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Elphie Custom Camera/Phone Case

Update: see end of post for information about a downloadable pattern pdf

Hey guys! Even with my hands usually full of baby lol I managed to finish and write up a pattern!

After my son Jakob was born I told my husband we had no choice but to buy a new camera.  Our existing camera was huge- larger than an 80’s cell phone!  It was the kind of camera I couldn’t even bring to social events like a wedding or shower as it would have required its own carrying bag and I would have looked like overdressed paparazzi.  Now that we had a child, I insisted, we needed a camera small enough to keep in the diaper bag or in my pocket.  There was no way I would miss those special first moments!

Buying the camera didn’t solve all of my problems, however.  The camera didn’t come with a case- only a thin tufted slip of paper that it fell out of easily.  Friends and family of mine have knitted themselves camera cozies, but all had the same basic design; a tube with one closed end and one ribbed end.  While you could knit it as tightly as you’d like, there was nothing to officially stop the camera from falling out.

I was determined to remedy that.  Buttons and Velcro were out.  I knew the camera would end up in my pocket and with my luck the flap wouldn’t be properly closed and the rough Velcro side would scratch the screen, or the button would cause worse damage.  There had to be a better way…

And there is!

Elphie!

Presenting Elphie– a camera case that will fit any flat camera.  Don’t worry about knitting to a particular gauge- this worksheet will accommodate any yarn and any size needles.  The case has built-in, double-layer protection over your camera’s exposed screen area and a cover that stays on and CAN’T come off, all without any snaps, ties or Velcro.  Oh, and did I mention that it’s seamless?  Mine were designed to fit my Canon Digital Elph camera- hence the name.

Want to make one for yourself? Here’s how!

The first thing you’ll need to do is measure your camera, so get a measuring tape and paper and pencil/pen. And the camera of course! On the paper write “A”, “B”, “C”, “S” and “R” with a dash after each. We’ll be filling in those values as we go.

Step 1

Measure your camera and fill in the values for A, B and C on your paper, in inches.

Knit a 4″ x 4″ gauge swatch with your desired yarn and needles. Measure the swatch and figure out the number of stitches (S) and number of rows (R) for 1 (one) inch. Fill in the values on your paper.

Step 2

Multiply your stitch gauge by the width (C) of your case.

S_____ x C_____ = CO_____ sts. (If this results in an even number, add 1 to get an odd number of sts.

Begin knitting:

The case starts at the flap, knitted flat in Moss Stitch, then stitches are cast on for the body of the case which is knit in the round in ribbing.

Cast on the resulting CO value you obtained above.

Multiply your row gauge by the depth (A) of your case.

R_____ x A_____ = D_____ rows.

Work in Moss stitch for half this number of rows (D_____/2).

Next row: work in Moss Stitch until halfway across the row, BO 2 sts, then continue in Moss Stitch (paying attention to the pattern as established) to the end of the row.

Next row: Work in Moss Stitch until the gap created by the bound-off stitches, CO 2 sts, then continue in Moss Stitch (paying attention to the pattern as established) to the end of the row.

Continue working in Moss Stitch until your knitting reaches the length of A+B+A.

A_____ + B_____ + A_____ = _____inches.

Multiply your stitch gauge by the full measurement of your case.

S_____ x (C_____ + A_____ + C_____ + A_____) = M_____

Adjust this new number to the closest lower number that is a multiple of 4. AM=____

(For example, if your M = 28, the closest lower number below that which is divisible by 4 is 24, so your AM would = 24).

Subtract the number of sts you cast on from the adjusted measurement.

AM_____ – CO_____ = _____

Place a marker at the beginning of the next row, work in Moss Stitch across the row, then CO the resulting number of sts you just got after the last equation. Your total stitch count should now equal AM_____

NOTE: if you prefer a snugger case, subtract 4, 8 or 12 from the number of sts to cast on in the previous instruction.

Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Your stitch marker will serve as the beginning of each round.

Work in 2×2 rib until the tube portion of the case measures the length of B and half of A.

B_____ + (A_____/2) = _____ inches.

Make sure your stitches are evenly arranged on 4 needles, with 1/4 of the sts on each needle. (For example, if your AM = 24 sts, then you would have 6 sts on each of the 4 needles).

Decrease round: Ndl 1: ssk, k to 1 st before the end of needle, BO 1 st. Ndl 2: BO 1 st, k to 2 sts before end of needle, k2tog. Ndl 3: ssk, k to end of needle. Ndl 4: k to 2 sts before end of needle, k2tog.

Next round: Ndl 1: k to the end of the needle, CO 2 sts, Ndls 2-4: knit across

Continue in stockinette stitch until, counting from the decrease round, you have knit 2 rows less than D_____/2.

