Fall Project PEOPLE’S CHOICE
So, we were so overwhelmed by the amazing entries for our fall project giveaway, we are now looking for your input. We will still award 1 prize for the Baaad Anna’s favorite – but now is your time to vote. Simply leave a comment for which project you think should win! Here is a brief description (picture when included). And thanks everyone for your entries!
Bunny
1) BUNNY: I pulled this pattern out of a magazine at the dentist’s office back in 1998. I’ve made it a few times before for other people, but this time I get to make it for me! With two new babies on the way it’s easy to get caught up in buying little clothes, but nothing compares to homemade knitted projects made with love (Bohdan’s wardrobe is a fine example of that!). I’ve discovered too that it really helps the bonding process with the little monkeys on your tummy when you’re knitting something for them and the half done project is laying on your tummy. I have also discovered that a growing tummy makes a great surface to support your knitting projects!! Here’s to fall and the best knitting season of the year!
2) Wine Bottle: During this time of year there’s much more “in house” gatherings, what with Thanksgiving and the Christmas Season. And many times you take a bottle of wine. So I am making/designing many different wine bags. I have a white one with 3 dimensional grapes and leafs attached / I have a couple basket weave ones (I’m hoping to do one in a basket colour), I think that would be very cool. The imagination could go on and one. And the real good news, it’s reusable. So hopefully one day I will see someone giving it away to someone else. Also a good thing about knitted or crocheted bottle bags, it protects the bottle.
Zag Hat
3) ZAG Hat: I just got back from Peru this week and, although I have been super inspired by all the llamas and alpacas I got to visit, I cast on the Zag Hat by Preita Salyer in my own yak-bamboo blend handspun! I’m really excited to work with a natural fibre, and the zigzag pattern will warm up my head after those cool nights on the Inca Trail!
4) Adult Sweaters: This fall I’ve challenged myself to make 3 adult sweaters in 3 months. It’s a daunting task, but I feel it’s do-able. I’m doing it because I have 3 dear friends who’ve hinted that they’d love a hand-made sweater, but most of all, I’m doing it to prove to myself that a discipline and dedication can actually have great results. I’m trying to kick my own lazy ass! Sweater #1 is Jared Flood’s Tinder and I completed the back ribbing today at lunch!
Bag
5) BAG & PEACOAT: My fall knitting book of choice has been the New England Knits book. The first is the Melrose Peacoat. I’m currently stitching it together, which it is my first sweater where I have done so. I’m excited to have it done and to wallow away the winter snuggled in it. I’m using Araucania Azapa yarn for this and am loving the texture. The pictures are of the body pieces.
Peacoat
My second project is the Groveland Satchel. This one is going to be for my sister-in-law for Christmas, I think. I’m still deciding. I may keep it…but I think my resolve will hold up and I’ll give it to her. I’m using the Galway Chunky in the deep turquoise color. It really brings out the cable work. The picture is just of the back panel of the bag. I’m looking forward to the felted finish of the cabling on this. I got the yarn for both these at your birthday extravaganza
6) CABLE SWEATER: I am making a Provence Cable pattern sweater for my son in a size 4. My son’s grandmother knit him 4 sweaters of which two will last him till he is 3 next year. I picked the Provence Pattern because it is my only and last shot at getting my kid to have a photograph of himself in a sweater his mom knit before he turned 5. Then he can compare it with the photograph of his mom at age 5 wearing a maroon sweater with two cute giraffes made by the same grandmother.
7) BEAR SWEATER: The Oh My Bear Sweater!!!! Its seriously one of the most favorite things I’ve knitted yet. I have only posted one picture, but there will be more. And I’m about 90% done! Caitlyn and I sat in the sun/shade yesterday and I hammered off most of a sleeve, to be finished hopefully tonight. I’m facing the conundrum of “To ear or not to ear” though. Thoughts? Thats it, that’s all. Thats what i’ll be wearing this fall
Bear Sweater
8) FLOCK, BOUNDLESS & SPINNING: First, I am knitting a “Flock” mobile from knitty for one of my dear friends who is expecting her first at the end of November. They have chosen a forest theme for the baby’s room, so the pattern seems especially appropriate. Secondly I am knitting “Boundless” from the Twist Collective by local designer Christa Giles for myself. It reminds me of little red riding hood, so I’m knitting it in a brick red colour and can’t wait to wear it on chilly fall evenings around Vancouver (or out hiking in the woods maybe?). Finally, I’ve been working on my spinning recently and at the moment I have a batt that I carded myself from an orange/red/brown merino braid from Pigeonroof Studios and some dehaired baby camel in a soft brown colour. I don’t know what that yarn is going to turn into once I’m finished it, but it does look lovely and warm with beautiful fall colours.
