Queen Bee Knits

Knitting, Living, Loving, Baking, Tips, Tools and Idle Chatter

Cabled Baby

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Queen Bee Knits

The hats and booties are done and adorable … if this Queen Bee does says so herself!

The patterns were both found on Ravelry and the hat pattern was flawlessly written. The pattern is Heirloom Stitches’ Little Boy Blue Hat. It knits up a hat for a 12-24 month child. I think this is a great gift to give to a new baby … because people are apt to get teeny tiny clothes but not much for the baby when he or she gets a bit bigger.

The booties were a bit more difficult and had a couple of places where I had to go to work “fixing” the pattern. So, next time, when I have to make some booties, I’ll be writing my own pattern. The pattern, also from Ravelry, is called Seamless Cable Booties by Crumbgrubbers Knits. It’s a free download and I just noticed that there are comments that repair the “problems” – so, the problems were mine! LOL! I made one pair for a girl and one for a boy – if one can’t figure out which is which … well … ’nuff said!

Gone knitting!

Happy Easter!

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Queen Bee Knits

Thanks to theRaineySister.com for this knitting peeps photo!

Happy Easter to all my readers and knitting Peeps! (LOL!)

I just read a blog about hot cross buns and I’m feeling like I want to bake some today – before our Easter feast. It’s been a lot of years but I made them for several years when my kids were younger and at home. Lately, I’ve been rekindling these traditions – does that mean that I’m coming back into my own? Recapturing that lost part of me? I think it does and it feels good.

Happy Easter, Happy Passover to my wonderful knitting peeps!

Gone knitting (after I bake!)!

Lost & Found

Posted on April 8, 2012 by Queen Bee Knits

I lost my 40″ circular needle wire (with some points on it) and was having difficulty knitting the booties that I wanted to start. wanting to make I’m not sure I’ve ever made booties before and wasn’t sure how the process went … consequently, my super long cord was essential to the project. I searched my entire Atelier to no avail. But yesterday after my Michael’s knitting demo, I searched for a third time and voila! I found the needle! An Easter miracle the day before Easter?

I got the first bootie cast on and finished now. It’s cute. I’ve used a pattern that I found on Ravelry but I’ve changed it up a bit – as a knitter has a tendency to do. So, one little bootie is finished. Three to go! (And I have to make a couple of pompoms for the matching hats, too.)

Haven’t moved much on the first of three (or more) baby blankets but those aren’t “due” until summer. And I have all the days of driving north … it’s almost time again!

It’s a beautiful day here in Florida. Great Easter egg-hunt weather and I’m sure kids all over are having a joyous day. I have such fond memories of the egg hunts at our house when the kids were little (and not so little) and one failed hunt when I decided to fill the kids’ baskets and hide the baskets. That never happened again (though the baskets were a success!)

Gone knitting!

I’ve lost it!

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Queen Bee Knits

I went looking for my 40″ circular needle “wire” yesterday. I need it so knit up a quick pair or two of baby booties with the magic loop method. I love that with the magic loop I don’t have oodles of pokey needles aimed at all times at my wrists!

Anyway, I can’t find it at all. I’ve searched my needle “organizers” (and they certainly must not work if one is lost!) and one of my two knitting bags. I know I had it when I was knitting all those bazillions of fingerless mitts around Christmas time … where it’s gone?

Gone … knitting when I find my needle! 🙂

Another Knitting Post? Reversible Cables Baby Blanket

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Queen Bee Knits

Just to shock the hell out of you, here’s another post on knitting.

Cables are really not a difficult stitch. They may look intimidating but they’re really not difficult. There are only two stitches in knitting: knit and purl. (And dropped or added which are not official stitches and they’re not welcome in my knitting.)

Reversible Cables Pacific Heights Organic Baby Blanket

This blanket is a pattern that I found on Ravelry. I liked it for its simplicity and its cables! I love cables (must be my Irish heritage!) Blankets for babies should be washable and dry able because they’re going to be washed and dried a lot – and they’re meant to be used! This one is white … inconsistent with the mess that babies make but totally in line with their innocence. I love white baby blankets.

The yarn that I chose for this is “cheap-o” yarn from JoAnn Fabrics – Sensations Rainbow Classic. Described as “a classic brushed yarn, it’s a big ball and it should be enough for the whole blanket. (I hope!) it’s really soft and a little bit fuzzy like a mohair yarn (but acrylic). It’s a bulkier weight than the pattern called for so I’ve changed the number of stitches that I cast on and we’ll see how it goes. I also decided to use a larger needle and pulled out my Denises … in a size U.S. 11.

