A Perfect Pairing.

Remember when I mentioned Theresa had added some new yarns to the shop? and that I might've brought a few skeins home with me?

Um, yep! Today I'm sharing the first project with y'all. This is Brooklyn Tweed Shelter (my first time knitting with this yarn) and it's going to be a blanket for Charlie's little brother.

The gradient possibilities seemed like a perfect match with Purl Soho's Colorful Wedges pattern. And I'd heard wonderful things about knitting garter stitch on larger needles with this yarn....and about how soft and light the fabric is after blocking.

The pattern is written for a sport weight yarn on size 5 needles; I did a rough calculation and cast on 25 fewer stitches on size 9s. 

I think it's gonna be perfect!

In hindsight, maybe I should've titled this post "perfect pairings". How about a little dark early knitting on the porch to see a beautiful sunrise?

Have you used Shelter? I'd love to hear about your experience with it...please share!

It's a Baby Shower.

...celebrating Katie and little baby T. Four of Katie's girlfriends threw her a shower this past weekend. It was perfectly delightful. This umbrella was featured on the invitation and the scorecard for the game.

I'm so glad shower games have progressed beyond the "guess how big around she is" and "guess how much she weighs" games we played at my showers! Instead we played along with Katie as she tried to guess how Rob answered 14 questions ranging from "how many diapers will the baby go through in a day?" (10 they both said), "will the baby have lots of hair, no hair or some hair?" (lots they both said) and my favorite one of all "which trait of Katie's do you hope the baby gets?" (her smile! how sweet!)

I didn't take any photos of the gifts, but we all ooh'ed and ahh'ed over cute, practical, fun and handmade. Not counting Sara (who gave Katie handknit tend gifts before she left), there were seven knitters represented (I think) and my sister-in-law quilts, too. I counted four hats, including a game day white and gold striped cap, two sweaters (one from me), a toy pig and a play quilt.

For decorations, they used baby photos from Katie and Rob.

I think "lots of hair" was a pretty good guess...Rob had really blond hair as a baby, but there was still plenty of it!

They also hung newborn onesies. It's hard to believe a tiny person will be wearing those is just two months.

The food was delicious. Vegetables and hummus, fruit and cheese, pimiento cheese sandwiches, sweet potato biscuits and savory cheese scones...and strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting. 

Here's Katie with the hostesses. 

left to right: Aubrey (she's due 12 days before Katie), Cady, Katie, Christa (holding 3-1/2 month old Mira who is actually a very happy baby but we interrupted her feeding time for the photo), and Katie. 

and with me.

...and a few peeks at the little sweater I knit. The first of many, I'm sure.

The pattern is Melissa LeBarre's Sweetest Thing. I used Berroco Vintage and three baby Yellow Jacket buttons. Not only is this baby going to have all the handknits, he's gonna be quite the Yellow Jacket...fourth generation perhaps!?

It was all a lot of fun and I am so glad I got to share the celebration with Katie, her friends and mine. 

(and now I'm in Madison...stay tuned for more "moving to Madison" posts...soon!)