"Ring in the New Year..."

It's always been an American tradition to portray a cute, chubby baby to represent ringing in the New Year.  I recently ran across this little gem from 1916 and thought it was so appropriate for U Knit Me!

Of course ringing in the New Year has always been a time to make resolutions, dream new dreams and focus on making changes.  A majority of which never happen and we do it all over again the next year!  I think I started a cardigan last year with the intention of finishing it within a few weeks...sadly it is still on the needles and hasn't been touched for...well, I can't really remember.  Thankfully I was able to finish a number of other items along with my daughter though. So many that to put them all into one collage would take way too much time!

 So, I picked some of my favorites from 2012..
                               

So I will close out this year with dreams of new creations to start for 2013!  I think I have enough yarn to get me straight through to...2099!

 

Happy New Year to everyone and may the next year bring many new projects and joy to your life.

"Apres Christmas...."

I will be totally honest.  Christmas can be a challenge.  So many things to do and make and not nearly enough time to do it all!  By the time Christmas day rolls around I am usually so tired and out of my routine that my mind is both blurry as well as overstimulated.  Yikes, somebody slow it all down!

My fondest Christmas memories growing up were late Christmas afternoon.  We opened gifts on Christmas Eve so Christmas day was a lazy, sleep in, relaxing kind of day.  I remember nibbling on the sweet pickles and ham left over from the prior nights feast and feeling so warm and content.  I always had a new project to look at, start or think about.  New gifts were neatly displayed under the tree for all to see.  Yes, gifts were never actually tucked away for about a week. Yes, fond memories of lazy Christmas days past extend over into my adulthood today. 

We were blessed to have our son and his family come visit for Christmas this year.  Needless to say, with two granddaughters, Emma 2.5 and Mia 6 months, there was a whole lotta Disney going on!

Even with all the activities I still found time to whip up some coordinating hats for the girls...

                                   My little Mia was more than happy to model hers!

 

 

Here we are ~The family in Red/Black! 

 

 

My 19 year old daughter, Tricia on my left, owns and operates her own Etsy shop which I help out quite a bit making hats and weaving in ends... UGH!  Come visit her shop one day at http://www.seashorekidz.etsy.com.  Mention this blog and use Seashorekidz10 for 10% off any item.

So I'm gonna snuggle back down into my big overstuffed chair that is my "space" for everything now.  Days after Christmas are for planning ahead, dreaming up new projects, running outdoors when the temp says stay inside and loving life to the max...

Wishing all my followers a blessed "Apres" Christmas and a wonderful New Year!  

"Little Bit of Christmas...."

                                                       Two little Merry Christmas beanies....

Vanna's Choice yarn, basic beanie pattern, G hook with FP & BP Double crochet for last row.  I love the hairbows from Hobby Lobby. They clip on, are nice and poufy (very important!) and good quality.  Easily removed from the hat and can be used alone or clipped to a headband.  The little guy hat....well, not as many fashion options...but then again....it's for a little guy!

 

"Personal Touch...."

What could be better to commerate a baby's birth, Christening, Baptism or special day than a personalized blanket!

Seashore Kidz has been selling several of these specialized blankets.  Each one has letters and/or numbers made by hand and stitched to a hand crocheted blanket trimmed in a shell stitch.  The pattern to make a blanket is found at our Etsy shop here.  Modification to the pattern would be adding six rows of single crochet to create a border to place the lettering. 

Double strand of Caron's Simply Soft make this a cuddly and warm blanket.

 

Same blanket out of a pretty plum Bernat Satin with a matching hat.  Tiny flower trim is the final touch to make it sweet and girly!

 

For the little man in your life try this one out of  Vanna's Choice Sweet Pea with Beige trim or a tan with a Seabreeze Blue.

 

 

 

Made to order Blankets and patterns are availabe at http://seashorekidz.etsy.com.  Just think of all the combinations...birth weight with date, name, family name....just about anything! 

"Teddy Bear Hat....."

Just a quick post to share a new pattern available both on Etsy here and Ravelry as an instant download here.

Super adorable for newborn baby.  Pattern is availabe as newborn and 1-3 months. 

Wouldn't it be perfect for Christmas with a big red bow for a girl or big button for a boy!  Bows are available at a friends Etsy shopTwirly Curl Boutique  She is offering a 10% discount if you use uknitme10 coupon code!  Her bows are adorable...

See everyone in a few days...more big girl headbands and maybe some boot toppers to show soon!

"Two More...."

Wow, what a whirlwind of a week! (Just how many w's can you use in one sentance!!)

Here's a glimpse of a Rush, Special order I whipped up (there I go again with a w!) for newborn twins photo session.  Anxious to see the final pictures and will be sure to share with everyone here.

                
 These little cuties were made with double strand of Vicki Howell's Sheepish in Yellow(ish) and Grey(ish).  I drop a size hook to a J rather than the pattern size K to make it a true newborn size.  I tweak the pattern a bit more to get the mix just right from a beanie by Posh Patterns on Etsy here.

I especially liked the gray top with yellow bottom...and makes me wonder....why do we spell the color g-r-e-y and g-r-a-y?  Regardless, I'm really loving the grays (greys) that are popular this Fall/Winter.  It's a nice warm color but has a modern flair to it.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I'm looking forward to some time off my day job so I can knit, hook and run - not necessarily in that order!  I'm working on some fingerless mitts to match headbands that I can't wait to finish up and share....so I'm thinking next week will be a great time to finish up and then get ready for Christmas.