Scarf
9) SCARF: From the book ‘Knitting New Scarves’ I am working on a scarf in monochromatic blues, with the baby blue stitches peeking out of the windows.
10) TOTORO MITTENS: My fall knitting will involve learning how to knit mittens and knitting these adorable Totoro mittens for my lovely wife! I found the pattern after I introduced her to Totoro this spring and she immediately declared it as one of her favourite films. I have loved Totoro for years and am excited to turn my wife into an anime geek!
11) EILEEN CARDIGAN: The fall knitting I *want* to be focusing on is my Eileen Cardigan. The first sweater I’ve ever knit for myself! I’m using some gorgeous Fiddlesticks Luscious Tweed in Garnet, and now that the cool weather has set in I’m really starting to wish I had this cozy thing to wear! Unfortunately, I’m only ~half way through the back and have had to shift focus to other projects due to the laughably ambitious knitting queue I’ve amassed for the holidays. At this rate I’ll be lucky to have this sweater done by spring.
Hawthorn
12) HAWTHORN SHAWL: I wrote to you guys pretty soon after you announced the contest, and wrote about the Hawthorne Shawl from last fall’s Twist Collective that I am making as a fall project. Well, the shawl is now done, and I thought I would send you guys a couple of pictures, too. The shawl was meant to be a gift for my mom’s 50th birthday on September 14, but it didn’t get done in time. Now my mom is in hospital recovering from a major surgery, and I will send it to her to cheer her up.
13) AVIATRIX: Right now I’m working on four Aviatrix Hats for babies. Two for newborn twins, one for a little fella who joined us at the beginning of summer (not good wool hat weather), and one for someone who will be arriving later this Fall. It’s a great, easy and rewarding pattern. I was gifted one when my little’un was small and it was our favourite hat for staying on and growing with her due to the stretch in the pattern. I’m using the Diamond DK from Baaad Anna’s to knit’em up. I’m also (foolishly?) making my holiday crafting aspiration list, which seems to include a lot of infinity scarves for folks. I need to get through these hats and onto those if I’m going to keep this momentum going.
14) KNITTING MOMMA: What aren’t I knitting these days… the start-itis is bad! A couple of hats, a few pairs of mitts, some kid socks (how can you turn down a kid who asks for socks?), baby sweaters (Puerperium Cardigan x 2), teachers’ Christmas presents, a scarf for myself, and so on and so on and so on… No wonder my house is a mess and the kids are out of control — Mommy is KNITTING!!
15) SO MANY PROJECTS: That’s one great thing about the turn in weather, the urge to knit becomes even stronger! I just finished making the arm warmers from Modern Top Down Knitting and since I have a fair bit of yarn left I would like to make the Pigeon hat also from that book. I was in Copenhagen last week and everyone over there was wearing ponchos. I have some chunky grey yarn to knit one quickly (she said optimistically) but i haven’t found the right pattern yet. While looking for a poncho pattern I came across the Levenwick cardigan. How adorable! I may need to add that to my list of things to knit. But the first thing i need to knit is the Tiger from Sarah Keen’s Knitted Wild Knits book. It will be a for a friend who just had a baby. I’ve been knitting stuffed toys for new babies so they’ll get more wear than a sweater. I also have some thrummed mittens to finish and the never-ending blanket that i’m working on. Good thing it’s cold out!
16) BAA BAA HALLOWEEN 2011: This sheep costume was knit in three days using three skeins of Sirdar Big Softie for Gabi’s Halloween costume (and will double for her Halloween-themed birthday). The pattern is also free on Ravelry and is called Child’s Lamb Costume by Margot Stevens.
