I present Simplicity 3852, the ultimate multi-size pattern–everything from newborn to grown man. Gideon fits it perfectly today. Tomorrow it will probably be too small. And I made three of them for the summer. Gah.

Cute, though, eh? I also made the men’s version for Tim.

Pattern Notes: I’d call this an intermediate pattern, since it contains several tailored elements, such as a front placket, collar, and the insertion of snaps or snap tape. The instructions were fairly clear, though I admit I didn’t follow them 100%.

The romper, which I made in size medium, fits 19-lb Gideon perfectly. The gathered legs are a cute detail, and the collar fits his chubby baby neck just fine. There are convenient crotch snaps, which is not apparent from the pattern envelope.

The man’s shirt is very straight, with a nice yoke, but front fachings (yech). Tim seems to like the facings, though, so there’s no accounting for taste. If I make it again, I will draft proper button bands and dispense with the facing. It does not fit Tim particularly well, except in the shoulders, but this has more to do with the fact that Tim doesn’t fit the pattern company’s ideal than with any fault in the pattern.

First, I painted the board bright orange, using an inexpensive sample-sized tub of Behr paint from Home Depot. Using the fabric as a reference, I freehand drew the elephant and the tree onto the board in pencil, then used a foam brush to paint in the accent colors, both of which came from the clearance rack of miss-mixed paint, and cost 50 cents and 1 dollar, respectively.

All that’s left is to mount it high on the wall of the room and put hooks in it to hang up my tools and tidbits in a handy-dandy fashion.

The blue shirt needs a button added below the last one from the man’s shirt, and I need to get some western snaps for the zoo shirt.

I don’t know when they’ll fit Gid, but it will probably be soon, given his current growth rate. We’re going to have to take out a third mortgage to keep this kid in onesies.

month in blogland. Since my little toughie is all boy, I’m joining in. I’ve already cut out two shirts, one using an old shirt of my grandfather’s. I’m also working on Gideon’s room this month, per my room-a-monthalong.

Speaking of the room-a-monthalong, did I finish my January goal? Hehehehe. Heh. Heh. No. But I worked on it! I rearranged the furniture and worked on getting my craft stuff into order. I failed. But there is always tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the next. Hmmm. I may have discovered my problem.

But this month I’m celebrating the boy!

I’ve been working all weekend on a sweater to match the Gansey Booties I designed for Gid. Sorry about the cell phone picture–I can’t find my camera.

I’m using the same Cotton-Ease as before, and I really like the fabric as it’s being knit up. I have enough of this yarn in stash to make three adult-sized sweaters and another two baby sweaters, so it’s a good thing it’s going well.  I have it in mind to knit a coordinating Gansey for Tim eventually, using some of the patterns from Gideon’s. Unfortunately, by that time, Gid will have outgrown this one, and I’ll have to make him another. Sigh. It never ends. I’ve decided that I need to acquire some self-knitting yarn and self-sewing fabric. That way, things might get done around here.

I torched a little bit on Friday, and I’ll post some shots of the beads when I find my camera. I’ve been trying out silver glass for the first time–just a little Psyche frit I picked up at Frantz in Shelton right after Christmas. So far, my results have been blah. I just can’t figure out how to use the flame chemistry on my Hothead to my advantage.  Pictures when I can.

I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, because it’s machine washable, but any worsted-weight yarn would do. These booties would look great in real gansey wool, for a rustic look, or in a soft cashmere blend for a special gift.

Gansey Booties

Sizes: Newborn (Medium 3-6 months, Large 6-9 months)
Materials: less than 50 grams worsted-weight yarn (I used Lion Brand Cotton-Ease)
Needle: size 6 or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 18 st/ 4 inches in moss st.

Notes: These booties may be made with DPNs or one long circular using the magic loop method.

Sole
CO 7(9,11) st.
Row 1: K1fb, work in seed st across to last stitch, k1fb.
Row 2: Work in seed st across.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 once. 11(13,15) st on needle.
Work 20(24, 26) rows in seed st.
BO 1 st at beginning of next 4 rows. 7(9,11) st on needle.

Pick up stitches:
Wk 1 row in seed st. Pick up stitches around sole, picking up one stitch for every two rows along side of foot, one stitch for each cast-on stitch, and one stitch for every two rows along other side of foot. 42(50,56) st on needle. Place marker to indicate the beginning of the round.

Instep
Row 1: purl around
Row 2: knit around
Row 3: purl around
Row 4: knit around
Row 5: purl around
Row 6: k7(7,9), ssk, turn.
Row 7: s1, p5, p2tog., turn.
Row 8: s1, k6, ssk, turn.
Row 9: s1, p7, p2tog, turn.
Row 10: s1, k8, ssk, turn.
Row 11: s1, p9, p2tog, turn.

Medium and Large sizes only:
Row 12: s1, k10, ssk, turn.
Row 13: s1, p11, p2tog, turn.

Large size only:
Row 14: s1, k12, ssk, turn.
Row 15: s1, p13, p2tog, turn.

All sizes:
Next row: s1, k9(11,13), ssk, turn.
Next row: s1, p9(11,13), p2tog, turn.
Repeat these rows once more.

Next row: s1, p9(11,13), ssk, turn.
Next row: s1, p9(11,13), p2tog, turn.
Repeat these rows twice more.

Next row: s1, k9(11,13), ssk, turn.
Next row: s1, p9(11,13), p2tog, turn.

Next row:  s1, k around. 24(30,34)  st.

Cuff
Work cuff around in k1, p1 rib for 2″, BO in rib loosely.

Finishing
Weave in ends, fold cuff over.

And some DWTS. Go Donny!

No crafting whatsoever–I’ve knitted one row on one sock since he was born, total.