Ariella hat

I just finished the Ariella Hat, named after my cousin Robin's new baby.

It's definitely not the best picture, and I'll try to take another before wrapping it up. I've put the pattern up on Ravelry because it was requested, although only in one size, and without a ton of proofreading, so there might be some errors.

I also finished my second Presto Chango, for Samuel, yesterday and took some pictures and mailed it off today. I'll post those as soon as I can get them uploaded. James picked out some pretty cute elephant buttons at Windsor Button.

These two projects getting done is leaving me a bit calmer about all the lifecycle knitting I have to do in the next 8 months. Here's what's left in priority order:

• Blanket for Jennifer and James, wedding in June
• Blanket for Sheila and Jim, wedding in June
  
• Sweater for Baby Pena (sex unknown), due in September
  
• Sweater for Baby Mason (sex unknown), due in May
  
• Sweater for Baby Dunn (sex unknown), due in April
• Sweater for Baby Varacalli (girl), due in May
• Blanket for Bianca and Kevin, wedding in May
  

I'm thinking that in order to kickstart the baby knitting, I'll enter the contest that Stitch House just announced. I wonder if I can enter multiple sweaters? That would be pretty good incentive to get them all done by the end of next month! I should be able to do four baby sweaters in two months, right :) ?

Request for test knitters

I'm in the process of designing a cardigan. It's a little bit lacy, with a leaf motif and seed stitch. Sizes range from CYC XS (28-30" bust) to 3X (52-54" bust). It's in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. Anyone interested in test knitting?

Also, the babies are coming! The babies are coming! Two more to add to the list since the last time I updated. One due in May, the other in September (at least I've got a while for that one!)

Test knitting and designing

So, the toy I was supposed to test-knit fell through. I'm a little bit sad, but given my knitting workload right now, it's actually a bit of a relief. I also found that the yarn for the sweater I'm test knitting has been shipped, but the pattern hasn't since it's not ready yet (which seems to me an odd way to do things, but it's not my money buying the yarn). Betty's pattern I should probably check up on, but I'm guessing she's just been super-busy and that won't be ready to do for a while yet.

Also, there's this design class I'm taking. I was the only one to sign up, so we're designing me a sweater. It's a cardigan, which is exciting, since I love cardigans *way* more than pullovers, but have yet to knit one. Really, it shouldn't be that hard, right? James said he'd help me with the math, and I already have the first swatch done! I'll post a photo when I get a chance. There are two stitch patterns in this cardigan, in addition to stockinette (which is the swatch that I have done).

The yarn I'm using is my birthday yarn from Maris, Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in "Candy Apple." It's funny that it felt so cotton-y when working mostly with wool otherwise, but after working on Presto Chango in 100% cotton, the Cotton Fleece feels lovely. Also, it's knitting up very nicely on US 7's, and at a much friendlier gauge than it did on the 6's. The gauge in stockinette is 4.5 stitches per inch, and 7.5 rows per inch.