Ravelympics Project # 3: Crocheted Yoke Cardigan

I finished this cardigan on Tuesday the 19th, but could not post about it due to computer/internet trouble. This is my own pattern. I started out by crocheting some flowers and arranging them in a yoke. Then I picked up stitches along one egde to knit the neck rib, and picked up stitches along the other wider end to knit a top-down cardigan. The yarn I used was again a local acrylic DK, Dolly (now discontinued). I had only two balls of this, so I added stripes of another blue-with -flecks yarn. Crochet hook size was 5mm and needles were 5.5mm. Here is the back:

Because of my loss of patterns, I have decided to drop my fourth project for ravelymics, as I was already undecided about it. I am now working on my final project in WIP wrestling category, that lilac cardigan for myself.

Ravelympics Project # 2: Striped Baby Surprise Jacket

I finally finished the baby surprise jacket, late Sunday evening. I knitted it in 18'' chest size. The pattern is not difficult but there is a lot of increasing and decresing involved. That, together with the number of colors I was using, made it a not so "mindless" a project.

I was a bit careless the first time and had to frog the whole thing. I used leftover yarns from other projects, all acrylic sporstweight. The needle size was 3.75 mm.
Though I admire how the sweater looks from the front, I don't really like its back. I suppose it will look ok on a baby. Anyway, it was different and unique from the usual cardigan patterns and here lies its appeal.

ETA Aug 22: The back has grown on me and I now seem to like it quite a lot.

I have made progress with project #3 as well, with only the sleeves left now.

Changed Game Plan

Ok, I'm feeling a lot better. Thank you to Shells and Stefaneener for their understanding words. Now that I have dropped the baby gift idea, there has been a change in my ravelympics peojects. My third project is now a cardigan for my daughter instead of the originally intended jumpsuit. I already started working on it yesterday.

Baby Surprise jacket is also coming along slowly. It is an interesting piece of knitting and not so complex after all.

A Stumble In My Pentathalon

I lost nearly a day's worth of knitting today.I cast on for my second ravelympics project, the baby surprise jacket last night. I worked on it this morning and was upto 40 rows (which is about 1/3rd of the piece), when I found I had messed up my increases. Unable to localize the error, I frogged the whole thing. Now I have recast and done 15 rows but I seem to have lost steam:(. I think I will go easy on knitting tomorrow, perhaps I should start the third project and knit it first.
But one thing for sure, I can not have the items done by Thursday evening in time for Aqeeqah. Still, the baby will not really be needing these knits for a few months yet as it is still the middle of summer here in Pakistan.

Ravelympics Project # 1: Baby's Sheep Yoke Cardigan

My first Baby Dressage project for the ravelympics is finally done. It took longer than I would have liked but it did require a lot of finishing e.g. weaving in ends, doing duplicate stitch sheep's heads and legs and buttons. This was my first top down cardigan.
The pattern was well written and fun. I did the sleeves in rounds to avoid seams. The yarn was all leftover acrylic DK, the main color being the same as my last project, Joined cable cardigan for my son. Using DK with 3.75 mm needles gave me a 2- years size, so it will nicely fit my daughter. She is having her nap right now so she could not model the sweater.
Now I have to rush with my next ravelympics projects as these are for my cousins' baby son, who is having his Aqeeqah on Thursday.(Aqeeqah is the tradtional Islamic way of celebrating a baby's arrival with the sacrifice of one or two goats/sheep and inviting the relatives and poor to dine on food made with the meat). I am hoping to have the projects finished by that time (though it is a long shot) so I can gift those to the new mom on the occassion.

First Ravelympics Project Underway

With the start of Ravelympics, I cast on for my first project, the Sheep Yoke Cardigan. I had checked the gauge and decided to go with one that got me a FO for size 1-1.5 years. However, as I knit, I realize that it fits my 2 year-old daughter. So I am a bit undecided at the moment if I should finish it off with some pink duplicate st flowers for my daughter or give it to my cousins' newborn who will have to grow up for two years before it can fit him. If I go with the first option, I might have to make Baby Surprise Jacket in the smaller size for the cousins' baby.
Regardless of this confusion, I am loving the way the sweater is knitting up. Here is how far along I have knit:

I am thinking of casting on my second project tonight, most probably the jumper..

Ravelympics Warm Up

With 3 days to go before the start of Ravelympics, I am starting my training. I had decided to take pat in two events, Baby Dressage and WIP Wrestling. Now I am also part of a team, thanks to my Ravelry friend Shells, who invited me to be part of her Team Sporum.

As for WIP Wrestling, I will try to finish my Lilac lace cardigan.

For baby dressage, I have decided to work on four projects. Three of these are to be for cousins' soon expected son. I have decide to knit Sheep Yoke Cardigan as well as a Jumpsuit and a hat. I have made my things ready for the cardigan. I did a swatch as well. I am aiming for a slightly larger size than the pattern.

I have yet to decide on patterns for jumpsuit and hat.
The fourth project to be (inshallah) is Baby surprise Jacket for my daughter. I did a swatch for that too, however I am a little nervous about this one because the original pattern is for much smaller size. Also I have read mixed reviews about the pattern. Also from what I understand, it's difficult to determine what is going on till the sweate is all done, so there can be no instant frogging back.

None of these on its own, is a big project but it sure will be a challenge to finish then all within 17 days.

On the fitness front, I strained some neck muscle yesterday and also have a bruised right elbow, (such a great athlete that I am, I strained the muscle during sleep and banged my elbow on a metal door, LOL). But hopefully all will be well in a few days, inshallah, in time for the ravelymics. Can't wait!