Baby Snug and Hat

Alison found this pattern: Snug, An (Almost) Seamless Baby Hoodie, on Ravelry. It's a great pattern for an almost seamless baby hoodie knit out of less than one ball of a great new yarn, Cascade Eco Wool: http://www.needlenart.com/Shadecards/EcoWool.html
The front and back of the sweater are knit in one piece sideways, then the front lapel and hood are picked up and knit as one piece. Ingenious use of scrap yarns allows the sleeves to be knit right on to the body as well. It's a fun and fast knit, and teaches you some neat techniques too.

You must be a member of Ravelry to download the pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/. Ravelry is a free site for knitters and crocheters, and one of the most comprehensive sites online. If you're not a member already, please join, and visit our store group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/needle--arts-centre
You can find the pattern on Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snug-9
If you have trouble accessing the pattern, please email us.

The accompanying hat was designed by Alison, and is a very easy knit. The pattern is available in store, or email us for it.

Alison made both the snug and the hat from one skein of Cascade Eco Wool, for just Can$16.95!

Affordable Baby yarn - great toddler patterns

I was so sure that I had already shared this great pattern book "just for tots" for our best buy baby yarn Comfort DK (from Berroco, just $3.95 for the 50g ball!) - but I couldn't find a posting. So here it is, with the front cover to the left and the same garment of the front cover in our store.

This is what Alison wrote: As always, baby and children's knits are a favourite at our store. Caleb is a toddler's pullover made from Berroco's Comfort DK. This great little design ranges in size from 9 months to 6 years. Side neck buttons make it easy to get over the little heads, and the easy-care blend of the yarn makes it washer friendly. Featured in Berroco book #274, it requires between 4 and 6 balls of yarn (that is only Canadian $16-$24).

It's Stella!

A couple of months ago we were all hype about our first grand child to arrive, and believe me, Inge and our staff and friends were knitting A LOT. Especially after Stella was born mid of August and the colours were easier to decide on. Here is our precious little addition to our family.

Inge is going to visit her in Edmonton this week and the last two projects she will have in her suitcase are these soft little somethings. The purple "ribbed jacket" is taken from Special Knits by Debbie Bliss, see our book list. The pattern for the white/pink combination is available on request. Both are knit in Drops Silke Alpaca, Funny yarn added to the latter.

Boy or Girl?

Our grand child is expected in August and all we know so far is that "it's a baby". That doesn't stop Inge from going through our baby pattern books and picking her projects. Lovely little pieces have already been created and the expecting mom who visited us a week ago is happy and thrilled.

Inge knit this beautifully simple Raglan Sweater with soft, rolling edges and fully fashioned detailing on the raglan shaping, from Debbie Bliss "the baby knits book", with our perfect Debbie Bliss substitute Rowan Classic Yarns: Cashsoft Aran. The cashmere content of the yarn makes it wonderfully soft against a baby's skin. Inge added the cute little sheeps and needle felted their bodies to make the sweater look more baby like... Check the yarn's shade card! You may order book and yarn from www.needlenart.com/id20.html !

Alison did this sharp little Polo Pullover "Kieran" by Holli Yeoh (Bee's Knees Pattern) with 3 balls of Stella yarn from Naturally (100% Bamboo) as main colour and 2 balls of Regia Silk Color (self patterning sock yarn with silk), which creates a Fair Isle effect on the collar and sleeves. Needles: 2.0 and 2.5. The size fits 1-2 years and it's really warm and cosy for a spring or fall day! Find the shade cards here: Stella and Regia Silk Color, and order pattern and yarn from us!