Author: LindyBeir

I’m still here — just haven’t been bloggingI’m still here — just haven’t been blogging

October 1, 2014October 1, 2014 | LindyBeirLindyBeir | 0 Comment | 6:37 pm

I am a wee bit astonished that it has been over a year since I wrote a blog post. A Year? Really?

Yeah – really.  Life intervenes at times and changes your focus and demands your time for other things.  My apologies for my long absence in the blogosphere.

This post is just to let everyone know I getting started blogging again and promise to do so more often than once a year…. 🙂

I am in the process of changing the theme for this website.  The current theme is one I created as a learning project so that I could understand how WordPress themes work.  This theme has served me well for a number of years, but there are lots of coding and technical changes that I simply don’t have time to study up on and recode my theme — so I am moving to one that is produced by the pros.  I hope to have the changes made in the next couple of weeks and then I will start posting about knitting, crocheting and lace…

I have gone through and checked the links on my References page and removed the ones that are no longer functioning.  I also removed a couple because when I went to the site, I found that the site had become over-run by ads.  Now, ads are okay if you want to allow them on your website — but when the ads take up more space on your home page than your actual home page content — it’s gone to far. (MHO) I removed another because the owner had converted it to a paid subscription site.   Anyway — those updates have been published, so the references are now current.

Off to work on other updates to this website.  Please check back in a few days.

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FO: Baby Cardigan and TamFO: Baby Cardigan and Tam

July 28, 2013July 28, 2013 | LindyBeirLindyBeir | 0 Comment | 4:58 pm

Baby CardiganI have been working on top down raglans for my grandchildren this summer. My first project was a cardigan for my new baby granddaughter. I decided to make this sweater in size 18 mos. because that should be the size that will fit her this fall. Top down raglans are fairly easy to knit — once you get past the neckline, but the neckline is a bit tricky. I followed The Magic Custom Fit Raglan pattern by Danielle White as a guide. I say guide, because the pattern gives sizing directions for babies up to 12 months and then for children age 2 and up — but not for 18 months. So I had to do some guessing to figure out the actual measurements to use for the size I wanted.

I used Cascade 220 Superwash Yarn in Pink for the body of the sweater. I knit the sweater front bands, neck band, cuffs and the bottom band in seed stitch with the remainder of the body knit in stockinette stitch. I used Cascade 220 Superwash in Magenta for the edging, which was done in single crochet all the way around the edge to finish and then made ties by doing a crocheted chain for each side of the neck.

Cardigan & TamI then decided that I had enough yarn to knit a little tam to go with the sweater. I used the Magenta yarn to start the brim in 1 X 1 ribbing and then switched to the Pink. Baby hats are really quick knits, and this one was no exception. I washed the set up in the washer and then laid them flat to dry.

My notes and other details can be found in my project on Ravlery here: Baby Cardigan and Hat Project

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Socks for CharlotteSocks for Charlotte

June 2, 2013June 2, 2013 | LindyBeirLindyBeir | 0 Comment | 4:44 pm

Charlotte's Baby SocksI knit two little pairs of socks for Charlotte shortly after she was born. In fact, while I was visiting at the hospital, my DS traced one of Charlotte’s footprints so that I could take it home a make a pair of socks for her little feet.

Her little foot measured 3 inches from the tip of her big toe to her heel. I used some sock yarn I had on hand in a variegated shades of pink and a size US 1 (2.25 mm) 32 inch long circular. The socks were knit using Magic Loop, two at a time. I knit them from the cuff down. These little socks knit up quickly and I made a second pair using another skein of yarn that was a light pink color. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the second pair. DIL reported that these socks stayed on her feet when most do not.

I wrote up the pattern for these socks. Each pair takes only 10 g of sock yarn, so it would be a great way to use up leftover yarn from your bigger sock knitting projects. 🙂
Here is the link to the pattern: Newborn Size Socks

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A Blanket for CharlotteA Blanket for Charlotte

May 20, 2013May 20, 2013 | LindyBeirLindyBeir | 0 Comment | 11:13 am

As I did for her big brother, I knit a blanket for Charlotte using cotton yarn. For this blanket, I used “I Love This Cotton!” yarn from Hobby Lobby. This is a lovely yarn that knits up into a soft fabric with wonderful drape. It’s machine washable — which is a must for baby items.

Charlotte's Blanket

The pattern is Leafy Baby Blanket by Leyla Alivea. It is a free pattern available on her blog, Silk & Wool and also on Ravelry. It’s an easy lace pattern — and as you can see — I got great stitch definition with the yarn.

Other details: Yarn – I Love This Cotton! in Colorway 74 Pink, 180 yds/skein. Used 5 skeins(900 yds)
Needles: US Size 8 (5.00 mm)
Finished measurements: 36″ X 40″

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