Finishing

Turn your work inside out and work a 3-Needle Bind-Off on the remaining stitches. Weave in all ends.

How To Use

To place the camera in the case, pull your camera’s strap through the hole at the bottom. Insert camera fully into case positioned so that the long flap folds over the screen area of your camera, providing it with a double layer of protection. Pull the camera strap through the hole in the flap to secure the flap shut.

And there you have it!

Feel free to knit as many of these as you like, and you can even sell items made from this pattern as long as you credit me as the designer of the pattern.

Update!

This pattern is on Ravelry here.

This pattern is provided free above, but if you’d prefer an easy-to-print PDF version, I have made it available here for a very small fee. The PDF includes the full instructions in an easy-to-follow worksheet, the definition of all abbreviations used in the pattern, yardage requirements, as well as instructions on the Moss Stitch, Ribbing and 3-Needle Bind-Off used in the pattern.

*Updated January 2020


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i’m so dumb

They tell you that when you get pregnant you get stupid. It is SO true. I had never been more dumb in my life than when I was pregnant…and the smarts- they don’t come back once you deliver.

Most of the time it still takes me 3 tries to get out a complicated thought and the simplest little things become great big concepts. I don’t think the light of day has shone on my brain in a while.

Case in point:

My temporary office in our new house is a big (12″x15″) room. It is actually the spare bedroom, but I felt it was a waste to have this whole big room with just a bed and dresser, and only used the odd time someone sleeps over, so at the back of the room is my filing cabinet, computer desk, and bookshelf. Ah…I’ll go take a photo. Hold on.

So here is the view when you open the door and walk in…

…and there’s my desk at the back. It’s not a HUGE room, but it is big enough that when I’d have garbage at my desk it was too much of a pain to keep getting up and throwing it out in the garbage can which was aaallll the way over on the other side of the room, between the dresser and rocking chair.

I swear, for the last 3 weeks I have been getting a grocery bag from the kitchen to keep ON my desk for used Kleenex, papers, whatever garbage I have. Then when we collect for garbage day, the garbage can is empty but we’ll grab my little garbage bag.

You want to know what never occurred to me until this very morning? To move the freaking garbage can to under my desk.

I’m going to go sit down for a while. All this thinking hurt my brain.

Before I go, here’s a FO to report. I designed and knit a case for my new camera. I know this isn’t the best photo, but it is deliberate. I’m working on converting the pattern to be a pattern generator so anyone can use it for any size camera, with any gauge. Once I write it out I will have it test-knit, then probably offer it with my free patterns in the sidebar.


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i’m so dumb

They tell you that when you get pregnant you get stupid. It is SO true. I had never been more dumb in my life than when I was pregnant…and the smarts- they don’t come back once you deliver.

Most of the time it still takes me 3 tries to get out a complicated thought and the simplest little things become great big concepts. I don’t think the light of day has shone on my brain in a while.

Case in point:

My temporary office in our new house is a big (12″x15″) room. It is actually the spare bedroom, but I felt it was a waste to have this whole big room with just a bed and dresser, and only used the odd time someone sleeps over, so at the back of the room is my filing cabinet, computer desk, and bookshelf. Ah…I’ll go take a photo. Hold on.

So here is the view when you open the door and walk in…

…and there’s my desk at the back. It’s not a HUGE room, but it is big enough that when I’d have garbage at my desk it was too much of a pain to keep getting up and throwing it out in the garbage can which was aaallll the way over on the other side of the room, between the dresser and rocking chair.

I swear, for the last 3 weeks I have been getting a grocery bag from the kitchen to keep ON my desk for used Kleenex, papers, whatever garbage I have. Then when we collect for garbage day, the garbage can is empty but we’ll grab my little garbage bag.

You want to know what never occurred to me until this very morning? To move the freaking garbage can to under my desk.

I’m going to go sit down for a while. All this thinking hurt my brain.

Before I go, here’s a FO to report. I designed and knit a case for my new camera. I know this isn’t the best photo, but it is deliberate. I’m working on converting the pattern to be a pattern generator so anyone can use it for any size camera, with any gauge. Once I write it out I will have it test-knit, then probably offer it with my free patterns in the sidebar.


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catching up wed, thurs, fri and today (sat) and YES i talk about knitting

I don’t know where the time goes. I blink and it is a few days after I said I would post. Sorry, loyal reader(s)! 🙂
On Wednesday my mom, her friend Esther and I took Jakob to go see the movie Stardust. I loved it! They took a while to get the story, but I caught on right away and thought it was amazing. If you like The Princess Bride, you’ll like Stardust!

