Jumpers - Finished!

I've finally finished the jumpers for my friend's twin babies - good timing, as a c-section is scheduled for Thursday if my friend can manage to make it that far! Instead of ribbon ties as suggested in the pattern, I used a pretty sparkly yarn and made twisted cords (take a length of yarn, fold it in half, and twist twist twist until you can twist no more, then bring both ends together and let it twist back on itself). I hope they stand up to use. I made a pair of socks each with my own pattern, which I will post at a later date once I refine it, again using the pretty sparkly yarn for ties. The yarn by the way was Knitpick's Shine (sport, I think - not the worsted) in Violet and Orchid in case I didn't mention that already. Very pretty, bright colours! Instead of the flowers suggested on the Magknits pattern I just did a crochet edging along each edge using the sparkly yarn again - this helps hide my not-perfect edge, too! On the pink jumper, I messed up and did my decreases right at the edge instead of one stitch in from the edge, so it wasn't quite as smooth.

My biggest concern is that the sparkly yarn frays a bit at the ends, so I have tied them off carefully and I may try dipping the ends in clear nail polish to give them a bit of stability. Not quite sure on that one :(


The jumpers and socks - front side. The ties are a bit long here; I still have to trim them once I decide on a length.


Back of the jumpers.


Detail of the edging.

Completed Sophie

Here is my version of Magknit's Sophie.

I used Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Violet and Tulip. I used one full skein of the Tulip and one and a bit of the Violet if I recall correctly. I used size 10.5 needles (my Denises).

I pretty much followed the pattern except I lengthened it to allow for the striping. The striping pattern I used was as follows:

13 a - 1 b - 8 a - 1 b - 5 a - 2 b - 3 a - 3 b - 2 a - 5 b - 1 a - 8 b - 1 a - 13 b

This gave me something like 66 rows, so I decreased every 12 rows instead of every 10 rows like the pattern said.

Booties!

In my previous post, I showed off the cutest booties.

However even though I followed the pattern exactly, and the measurements match the pattern, they seem way too big for the twins - so I sent them off to my friend Linny, who just had a baby girl (Megan). I got this awesome multicolour pink/purple/pretty yarn that kind of shimmers to make a twisted tie for the booties and they are so cute. I hope Megan and her parents like them :) I had planned to make a cute little hat for Megan but these booties were too precious.

I'm currently working on some socks for the twins - much more to scale, I think. I'll use the same shimmery yarn to make ties for them so they will stay on more readily. I'm thinking I'll embroider the jumpers with the same yarn, too! ;)

Finished!

I finally finished the 2nd jumper. It took me a bit longer because I've been busy at work, etc. I now have to block them both and decide how/what to embroider. Also decide if I want to use a ribbon-tie closure or knitted/crocheted strings.

I also whipped up a pair of booties which I dislike - they are HUGE. I think I may just do little matching socks instead. If I am feeling ambitious I will whip up some hats as well. We'll see.

Twin B's Jumper

I'm not nearly finished Twin B's jumper but I'm more than halfway finished. I'm at the point now where I split for the upper half (the back and two front halves are worked individually from here). I am more than halfway finished in terms of stitches but this part is less mindless than the bottom half so maybe it will take the same amount of time.

I'm still really loving the Shine. It's a beautiful yarn to work with. I might just get some to make something for me! It comes in a worsted version now, too ;)

I'm trying to decide what to make to 'match' the jumpers. I'd been thinking little hats and booties, but now I'm thinking about diaper covers. This pattern is adorable, and I think I could modify it to work with my yarn. I'm 99% sure the twins' mum is using disposies so there isn't an issue with using cotton yarn, either. I'm not totally worried about sizing as it is pretty adjustable but I am worried about a) finding Aplix and b) sewing it on. I hate sewing, finishing of any sort really. They would be oh so cute under the jumpers... or would they?

I can't do hats and covers. I can do hats and booties though, or covers and booties. I also have a skein of a light grey to use in embroidering the jumpers (no I still haven't decided what I'm doing for that, either), so I could use some of that and stripe the covers/hats as well - still doubt I'd have enough for both though. I'll have to look at yardage requirements for infant hats. Decisions, decision!! It may come down to hats being in the round (requiring DPNs) versus diaper cover being back-and-forth (thus requiring much more purling) and deciding which is the lesser of two evils on whatever day I choose to start.