Res Completae: Cute Baby Stuff

Or, "Oh, The Cuteness!"



Pattern: Better Than Booties Baby Socks, Ruffle Rib variety, by Ann Budd for Interweave Knits Summer 2005 (you can get the pattern for free here)
Yarn: Baby Ull, in Light Blue (originally bought for my Norwegian Stockings)
Needles: US1 dpns, Clover bamboo
Start to Finish: June 25-28, 2007 (mostly on airplanes)

Modifications: I made these socks for a baby boy, and really didn't think he would appreciate having ruffles on his socks. Boys don't do ruffles. So, instead of casting on 88 and decreasing down to create the ruffle at the top, I just cast on 44 (what you end up with after the decreases) and took out the ruffle altogether. I still did the eyelet round before starting the 1x1 rib, which adds an interesting detail when the sock is stretched out and a cool texture when it's not.

Notes: OH THE CUTENESS!!! Also -- this method of short row-ing for the heel and toe is very, very cool. Yarnovers and backwards yarnovers are done every time you turn, then when you go back to pick up the stitches, you knit the yo's together with the stitches. By doing it this way, you create the gusset as you go and don't need to pick up any stitches along the side of the heel. I've only done one pair of socks before, so I'm still a little new and easily impressed, but this method of shaping, like, rocked my world for several hours.

And because Evelyn Clark's pattern for Itty Bitty Bears was right there next to the sock pattern...



I made little bears with the Louet Gems Opal I used for the Placket Neck Pullover that will go to the same baby, and did some i-cord letters to spell out his name (Tad...the cutest name for a baby ever) with the Baby Ull. I realize the "D" looks a little like an "O", but that is perfectly ok, because TAO are his initials! I figure these will be nice as embellishments on the package that will contain the socks and the sweater.

Ok, now I want a baby.

Happy 4th of July!