That afternoon we were supposed to have a playdate with Maaike and her daughter, and Robyn and her son, but they both cancelled on me so Jakob and I spent the afternoon making beef jerky for Yannick with our food dehydrator. I like beef jerky too but this time I used the “hot and spicy” spice mix, and it is WAY too hot for me.

On Thursday we spent the morning play around in bed.

We worked on some tummy time, which he is getting much better at. He’s always been good at holding his head up, but usually starts to fuss after a few minutes. He is now able to go much longer before getting frustrated or sore (holding up his head).

 

Thursday afternoon we were invited to join a friend’s playgroup. It was so much fun! Her daughter is only 1 day older than Jakob, and they were the two oldest kids there. There were 11 moms and kids total, and the youngest baby is two-and-a-half weeks old. I gave that mom great “props”- I certainly didn’t have the energy to go out that early! It was a riot watching all of these babies- just imagine all 11 together once they start to crawl! Right now they’re not doing much, but it is more for the mommies to get a chance to socialize. After the playgroup a few of us took our kids out with their strollers for a walk, then I went to the pharmacy then to my parents’ house. I had invited myself, Jakob and Yannick over for supper because I was going to go to my friend Jackie’s to watch Big Brother at 8:00pm, but Jackie had to cancel so I made sure I was home in time. I fed Jakob and spent the night working on the JCA project some more.

Friday we played around some more then went and did a few errands. I wanted to exchange one of the breastfeeding tops I’d bought at Thyme for a different one that was more flattering, and also wanted to return a toy I’d bought for Jakob since I wasn’t happy with it. Luckily both stores were in the same mall so I didn’t have to run around too much. Friday night we brought Jakob to my parents’ house to babysit and Yannick and I were going to see Stardust (I knew Yannick would love it) but last minute something came up so I came home alone to get a good chunk of knitting done, and Yannick went to help my parents clear out their backyard for a pool they are going to put in. (Yay!) The other good news is: I finished the JCA project! I just have a few ends to weave in, but those suckers are done! I’m very excited because I want to start new things already!

Today we went to Robyn’s dad’s store and I got my new digital camera. It is the Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital Elph and I am so excited to finally have a camera small enough to throw into my purse or diaper bag. Our current Canon (PowerShot S2 lS) is wonderful but SO bulky! Robyn’s sister, my (wonderful, amazing, awesome, great) cousin Amy was working that day and not only gave us great service but made Jakob laugh and smile. After the store we had a playdate walk in the park with my grad date of all people! He had married his high school sweetheart (we had gone to grad as friends, with her permission) and they’d moved to the West Island and had a daughter just 2 months before Jakob was born. We went to Centennial Park and hung out at the dog park for a bit before going to sit by the lake and catch up. I can’t believe it- I haven’t seen him in 13 years! We found each other on Facebook of all places.

From there we went to my parents’ house for a short visit, then came home. We just finished supper and Jakob is napping so I’m going to weave in those ends so I can start working on my next project:

That’s the Montego Bay Scarf from this summer’s Interweave Knits. It is scarf 1 of my (hopefully) 3 items that I will be donating for my friend’s fundraiser auction.

This photo sucks but shows the color of the yarn a bit more true to life. Each strand of color is plied with black. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.


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lazy sunday- NOT

Isn’t he cute? Here’s Jakob in the Child’s Placket Neck Pullover from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. He’s wearing it with the same shorts from his bris outfit that were swimming on him then!

But I’ll get back to that later.

Yannick and I spent a good part of the morning cleaning the house, then we went to do a few errands. I wanted to get Jakob some links (plastic toy chains) so we can work on his “grabbing”, so we stopped at Babies R Us. We then went over to Fairview but they didn’t have the household items we were looking for. They did have the same yummy ice cream I had yesterday though! (Bad diet move Jennifer!)

After Fairview we went to see Yannick’s cousins and their daughter, then stopped to pick up some photos and groceries at Loblaws. Jakob was so exhausted by that point- he’d hardly slept more than an hour all combined throughout the day. We finally got home around 5:15 and my brother Mike came by to help Yannick move some furniture. Don’t think we were able to settle in and rest though- no sooner had we finished eating supper then I had to feed Jakob and we had to leave for cake and coffee at a family member’s house for my great-aunt’s 75th birthday party.

And that’s where the sweater comes in. 🙂

It has been a bit cool at night lately so I decided to put Jakob in the sweater before he grew too big to wear it. I love it on him! He has no neck in it, but I don’t care. I think he looks adorable. The sweater was so easy and fast to make…I can’t wait to make a whole bunch more in other colors. The only thing I would change would be to add an extra 2 inches (or more) to the length. I had to keep pulling it down so he wouldn’t have his belly button exposed. Other wise it was a hit and I love it!

