being a nice little baby shower package. I am still planning to make him a Newborn Set as listed above in the YC Walker colourway, witha green contrast. This will be his pressie for when we visit in hospital.

I have also been knitting some winter clothes for Cady. I finished the Waterlillies Amelie Dress in a size 1 and am now working on a dress using TiKKi's rainbow dress pattern in a size 0. I've still got quite a few projects in the works for winter clothes for her... a couple of cardigans, a few more dresses and a couple of pairs of longies.

On the Needles:

Small Turquoise Retro Prince Shorties
These are in waiting for one of the expectant babes due this year. They aren't sure of sexes yet so it can remain in storage until it has a little person to be given to. I am using JJ Athena in Retro Prince and Retro Prince Turquoise and the Picky Pants pattern. I used 3mm needles for the waisband and 5mm for the body. I did the waistband longer and will do the same for the body and legs also.

Stormchild TiKKi dress
This is a great little pattern and all knitted in the round! I am making this out of some 4BF Yarn Cafe wool I had frogged from another project. I also used a miniskein of Treliske in purple for the bodice and the skirt trim. I'm using 4mm needles and am trying my new knitpicks set out on this one. I have about 2" to go and it is fitting really well based on today's fitting.

Thuja Socks for DH
These were supposed to be a valentine's day present for Dh but I didn't get them done in time. Ooops! So far one of these is completed and 1/4 of the other one done. I will get it done eventually but he doesn't really seem in a rush so neither am I LOL. Here are some pics of the one I have finished.

French Market Bag:

No real progress on this so far. I have to use DPN's and that is always bad for my motivation :) here's a progress piccie of what I have completed of the base. I'm not totally happy with the way I have done the increases though so I may frog and start again.

Finished Projects for February:

Waterlillies Amelie Dress:

I finally got around to knitting all the flowers for this one. There were heaps!!! I sewed them on, washed and blocked it. Now it is all ready to be worn come winter time with a pair of tights and a skivvy.

Dress Front

Dress Back

Hem detail & Shoulder detail

Newborn Curly Purly Soaker

This is one of the woollies I've knit for Byron. They were knit using JJ Athena in the Retro Prince Colourway with the cuffs and waistband in the matching Retro brown. I use the Curly Purly pattern and size 3mm, 4mm and 5mm needles. I am very happy with the way it turned out...Very cute!!!

Small Retro Prince Longies

This is another of the woollies I've knit for Byron. They were knit using JJ Athena in the Retro Prince Colourway with the cuffs and waistband in the matching Retro Brown. I used thePicky Pants pattern and size 3mm and 5mm needles. It took a bit of fiddling to get the legs to pool in a similar fashion but I'm happy with the end result. I found a little beige long sleeved t-shirt with a monkey on it that goes perfectly with these. I can't wait to see them on him :)

Rocky Creek Baby Socks

These are the last component of the newborn set I've made one of the unborn babes due this year. They are a little big though, Cady fits them with her 11cm feet. Not sure when they would fit a baby boy, probably sooner though. I use the remaining amount of both the Blue steel treliske and the Rocky Creek single ply worsted yarn. I had to knit them at the same time to make sure that I didn't run out of yarn LOL. They are a bit shorter than the pattern suggested due to this reason.

I have also found a little blue t-shirt that matches this set perfectly and have used a iron-on transfer of a horse to help it match the colourway even more. I'll take a piccie of the whole set before it is given as a gift.

Mud Princess Shorties
I knit these in curiosity to see what a new free pattern on Ravelry, Itchyfingers Pants was like to use. I used YC 3ply worsted weight yarn in the Mud Princess colourway. I did them without a drawstring and with extra width so they are a little big atm. They are probably more a size 1 in width and rise.

I tried to follow the pattern exactly to get a true gauge as to whether I like the techniques used. I really like the concept of grafting the crotch before knitting either leg but I did it using yarn from the end of the ball rather than breaking yarn to do it.

Fuschia Newborn Longies
I knit these for a knitting friend who has just had a baby girl. I haven't got a post embellishment photo yet though, I forgot to take one before I sent the package (Ooops!). I'll post a final piccie when my friend has taken one. I use the Picky Pants Pattern and the remaining SSS wool that Sue gave me. I made a matching headband using the same crochet sts as for the cuff. I embellished each with knitted flowers in a dark purple colour.