BAA BAA Halloween 2011
One vote for Number #7, rawr. I want to give a big bear hug in it.
I wholeheartedly vote for #7, the bear sweater.
I live in a house that was built encroaching upon the natural wilderness of wild bear and frog homes, and feel so bad about destroying their natural habitat that I sometimes feel and act crazy.
Voting for the bear sweater is my way of apologizing to the bears for stealing their home.
(just stay out of my back yard)
Now someone needs to knit a frog sweater…
My vote goes to #16. So cute.
#16!! Just LOVE this little costume!
#16 – it looks cute and from reading the post about it, it is something that most knitters could do + plus I have a nephew who would look so cute in it.
#16 is my favourite
Definitely #16 the name and the model say it all.
Ruth Sherwood
I’m voting for baa baa halloween!
#16! That baby sheep is sooooo cute! AND should be nice and toasty for trick-or-treating! =D
Well #16, Baa Baa Halloween, gets my vote. But it was a difficult choice, all the entries are exceptional!
BEFORE VOTING….
I would love to know how long each of the projects took and how much wool was put in to it. It’s easy to look at something and say “oh that baby is so cute, vote for it” or “I like bears” and vote for that but I’d love to know the skill levels and the time and money that has been put in to each project!
I know everyone votes for their friends project or the one that is the cutest but I’d like to know some info behind them….
THANKS!
Regarding the sheep costume pattern:
The pattern is linked above and is available free on Ravelry. I used three balls of Sirdar Softee which is a chunky weight that knits up surprisingly fast. The whole costume probably took me about 12 hours to knit and an extra 2 hours finishing (with some of the adaptations noted below). It’s probably a beginner/mod knitting project as it requires some lace work throughout, but nothing too overwhelming, and I would encourage any knitter who wants to to try it.
Adapted the original costume pattern into a onesie as recommended by SheepAtTheWindow, by picking up 16 stitches at the front bottom and then proceeding to knit in pattern (using the hat pattern). I decreased slightly through the section that goes between the legs and increased again on the other side.
Originally I added three buttons at the back of the onesie, and then when I tried it on Gabi the head hole didn’t fit! So I undid part of the top strap, added a small section in pattern and added a button there. I sewed together the onesie bottom and now put it on Gabi through the head hole. Plus I added an icord tail!
It was a fun Fall knit and will get lots of use by its intended recipient, which is the most I can hope for from anything I put time in to knit. Vote for whichever project moves you, as it is ‘people’s choice’… difficulty, cost and cuteness factor are all subjective anyways.
I totally agree “people’s choice” is all about what they look like but it’s good to know which different techniques and skill levels go in to a project…
And I should add that the costume and baby are pretty adorable!
Mmmm Bears.
My bear sweater took 80+ hrs (tons of movie watching) and 7 balls of Kathmandu plus the colors for the bear itself. I altered the pattern a little; made the sleeves longer and didn’t add the ears, but the end result was nothing less that what i could have hoped for! I’ve worn it a few times now and its cozy and warm and will get a lot more use this winter.
As for complicated – there was definitely some ripping back done as it was my first real attempt at intarsia, but mostly the pattern was simple to follow and knitted up at about an intermediate level (?).
The pattern is the Oh My Bear sweater from Tiny Owl Knits and is written really well. Plus she’s about the cutest thing on the internet.
Wow it seems as though you put a LOT of work in to that one sweater. All the entries are pretty nice but knowing the work that went in to it helps to vote…
I am a Great Grandma 21 times and I would love to make this for my GGK’s.
I am voting for number #16 ….
#16!!! 🙂
I vote for # 16! So cute! Love that baaaad baaaaby sheep costume. Perfect for Halloween!
#16 is so cute
number 16 is very, very cute!
I like #16 best
#16 So cute:) Hehe kind of ironic that we shear a sheep to get wool so we can knit it to dress up as a baby sheep.
#16 is super cute. So I vote for it.
oops i mean #16
My vote is for#17 Gabi’s BAA BAA HALLOWEEN 2011
NUMBER 7!!!
The bear sweater gets my vote all the way!!
