Baby's First Colorwork

A few weeks ago, when I found out that one of my good friends from high school is pregnant, I texted another friend to tell her the news. Her response: "u better start knitting!"

Indeed.

I have plans for actual baby clothes, to give her at her shower this summer, but I was so taken by the idea of baby knitting that when I saw this pattern in the store, the pattern and yarn were in my bag and then on my needles before I knew what was happening. Call it a "congratulations on getting knocked up pregnant" gift! It was finished before I knew it, too; shockingly enough, knitting for small people takes less time than knitting for big people.



Pattern: Ann Norling's "Fruit Cap," followed pretty much exactly (shocking, I know). The only mod I made was to reduce the little stem thing from 9 stitches to 6, so I could make i-cord instead of knitting 9 stitches in the round on four needles (which is a big fat P.I.T.A., let me tell you).
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto, 100% superwash merino. I would DEFINITELY use this again, especially for baby projects--it's soft and squooshy and not at all itchy. The green was actually a much paler celery color to begin with, but I thought it was too pale, so a little trip to Shaw's for some vinegar and green food coloring solved that problem.

And doesn't it look nice?



I was debating whether or not to dye it, but I'm so glad I did--it's ever so slightly marbled now, and it gives the yarn a beautiful depth.

I'm still a colorwork wimp, so I knit this by picking up and dropping each color. I know, I know, I should learn to knit Continental style and then be able to hold one color in each hand...but again, I'm a wuss.

I also met some knitters in the wild yesterday! I was in NYC for the day, and I saw two women sitting across from me, knitting socks! They were both wearing "Eat. Drink. Knit." pins, and after working up the courage to talk to them, I found out they were in New York for the Yarn Harlot book release. Suprisingly, they did not appear to think I was a Total Psycho (my parents, visiting for the weekend and wondering if I make a habit of talking to strangers on public transportation, may have). I have of course forgotten their names, but one was wearing Venezia and it was jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go block that hat and then work on my term paper. I am NOT going to cast on for matching booties. Nope. Not me.