Another month, really?

As we get ready to turn the page on the calendar...would you believe just a week left in May?! I am glad to say that I am slowly, but surely getting some knitting done. Here's my progress since my last post.
I did some stash diving and found some leftover Knit Picks City Tweed that turned into an Egg to Bird in a nest. The pattern is by Susan B. Anderson and can be found in Itty-Bitty Toys. I gave away the others that I have made, this one can't seem to fly the nest. :)

 
Also had a change to cast on and finish a Cozy Big Bow Headband using Lion Brand's Baby First. Love the squishy-ness on the finished product, but really not my favorite yarn to work with. I just casted on again for another headband without the bow to use up the yarn. The pattern calls for casting on 12 stitches. I did another casting on just 8. Love the finished headband. My bow could have been a little more floppy, I haven't attached it yet. I'm thinking about putting the bow on a hair clip instead...


And finally on my needles... another sock! Just a simple one using Knit Picks Felici in Aquarium. Bright green, very different from the dark red of my previous sock. Ribbed cuff, stockinette leg and foot with a slipped stitch heel. Nothing fancy. I finished one side and have just cast on the second side.

Two points for me - getting some knitting done and using my stash! Happy knitting!

Play time

Oh, my so many things to look at on this play mat. Casey got this mat from his cousin Baylee. He likes to stare at the music box.

His favorite toy in this set is the octopus (which I forgot to bring today). He will grab on the ring and hold on for quite awhile.This mat will stay at the office and will provide a distraction for 20 minutes at a time. Thanks, Baylee!

A new toy...

Actually there were many new toys, but this is one of my favorites. It is the Soothe and Glow Seahorse by Fisher Price. It softly plays lullabies for 5 minutes, just enough time for Casey to fall asleep.

(Well, he wasn't quite ready for a nap when this picture was taken)

Little Birdies

Of course, we don't want to declutter... so in addition to the Cachoeira socks, I also started making these little birds. I was looking for something that I could make for small thank you gifts.

And here's some of them. I added little tabs at the top of the head for split rings. It also gives me a place to tie on my little thank you note. I started with an assortment pack of felt. The Mr. helped me cut out the pieces, then mixed and matched the wings and tail. Don't you just love how colorful they are? I just finished a second batch of birds. Stitching the eyes and beak takes the longest, but overall these little cuties are quick to make, assembly line style. Off to make more to be sure that I have enough... More felt please!

Giraffe is DONE!

"Assembly required" is the cause for projects sitting in my "to-do" stack. This guy had all, but his mane and spots done. This weekend I sat myself down, determined to put him together... So may I present Mr. Giraffe...

Yellow and Orange...

Have you guessed yet? It's a giraffe! The pattern is in Itty-Bitty Toys by Susan B. Anderson.
It's bigger than the other toys that I have been making. I have the body, head and 3 legs stitched. A leg, ears, horns and a bunch of pom-poms to go. I'm using Brittany dpns in size 4 and loving it.

What will it be?

Got my yarn wound for my next project. 3 skeins of Cascade 220.... Care to take a guess?

Elephant - DONE

The individual parts are complete, but assembly is required. Very simple actually. Stuff, stitch and trim and without further ado - Ellie the pastel elephant.

I haven't decided if I will be adding any embriodery to her. I think the mottled pastel color is quite nice as it is...

She has already been on a walk outside. Looking for peanuts, no doubt.

Elephants - WIP

I was looking for something small and fun to stitch for my next knitting project. Aren't these the cutest elephants... It is a free pattern on ravelry.

I'm using some left over acrylic, worsted weight on size 2 double points.

Itty Bitty

After knitting this guy, I wanted to learn more about the designer, Susan B. Anderson which led me to her  book, Itty Bitty Toys. It is the third book in her Itty Bitty series, fully of cute toys to knit up. The reversable toys in the last chapter sealed the deal. Another book to add to my ever growing list.

I decided to knit the Egg to Bird toy to give away as Christmas gifts.

There are 3 pictured here, but I completed 5 of them to gift. They instructions are very clear and easy to follow. I'm impressed that even though the pieces are knit seperately, it's not too fiddly to assemble. There's a list of projects in here that I want to try. The giraffe, the lamb (you can find the pattern here), the mouse in the Christmas set, the sock monkey.... maybe I should start from page one and work my way through the book... 

Introducing Tuck!

I squeezed in a little knit project... allow me to introduce Tuck!

You can find the pattern on the Spud and Chloe blog.
How did he get his name, you ask? Well, just like a real turtle, you can tuck in his head and legs. Kawaii, nei!

A great way to use up scraps, it doesn't take too much yarn or time to complete. I used leftovers from toys that I complete for Christmas, including Ribbit. It's a mismash, including KnitPicks Shine, Cascade Pima Tercel and Plymouth Yarn Baby Bunny.

Ribbit - frogs are lucky aren't they?

This green guy and 2 more of his buddies were gifted at Christmas. A quick and easy knit that required a bit of assembly. It's clever construction uses a tennis ball for the body. You can find the pattern at the Spud and Chloe blog. Look under free patterns on the right side of the page.