It was fun getting to see my dad’s side of the family tonight. I’m glad we were able to go…we were invited last minute (the adults were all invited but the “kids” were added later…Yannick and I being “kids” in this case) and it was really nice to see everyone. Robyn was there with Sean and I can’t believe how much he’s growing and developing! He was crawling! I swear this kid couldn’t crawl the last time I saw him, and that was only about two weeks ago at Hairspray! I hadn’t seen Robyn since then either so I was able to give her the $ for her sock club that I joined. Oh- I forgot to make a link for this earlier…Robyn opened up an online knitting store called Robyn’s Nest! Go check her out and shop ’til you drop! I love the mini sock blocker kits, and I can’t wait to see September’s yarn for the sock yarn club.

(To be fair, I also just realized that I never put a link for Ariadne Knits, the online knitting store run by two of our Montreal Knits members, Molly Ann and Mary. If you shop there please check out Jennie’s knitted toy patterns, they are just too cute and I’m so proud of her! When she makes it big as a toy designer, I can say “I knew her when…”. (Can I also brag and say that I know Veronik Avery, Mona Schmidt and Kate Gilbert?) I’ll shut up now. 🙂

One last photo of our big boy for the night. *sigh* What a cutie. I know, I’m biased, but I’m so terribly in love with this child.

Ok, enough gushing. I need sleep. I also need to knit. I think if I do one tonight I’ll get the other one done tomorrow.


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big whack ‘o baby knits & crochets and an extra-special fo


This is the temporary nursery. See, we will be in this house for a month before we leave for the new house, but during that month we will have ownership of the new house and will start moving stuff in. I will be staying here with the baby, who will be rooming with me in the spare bedroom since after a C-section there is NO way I will be getting in and out of a waterbed. Over the last week or so we have been getting the room ready, and after the showers were over I spent a lot of time doing laundry and setting up so everything is ready for baby to come home. Can you tell me what you spot in the photo above? No? Ok, I’ll share with you:

(Note: with one exception, each item below only gets one photo, since this is a long, photo-heavy post. Any of my knits have, as usual, more photos in the FO gallery in the left sidebar).


In the dresser drawer you’ll find this crocheted blanket and knit bib, both shower gifts from my lovely and talented cousin Robyn. In case nasty commenter Anonymous finds his/her way over to my blog…I DO love them. So shut up.


Folded on the chair you can make out this blanket, lovingly crocheted for our little one by my uncle’s (Robyn’s dad) mom Esther.

In the drawer, folded nicely under Robyn’s blankie, is this carseat-sized blankie crocheted by my mom. Yes, she actually brought her yarn to the store to make sure it matched the green carrier/stroller that we chose.

On the back of the rocking chair you can see this huge blanket (its folded on the chair). My mom crocheted this especially for our little one. There was a blue ribbon woven through the smallest white edging but it came out in the wash and Yannick felt it was safest to keep it aside until the baby is older. This blanket got some major acclaim at the showers, and I believe people have already started putting in orders. I know this one is crocheted with Bernat Baby Coordinates and you wouldn’t believe how soft and fluid it came out after being thrown in the washer and dryer!

By the way, all of the baby knits you see here (with one exception that hasn’t been washed yet, the Baby Einstein below) have been tossed into the washer with some baby detergent and then into the dryer. Not a single one pilled or warped, and they all came out really soft and nice.

Ok, now some of this should be looking familiar. Yep, I finished the Entrelac Blankie. You can spot it folded on the chair with Esther’s blanket and the breastfeeding pillow.

Project Specs:
Pattern: none. Just regular entrelac 10 sts wide per square and kept going until I felt it was square.
Yarn: Patons Decor in Rich Country Blue and Winter White
Needles: 5.5mm
Cast On to Bind Off: December 29 2006 – May 7 2007
Notes: I was going to knit a garter border but realized last minute that I didn’t have enough 5.5mm needles to make it all the way around so I used the same size crochet hook and just did 2 or 3 rows of single crochet around, putting 3 sts in each corner st to ease better around the corners.
Would I knit this again: yes, its fast, easy and mindless knitting

This is the Baby Einstein I knit up. I love how rustic it came out! I still need to wash it, as I only sewed the buttons on today, just so I could include it in this post. (Technically it is in the room, it’s in the hamper).

