A Simple Project - Daphne Knickers

I don't know why I haven't completed more pairs of the Daphne Knickers by Violette Field Threads, as it really IS a great, simple pattern!  One can doll it up with the ruffles, but I kept things simple by leaving them out (read:  laaaaaaazy/ain't nobody got time).  The first pair, I made a MILLION years ago here.

Anyway, f'real, there are technically three pattern pieces, I think, so, they sew up insanely fast, if you leave out the ruffles.  The only thing that DOES slow a person down is the binding at the cuffs.  That can get a bit fiddle, as it's a small area, and I had to fix the first one after my first try.  I'm sure there was much cussing at the sewing machine (side note:  as a kid, I firstly NEVER cussed...and secondly, we didn't use that term in northern Michigan; we said "swearing"....anyone else??!).

I had originally purchased this fabric for an All Spice Dress by Paisley Roots, but I knew I NEEDED it for the capris when I was looking through my stash, so, I'll need something else for the All Spice (first time I made it here)!  I just love me some cute florals - also, this fabric is a RARE Joann Fabrics purchase.  :O  Speaking OF, I do plan to make a Paisley Roots Saffron soon, as that is, hands-down, one of Camden's favorite dresses EVER (also, I SWEAR I blogged the first version, but I can't find the post).

Anywho.....short enough post for a simple enough project!!!

Days in the life of....

It is rare Matt gets to hang out at Shevlin with us!

Photo time for this year's Mary Poppins

   Blast-Ended Skrewt, LOLOL

It is rough waking up in the morning....

Matchy Matchy!? Owlet Sweaters for Two!

Presenting the Owlet Sweater by Kate Davies!

About to be sick???  Aha! 

(FYI - the post below was written MONTHS ago, aha!  I am just now posting this, and I'll try and insert pictures from when I first knit it until more recent times to see if there's a difference in growth!)

I am insanely excited about these sweaters - for a few reasons.  They're clearly super cute.  They were knit out of Madelinetosh, which I love.  Lastly, they fit as well as can be expected, when I'm always lengthening/hoping for the best (as in, I gotta make these sweaters last through the winter!).

The pattern itself, found on Ravelry, of course, is super easy.  You knit in ribbing, then in stockinette, from the bottom to the armpits.  This was my first bottom-up sweater, though it was Karly's third or so. The stockinette portion goes quickly enough, and I actually had Tiberius's sweater done months ago, but I didn't like how long it was, so, I ripped out a portion of it, which meant re-doing the cables, etc....which also meant waiting until late July to get back to the sweater, LOL.

I did fret quite a bit about the sizing on Tiberius's, as it's tricky to plan ahead for length on the torso and arms for a wee baby.  I originally wasn't going to get action shots on him, but as it turns out, the sweater isn't too shabby on him at this point - clearly a bit long and wide around, but it seems porportioned correctly, which makes me happy.  Camden's is just a bit long in the arms and torso, which is what I wanted - for that extra inch or two she could grow by next February.

LOL!!

As I said, the pattern is written well, though I did change things up on the neck ribbing - I'm not used to needing a stretchy bind-off, as I am a top-down sock knitter, and I've only ever done top-down sweaters.  I believe I added extra stitches to the neck ribbing on both sweaters, and I maybe went up a needle size on the last two rows of ribbing, plus the bind-off.  This worked out well, and the neck ribbing on both sweaters sits well, so, I'm happy.  Other than that, the only thing I have to say is that it DID make me a bit crazy to have all that weirdly tight knitting when the sleeves were joined to the body - which I know is normal but still isn't a good time, aha.

For Camden's Owlet, I used Madelinetosh Chunky in Citrus, and for Tiberius's, I used Madelinetosh Vintage in Log Cabin.  Now here is the BONUS:  I knit Camden's with Tiberius in mind - my plan is for this sweater to double as a sweater for him, too, down the road.  I have a few sweaters in mind that I plan to do that with, like the Carabe sweater by Justyna Lorkowska.

A week hike we were on

Also note her Cabernet cowl and hat! 

Just today at the park!  Look at those chompers!

Naturally, some random photos to end the post!

All Spice from Paisley Roots - Traveling With the Blog Tour!!!

So!  About this All Spice Blog Tour for Paisley Roots....What a fun dress!  

But what a hot mess I am about being a destination on this blog tour, aha!  I have NO action shots this blog post....because I made a dress in a size or so too small for Camden :O  And I find this incredibly devastating - in a first-world problems kind of way.  I made the size 4, as I thought that would work for Camden's chest size, as the finished measurement is 24 inches, and HER chest is 22 inches....or so I thought, LOL.

Camden's sad face at not getting to keep this dress!

I love how the dress turned out - and I completely ADORE the fabric....which is why I'm bummed it doesn't fit - but whatevs.  it's all my fault.  Camden's chest is 22.5 inches.  The next one I make - because YES, there WILL be a next one! - will hopefully use the same fabric (please, Joann Fabrics, do NOT run out during this holiday weekend!  I beseech you!  And if you are a close reader, you are noting that I did, indeed, buy fabric at Joann's!)  I do not have quite enough of the shot cotton I used to line the bodice, so, I will need more of that.

The dress, running AWAY to it's new owner!  (that....and the crazy wind!)

And speaking of wind....this is Camden's "it's windy!" face

The directions seemed super easy to follow, though I did change some things up.  I didn't extend the buttons into the skirt, and I ironed interfacing on the wrong side of the pintucks - to stabilize the fabric for the buttonholes themselves, but also to hold the pintucks still so there'd be no pulling when I added buttonholes.  Lastly, I never like exposed seems at the end of a sleeve, if I can help it, so, I sewed my sleeve side seams before I hemmed the cuffs.

This dress will be sent off across the country as a fun gift for somebody else's little girl, so, I can't wait to see action shots!  For now, please just enjoy the fun buttons and pretty fabric - and sad face of a girl who cannot wear this dress, aha!

Look at those pintucks!!!

There is a giveaway and a link-up, so, make sure to check out the links below!!!

But WAIT!  There is MORE!  Karly is doing a Black Friday sale - 25% off with the code "blackfriday2014" - remember that, y'all!  That's tomorrow!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up