#16, so cute !
I have to go with little Gabi (#16)!
#16… The Baa Baa costume for Gabi is the sweetest thing ever!!
#16 super adorable, need the pattern for my little sheepies
There’s a link to the pattern with the description above… and its free on Ravelry!!!
#16 for sure. I want that costume in my size!
Number 16 is my favorite!
#16 gets my vote! Cutie pie!
#16!!! too cute for words!
Gabi #16 is adorable! You get my vote.
#16 soooo cute!
Have to say #13, cute kid and even cutier costume!
#16! Way too adorable!!
Yes #7! So adorable!
#16 uses too much baby cuteness, whereas #7 is all knitting, beary awesomeness and this is a KNITTING contest dammit – not a cuteness contest!!
So I’m saying #7 all the way!
Bears: top of the food chain and top of my list! # 7!!!
#16 gets my vote – an adorable outfit and an even more adorable baby
#7 for me too! Do want.
Considering I can’t knit to save my life, I am humbled by all of you who knit such beautiful things. Having said that, I have to go with #16 – that kiddo will be bringing in the Halloween motherload with that adorable costume! 🙂
#7!!! as a bonified knitmiester i can tell you that sweater pushes the limits of what the knitting world is capable of now. Its people like you that takes this craft to the next level. Just because something is cute does not make it a technological marvel…like your sweater which i am sure took many months of deliberation.
Vote for # 7
If I had to choose one that is not my own project, that cabled Groveland Satchel in post #5 is pretty amazing. What pattern is that?
I’d love to see a picture of it finished!
#7! Bears are awesome: they think both babies and lambs are best as breakfast…
#7 for sure!! its such a nice colour and the bear is wicked!!!
xoxoxox
#7 is the bestest.
#16 is the one!
#16 is sooooo cute!! She gets my vote!
Oh my goodness – what a lovely little lamb !!! would love to count lots of these wooly lambs to put me to sleep !
#16 for sure!
we vote for #16….Gabi’s too cute in her lamb outfit! Great job Paula! 🙂
Baa Baa..,.definitely #16!!
OMG #16 so cute!! way to go mom
#16
#16! Super adorable. Gabi’s one lucky one year-old.
#7 – RAWWWWWWRRRRR
#7 because the girl looks nice. And bears rock. Maybe she could make me a bear suit and we could go on a ski trip together.
#7. Bears eat lambs.
#7 gets my vote. Can we buy these?
Sure the baby lamb is cute and all, but my vote is for the knitting that looks like it took a bit of talent #7
Vote for 7!! She is the best person EVERR!!
#7, yay bear!!
#7!!
I look really good in #7
Bears are the top of the food chain so 7 for sure!!
#16 for sure!!! Sooo cute!
#16 – baby lambykins is adorable!
#16
#7! 🙂
I vote for #16. Definitely the best baby… and best knitted item…
#7. makes bears look cuddly.
Number 16 should take it! They all put me to shame with how talented they are but the sheep is too cute!
I vote #8.
#7 gets my vote!!!
I am voting for number #7…nicely done Jodi!!!
#7!!! Bears are rad, second only to howling wolves! When can we expect that?
#16!
I vote for number 16! I love sheep!
#7 for sure!!!!
#7 for sure….
7!
No 7! We loves us some bears.
Bear attack! #7 for sure
#7 Hands down! All I can think about is snowy nights at the cabin by the fire. 😀
#7 BEAR SWEATER!!!!!
my vote is for number 7
i vote for #7…. wicked bear sweater 😉
Number 7 gets my vote! Beautiful!
number 7 gets my vote
number 7 all the way!
I think realistically I am going to vote for 7. It is so darn nice. I can’t even imagine how much time and effort went into that!!!!! Who is this knitter? I would hire her for my shop if I had one, but I kinda want to open a coffee shop… Perhaps she’d want to make coffee cozies. I can bearly contain myself.
Bear sweater #7! So fun.
I vote for #16
NUMBER 7!!!! The bear!
I pretty much LOVE #7, are you selling it?
#7 is freaking amazing!
7 for sure, that is Amazing!
#16 is too adorable!! She gets my vote!