Project Specs:
Pattern: Sally Melville’s Einstein Coat, Baby Einstein version, 6-9 month size from The Knit Stitch
Yarn: SandesGarn Smart (as per the pattern)
Needles: 4mm
Cast On to Bind Off: April 16-23 2007
Notes: I was a little disappointed with one part of the pattern. I don’t know if there was a mistake in my book, but for the body of the sweater, the pattern has you work X width around, then work the top halfs, from one edge right to the other. That’s fine…except that the pattern doesn’t add any room for overlap. What I mean is, once the sweater is folded in half to become a coat, there is no overlap for the button band. One side has button holes, the other side gets the buttons, but the edges meet perfectly. So when I tug one side over by about an inch to pull the button holes over the other edge to close the buttons, the neck and shoulders and sleeves get pulled out of place. I don’t know if I’m explaining this right, but it isn’t right. So since I could never have the coat close up to the top button anyways due to this error and how crappy it looks if buttoned all the way, I chose to sew down the top two sides as lapels instead. The yarn is scratchy enough that I don’t need to worry about the baby wearing it alone and having a cold neck, there will always be at least a tshirt underneath. Since there is no finishing on the neck itself (in the pattern) I like the “finished” look my variation gives.

Would I knit this again: probably since the knitting was fun and easy, but I would check for a pattern correction or create an amendment myself first.

This cardi/hat set is in one of the drawers too (that counts as being in the photo!). I originally referred to it as the “Clown” cardigan and hat set since that is the name of the yarn called for in the pattern, but I have sinced changed that to the “Ice Cream” cardi and hat set (‘cus of the colors) so if you look for it in my sidebar, look under Ice Cream.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Clown Cardigan and Hat from a Marks & Kattens pamphlet, 9mo size
Yarn: Regia Canadian Color sock yarn color 4733 (I think its “Ottawa”)
Needles: 2.5 and 3mm
Cast On to Bind Off: November 20 2006 – April 11 2007
Notes: I turned it inside out while knitting so I had to adapt the shaping to be on purl side instead of the knit side. I like it better that way, but 90% of those who see it think it’s inside out and prefer the knit side as the outside. Since the button band is picked up and knit on afterwards, thus leaving a seam, plus mattress stitch also leaves a seam, it is not reversable. Still, I don’t care. I like the way it looks. And I LOVE the hat.
Would I knit this again: Yes. For my child I’d knit the hat again. I’d knit the cardigan for a gift but in a different colorway.

Last, but not least, I bring you a knitted item that IS visible in the photo above. It is the piece of honor in the room, and I believe that until the little one is born it is my favorite FO of all time. Can you tell what it is?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you…

Yannick’s blankie.

Didn’t catch that? Ahem:

Yannick’s blankie.

Yes, this is the blanket that my husband Yannick knit for our baby. Sit down if you need to. I’ll wait.

For those of you that don’t know the story, about 3 or 4 years ago Yannick’s anniversary gift to me was that he would learn how to knit and make me something. After a bit of swatching he realized how much he hated knitting and had possibly bit off more than he could chew. Still, he took me to the yarn store to find something for the project. I let him pick the yarn since it would be flowing through his hands, and after some trial and error he settled on bamboo needles that allowed the slippery yarn to slide without being too fast. He practiced his knits and purls on some waste yarn, then we had to decide what the project would be. I had originally asked for a little “blankie” for myself, something small to have with me for when he couldn’t be there. Once we saw how much he didn’t enjoy knitting and how uncomfortable he was at it (even though his stitches looked beautiful) I offered to give him some chunky yarn and big knits, and said I’d be just as thrilled with a scarf. He refused. He wanted to prove he could “do it”.

We decided on a basketweave pattern with a stockinette stitch center. He cast on himself, and got started. He used stitch markers for the first 20 rows or so, but found they got in his way and made messier gaps between the knit/purl transitions, so he abandoned them. He also abandoned the knitting many times over the years. We fought often about how he seemed to have forgotten my anniversary gift. Sometimes he’d work on it…most of the time he’d forget. Once in a while he’d come to the knitting meetups with me and work on a few rows, but then he’d get to talking and it would hang in his hands, untouched.

Then we found out we were pregnant. It wasn’t hard to decide that this blankie should be for the baby, not for me. I threatened that I would keep my legs crossed and not let the baby out until the blanket was done. He’d work on it for a while, then a month or so would go by without any progress. He learned how to read his stitches and became such a perfectionist that he’d often call me over to fix a non-existant mistake. Over the last few weeks he got a burst of energy when he realized how close he was to finishing, then last week he did it.

He finished the blankie. On Monday morning I taught him how to bind off so I could wash it with the next load of baby clothes. He did it all: cast on, knit, purl, basketweave, stocking stitch, stitch markers, no stitch markers, bind off. He even refused to use the larger needle trick to make sure his bind off wasn’t too tight- he didn’t want tricks. He wanted to do it right like everyone else, so he went slow and made sure he didn’t pull the yarn. The only thing I did for him was weave in the ends.

