Unravelling stories (part 2)

2nd Banana Republic sweater unravelling

100% cashmere sweater 

This one was a little different,

the front and back was 2 ply where the sleeves and borders were 1 ply

The sweater was a bit dirty so I plan to put the yarn into skeins and
dye the yarn with kool-air or Jacquard dye

What color should I go for?
Maybe a light vintage pink for baby sweater
or a dark teal for a baby overall...

more to come. . . for a little tutorial this time

Unravelling stories (part 1)

I love knitting  with cashmere but it is so expensive that I  can rarely afford to buy some to knit a sweater. 

So I think I might have found a solution to my problem. 

I went shopping for end of the season sales at my local mall and ended up at Banana Republic.

I went (as always) directly into the sales section, trying to find something to wear and 

I ran into a few good things, cashmere sweaters...

Well most of them were either too small, too big or too bulky for California so I started to think differently. 

I couldn't pass on a $30 100% cashmere sweater but couldn't wear it either and suddenly it hits me.

What if I were to unravel the sweater and make a new one for me?

So I did

The first one is a male V-neck sweater, size L which is like a giant for me.

It had some holes in it but the cashmere was super soft and the brown heather color delicious.

It unraveled quite easily, I have to say, you just need to find the right sewing thread.
Quickly I had some small and big balls depending on where the holes were.
It came out as a light fingering weight yarn.

Now, what to do with it?
Sweater, cardigan, ... for me, for the kids?
Do I need to wash it?
Do I need to put it in skeins instead of balls?
I kind of new at it...

...More sweaters to come

Newborn baby blanket - Miss Violette

Presenting "Miss Violette"

Adorable warm handknit Blanket for newborn or toddler 
100% Sweet Georgia cashmere/silk incredible soft lace yarn.
Delicate, soft and ever so slightly glossy, this yarn is 2-ply laceweight that I knitted double for a fuller feeling.
 45% cashmere and 55% silk.
My own original design. Pattern coming soon

The blanket is 20 by 30 inches or 50 by 70 cm

In many colors

Contact me if you would prefer your baby blanket in any of these colors.

Byaltadena@gmail.com

A few days in LA

Stella Mc Cartney boutique on Beverly Blvd, in West Hollywood

A taylor store window on Larchmont Blvd

Santa Monica beaches

Bonpoint soap bag in Liberty

A new baby blanket on my needles

Easy Happy Feet

3 size, 1 ball, these little sox are super easy and adorable.

I combined a few techniques and made a mistake at the heel on my first pair trying the short heel technique.

I found my mistake a way better result than the short heel. It works well on baby because their heel is not as defined as an adult.

From experience, I thought babies needed socks until they try to stand up so I made the pattern for 1 month, 3 month and up to 6 month old.

Size

Fits baby from 1, 3 to 6 months old

Gauge

22 sts and 28 rows = 10 cm/4", in st sts using US3(3.25 mm), fingering yarn.

Required materials

✏ 1 ball of Jojoland cashmere, fingering yarn, about 180 m or 200 yards

✏ US 3 (3.25 mm), circular or DPN

Tuto disponible en français sur demande.

Après achat de la version anglaise, envoyer moi un email at byaltadena@gmail.com

I knitted a few samples for my first orders in size 6 months

✏ Mustard socks are with Classic Elite Alpaca sox

✏ Pink socks are in Jojoland cashmere 4 ply

✏ Blue socks are in Misti Alpaca worsted

the pattern works in different size, type of yarns perfectly.

Baby shower...part 2

More items knitted for the new baby.
This time I made little socks and a bonnet from a great book I had a for a while, "Tricots intemporels pour bébés"

I used Jojoland cashmere sport weight in a beige color = pure pleasure!!

The socks only took 1 hour each ☺
I started at the toes instead of the ribbing, it is just easier

It is a great pattern for tiny little feet and everybody loves it so much that I have already made a dozen for my friends

A little dress for the Holidays

I designed this little dress for a sweet little girl for the Holidays. She will look very pretty and might add a pair of little snuggly booties to match.

I used a cashmere blend yarn for the softness on the delicate baby skin.

It fits a 3 to 6 months old.

