Bling, Bling Baby Sweater

Pattern:  Knit Lace & Leaves (Leisure Arts)
Yarn:  Lion Brand Cotton Ease
Needles:  Size 5 & 7 (I went up one size)
Erratas for this pattern: Can you believe all the errors in the pattern....geesh!!!!

I loved this sweater the minute I saw it.  I'm a sucker for garter stitch.  Probably one of the reasons I usually enjoy knitting Elizabeth Zimmermann patterns. 

It looked beautiful as I knitted it.  However, once completed, I felt that the leaves really overpowered the sweater and needed to be a little more dainty.

I fell in love with these buttons.  Every little girl needs to be exposed to a little "bling-bling" at an early age so I obliged.

The pattern....isn't that baby adorable!

 I won't be knitting the blanket.  However, that would be one gorgeous gift!

 The pattern booklet gives you the choice of two hats.  I love the bonnet.

But I'll be knitting the cap to match.

I hated knitting with this yarn.  Colorways are beautiful but I find cotton hard on my hands when it comes to knitting.  When knitting baby things I put my "yarn snobbiness" aside in favor for "easy of care" and "cost".  I'm really not excited about Lion Brand's Vanna White's yarn either.

I'm off to a birthday celebration lunch.  Lots of fun things coming up in the next two months.  More on that later.

Happy Knitting!

Knitting Apps

I must confess. I have a new addiction. Yes, I know that it is one of many but all my addictions are creative and not harmful except for the Diet Pepsi monster. This newest one is free to affordable. It's apps for my phone...you know, like in applications.

The contract on my cell phone with Verizon expired last October at which time I could upgrade for a small to huge fee, of course. The rumor mill was ripe with information that the IPhone 4 would soon be available with my Verizon carrier. The magic date in February arrived and the  IPhone 4 cell phone purchased was made. I love it!I don’t know how I ever lived without it.

So, you are wondering about the knitting apps. They are pretty cool!!!!!

Here are a few I have downloaded and if my aging memory serves me right, they were all free except for the spinning app.

StitchMinder - My favorite knitting app, I think it is self-explanatory.  The settings allow ascending and descending tracking.

KnitGauge - Useful tool for measuring swatches. I’m amazed at how this one works.  Align your swatch with the needles and drag one of the needles to the area you designate on your swatch and it will provide you with the info you want.

I really like the measuring tape and find it useful for a number of things when shopping.

Row Counter - Very basic and useful

Knit Counter - (sorry, no pic available) A lot like Ravelry except you can keep this info private till you are ready to share it with the Ravelry knitting world.


KnitMinder - Keeps track of projects, UFO, etc. Similar to some of the others that are available.

IKnit NdlSzr - not that impressive but it works in a pinch

SockCalc - (forgot to take a picture of this one) Want customized socks? This free app is for you. Late last year I purchased a similar software program for $30. Just goes to show you that if you wait awhile, it will be free.

A spinning app for fiber addicts!

WEBS, Kaleidescope Yarn (my LYS) and Knitting Daily, where are the topics are neatly stored as opposed to lost in my e-mail in-box, are part of this group.

I have many other apps ranging from NASA to entertainment. I have the Martha Stewart app where every afternoon (I selected the time) I receive a recipe along with a grocery list specialized to my local grocery store of choice according to aisle.
 
Happy Knitting!