Thank you honey. Even with all the handknit and crocheted blankets our baby has, I hope yours is the most loved.
Project Specs:
Pattern: none. We made up a repeat of basketweave with a stockinette stitch center.
Yarn: King Cole’s Soft as Silk DK (I think it’s now discontinued)
Needles: 4.5mm
Cast On to Bind Off: A long time.


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big whack ‘o baby knits & crochets and an extra-special fo


This is the temporary nursery. See, we will be in this house for a month before we leave for the new house, but during that month we will have ownership of the new house and will start moving stuff in. I will be staying here with the baby, who will be rooming with me in the spare bedroom since after a C-section there is NO way I will be getting in and out of a waterbed. Over the last week or so we have been getting the room ready, and after the showers were over I spent a lot of time doing laundry and setting up so everything is ready for baby to come home. Can you tell me what you spot in the photo above? No? Ok, I’ll share with you:

(Note: with one exception, each item below only gets one photo, since this is a long, photo-heavy post. Any of my knits have, as usual, more photos in the FO gallery in the left sidebar).


In the dresser drawer you’ll find this crocheted blanket and knit bib, both shower gifts from my lovely and talented cousin Robyn. In case nasty commenter Anonymous finds his/her way over to my blog…I DO love them. So shut up.


Folded on the chair you can make out this blanket, lovingly crocheted for our little one by my uncle’s (Robyn’s dad) mom Esther.

In the drawer, folded nicely under Robyn’s blankie, is this carseat-sized blankie crocheted by my mom. Yes, she actually brought her yarn to the store to make sure it matched the green carrier/stroller that we chose.

On the back of the rocking chair you can see this huge blanket (its folded on the chair). My mom crocheted this especially for our little one. There was a blue ribbon woven through the smallest white edging but it came out in the wash and Yannick felt it was safest to keep it aside until the baby is older. This blanket got some major acclaim at the showers, and I believe people have already started putting in orders. I know this one is crocheted with Bernat Baby Coordinates and you wouldn’t believe how soft and fluid it came out after being thrown in the washer and dryer!

By the way, all of the baby knits you see here (with one exception that hasn’t been washed yet, the Baby Einstein below) have been tossed into the washer with some baby detergent and then into the dryer. Not a single one pilled or warped, and they all came out really soft and nice.

Ok, now some of this should be looking familiar. Yep, I finished the Entrelac Blankie. You can spot it folded on the chair with Esther’s blanket and the breastfeeding pillow.

Project Specs:
Pattern: none. Just regular entrelac 10 sts wide per square and kept going until I felt it was square.
Yarn: Patons Decor in Rich Country Blue and Winter White
Needles: 5.5mm
Cast On to Bind Off: December 29 2006 – May 7 2007
Notes: I was going to knit a garter border but realized last minute that I didn’t have enough 5.5mm needles to make it all the way around so I used the same size crochet hook and just did 2 or 3 rows of single crochet around, putting 3 sts in each corner st to ease better around the corners.
Would I knit this again: yes, its fast, easy and mindless knitting

This is the Baby Einstein I knit up. I love how rustic it came out! I still need to wash it, as I only sewed the buttons on today, just so I could include it in this post. (Technically it is in the room, it’s in the hamper).

Project Specs:
Pattern: Sally Melville’s Einstein Coat, Baby Einstein version, 6-9 month size from The Knit Stitch
Yarn: SandesGarn Smart (as per the pattern)
Needles: 4mm
Cast On to Bind Off: April 16-23 2007
Notes: I was a little disappointed with one part of the pattern. I don’t know if there was a mistake in my book, but for the body of the sweater, the pattern has you work X width around, then work the top halfs, from one edge right to the other. That’s fine…except that the pattern doesn’t add any room for overlap. What I mean is, once the sweater is folded in half to become a coat, there is no overlap for the button band. One side has button holes, the other side gets the buttons, but the edges meet perfectly. So when I tug one side over by about an inch to pull the button holes over the other edge to close the buttons, the neck and shoulders and sleeves get pulled out of place. I don’t know if I’m explaining this right, but it isn’t right. So since I could never have the coat close up to the top button anyways due to this error and how crappy it looks if buttoned all the way, I chose to sew down the top two sides as lapels instead. The yarn is scratchy enough that I don’t need to worry about the baby wearing it alone and having a cold neck, there will always be at least a tshirt underneath. Since there is no finishing on the neck itself (in the pattern) I like the “finished” look my variation gives.

Would I knit this again: probably since the knitting was fun and easy, but I would check for a pattern correction or create an amendment myself first.