The dress is for sale on ETSY. $65 (around 48 Euros).

Shipping is free.

Pattern is available, if interested, please contact me.

-------------------

Une petite robe tricotée idéale pour les fêtes de fin d'années. Je l'ai tricotée avec un fil à base de cachemire très doux pour ne pas irriter la peau délicate des bébés. Pour des bébés de taille 3 à 6 mois.

La jolie robe est en vente sur ETSY pour $65 (environ 48 Euros)
Frais de port gratuit.

Le patron est disponible, si vous êtes intéressés, n'hésitez pas à me contacter

New pairs of cashmere snuggly booties

For a boy, for a girl, for twins... they are so soft, pure pleasure of cashmere melting in your hand, your baby feet will love them.

$35 a pair (27 Euros) on ETSY

Shipping is free, US or international, come in a secret santa package for the holidays.
PayPal Payment, it is simple and secure

Chaussons en mousse - Trico'13

Already October!! Wahoo time flies. But it is the time of the month...we are approaching the 13th.

As always it is going to my future nephew, it is part of the thousand bootees I knitted for him, so spoiled :-)

"Mousse" is for October challenge for Trico'13

Pour les francophones, j'ai mis au point une traduction automatique du blog ici

Grean Baby blanket

All soft in this cashmere blanket, baby will love it for years and it is machine washable. It is perfect for car seat or stroller trip.
The blanket is 26 by 12.5 inches or 66 by 32 cm

$89.

Beige cardigan - Trico'13

It is the time of the month...we are approaching the 13th.

As always it is going to my future nephew, so cute!!! It matches the overall below
My sister idea. Pattern in Phildar magazine.

This cardigan is for September challenge for Trico'13, www.trico13.com

Une petite brassière

Again another little baby sweater for my nephew, all cashmere, pattern is from La Droguerie "Le 3ème bébé de la droguerie"
Just adorable!! I can't wait for him to wear it this winter, only 3 months left today

New baby overall

Another sweet cashmere overall for my future nephew, my own design. A sweater and booties will come soon completing the baby set.

A purl pajamas!!

This time is is for a friend. It is all in purl. I used a pattern from La Droguerie from Paris.

Pajamas mousse

This is a sweet baby pyjamas that I made from an old book from my library "J'habille mon bebe" for a special bundle of joy, my future nephew :-)
I just added the booties, simple adorable!!!

Cable sweater - 3, 6 or 12 months

This adorable sweater is available in many colors, cashmere blend, machine washable. $57
Size 3, 6 or 12 months
It is the perfect outfit to mach these tiny jeans for babies.

Alpaca sweater (Baby), 3-6 months old

This adorable cable sweater is knitted bottom up, first the body, then the sleeves, each part separately until the raglan. Then it is all knitted in one piece.
It wraps around the baby and easily button up for your baby comfort. Perfect piece for your newborn wardrobe.

Size
Fits baby from 3 to 6 months old

Finished measurements
Bust measures 48 cm/ 19"
Body length 16 cm/6 5/16"
Sleeves (from underarms) 16 cm/ 6 5/16"

Gauge
22 sts and 30 rows = 10 cm/4", in st sts using US3(3.25 mm)

Required materials
✏ 4 balls of Rowan baby alpaca, DK yarn, about 400 m or 436 yards
✏ US 3 (3.25 mm), circular are recommended but not mandatory
✏ 5 buttons
                                     

Name Sweater - 3,6 or 12 months

This adorable sweater is available in 2 colors, pink for the girls and soon blue for the boys, cashmere blend, machine washable. $57
Size 3, 6 or 12 months
You can personalize it with your baby name, his/her special B-day, year, and a logo such as a heart, boat, car, flower, etc.

Summer dress

For a sweet little girl, 3 to 6 months, this lovely summer dress with pink stripes in merino wool is super soft and cool for the spring, summer or fall. $45, machine washable.

Baby blanket

For a cute little boy, the stitches look like a train track :-)
The blanket is 21 by 21 inches or 53 by 53 cm

$42 - It is perfect for car seat or stroller trip.
It is so soft that your baby will love it for years and it is machine washable.