The pattern is called Pacific Heights Organic Baby Blanket created by Patty Thomas. It’s a simple pattern with Garter stitch with a lovely bunch of cables in the center. They are reversible cables which means that you can turn the blanket over and the cables look good on both sides. Very clever! And I really love that when I forgot the pattern when I went into work the other day, that the repeat is simple enough that I could remember it! Yay!

I’m knitting this blanket for my sister Annie to give to a friend who is having a baby this summer. She’s actually asked for three blankets. Yikes! I’d best get busy …

Gone knitting!

Spud and Chloe Little Boy Blue Baby Hat – in progress

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Queen Bee Knits

It must be time for a post about knitting! (Ya think!?)

Heirloom Stitches "Little Boy Blue Hat"

I’m making a baby hat for my sister to present as a baby gift for a friend (booties will be knitted to match). I bought a pattern and yarn in Cincinnati when I was there to be a back-up support for my kids. Who knew that I could love a yarn so much?

So, here are the details.

1. LYS – Fiberge in Montgomery, Ohio. Fiberge has changed hands and moved to a new location since I lived in Cincinnati. it’s still a nice little yarn shop, however. The selection of yarns is delicious – and I had a difficult time figuring out what I wanted to knit with. Always a good thing! I decided to be responsible and since I had just purchased a ball of really special novelty yarn here in Florida for me, I bought a pattern and yarn for one of my orders … which leads us to the pattern.

2. Pattern – Heirloom Stitches‘ Little Boy Blue Hat (you can find the pattern on Ravelry (Ravelry dot com) or on the designer’s site … click here to be magically transported. It’s a really sweet classic Aran design with seed stitch (my favorite these days) and cables. Sized to fit a 12-24 month baby … always a good thing when you’re knitting for a new baby. They always get tons of tiny clothes and nothing to “save for later”. Anyway, I loved the pattern and it’s a breeze to knit! Pattern calls for US #7 needles and a yarn that Fiberge didn’t have but gauge is 5 sts = 1 inch. So, I picked …

3. Yarn – Oh. My. Goodness! I totally love the yarn that I chose to knit this hat! Spud & Chloe by Blue Sky Alpacas “Sweater Worsted” is a worsted weight superwash blend of 55% wool and 45% organic cotton. (They’re going to love that part in California!) Color is, again, that classic Aran ivory (color #7500 “Ice Cream” – love the name! – , lot # 0831). I simply love knitting with this yarn. It doesn’t split or pill and it’s so soft! The baby’s head will not be itchy at all and it’s knitting up to be so cute! I think I may be in love! 🙂

The hat takes a few hours to complete – hey! I’m a purposeful knitter … each stitch is thoughtful and meditative. Therapeutic. Imbued with love and peace with wishes for health and happiness for the recipient.

I’ll post finished pictures later. But now, I’m gone knitting!

Sick Dog :(

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Queen Bee Knits

My Sick Little Boy

I had a sick little dog over the weekend. He was fine on Friday morning, his body felt warm on Friday night but I really didn’t think much of it – it’s hot in Florida! But on Saturday morning when he refused to leave his crate in the morning, he didn’t seem to want to or be able to walk, and then felt really warm when I picked him up, I knew something was really wrong. I had a sick little dog!

Off to the vet we went … to be there when they opened at 8. (Come to find out the doctors don’t come in until 8:30 or so.) $500.00 and nearly three hours later, I walked out with no real answers but I had a full-body x-ray that showed no injury or problem. Blood drawn for a CBC and a horrible hot spot – the likely culprit – shaved and “dressed”, and three medications and some salve for his “boo boo”. (The hot spot was all down the front of his neck and not even a “collar of shame” could be put on him to keep him from scratching. So, he was to be my constant companion for the day – and into the night.)

His sister didn’t know what to do with him. She sat and barked and sniffed and watched him in his bed. She didn’t stray far from his side – except to guard the water bowl from Max – all day. They are so bonded! I’ve never had two dogs at the same time who are as close as these two and it was sweet that she stayed right by his side.

Today, he’s much happier and seems to be feeling better. The blue tape is off his leg and we all slept through the night last night in our own beds. I was reminded of the nights when my children were little and they didn’t feel well and how helpless I felt as a parent. All I could do is take them to the doctor and hold them and love them until they started to feel better. This experience with my dog was very similar.

I’m glad we seem to be over the hump … and I’ve gone knitting!