This cardi/hat set is in one of the drawers too (that counts as being in the photo!). I originally referred to it as the “Clown” cardigan and hat set since that is the name of the yarn called for in the pattern, but I have sinced changed that to the “Ice Cream” cardi and hat set (‘cus of the colors) so if you look for it in my sidebar, look under Ice Cream.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Clown Cardigan and Hat from a Marks & Kattens pamphlet, 9mo size
Yarn: Regia Canadian Color sock yarn color 4733 (I think its “Ottawa”)
Needles: 2.5 and 3mm
Cast On to Bind Off: November 20 2006 – April 11 2007
Notes: I turned it inside out while knitting so I had to adapt the shaping to be on purl side instead of the knit side. I like it better that way, but 90% of those who see it think it’s inside out and prefer the knit side as the outside. Since the button band is picked up and knit on afterwards, thus leaving a seam, plus mattress stitch also leaves a seam, it is not reversable. Still, I don’t care. I like the way it looks. And I LOVE the hat.
Would I knit this again: Yes. For my child I’d knit the hat again. I’d knit the cardigan for a gift but in a different colorway.

Last, but not least, I bring you a knitted item that IS visible in the photo above. It is the piece of honor in the room, and I believe that until the little one is born it is my favorite FO of all time. Can you tell what it is?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you…

Yannick’s blankie.

Didn’t catch that? Ahem:

Yannick’s blankie.

Yes, this is the blanket that my husband Yannick knit for our baby. Sit down if you need to. I’ll wait.

For those of you that don’t know the story, about 3 or 4 years ago Yannick’s anniversary gift to me was that he would learn how to knit and make me something. After a bit of swatching he realized how much he hated knitting and had possibly bit off more than he could chew. Still, he took me to the yarn store to find something for the project. I let him pick the yarn since it would be flowing through his hands, and after some trial and error he settled on bamboo needles that allowed the slippery yarn to slide without being too fast. He practiced his knits and purls on some waste yarn, then we had to decide what the project would be. I had originally asked for a little “blankie” for myself, something small to have with me for when he couldn’t be there. Once we saw how much he didn’t enjoy knitting and how uncomfortable he was at it (even though his stitches looked beautiful) I offered to give him some chunky yarn and big knits, and said I’d be just as thrilled with a scarf. He refused. He wanted to prove he could “do it”.

We decided on a basketweave pattern with a stockinette stitch center. He cast on himself, and got started. He used stitch markers for the first 20 rows or so, but found they got in his way and made messier gaps between the knit/purl transitions, so he abandoned them. He also abandoned the knitting many times over the years. We fought often about how he seemed to have forgotten my anniversary gift. Sometimes he’d work on it…most of the time he’d forget. Once in a while he’d come to the knitting meetups with me and work on a few rows, but then he’d get to talking and it would hang in his hands, untouched.

Then we found out we were pregnant. It wasn’t hard to decide that this blankie should be for the baby, not for me. I threatened that I would keep my legs crossed and not let the baby out until the blanket was done. He’d work on it for a while, then a month or so would go by without any progress. He learned how to read his stitches and became such a perfectionist that he’d often call me over to fix a non-existant mistake. Over the last few weeks he got a burst of energy when he realized how close he was to finishing, then last week he did it.

He finished the blankie. On Monday morning I taught him how to bind off so I could wash it with the next load of baby clothes. He did it all: cast on, knit, purl, basketweave, stocking stitch, stitch markers, no stitch markers, bind off. He even refused to use the larger needle trick to make sure his bind off wasn’t too tight- he didn’t want tricks. He wanted to do it right like everyone else, so he went slow and made sure he didn’t pull the yarn. The only thing I did for him was weave in the ends.

Thank you honey. Even with all the handknit and crocheted blankets our baby has, I hope yours is the most loved.
Project Specs:
Pattern: none. We made up a repeat of basketweave with a stockinette stitch center.
Yarn: King Cole’s Soft as Silk DK (I think it’s now discontinued)
Needles: 4.5mm
Cast On to Bind Off: A long time.


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FO: Child’s Placket Neck Pullover

Well…it didn’t take me 4-6 hours.

It took 12 hours. But still…12 hours to a finished object is NOT bad. Plus there is a delay of at least 2 hours that was my fault for using the wrong needles. I had the correct size, but couldn’t find my 4mm dpns and one of my circs was twisted and I had to keep bunching it up each round, making each row go reeeaaalllyy slow.

So voila- a completed summer sweater in a weekend. Le front.

Le back.

Le front again. This is my favorite way to put it. There are supposed to be buttons but I like it better like this.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Child’s Placket Neck Pullover
Location: Last Minute Knitted Gifts and errata for it found Mona). 50% cotton/50% acrylic

Needles: 4mm

Cast On to Bind Off: April 28 – May 1 (12 hours total knitting time)

Would I knit this again: Yup- already planning on it!

p.s. if anyone can tell me why Blogger let me hit enter and get a single space and now (as of “needles”, clearly) forces a double space, I’d really appreciate it. One of Blogger’s stupid quirks.