Bear sweater!!
Love #16! So cute!
#16, very very cute 🙂
I definitely think #16 is the best 🙂 How can you not love those adorable little ears?
Number 16 gets mt vote. Such a cute little lambie.
LOVE # 16!!! That is just way too cute!!!!
#16 is ADORABLE!!! I vote for #16!!!!!
# 16 is super cute. Nothing makes me smile like a baby in a sheep suit! (do you think we could shear the kid and spin up the fibre???LOL)
Love love love #16 – what a super cute idea!
Def #7 !
#16!! SO adorable! 🙂
#16 – Child’s Lamb costume is so gorgeous!
#16 definitely gets my vote – how cute!
I vote for #16!!
#16 is the cutest and gets my vote
My vote goes to # 16 the baaad sheep
#16 has my vote – too cute!
#16 steals my heart – sheep rock!
#16 adorable, cute and soo baaad – sweet baby sheep.
Oh my goodnes, I vote for #16, it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
Baa baa. Halloween to win – it is so adorable
I vote for # 16, lovely this costume!
16, no doubt
It has to be #16 – SO cute! Looks like a great knit besides being modeled so darn cutely by Gabi!!
oh my goodness! #7! LOVE tinyowlknits 🙂
or #16 . too cute!
i can’t decide!
#16!!! How can you resist a hand-knit lamb suit for a darling little lamb?
#16 Gotta love the little lamb
Itty-bitty-lamby FTW! #16, please 🙂
woa! the bear is amazing – that’s one heck of a knit. #7
16 votes for #16, please!
#16!!! so cute!
#16 for sure!! Sooo adorable!
They all look great but I have to go with #16! Too cute!!
Number 16 for sure!!
#16 – Oh my gosh, how cute is that little lamb!!!
I love the little lamby in #16!
#16 is fantastic
16 soooo cute!!!!!!!!!
I don’t get all the love for 7… I am totally loving 16. SO CUTE OMG SQUISH BEHBEH *squish squish squish*
Number 16 is SOOOOO adorable. Gets my vote!
who can resist a darling baby in a baaadcute lamby outfit!! #16 gets my vote!!:)
Gabi’s too cute! I vote for 16!
ZOMG #16 FO SHO!
My vote is #7 very cool
I like 7 because I like bears. I saw one recently when I was in a part of town I had never found myself before. I was savagely attacked by a bear once. I had to use my martial arts training to beat him off.
#7… i want that sweater! lol
Lucky, lucky chicken bone… Er, #7.
#7! It’s TOO amazing!
#8 all the way!
Number 7 for sure!
#7 is fantastic but #16 is my favorite. That lamb is ridiculously cute.
#7 for the WIN! <3 bears
My vote is for the bear sweater, #7!
I vote for #7- This design would encourage others to take up knitting. Great design,
#7 is a beary nice sweater .. yup, that’s my vote!
I want to bear my feelings – #7 FTW.
7 is the only way!
7 for the win
I vote for #7, because it looks warm and itchy.
And it’s made of wool, and wool comes from lambs, and lambs are yummy.
Especially with bacon.
#12 the shawl is awesome
#12, i like it most! I bet her mother will love it 🙂
i go for #12!! it looks like you could wrap it around your neck and shoulders and it will keep you warm throughout fall-time 🙂
All are good, #7 is great.
They’re all pretty swell, but I have to go with #7 as well!
#7 ftw
#7. So BC and soooo awesome. Can I order one?!
Bushman thinks #7 is a winner
#7 all the way!
#7 so she’ll make me my own bear sweater!
I can “bearly” contain myself! Without question, the drama and artistry in #7 make it a clear winner!
#7… that sweater is perfect for puppies.
#7 GRRRRR
#7 should win.
#7 baby! that bear sweater is BAAAAD @$$! 🙂 hehehe
Number #7!
#7 – pedobear ftw
I’m voting for #7 as my daughter is a devote knitter and has done some amazing projects. She taught herself to knit.
I love #7! That sweater looks like it took a lot of time and it looks beautiful!
Yep, 7
Totally 7 🙂
I guess i just comment?? Vote for jodi
# 7 for sure!!!