Since May, I have been keeping myself busy with some baby gifts for the expected birth of the first girl in the next generation of the Susch family.  I’m going to be an aunt!  Perfect opportunity to get to learn about knitting for babies.

Here is a set which I knitted. The sweater and bonnet were from the cyberclass on baby knitting which I took.  I designed the blanket myself using the same lace pattern from the sweater and bonnet.  These were made in vanilla Lion’s Brand Microspun acrylic yarn.   It is very, very soft and machine wash/dryable.  Perfect for a new little baby.

In the meanwhile, when I was working on the blanket, which was obviously not a good travel project, I took another cyberclass on beaded knitting.  The pattern called for making an amulet bag, which quite frankly is not the least bit practical so I doubled the size to make an eyeglass case.  It was knitted with bronze Rowan Lurex Shimmer and size 8 beads on size US 3 needles. 

Boy, am I hooked now on beading!  I went a bit overboard and bought some semiprecious beads and other beads and I’ve started knitting, crocheting and stringing beads.

Here are some examples:

The silver bracelet was knitted with 4mm semiprecious garnet beads.  It’s a simple pattern, but quite a look when adding the silver findings and clasp.  This took about 2 hours to make.  The bangle bracelet was bead crocheted with size 6 seed beads.  I wasn’t very happy with it as the cotton thread made it difficult to keep the beads firmly together.  Then I switched to size 8 seed beads and silk thread to make the necklace with the 2 colors (light blue, white) in translucent glass.  This came out more even and smooth and I finished it in about a week!

Now I’m hooked on beads!  Imagine what I can do with lace and beads!