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FO: Child’s Placket Neck Pullover

Well…it didn’t take me 4-6 hours.

It took 12 hours. But still…12 hours to a finished object is NOT bad. Plus there is a delay of at least 2 hours that was my fault for using the wrong needles. I had the correct size, but couldn’t find my 4mm dpns and one of my circs was twisted and I had to keep bunching it up each round, making each row go reeeaaalllyy slow.

So voila- a completed summer sweater in a weekend. Le front.

Le back.

Le front again. This is my favorite way to put it. There are supposed to be buttons but I like it better like this.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Child’s Placket Neck Pullover
Location: Last Minute Knitted Gifts and errata for it found Mona). 50% cotton/50% acrylic

Needles: 4mm

Cast On to Bind Off: April 28 – May 1 (12 hours total knitting time)

Would I knit this again: Yup- already planning on it!

p.s. if anyone can tell me why Blogger let me hit enter and get a single space and now (as of “needles”, clearly) forces a double space, I’d really appreciate it. One of Blogger’s stupid quirks.


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FO: Regia Ottawa Baby Booties & progress update

Ta da! So tiny and so cute!
They’re wee!
My hand included for scale.
Project Specs:
Pattern: Christine’s Baby Booties, found free online here
Yarn: Regia Canadian Colors sock yarn, color Ottawa
Needles: 2.5mm
Size: Pattern only gives one size. To make bigger, use bigger yarn and/or needles.
Cast on to Bind off: April 14 – 15 2007. I would have been done on the 14th if I didn’t get visitors, but the visit was worth it. 😉
Would I make this again: YES. I’ve already memorized the pattern just from making this pair. They are so fast and easy, and CUTE. Plus the pattern has a nice stretch to it. Great, great pattern.
What did I do yesterday? My mom and I spent the morning going shopping. For some reason I hate shopping when its for me but love shopping for the baby! First we went to Thyme and I picked up a nursing bra and a pair of pjs with peek-a-boo slits for breastfeeding with some modesty. Then we went to The Wool Shop and I bought buttons for the Ice Cream Cardigan set. I’ll sew those on later then post another FO here. I ran into Uniprix to buy their verson of baby laundry detergent because we were going to go to Zellers but ran late, and had to be at T.O.M.’s for 2pm. The cake and coffee went really well, Laura and Mike (T.O.M.) were great hosts and had snacks out for us and everything. It was VERY amusing to watch my 19 year old sister play hostess. T.O.M.’s parents were very entertaining and we spent the afternoon telling stories and laughing non-stop.
I got some gifties, which is always fun. My brother Aaron gave me a belated Chanukah/birthday gift- this book. I’m so excited to go through it! The only thing holding me back is knowing how many WIPs I have going on already. Then, for no reason at all, T.O.M.’s parents gave me a gift for the baby! Two little outfits! That was so sweet of them, especially since it was the first time we’d met.
We left there with enough time to run to Zellers before they closed and we did some shopping fo the wee one. I bought a few t-shirts, some wash cloths and a blanket, and my mom bought a few onesies.
It was so late when I got home- I’d left the house at 11:00am to pick my mom up and finally walked in the door shlepping all my parcels at 6:45pm. It was a LONG day and I was zonked, but I knew if I didn’t do any of my self-imposed “chores” right away then I would never get them done. I was much too tired to handle packing house stuff, but I could tackle my hospital bag. First things first meant I had to wash all of the baby’s stuff so it would be ready and then I could choose the outfits for the hospital and be able to pack them. I went through all the bags of clothes we’ve been given so far by family and friends, and the few items I’d bought in Florida on our honeymoon when we found out we were pregnant. I pulled off all stickers and plastic tags and set everything out on the table to see what we had.
Holy crap!

This kid has A LOT of clothes! Not even born yet and already has a full wardrobe!

It took me 2 loads of laundry and staying up until 11:45pm to get it all washed and dried, and I didn’t even get to wash the handknits yet. Those don’t matter so much because most are sized for 9 months to a year, but I want to wash the Alphabet Blankie and I’d left it upstairs by mistake. I’m going to do another load of baby stuff today when I finish sewing on the buttons for the Ice Cream Cardigan so I’ll wash all the stuff I’d knit then.

It took me until 12:30am to fold everything and put it away, and since I had to be at the hospital at 8:15am this morning for my latest checkup I didn’t get around to packing the hospital bag. That’s my chore for today.

Trying to fit all this stuff:


plus clothes for me, clothes for the baby, toiletries and other assorted stuff into the black bag in the front. Thank goodness Yannick is bringing his own bag with a change of clothes and some snacks!