WIP wednesday :: Puerperium Cardigan

Inspired by nicsknots, who was in turn inspired by Tami Amis I am going to start sharing with you my wip's (work in progress) on a wednesday and my fo's (finished objects) on a friday, this is an attempt to get me working through all those unfinished items and all that stashed yarn, and trust me there are many of both to share with you!

However today I have a very newly begun project (around about 10pm last night) worked in some newly acquired yarn (purchased yesterday around about lunchtime). As you can see this practice is really going to serve it's purpose!

Also inspired by nicsknots I am knitting the puerperium cardigan by Kelly Brooker. This pattern has been in my favourites on ravelry for quite some time now and as I have a cousin expecting early summertime, I thought it the perfect opportunity to cast it on.

I am loving both the yarn (Debbie Bliss, baby cashmerino) and the patten so far, Kelly's patterns are written out so clearly in a real step by step way, which is great. I knitted (though I then frogged) her vanilla soaker a while back, though the finished item wasn't quite right, I'm not sure that was the fault of the pattern or the knitter, but I do remember the pattern itself being very easy to follow.

I'm thinking this may well be friday's FO at this rate!

my ravelry notes :: here

the pattern is available for free :: here

the yarn is :: here

finding inspiration :: lego cakes ::

So Milo turns 3 on saturday (three really?!) and there was I thinking I'd make a fairly simply decorated rustic looking cake. Originally he requested a cherry cake, I figured that wouldn't be a problem, then I remembered that it is of course April and the chances of finding any decent cherries would be impossible. I set out to explain to him seasonality and how there wouldn't be any cherries on the trees yet. He wasn't too phased and immediately requested a fire engine cake instead! I am no great cake decorater, I love to make cakes and I would say I'm fair baker but decorating isn't really one of my strengths. After browsing the web together for a while I spotted a fairly simple to assemble lego cake, and carefully suggested this as an alternative. He quickly agreed (phew) and we set about some more internet browsing.

Here are a few of my favourites ::

Source: flickr.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: doodle-cakes.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: livinglocurto.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: bigfatcook.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

Source: en.petitchef.com via VickiBrown on Pinterest

I even found with his name on!

But please note that I make no promises mine will look anywhere near as good as these!

a last minute easter bonnet ::

well isn't everything just a little bit last minute at the moment!

Milo had his easter bonnet parade today and at 8 o'clock last night I began to make a variety of items to attach to a pre-bought straw hat.

I crocheted some flowers tied some ribbons, filled a nest with some left over faux mini eggs and even needle felted a couple of chicks and a rabbit!

This morning Milo instructed me on where to position the items and we collected a few daffodils from the garden to add the the collection.

All in all not too bad attempt for the first of what will no doubt be many last minute easter bonnets!

Cardi in 4 days? Day 4 :: Complete ::

I did it! With a little last minute crochet on the train and some late night weaving in and button sewing, I finished the cardi, though it's probably more of a shrug. I even made the buttons myself, with a little help from the toddler.

I made it a lot shorter than I intended, not just because of the tight deadline (promise), but also because the dress had such a high waist band, I thought it would look better if it stopped where the skirt began.

I like it a lot and I think it went really well with the dress (I didn't have time to block it, which looking at the photo it probably would have benefited from) and it did it's job of keeping me warm, though it was hardly required what with it being such a delightfully warm sunny day!

This is the only picture I have, because I tend to take all the photo's and truth be told Johnny really has no idea how to use the camera, but I think you get the idea.

I am a little behind with my pattern writing at the moment, but I will write this one up when I get a chance.

Cardi in 4 days? Day 3 progress ::

Nearly there! And of course if I hadn't frogged the bottom I would have finished, but it really was too flouncy.

Because of the weight of the yarn it is quite a bulky piece, a bit more of a coat/jacket than a cardigan really, but I like the way it looks and how it goes with the dress, so overall it's going very well.

Cardi in 4 days? Day 2 ::

Almost finished with the bottom now :)

In fact depending on how I go it may be finished, as on trying it on with the dress it stops perfectly at the waist. Although I am concerened that it flares out a little too much. So I'm going to work on the sleeves today and if I get them done in time I may even frog the bottom and make it a little less flouncy, you know because I haven't given myself a tight enough deadline as it is!

Cardi in 4 days? Day 1 ::

So I am going to a wedding on Saturday, for which I have decided to make myself a cardigan to wear with this gorgeous dress from digforvictory :

Of course I have left it entirely to the last minute and started yesterday! I did purchase myself some Aran weight yarn to try and make the whole process a little quicker and I also intended to crochet it. However after doing a little swatch, crochet on the yoke with the Aran was just much to bulky, so now I am knitting the yoke (I'm working top down) and going to crochet a lace pattern on the bottom and arms.

I have oh so nearly finished the yoke, but with 3 days left, I must admit I'm not feeling all that hopeful!

Wish me luck!